The Everything Guide to Herbal Remedies (6 page)

Antitussives are agents that suppress the urge to cough, and they’re used when you’ve got a dry, painful cough that’s not producing any phlegm. Some herbal options include:

• Fennel
  (Foeniculum vulgare)
  
• Marshmallow
  (Althaea officinalis)
  
• Hops
  (Humulus lupulus)
  
• Spearmint
  (Mentha spicata)
  
• Licorice
  (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
  

For centuries, herbalists have been using plants with sedating effects on the central nervous system to help treat insomnia and, in low doses, to relieve anxiety. At the same time, they’ve used an assortment of stimulating herbs, which boost mental and physical performance and fight fatigue.

Herbal stimulants work on the central nervous system, subtly increasing metabolic processes to increase alertness and energy.

Plant-based sedatives can be tailored to your specific needs—the herbs used to treat insomnia and agitation vary widely in their sedating effect—and in most cases you can mix them with other remedies (or a glass of wine) without worrying about drug interaction. Here are some of the most popular herbal sedatives:

• Chamomile
  (Matricaria recutita)
  
• Lemon balm
  (Melissa officinalis)
  
• Kava
  (Piper methysticum)
  
• Passionflower
  (Passiflora incarnata)
  
• Lavender
  (Lavandula angustifolia)
  
• Valerian
  (Valeriana officinalis)
  

Stimulant herbs can provide a gentle boost to your mental and physical energy levels. Here are some of the better-known herbal stimulants:

• Asian ginseng
  (Panax ginseng)
  
• Guarana
  (Paullinia cupana)
  
• Cocoa
  (Theobroma cacao)
  
• Mate
  (Ilex paraguariensis)
  
• Coffee
  (Coffea arabica)
  
• Tea
  (Camellia sinensis)
  

Many herbs have proven psychiatric effects, meaning they can relieve depression, anxiety, and other psychological disorders the same way that pharmaceuticals can. The big advantage of herbal antidepressants and anxiety remedies is the fact that they’re almost entirely free of side effects—something that no lab-created drug can promise.

Consider the most commonly prescribed antidepressants, like sertraline (Zoloft) and citalopram hydrobromide (Celexa), which are part of the class of drugs known as
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors,
or SSRIs. The most common side effects of these medications are nausea, diarrhea, headaches, and sexual dysfunction.

And while quality research on herbal depression and anxiety remedies is still slim, several studies have shown that herbal remedies like Saint John’s wort
(Hypericum perforatum)
can work as well as prescription medications in cases of mild to moderate depression.

Herbs can alter the levels of the neurotransmitters
serotonin
and
dopamine,
which are central in depression and other mood disorders as well as addictions and other psychological problems. Here are some herbs with mood-lifting effects:

• Boswellia
  (Boswellia serrata)
  
• Rhodiola
  (Rhodiola rosea)
  
• Lemon balm
  (Melissa officinalis)
  
• Saint John’s wort
  (Hypericum perforatum)
  
• Passionflower
  (Passiflora incarnata)
  

These herbs have been used successfully to treat anxiety:

• Ashwagandha
  (Withania somnifera)
  
• Kava
  (Piper methysticum)
  
• Chamomile
  (Matricaria recutita)
  
• Lavender
  (Lavandula angustifolia)
  
• Hops
  (Humulus lupulus)
  
• Lemon balm
  (Melissa officinalis)
  

These herbs can be used to treat addictions and eating disorders:

• Danshen
  (Salvia miltiorrhiza)
  
• Passionflower
  (Passiflora incarnata)
  
• Ginkgo
  (Ginkgo biloba)
  
• Saint John’s wort
  (Hypericum perforatum)
  
• Kudzu
  (Pueraria lobata)
  

Quite often the symptoms and treatments of certain health conditions vary enormously between the genders, and men and women typically manage their health concerns very differently. In addition, several important health problems, including depression, osteoarthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, osteoporosis, and autoimmune diseases, are significantly more common in women than in men.

Most often, women are physically smaller—they weigh less and have smaller organs, less muscle mass, and more body fat—than men. Women also produce less of certain chemicals, such as those that synthesize the brain chemical serotonin (which plays a big role in depression and other mood disorders, as well as appetite and eating habits).

While men and women perform equally on intelligence tests, women’s brains have more gray matter (the part that allows thinking) and less white matter (the part that transfers information among various regions). This may explain why women seem to be better at verbal and memory challenges, while men excel at spatial tasks.

Many of the differences in health concerns can be traced to hormones. For example, research has shown that female sex hormones might be related to the development and progression of allergies and asthma, both of which are more prevalent in women. Estrogen, the best known of the women’s hormones, has been linked to women’s greater susceptibility to lung cancer as well as the “hormonal cancers” that include breast and ovarian cancer.

Hormones can partly be blamed for women’s greater sensitivity to pain and to stimulants like cocaine and amphetamines. This sensitivity also fluctuates with a woman’s menstrual cycle. Hormones might explain why women often react differently than men to anesthesia (women wake up more quickly but are more prone to side effects such as post-operative vomiting or nausea).

Women have been relying on herbal medicines for centuries, and more women than men turn to herbs today. Recent surveys indicate that 79 percent of U.S. women take herbal medicines. Statistics also show that women are much more likely to take charge of their own health—they see their primary physician regularly and typically act on medical concerns instead of ignoring them. Women are also more likely to try a novel or unconventional type of health care treatment, both to treat a specific condition as well as to promote general well being.

Many medicinal and edible plants contain compounds called
phytoestrogens,
which are chemically similar to the sex hormone estradiol (the primary estrogen in humans). Estradiol is critical to many body processes, including reproduction, sexual functioning, the synthesis of bone, and the modulation of several diseases (including cancer and heart disease). Phytoestrogens seem to modulate estrogen levels in the body, which can cause a host of beneficial effects and may avert certain diseases.

Many of the so-called women’s herbs contain a group of phytoestrogens known as isoflavones, which are found in soy
(Glycine max).
Another type, lignans, are found in soy and flax
(Linum usitatissimum).
A third type, coumestans, is found in red clover
(Trifolium pratense)
and alfalfa
(Medicago sativa).

Research has linked phytoestrogen intake with many health benefits, including preventing osteoporosis, managing cholesterol, and reducing the risk of some cancers.

However, consuming excessive amounts can cause problems. Experts suggest sticking to recommended doses of herbal remedies and eating a sensible amount of phytoestrogen-containing foods (like soy). See
Chapter 18
for more.

Following are some tips for women on using herbal preparations.

• • Talk with Your Doctor.
  Be sure to tell your doctor about any herbs you’re considering, especially if you’re pregnant or are being treated for a serious and/or chronic condition.
  
• • Don’t Assume That “Natural” Means “Good.”
  Herbal medicines are considered supplements—or foods—and not drugs, so they’re handled much differently than pharmaceuticals. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t require that the manufacturer prove an herb’s safety, quality, or efficacy. This certainly doesn’t mean that all supplements are suspect, just that you should use them with care.
  
• • Know Your Body.
  Everyone responds differently to chemical agents, whether they’re from a plant or a pharmacy, so different people will require different doses. If you know you’re sensitive to medications, start with a very small dose of the herbal preparation. Even if you’re not overly sensitive, you should never exceed the recommended dosage.
  
• • Pay Attention.
  Most herbs have very low risk of interactions or side effects, but you should monitor yourself when starting any new therapy.
  
• • Be Patient.
  Most herbal remedies take a bit longer to produce effects than prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines do. Most experts advise patients to allow several weeks before deciding if a remedy is working or not, and note that some herbs may take up to eight weeks to deliver any benefits.
  

The breasts are made up of several types of tissue: glandular tissue (including mammary glands that produce milk and ducts that transport it), connective tissue, and fat. Breast tissue changes throughout a woman’s life, with menstrual cycles as well as general aging.

Breast pain, also known as mastalgia, is fairly common, affecting about 70 percent of women at some point in their lives. Severe mastaglia, which occurs more than five days a month and can be quite debilitating, affects about 10 percent of women.

Breast pain can be cyclic (changing with the menstrual cycle) and noncyclic (constant or intermittent pain that’s not tied to your period). Cyclic pain, which is the most common, typically affects both breasts and involves dull pain, swelling, tenderness, and lumpiness in the entire breast. Noncyclic breast pain is more common in postmenopausal women, usually affects just one breast, and is localized.

Although the exact causes of breast pain aren’t known, most experts think that cyclic pain is tied to hormonal fluctuations, while noncyclic pain is caused by physical factors such as breast cysts (see below) or trauma. Taking oral contraceptives, menopause treatments, and antidepressants has also been tied to breast pain. Some experts think it might be tied to an imbalance of fatty acids like gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which makes the breast tissue more sensitive to hormonal changes (and pain).

Lumps in the breast can be caused by many things—some dangerous, most benign. In the majority of cases, a lump is a harmless swelling or thickening of tissue caused by a group of conditions termed
fibrocystic breast changes
(FCCs), which affect at least half of all women, most often between the ages of twenty and fifty. FCCs include fibrosis, which is the development of fibrous tissue, and cysts, which are small sacs created when an overgrowth of tissue blocks the milk ducts and causes the glands to fill with fluid. Cysts are typically smooth, with defined edges, and feel like small, soft grapes; they can occur singly or in groups. Breast cysts generally disappear after menopause. One exception: Postmenopausal women taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which can trigger the formation of cysts.

Cysts can get to be one or two inches in diameter, and larger cysts can put pressure on surrounding tissues, causing pain. In most cases, cysts will resolve themselves without any treatment, although doctors can drain the fluid from large cysts that have become uncomfortable.

Most doctors recommend OTC pain medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat breast pain. In severe cases, prescription medicines might be prescribed, such as danazol (Danazol), which is a synthetic steroid. NSAIDs can cause gastrointestinal damage and other side effects, and danazol can cause acne and unwanted hair growth.

Herbalists offer a few natural approaches to breast pain and fibrocystic breast changes:

Menstruation, or menses, is the cyclical process that women go through roughly once a month from around age fourteen to age fifty. During menstruation, the uterus sheds its lining (the endometrium) through the vagina. In most cases, it’s a fairly uneventful process. But for some women, menstruation can bring serious discomfort.

PMS, or premenstrual syndrome, occurs in the week or two weeks before a woman’s menstrual period and generally stops as soon as menstruation begins. PMS affects about 75 percent of women. Common symptoms are breast tenderness, acne, insomnia, headache and backache, tension, and irritability. PMS is tied to changing hormone levels and can be exacerbated by stress.

About 8 percent of women experience a particularly severe form of PMS known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which is a serious, often debilitating condition that can include marked depression, anger, flu-like symptoms, and appetite and sleep changes.