Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Materia Medica Lesson 1-6: Actaea, Cimicifuga

 Doll's Eyes is a plant that has always freaked me out. It is a freaky looking plant! The berries can be toxic. But, it is a useful herb, when used properly. It grows wild all around my house. MM says it can be used interchangeably with Black cohosh. Where I live, it really does look like doll's eyes.... like white eyes on freaky red stems staring at you.. the red is a much more friendly looking plant.

Black cohosh and Baneberry bring heat to a cold state. It can initiate a stuck period. Diffuses blood into extremities. Good for congested uterus. Stimulates lymphatic drainage. Makes the brain think there is degraded estrogen in the blood stream. This activates the pituitary to produce luteinize or folic stimulating hormones, which causes ovaries to produce estrogen.

Actaea rubra, etc, - Baneberry, Doll’s Eyes

ACTAEA RUBRA (A. arguta, Baneberry) ROOT. Fresh or Dry Tincture, [1:2, or 1:5, 80% alcohol] 10-20 drops to 3X a day. STATUS : W/A

From  SPECIFIC INDICATIONS FOR HERBS IN GENERAL USE Third edition Michael Moore:

ACTAEA SPICATA, A. RUBRA, A. ARGUTA Anorexia nervosa with chronic simple pelvic irritabilities. Acute gastritis with uterine reflex. Muscular pain, dull, aching, "rheumatoid". Rheumatic pains, acute inflammatory. Uterus, atony, with dull aching. Apathy with pale face, depression, atonic digestion. Headache, reflex uterine. 

Black cohosh also grows wild where I live. MM says you can use the leaf interchangeably with the root, and that is better for sustainability.

Cimicifuga spp. - Black Cohosh

CIMICIFUGA RACEMOSA (Macrotys, Black Cohosh) RHIZOME and ROOT. Tincture [Fresh Root, 1:2, Dry Root, 1:5, 80% alcohol], 10-25 drops. Capsules, #00, 1-2, both to 3X a day. STATUS : W/LA

From  SPECIFIC INDICATIONS FOR HERBS IN GENERAL USE Third edition Michael Moore:

CIMICIFUGA RACEMOSA Rheumatoid iritis; ophthalmalgia with dull rheumatoid ache in orbits; eyestrain with bruised pain and headache. Ear pain from cold; dull aching rheumatic pain in middle ear. Influenza with malaise and aches. Sore, bruised feeling in bronchi.  Periodic convulsions associated with uterine disorders. Delirium tremens in sthenics. Epilepsy, petit mal with chorea or agitation. Insomnia with muscular pain, agitation, "rheumatoid". Cervical neuralgia. Anorexia nervosa with chronic simple pelvic irritabilities. Muscular pain, dull, aching, "rheumatoid"; or from change of weather. Rheumatic pains with heavy, aching, deep pains; or acute inflammatory. Sprains with dull muscle ache. Tendonitis, deep aching dull pain with muscle involvement. Amenorrhea, with irritation, pelvic and lumbar pain; or chronic, with congestion, irritation. Dysmenorrhea with congested uterus and pain on walking or climbing stairs. Menarche delay (primary amenorrhea), in general. Menopause, with congested uterus and pain on walking, dancing, jiggling. Menorrhagia with diarrhea or colon cramping. Mittelschmerz with diarrhea or colon cramping. Orchitis/epididymitis, with venous congestion, heaviness. Subacute/chronic prostatitis, with pelvic and sacral pain. Uterus, atony, with dull aching. Uterus, prolapse. Chronic vaginitis with large dragging uterus, painful with movement. Labor, false or Braxton-Hicks pains; or with feeble, erratic contractions. Lactation, excessive reflex pain. Primipara, last 2 to 3 weeks. Uterine subinvolution, with dull ache, sense of heaviness. Mumps with muscular aching. Apathy with dull aching in joints, muscles. 


Here is the link to the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine Course

https://www.swsbm.com/school/

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