Diuretic
Juniperus communis (Juniper berry)
 Action/indications
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Aquaretic for kidney or urinary irritation
Carminative, anti-inflamm, anti-spasmotic, anti-viral
Good for dark, strong smelling urine
Hypoglycemic
Topically good for herpes and cold sores
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Active constituents
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Contraindication
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Volitile oils (act as irritant)
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Berries take three years to grow, so gather sparingly
Don’t use in kidney failure patients
Don’t use in pregnancy
Can OD (kidney pain, blood in urine, HTN, convulsions, tacchycardia
Communist have the rice patty workers giving the rice back (aquaretic). The rice patty watter is
dark in color and they have to pee in the water (stong smelling urine) because they aren’t allowed
breaks. At the end of the day they are cold and sore. Communist country’s are volitle. Rice=a carb
==> sugar which helps boost the hypoglycemic patients blood sugar levels. Don’t be a (kidney)
failure in a communist country.
Equisetum arvense (horsetail/scouring rush)
 Action/indications
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Active constituents
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Astringent, antioxident, antiinflamm
Bed wetting kids and other disurea issues
Prevention of kidney stones
BPH and prostate problems
CT strengthening (hair and nails among others)
Flavenoids
Caffeic acid derivatives
Nicitine
Contraindication
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Harvest before leaflets are 90 degrees from stem to minimize silica irritation
Don’t give in people with nicatine addiction or withdrawls
Don’t give to gout pts because of uric acid content
Long term will depleat thiamine in body (after 1 mo use, suppliment thiamine)
Best as a cold infusion
Equestrium is for horses. Horses pee a whole bunch and at inappropriate times (just like bed
wetting kids). Horses also have long scholongs that need a healthy prostate to get up. They have
long flowing hair/manes (and this is good for connective tissue and hair). Horses wear horseshoes
which help (kidney) stones from getting into their hooves. Cowboys drink coffee in the morning
(caffeic acid) and they smoke (nicotine).
Apium graveolens (celery)
 Action/indications
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Active constituents
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Sedative nervine for muscle tenstion and nervousness – relieves spasmotic
tension d/t stress and nerves
Antispasmotic
Good for gout, helps clear out uric acid
Has affinity to rinse and drain joints
3-butylpthalide (sedative effect by inhibiting catacholamines)
Volatile oils
Thalide lactones
Furanocumerins
Flavenoids
Contraindication
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Not on preggos
Can cause photosensitive rashes and contact dermatitis externally (due to
furanocumerins)
Try to use fresh, rather than dried, seeds
Petroselinum cruspum (parsley)
 Action/indications
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Active constituents
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Aquaretic and emennogogue
Antiinflam, spasmolytic, carminative
Stimulates uterine to shed and flush (induces period)
Good for UTIs, kidney stones
Good for prostate conditions
Aphrodesiac and breath freshener
Furanocumarins
Volatile oils
Vitamins and minerals (lots of Vit K)
Flavenoids
Contraindication
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People on blood thinners d/t Vit K content
Estrogenic effects as strong as soy (high in phytoestrogens)
Urtica dioica (nettles)
 Action/indications
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Very nutrative
Great for eczema
Good for emesis
Expectorant
Anti-rheumatic and good for gout
Reduces BPH
Anti-allergenic
Good for diarrhea
Immune modulator
UTIs and is diuretic
Active constituents
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EPA and omega 3 oils
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Sterols
Flavenoids
Mineral salts
Seratonin
Formic and acetic acid
Contraindication
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None except the sting
D/t high mineral content, cold infusion of leaves is best. Add a little
acid/vinegar to bring out the minerals for a tonic.
Taraxacum officinale
 Action/indications
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Root is a cholegogue
Leaves are bitters and a diuretic in large amounts
Contains lots of vit K
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Active constituents
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Contraindication
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Sesquiterpene lactones
None for this section
Anti-lithics
Hydrangea arborescens (hydrangea)
 Action/indications
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Active constituents
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Best anti-lithic
Antispasmolytic
Anti fever
Best for bladder irritation and kidney stones
Astringent and tonifying
Demulcent so good for respiratory irritation or bronchitis
Flavenoids
Volitile oils
Resins
Hydraginglycosides
Sacchanine
Furanocumerin
Contraindication
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Decoct bark or root
Can OD; sx include vertigo, chest tightness, gastritis, cholestatic hepatitis
Eupatorium purpurea (gravel root/Queen of the Meadow)
 Action/indications
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Active constituents
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Good for stone prevention but not for breaking up one already formed
Diuretic
Good for stones, rheumatism, and arthritis
Volitile oils
Resins
Contraindication
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None
Urinary Antiseptics
Arctostaphylos uva ursi (bear berry)
 Action/indications
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Active constituents
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First line of tx for UTIs
Good for hot, burning urine
Diuretic
Anit-inflamm
Urethritis after alcohol or carb bingeing
Mucous in urine
Arbutin (prevents bacterial adherence)
Tannins
Allantoin (increases mucosal cell proliferation)
Lupeol (volatile oil)
Contraindication
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Don’t use longer than one week (irritating to kidney and gut)
Vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry)
 Action/indications
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Active constituents
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Bacteriostatic (can’t adhere to wall and can’t reproduce)
Acute UTIs
Gum disease and stomach ulcers
Makes urine acidic
Proanthocyanadins (bacteriostatic properties)
Vit C
Hippuric acid
Contraindication
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Bitter so can mix with blueberry juice
Needs to be 100% (no sugar added)
Chimaphila umbellata (pipissewa)
 Action/indications
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Active constituents
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Anti-bacterial
Drives to kidneys (methyl salycilates)
Acute UTIs
Tonifying (but more gentle than Uva Ursi)
Diuretic
Good for glucose in urine to tonify leaky nephrons
Methyl salycilates
Arbutin
Tannins
Contraindication
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Needs to be used with other herbs because isn’t strong enough by itself
Agathosma betulina (buchu)
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Action/indications
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Active constituents
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Antiseptic (tho better tonifier)
Good for allergies
Sooths and tonifies
Stimulating diuretic
Diaphoretic
Best for Chronic rather than acute UTIs
Prostatitis and urethritis (anti-inflamm)
Nervine (anxiety and any of these things)
Volitile oils
Flavenoids
tannins
Contraindication
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None
Elymus repens (couchgrass)
 Action/indications
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Active constituents
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UT irritation, Gastric irritation
Great for someone getting over the flu
Bronchial irritation (expectorant)
Saponins (soothing)
Lots of carbohydrates (including mannitol - sweet)
High in minerals, electrolytes, nutrients
Beta carotene
Volatile oil
Contraindication
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Do this in a tea; the high carbs make poor tincture
Zea mays (corn silk)
 Action/indications
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Active constituents
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Potent diuretic in tea form
Prostititis and urethritis
Good for trying to pass kidney stone
Use with detox for dark and irritating urine
Eases urine flow (d/t demulcent action)
Allantoin
Alkaloids
Demulcent
Vitamine and minerals
Contraindication
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Great to pair with other herbs
Parietaria judiaca (pellitory of the wall)
 Action/indications
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Highly allergenic pollen
Demulcent
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Active constituents
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Diuretic but potassium sparing (aquaretic)
Chronic problems like recurrent cystitis and nephritis
Troporestorative for kidneys
Good for edema with cough (pointing to CHF)
Burns and wounds for healing topically
High potassium
Glucoproteins
Flavenoids
Contraindication
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Safe with all meds