This attractive, but thorny, deciduous shrub is native to the open woods
of Europe but also grows wild in the Eastern United States. Striking
plumes of yellow flowers arch gracefully and abundantly from woody stems.
The barberry, however, has b...
* Please Note: This information is based partly on Traditional Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
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Barberry
This attractive, but thorny, deciduous shrub is native to the open woods
of Europe but also grows wild in the Eastern United States. Striking
plumes of yellow flowers arch gracefully and abundantly from woody stems.
The barberry, however, has been cultivated in gardens for its berries
which have been used in both culinary and medicinal practices for
centuries. The stem, root, and bark have been used in medicinal
preparations since ancient times, so all parts of this exceptional plant
are beneficial from a health standpoint. The presence of bitter alkaloids
in the roots, bark, stems, and fruit of the barberry stimulate bile
secretion, aid in digestion, and promote healthy liver and gallbladder
function. Additionally, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic
properties, to name a few, make barberry an invaluable part of a treatment
program for a wide variety of disorders. Those with stubborn skin
infections or compromised digestive abilities may find barberry to be very
beneficial herb.
Buckthorn (Alder)
Buckthorn, or alder, is a tall shrub native to northern Europe. The bark
of alder buckthorn is removed, cut into small pieces, and dried for one
year before being used medicinally.
Buckthorn has been used as a
cathartic laxative in Northern and Central Europe for centuries. It is
still widely used today for constipation and resulting conditions such as
hemorrhoids and anal fissures. Buckthorn stimulates contractions of the
colon (peristalsis) and increases water content during stool
formation.
A closely related shrub, cascara sagrada, is more widely
known in North America due to its origins and cultivation on the Pacific
coast of Canada and the United States.
Couch Grass
Gardeners hate it - herbalists love it! Couch grass is a pernicious weed
that spreads rapidly by way of underground roots and rhizomes strangling
everything in its path. This aggressive perennial grass is found in all
parts of the world and has been used in medicine since the first century.
Couch grass had many uses in traditional medicine in many cultures,
especially for kidney ailments, and the roots are still used by
traditional peasants in South China and Hong Kong to make a herbal tonic
tea. Couch grass is recognized by the German E Commission for kidney and
urinary tract disorders, and its benefits are supported by in vitro
and animal studies.
Red Clover
Red clover is a multi-stemmed perennial that thrives in humid, grassy
meadows throughout the world. It is much larger than its familiar
relative, white clover, which is the low-growing, and vigorously spreading
lawn weed. Both, however, exhibit a similar "trifolium" (three
leaf) pattern and white arrowhead-shaped leaf markings. It is the compact,
pink flower tops of the red clover plant that are dried and used
medicinally - as they have been for centuries.
The expectorant and
anti-spasmodic properties of red clover justify its use for repiratory
conditions like asthma and bronchitis. It has also been used externally
for skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. The concentrated
isoflavones within red clover have been the subject of many studies, and
research suggests benefits for menopausal symptoms as well as cancer and
cardiovascular disorders.
Directions
Stir 1/4 of a teaspoon into a glass of water and consume 3 times daily, with meals.
Cautions
This is a stimulating laxative and should not be used for more than 1-2 weeks without medical advice. Do not use if pregnant or suffering from Crohn's, colitis, apendicitis or other gastrointestinal disorder.
Avoid Buckthorn if you have an intestinal obstruction, an acute inflammatory intestinal disorder such as Crohn's Disease, ulcerative colitis, appendicitis, or any abdominal pain of unknown origin.
Not for use by children under 12.
Buckthorn can cause abdominal pain or discomfort. If it does, reduce the dosage.
Do not take Buckthorn for more than 1 to 2 weeks without consulting a doctor. Long-term use can lead to potassium deficiency, intestinal dysfunction, heart problems, kidney disease, swelling, and bone problems.
Avoid combining Buckthorn with other medications that flush water and potassium from the body, including diuretics such as Diuril and Lasix, steroid drugs such as prednisone, and licorice root.
Potassium plays an important role in regulating the heart, so depleting it through long-term use of laxatives can affect the action of certain heart medications. There could be an increase in the effect of drugs such as digitalis and digoxin (Lanoxin). Medications taken to steady the heartbeat could also be affected.
Consult with your doctor before using Buckthorn while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Do not take Licorice if you have chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, or any disease that impedes the flow of bile from the liver. Avoid it also if you have abnormal muscle tension, poor kidney function, or low potassium levels in your blood.
When taken in high dosages for an extended period of time, Licorice Root may lead to excessive loss of salt from the blood, water retention, high blood pressure, and heart irregularities. Because of the possibility of these side effects, limit your use of Licorice to 6 weeks. The side effects disappear after the drug is discontinued.
Licorice can increase the potassium loss caused by the other drugs, such as diuretics that flush excess water from the body (Diuril, Zaroxolyn, others). This potassium loss can, in turn, increase your sensitivity to drugs containing digitalis, such as the heart medication Lanoxin.
Licorice may also increase the effects, and unwanted side effects, of steroid medications such as prednisone (Deltasone).
Do not take Licorice preparations during pregnancy.
With gallstones, only to be used after consultation with your physician.
Rhubarb Root may cause urine to appear yellow or red, but this is common and no cause for concern.
When using Couch Grass to flush out the urinary tract, be sure to take plenty of fluids.
Do not use Couch Grass if you have swelling caused by heart or kidney problems.
Additional Information
TerraVita is an exclusive line of premium-quality, natural source products that use only the finest, purest and most potent ingredients found around the world. TerraVita is hallmarked by the highest possible standards of purity, potency, stability and freshness. All of our products are prepared with the highest elements of quality control, from raw materials through the entire manufacturing process, up to and including the moment that the bottles or bags are sealed for freshness and shipped out to you. Our highest possible standards are certified by independent laboratories and backed by our personal guarantee.
TerraVita exists to meet and ensure your family's health and wellness without the harmful effects or chemicals and prescription medications. We strive to make all of our products affordable and reliable and are constantly searching the market to maintain our affordability and to look for new ways to serve you and the ones you love. TerraVita has become a trusted household name for many families and can bring you and yours the very best herbal supplements, blends, teas and spices that are on the market today.
TerraVita is packed in childproof, tamper-proof pharmaceutical-grade recyclable containers.
ZooScape is proud to be the exclusive distributor of TerraVita teas, herbs and supplements in the United States, Canada and around the world. Please direct all wholesale and bulk inquiries to Simona Heather at 905-494-1785.
Related Reading - As Voted by You!
Wild Almond Line
Publisher's Notes "The Wild Almond Line is a memoir like no other, exploring the complexities of war, racism and culture. Apartheid, the Holocaust, memory, dispossession, and personal and communal responsibility are all threads which unravel slowly as journalist Larry Schwartz tells his, and his family's story." "South Africa was at war. Mostly with itself. The battle was on for the hearts and minds of the white community, and young white men, conscripted to defend the country, were leaving in droves. A reluctant conscript, Schwartz had intended to flee. Instead, he found himself on a troop train, lugging a battered guitar and books on Zen, headed north to a camp outside Pretoria to serve in the odious army of apartheid." Wry, rueful and evocative, the story alternates between a military and generational saga in which Larry Schwartz traces his family through migration from eastern Europe at the turn of the century, to its experience of a country where black is seperated from white by the wild almond line.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor. The essence of the current American rule on Traditional Uses is, as stated by FTC, "Claims based on historical or traditional use should be substantiated by confirming scientific evidence, or should be presented in such a way that consumers understand that the sole basis for the claim is a history of use of the product for a particular purpose."
