Materials of Medicine

Avena sativa (Oats, Groats)

An erect plant with narrow, linear leaves that grows to a height of 0.6 – 1.0 meter. The flowering top presents as spikes with 2 – 3 florets in loose panicles. The seed is used as a cereal grain.

Alkaloid (gramine, in seed), avenacoside triterpenoids saponins, flavones (avenacoside), mono and oligo- saccharides, nutrients (iron 39 mg/kg dry, Mn 8.5 mg/kg dry, silica, zinc 19.2 mg/kg dry, carotenoids)

Anti-depressant, cardiac tonic, demulcent, nervine, tonic, nutritive

Avena is one of the best remedies to “feed” the nervous system and acts as the premiere nervous system trophorestorative. It is indicated to restore normal function to weakened, debilitated nervous systems. It treats nervous exhaustion whether due to lifestyle or illness. It can help people rebound from addiction to caffeine, tobacco and other drugs. It is an herb to use in treatment of any condition including nervous exhaustion, neuralgia, herpetic eruptions, cardiac weakness from nervous exhaustion, heart palpitations due to anxiety, anxiety, ADD, depression, decreased strength of limbs, numbness of limbs, sexual dysfunction due to sexual excess and insomnia. If taken over time, Avena will strengthen the nervous system and increase stamina. Treatment with Avena is usually long term with frequent dosing. It is especially indicated for treatment of insomnia where the patient has difficulty staying asleep.

Avena is mucilaginous and therefore is soothing and anti-inflammatory if used topically. A bath can be made putting oats into a thin sock or muslin bag and added to the bath. Allow oats to steep in the bath and when the water is tepid enter bath and wring sock several times. Such treatment would be used for conditions such as: pruritic insect bites, varicella, eczema, poison oak/ivy, contact dermatitis.

Toxicity: None

Pharmacy:

Infusion: 1 heaping Tbl./qt water QD, steep until cools to room temperature or infuse overnight

Tincture (1:5): 5 ml TID

Fluid Extract (1:3, 1:1): 1 – 3 ml TID

Berberis vulgaris/Hydrastis canadensis (Barberry, Golden Seal)

The berberine containing herbs may be used interchangeably, and are found over the planet. They are often used as natural dyes. Due to the “at risk” nature of native Goldenseal, Berberis vulgaris or cultivated Hydrastis is recommended for use instead of wildcrafted herb.

They are both bitter and choleretic, stimulating the flow of bile from the liver. Therefore have been used to treat jaundice, biliousness, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, constipation and diarrhea. They also have an anti-inflammatory action on the tissues along the entire GI tract. They have an anti-microbial action, against bacteria (E. coli, staph, strep, cholera), parasites (Leishmania, plasmodia, amoebas, giardia, H. pylori, tapeworm, ringworm) and virus. The strongest action is when the herb touches the infected tissue directly, therefore the form used should be chosen carefully. If the inflammation/infection is in the mouth or throat, use a tea or tincture as a gargle and swallow. If the infection, or inflammation is in the stomach, gall bladder or intestines, then powder is the desired form. In acute gastroenteritis or cystitis or any other infective process, dose at three to four times the levels recommended below. They exhibit a good bitter action, stimulating digestion in weakened or debilitated systems. It has been used historically to treat enlarged spleen, reducing the size of the organ. It has also been used to treat thrombocytopenia.

Hydrastis has been used to heal ulcerations of the GI tract, especially gastric and duodenal ulcers. Due to the astringent action it will reduce catarrh produced anywhere in the body. It has been used to treat sinusitis, colds, Crohns, and ulcerative colitis.

It has a mild relaxing and yet stimulating effect on muscle, so is a mild laxative and emmenagogue, and anti-arrhythmic. It has a mild inotropic effect, so is considered a cardiotonic.

It is a strong topical anti-microbial and promotes healing of ulcerations, cuts and wounds on the skin. Because of the anti-microbial effect it is used internally and externally for the treatment of acne vulgaris.

Historically, eye drops of berberine containing plants have been used to treat Trachoma, hordoleum, conjunctivitis and allergies. To treat these conditions, include in a saline wash.

Contraindications: It is not recommended for use in pregnancy due to the smooth muscle relaxing effects.

Toxicity: There is not indicated toxicity with either Berberis or Hydrastis

Drug Interactions: None known

Pharmacology:

Decoction: 1 Tbl. Herb/cup H2O TID

Tincture (1:5): 5 ml TID

Fluid Extract (1:1, 1:2): 2 ml TID

Powdered Herb: Berberis 2 – 3 gm per day

Hydrastis 1 – 2 gm per day

Capsicum frutescens, Capsicum minimum, Capsicum annuum (Cayenne, Red Pepper)

Carotenoids (Capsanthan, capsorubin, capsaicin), essential oil, flavonoids, Vitamin C

Antiseptic, carminative, condiment, diaphoretic, rubefacient, sialagogue, circulatory stimulant, vasodilator, anti-platelet aggregant

Capsicum has been used for centuries. Most of its actions arise from its properties as a circulatory stimulant. The eclectic physicians used it to equalize the peripheral and central circulation. If you apply capsicum in ointment, cream, poultice or oil form, the localized erythema will disseminate and circulation to the entire area will increase. It has been found that capsaicin depletes Substance P and thereby reduces pain. Substance P is a pain messenger. The use of Cayenne has been shown to cause constant firing of the neurons, depleting the overall level of Substance P and thereby inhibiting the pain response. Many topical creams are available on the marketplace that are standardized to capsaicin content and are used to treat arthralgias, cluster headache, trigeminal neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy and atherosclerosis.

It is also a tonic to digestion, so is used to stimulate digestion in hypochlorhydria, dyspepsia, flatulence, and colic. It is also used to decrease pain in pharyngitis.

Capsicum has also been shown to decrease histamine release when used regularly over an extended period of time. Inflammation will occur with the initial dose, but repeated dosing creates an anti-inflammatory response. It has also been shown to stimulate fibrinolysis and stabilize platelet aggregation and is therefore good for patients prone to clotting. Capsicum is a specific treatment for debility of young and old, but is particularly useful in the elderly, when the body-heat is low, vitality depressed and reaction sluggish. Tired, painful muscles, stiffened joints and relaxation of any part are common conditions in the elderly that are rectified by Capsicum.

The specific indication for use of Capsicum described by Felter is as follows: “marked depression and debility with feeble pulse and repressed secretions; pale membranes with scanty, viscous secretion; tongue dry, harsh and mouth and salivary secretions suppressed or scanty; atonic dyspepsia of drunkards; alcoholic delirium of the depressive type; congestive chill; colic with abdominal distention; debility with faulty gastro-intestinal functioning in the aged.”
Contraindications:

Not to be used topically over broken skin. According to Sharol Tilgner, there is a potential for potentiation of Theophylline levels, so caution should be used when a patient is using Theophylline.

Pain and burning at the site of application if left on for too long or too concentrated.

Tincture (1:5) - 1 to 15 drops BID-6 X per day in water.

Fluid Extract (1:1) - 1-5 drops in water QD to QID

Poultice and Bath - see directions for Brassica poultice and footbath.

Salve or Cream - Must be applied locally TID - QID to reduce Substance-P

Capsules or Standardized Extracts - 250 mg to 3 grams per day in gradually increasing doses