Green Tea is medicine!

Green tea (Camellia sinensis) is one of the most widely studied plants for medicinal use. Phytotherapy students at PRC recently reviewed available research on peer reviewed medical databases (such at PubMed and others). We discussed our findings and have summarized them here. Please contact us or comment if you are interested in viewing the references for related studies.

NOTE: This review includes human and in vitro studies of Camellia sinensis and in some cases studeies are limited to small sample extracted constituents. It is not intended to conclude curative actions for the disorders listed. We are providing information for research interest only, and will provide further info on resources if requested.

Potential Actions: 
antioxidant, chemoprotective, anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagenic, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-rheumatic, chrondoprotective, UV protective, radioprotective, anti-inflammatory, osteoprotective, hypoglycemic.

Medicinal uses supported by preliminary studies:
Cancer:

• reduce cancer risk and progression (including ovarian, prostate  lung, gastrointestinal, breast, skin, leukemia, bladder.
•  protect from UV radiation (internal and external use), and from radiation therapy side effects.

Cardiovascular:

• prevention of cardiovascular disease,  including coronary artery disease, and prevention of hypertension.
• improve vascular function and reduce low-density-lipoprotein oxidation.

Musculoskeletal:

• decreasing cartilage destruction in Rheumatoid Arthrtis, Osteoarthritis, periodontal disease.
• decrease risk of osteoporosis and related fractures by regulating bone metabolism, particularly when associated with exercise.

Metabolic / Diabetes:

• increasing satiety.
• obesity and over eating.
• decreases / management of blood sugar.

Other:

• decrease sebum production to treat acne.
• eye damage and ocular inflammation.
• decrease risk of death from pneumonia.
• hemochromatosis.
• modulation of immune response in autoimmunity.
• prevent or slow cognitive dysfunction/degradation.
• chelating heavy metals.
  
  
  Contra-indications: 
  -may be inappropriate for patients with insomnia who are sensitive to caffeine; caution should be for patients with heart conditions due to risk of tachycardia; limit of 1-2 cups per cay during pregnancy and lactation.
  
  
  Cautions:
  -over consumption may cause problems due to caffeine content, sensitive people may experience nervousness, sleep disorders, vomiting, headache, epigastric pain, tachycardia; aluminium content may cause accumulation especially problematic for patients with renal disorders; disruption of iron bioavailablity is a concern for anaemic patients; diuretic effect should be monitor and dosage limited accordingly.

Spring Wildharvesting: Rose family

Hawthorn (Crataegus species) offer us a wonderful heart tonic to heal and prevent complications of circulatory system disorders such as hypertension and heart attacks. Hawthorn is a member of the Rose family and both the North American native and European introduced species can be used.  

Hawthorn flowers can be collected along with some leaves in the spring. Collect flowers when the anthers are still pink and harvest at the stem rather than picking individual flowers. Can be prepared as a tincture or tea. Berries are also useful and can be collected in the autumn.
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Wild Rose species (such as Rosa nutkana) will also soon be ready to harvest. Petals should be selected when in full colour. They contain volatile oils so they should be dried at a low temperature (max 25 degrees C) and dried without light to maintain colour. They can be used for teas or made into a syrup. Rose is astringent for the digestive system and is traditionally used as a cordial to cheer the heart.

Medicinal Mushrooms

Last weekend Robert Rogers offered a Medicinal Mushroom workshop at Pacific Rim College in Victoria. We were amazed by his knowledge of mushrooms (some edible, medicinal and some toxic) and herbs too! After an in-class review of some fungi we headed out to identify some local species. 

Here are a few we saw.......

Fomitopsis pinicola (Red Belted Conk) -medicinal

Trametes versicolor (Turkey tail)-edible

Cultivating Medicinal Plants Workshop this Monday!

Spring e zine: Cleansing and gardening!

           Spring is just around the corner and the days are already getting warmer. Soon it will be time for the bears wake up and cleanse themselves with very purging plants, such as Skunk Cabbage (too strong for this purpose in humans!) It's also time for us to come out of hibernation and rid our body of the heaviness of the bulky foods that nourished us throughout the winter. Try eating lighter meals and cutting out refined foods, such as sugar, white breads and pastas. 

           Start your cleansing process with gentle lymphatic herbs, like Cleavers (Galium aparine) and Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) before using liver cleansers such as Burdock (Arctium lappa) and Dandelion (Taraxacum off.). Cleansing herbs can be too cold and clearing for some people so use caution. Everybody has a different physique, energy level, constitutional strength, etc, so consult a herbalist for custom dietary advice and to find out which cleansing herbs are right for you.

With spring comes plans for gardening!! Include some herbs in your garden this year to add beauty, colour, and medicinal value to your garden!

Calendula officinalis (Marigold) is a somewhat hardy annual that likes rich, well-drained soil. Calendula grow well even if left unattended. Water during dry periods, once or twice per week. Pick dead blooms to encourage new blooms. Calendula is a useful medicinal for skin and intestinal health and it offers a lovely orange flower!

Inula helenium (Elecampane) is commonly used for unproductive coughs, bronchitis, and asthma. The plant prefers moderately fertile, moist soil and full sun to light shade. Roots are collected after the second growing season. Elecampane grows over a metre tall and has bright yellow flowers.

Lavendula officinalis (Lavender) is an evergreen shrub that requires dry to moist soil, direct sun, and is drought tolerant. Well known as a culinary and cosmetic herb, it is also used medicinally to alleviate stress, headaches, and encourage natural sleep. Its purple flowers add to the beauty of the garden and its aroma puts the gardener and companions at ease!

Book suggestion:  Barbara Grigg's Green Pharmacy - about the history of herbal medicine. Not to be confused with The Green Pharmacy - another great home herbal book by James Duke. 

Website suggestion: http://mercola.fileburst.com/nt/pdf/Gluten-Sensitivity.pdf

A great online booklet explaining gluten allergy, gluten sensitivity, and related food reactions.

Contributors to this ezine: Lauren Truscott, Rory Knapp Fisher, Candice May, Lindsay Hounslow, and Laura Mroz – students at Pacific Rim College studying Phytotherapy.

Attention Gardeners! Plant sale.......

WHEN: Tuesday 05 April 2011 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
WHERE: GARTH HOMER CENTRE 813 Darwin Ave. (South of Saanich Municipal Hall)
FREE ADMISSION!
Choose from an intriguing variety of hardy shrubs & perennials, exotic alpine plants, rare native ferns, fresh vegetable & herb plants, seeds, used garden tools & pots...and so much more! All from local specialty nurseries & home growers.

Medicinal Herb Gardening Workshop! Featured plant: Echinacea

We are partnering with Lifecycles (http://lifecyclesproject.ca/ ) to offer a Workshop on Cultivating Medicinal Plants! Please attend on Mon Apr 4th 7-9pm at Pacific Rim College for info on more plants and how to plan your medicine garden!

Purple Cone Flower   Echinacea purpurea or angustifolia

Care for this perennial is relatively easy. Likes well drained, rich, loamy soils, in sunny areas but will tolerate dappled shade. Deep soils are preferred to promote a root crop, which is harvested at the end of the third summer. Aerial parts can also be harvested during full bloom, from July through to the end of September. Grows to 4 feet tall and offers a beautiful sunflower shaped, purple flower.

An effective immune stimulant that is commonly used in many households for colds and stress resistance. While it requires more time to grow and prepare, the benefit of effectiveness and financial savings makes it a worthwhile addition to the home herbal garden. Many people spend hard eared money on Echinacea tinctures, which could be home made with basic knowledge. The benefit of using home grown medicine may also enhance self-empowerment and thus the effectiveness of this powerful medicine.   

To attend the workshop: Please RSVP to: uahub@lifecyclesproject.ca and (250) 383-5800.