Wild celery Apium graveolens

Native to Europe, the Mediterranean region, and western Asia, celery has long been cultivated
as a vegetable and cooked or used raw in dishes such as Waldorf salad (celery, walnuts, and
apple). Medicinally, the seeds and essential oil of celery are used mainly for urinary and arthritic
disorders, and also to help clear uric acid from joints affected by gout.

LEAVES
Also known as smallage, wild celery is a more leafy plant than cultivated varieties,
with divided, wedgeshaped leaves

STEM
The fleshy stems can be juiced as a detoxifying remedy.

PARTS USED Seeds, stalks, essential oil
MAIN CONSTITUENTS Volatile oil (incl.limonene, apiol, selinene, and phthalides),
coumarins, furanocoumarins, flavonoids,minerals (incl. iron, phosphorus,and potassium)

ACTIONS Antirheumatic, sedative, urinary antiseptic, diuretic, carminative, hypotensive,
antispasmodic, galactagogue, antiinflammatory,encourages elimination
of uric acid, antifungal activity reported.




HOW TO USE

DECOCTION Use 1⁄2oz (15g) of seeds to 1 pint (600ml) of water, simmer for
10 minutes and take in 1⁄2–1 cup doses 3 times daily for rheumatic disorders,
gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and urinary tract inflammations.

MASSAGE OIL Use 20 drops (1ml) oil in 4fl oz (120ml) of almond oil and massage
into the abdomen for indigestion,flatulence, and liver congestion. Use also
for sciatica, rheumatism, and arthritis.


FOOTBATH Add 20 drops (1ml) oil to a bowl of warm water to soak feet or toe
joints with very painful gout.

JUICE Liquidize the stalks (ribs) and leaves and drink in 1 cup doses as a remedy for
debility and nervous exhaustion.

HOW TO SOURCE

GROW Prefers moist, well-drained soil in full sun. Plant the seeds in seed trays in
spring, cover with a thin layer of compost,and place in a heated propagator or on
a warm window sill. Transfer to 3in (7.5cm)pots, and when 4in (10cm) tall plant in
final growing positions 12in (30cm) apart.

FORAGE Grows wild in coastal areas.
HARVEST Pick the cultivated variety as a vegetable in the first year; collect the
seeds when ripe in the second summer.

CAUTION Do not use seeds if pregnant.Do not use cultivated seeds medicinally,
as they are often treated with fungicides.Do not take the essential oil internally
unless under professional supervision.

Marshmallow Althaea officinalis

Originally found in coastal areas of Europe, marshmallow is now widely naturalized. The plant’s
botanical name comes from the Greek verb, altho (to heal), and it has been valued for its soothing
and healing action, both internally and externally, for at least 3,500 years. As well as being used
medicinally, both the root and leaves can be eaten as vegetables.

FLOWERS
The pale pink flowers bloom in summer: a traditional French recipe combines them with the
flowers of corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas), sweet violet (Viola odorata), and mullein in a
tisane des quatre fleurs.

LEAVES
The leaves can be cooked and eaten like cabbage,or the leaf tipseaten in salads.


PARTS USED Root, leaves, flowers
MAIN CONSTITUENTS Root: asparagine,mucilage, polysaccharides, pectin, tannins
Leaves: mucilage, flavonoids, coumarin,salicylic, and other phenolic acids
ACTIONS Root: demulcent, expectorant,diuretic, wound herb
Leaves: expectorant, diuretic, demulcent
Flowers: expectorant


HOW TO USE


MACERATION Soak 1oz (30g) of root in 1 pint (600ml) of cold water overnight and
strain: the result can often be very thick and mucilaginous and may need further
dilution. Take 1⁄2–1 cup 3 times daily for acid reflux, gastric ulceration, cystitis,
and dry coughs.


POULTICE Make a paste from 1 tsp of powdered root mixed with a little water
and use on boils, abscesses, ulcers, or poorly healing infected wounds.

OINTMENT Use to draw pus, splinters,or thorns.

INFUSION Drink 1 cup (1–2 tsp dried leaves per cup of boiling water) 3 times daily for
bronchitis, bronchial asthma, or pleurisy.

SYRUP Make a syrup by combining 1 pint (600ml) of a standard infusion of fresh
flowers with 1lb (450g) of honey or syrup;bring to a boil and simmer gently for
10–15 minutes. Take 1 tsp (5ml) doses as required.

HOW TO SOURCE

GROW Prefers fertile, moist, well-drained soil in full sun; tolerates other conditions.
Sow seed in trays of compost in midsummer and transplant to 3in (7.5cm) pots when
large enough to handle. Plant the following spring. Alternatively, divide plants in
autumn. Can self-seed enthusiastically in ideal conditions.

FORAGE Likely to be found in ditches,riversides, tidal zones, and pond margins,
especially in coastal areas. Gather the flowers in summer to make a cough syrup,
or the leaves during the growing period.The root can be boiled as a vegetable.
HARVEST Dig the root in autumn. Cut the aerial parts as the plant starts to flower.

Lemon verbena Aloysia triphylla

Originally found growing in rocky areas of Chile and Argentina, lemon verbena is now cultivated
worldwide both as a highly aromatic garden ornamental and for use in perfumery. It is also used
in potpourri or in cooking to give a strong lemony taste to desserts, marinades, and fruit drinks.
It is traditionally regarded as both soothing and uplifting, so is used in restorative teas.

LEAVES
The leaves are steam-distilled to make an essential oil, which is used in aromatherapy
for digestive and nervous problems.


FLOWERS
Tiny white or pale lilac flowers appear in summer, which is generally when the
leaves are harvested.





PARTS USED Leaves, essential oil
MAIN CONSTITUENTS Volatile oil (incl. citral, nerol, and geraniol)
ACTIONS Sedative, carminative,antispasmodic, febrifuge, stimulates liver
and gall bladder function, some antifungal activity (to Candida albicans) reported.


HOW TO USE



INFUSION Use 1⁄2 tsp dried leaves per cup (p342) after meals for flatulence or at night
for insomnia. Combine with dandelion leaves and drink 3 times daily to improve
liver function. Can be used to ease feverish conditions in children; consult a herbalist
for advice on dosage.

BATHS Add 1 cup of above infusion to bathwater to ease stress and tension.

MASSAGE OIL True lemon verbena oil is difficult to obtain, as it is often adulterated
with other lemon-scented oils. Use 5 drops in 1 tbsp (15ml) of almond oil as a massage
for cramps, indigestion, anxiety, insomnia,or other stress-related conditions.


HOW TO SOURCE


GROW Prefers full sun and moist but well-drained soil. Usually propagated by
heeled softwood cuttings in summer; it also self-seeds if it sets fruit after a hot summer.
It is not frost-hardy, so in colder areas is best grown in containers and over-wintered
under glass. Alternatively, cut back to the wood, keep dry, and protect with fleece or
straw lagging in winter (it should survive temperatures as low as 5°F/-15°C).


FORAGE Unlikely to be found growing wild outside South America, although
self-seeding in warmer areas is possible.
HARVEST Collect the leaves in summer.


CAUTION Prolonged use or large internal doses can cause gastric
irritation. The oil can irritate sensitive skin and is photosensitizing, so avoid
bright sunlight if using it externally.

Aloe vera

Native to tropical Africa, where it has been used as an antidote to poison arrow wounds, aloe vera
reached Europe in ancient times and was well known to the Greeks and Romans as a wound
herb. The sap is cooling and healing and for centuries has been used to treat burns, inflammation,
and skin ulcers, while the whole leaf is purgative. Internal use is restricted in some countries.

LEAVES
The leaves are thick, spiky,and grey-green in color;red spots sometimes
appear on young leaves The gel contained in the fleshy leaves is antibacterial to both
Staphylococcus aureus and several species of Streptococcus.




PARTS USED Leaves, gel
MAIN CONSTITUENTS Anthraquinone glycosides (incl. aloin and aloe-emodin),
resins, polysaccharides, sterols, saponins, chromones.

ACTIONS Purgative, cholagogue, wound healer, tonic, demulcent, antibacterial,
antifungal, styptic, sedative, anthelmintic.

HOW TO USE

FRESH GEL Split open a leaf and use the gel directly, or scrape it out with a blunt
knife. Apply directly to burns, sunburn, dry skin, wounds, fungal infections, diaper rash,
shingles, ringworm, insect bites, allergic rashes, eczema, or any itchy skin condition.


TINCTURE Made from the whole pulped leaf. Take 1 tsp (5ml) 3 times daily for
constipation or take 10–60 drops (0.5–3ml)3 times daily for poor appetite or to
stimulate bile flow in sluggish digestion.


CAPSULES Commercially made from powdered leaf. Use in 100–500mg doses
for constipation.

HAIR RINSE Combine 2 tsp (10ml) of gel with 1⁄2 cup of standard chamomile
infusion (p342) and use as a conditioner.

HOW TO SOURCE

GROW Prefers well-drained sandy soil in full sun with a moderate summer water
supply and dry winters. Usually propagated by breaking off and replanting the small
offsets that appear on mature plants, but can be grown from seeds sown in spring
or early summer at 70°F (21°C). Grown as a houseplant in temperate areas; benefits
from being kept outside in warm summers.


FORAGE Likely to be found growing wild in tropical regions only. Easily confused with
many related, generally larger, species that grow outside in warmer regions.




HARVEST Collect the gel and leaves from plants as required throughout the year.


CAUTION Do not take aloe vera internally during pregnancy.

Lady’s mantle Fertility and contraception

As its name suggests, lady’s mantle has a long tradition of gynecological uses and has been
a remedy for menstrual irregularities, heavy menstrual bleeding, and to ease childbirth. The
plant originated in northern Europe and mountainous regions further south. In recent years
it has become a popular garden plant highly valued by flower arrangers for its flower stems.



FLOWERS
Dense clusters of tiny flowers appear in late spring and early summer and can be harvested
with the leaves

LEAVES
The lobed leaves were thought to resemble a traditional woman’s shawl or mantle,
hence the name.

STEM
The tall flower stems develop from a basal rosette of leaves.



PARTS USED Aerial parts
MAIN CONSTITUENTS Tannins, salicylic acid, saponins, phytosterols, volatile oil,
bitter principle.
ACTIONS Astringent, menstrual regulator,digestive tonic, anti-inflammatory,
wound herb

HOW TO USE

INFUSION Drink 1 cup (2 tsp herb per cup of boiling water) up to 5 times a day for
acute diarrhea or gastroenteritis, or to ease heavy menstrual bleeding or period pain.

TINCTURE Take 20–40 drops (1–2ml) 3 times daily to help regulate the menstrual
cycle or, if combined with the same quantity of St. John’s wort, to ease period pains.




LOTION/DOUCHE Use the infusionabove externally as a wash to bathe
weeping eczema or skin sores.




GARGLE 1 cup of above infusion can be used as a gargle for sore throats, laryngitis,
or as a mouthwash for mouth ulcers.

CREAM/OINTMENT/PESSARIES Apply night and morning for vaginal discharges
or itching. Insert 1 pessary at night. If symptoms do not improve in 2–3 days, seek
medical advice.




HOW TO SOURCE



GROW A hardy, clump-forming perennial,lady’s mantle prefers moist, well-drained
soil in full sun or dappled shade. The round, finely toothed leaves can have up
to 11 distinct lobes. It can be grown from seed sown directly in spring or by division
in spring or summer. Lady’s mantle will self-seed enthusiastically.

FORAGE Found throughout northern Europe and the mountainous regions of
central and southern Europe. It can also be found self-seeding outside gardens in
other areas throughout the summer.


HARVEST Gather the whole aerial parts throughout the summer.

Agrimonia eupatoria Agrimony

Widely found in Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa, agrimony has been used as a medicinal
herb since ancient times. Originally used for eye problems and diarrhea or dysentery, it later
became a favorite wound herb on the battlefield, and is used today for urinary disorders and
poor digestion. A related Chinese variety, Agrimonia pilosa, is used in similar ways in East Asia.



FLOWERS
The yellow flowers produce bristly fruitswith spiny burs in autumn
The distinctive yellow flower racemes can be easily spotted in damp
hedges and ditches in summer.
LEAVES
Both the downy leavesand flowers are used for digestive or urinary
problems, and as a wound herb.



PARTS USED Aerial parts 

MAIN CONSTITUENTS Tannins,coumarins, volatile oil, flavonoids,
minerals (incl. silica), vitamins B and K.
ACTIONS Astringent, diuretic, tissue healer, hemostatic, cholagogue, tonic,
vulnerary, some antiviral activity reported.

HOW TO USE

INFUSION Drink 1 cup (1–2 tsp herb per cup of boiling water) 3 times daily to
improve sluggish digestion or to help strengthen the digestive system in cases
of food intolerance. Agrimony is an ideal herb for children with diarrhea (consult
a herbalist for children’s dosage, and can also be taken by nursing mothers
to dose babies.



LOTION Use a standard infusion to bathe cuts, scrapes, skin sores, weeping
eczema, and varicose ulcers. It can be applied several times daily.

GARGLE Use 1 cup of above infusion as a gargle for hoarseness, sore throats,
and laryngitis.


TINCTURE Take 20–80 drops (1–4ml) 3 times daily for cystitis, urinary infections,
or incontinence. For severe or persistent urinary symptoms, seek urgent medical
advice to avoid potential kidney damage.


HOW TO SOURCE


GROW Prefers damp, fertile soil, and will tolerate partial shade or full sun. Sow the
seeds in a cold frame in autumn or spring and transplant them when they are large
enough to handle.

FORAGE Commonly found on wasteland or in damp hedges. It is easily noticeable
because of its tall bright yellow flower spikes. Gather the whole aerial parts
in summer.


HARVEST Gather in summer while
in flower.

CAUTION This astringent herb is
best avoided if constipated.

Purple giant hyssop Agastache rugosa

Native to eastern Asia, including parts of India, China, and Japan, purple giant hyssop is also
known as Korean mint. It is one of two species that are known as huo xiang in Chinese medicine,
and which have been used for at least 1,500 years. Huo xiang is largely taken for digestive
problems associated with nausea, vomiting, and poor appetite.



FLOWERS
The dramatic purple to rose-violet flowers,which appear in summer, are much
loved by honey bees and a favorite with flower arrangers.

LEAVES
The serrated, heart shaped leaves smell of a mixture of spearmint and liquorice and can
be used to flavor meat recipes and sauces.



PARTS USED Aerial parts, essential oil MAIN CONSTITUENTS Volatile oil (incl.
methyl chavicol, anethole, anisaldehyde,limonene, pinene, linalool)
ACTIONS Antibacterial, anti-fungal febrifuge, carminative, diaphoretic,



INFUSION Drink 1 cup (1-2 tsp aerial parts per cup of boiling water) 1–2 times a
day for abdominal bloating and indigestion.
LOTION/OINTMENT Use 1 cup of infusion to bathe ringworm patches, or make into
an ointment and apply 2–3 times daily.Alternatively, add 10 drops of the essential
oil to 1 tbsp (15ml) of almond oil.
TINCTURE Take 10–40 drops in a little water to relieve nausea.

DECOCTION In traditional Chinese medicine it is combined in decoctions with such herbs
as huang qin (baikal skullcap, Scutellaria baicalensis) and lian qiao (forsythia fruits,
Forsythia suspensa) for acute diarrhea.

PATENT REMEDIES Included in various Chinese patent formulae, such as huo
xiang zheng qi san (powder for dispelling turbidity with giant hyssop) which is used
to clear “dampness.” Follow the dosage directions on the package.


HOW TO SOURCE

GROW Prefers well-drained, fertile soil with well-rotted organic matter in full sun. Can
be grown from seeds planted in 3in (7cm) pots and transplanted to their final growing
position when large enough to handle.

FORAGE Unlikely to be found growing wild beyond its native habitat, although
cultivated plants that then self-seed are possible. Collect leaves throughout the
growing season and use in any recipe that requires mint. They can also be infused
to make a refreshing tea.

HARVEST The aerial parts are gathered
in summer before flowering.


CAUTION In Chinese medicine it should be avoided in cases of fever.
Avoid therapeutic doses in pregnancy.

Yarrow Achillea millefolium

Achillea millefolium

Native to Europe and western Asia, yarrow was traditionally used to treat wounds, although it was
also once used in Germany and the Nordic countries as an alternative to hops in beer-making.
Today it is valued for its astringent and anti-catarrhal properties, and is used in remedies for colds
and urinary disorders. It is widely naturalized in North America, New Zealand, and Australia.

FLOWERS
White, occasionally tinged pink, musk-scented flowers are produced from early
summer to late autumn.

LEAVES
The feathery leaves were once used in poultices to encourage blood clots to develop
when treating battlefield wounds and severe bleeding.

STEM

The tough stem and leaves can be harvested together in summer.
The whole plant is highly aromatic


PARTS USED Leaves, flowers, essential oil MAIN CONSTITUENTS Volatile oil,
isovalerianic acid, asparagine, salicylic acid, sterols, flavonoids

ACTIONS Astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic,
peripheral vasodilator, digestive stimulant,restorative for menstrual system, febrifuge
Essential oil: anti-inflammatory,anti-allergenic




How to use:

INFUSION Drink 1 cup (1-2 tsp herb per cup of boiling water) 3 times a day to
encourage sweating and reduce fevers;combines well with peppermint for common
colds. One cup stimulates the appetite.

TINCTURE Take 20–40 drops (1–2 ml)
3 times daily, usually with herbs such ascouchgrass or buchu, for urinary disorders.

FRESH LEAVES A single leaf inserted inthe nostril will rapidly stop a nosebleed.
OINTMENT Apply to minor cuts and grazes.MASSAGE OIL Add 10 drops of yarrow oil
to 5 tsp (25ml) of infused St. John’s wort oil to make a rub for hot, inflamed joints.

STEAM INHALATION Use 1 tbsp fresh flowers in boiling water to ease hay fever
symptoms. Inhale the steam for at least 2–3 minutes.


HOW TO SOURCE

GROW Prefers a well-drained position in full sun, but is tolerant of a wide range
of conditions. Sow seeds in spring.
Propagation by root division is best in spring or autumn. It can easily become invasive.
FORAGE Generally found in pasture,hedges, or among grass in meadows
throughout Europe.

HARVEST Gather leaves and aerial partsin summer, and flowers when they appear.

CAUTION In rare cases yarrow can cause skin rashes, and prolonged use
can increase skin photosensitivity.Avoid during pregnancy. Essential oils
should not be taken internally without professional advice.

phytodolor

Ingredients:

Common ash (European ash) (Fraxinus excelsior L.) bark
Aspen (quaking aspen) (Populus tremula L.) bark and leaf
Goldenrod (European goldenrod) (Solidago virgaurea L.)
aerial parts


Phytodolor™ is a formula containing extracts of common ash
(Fraxinus excelsior L.) bark, aspen (Populus tremula L.) bark and
leaves, and goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea L.) aerial parts. Aspen
bark and leaves contain salicylates (Schulz, Hänsel, and Tyler, 2001).
Salicylates are perhaps more widely known as constituents of willow
bark, and for the synthetic derivative acetylsalicylic acid (known as
aspirin). Salicylates are generally known for their ability to reduce inflammation,
pain, and fever. Ash preparations contain coumarins that
have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties (Bruneton, 1999).
Goldenrod preparations contain flavonoids, saponins, and phenol
glycosides. Extracts and individual constituents have demonstrated
diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activity (Blumenthal,
Goldberg, and Brinkmann, 2000).


Phytodolor is a combination of the extracts of common ash bark,
aspen bark and leaves, and goldenrod aerial parts in the ratio of 1:3:1.
The individual extracts are prepared according to the following plantto-
extract ratios: ash (4.5:1), aspen (4.5:1), and goldenrod (4.8:1).
The formula as a whole is standardized to contain salicin (0.75
mg/ml), salicylic alcohol (0.042 mg/ml), isofraxidin (0.015 mg/ml),
and rutin (0.06 mg/ml). The recommended dose is 20 drops (1 ml)
three to four times daily. Phytodolor is manufactured in Germany by
Steigerwald Arzneimittel GmbH and is no longer distributed in the
United States.



We reviewed three double-blind, placebo-controlled trials that examined
the use of Phytodolor to treat the pain and inflammation associated
with various degenerative rheumatic joint diseases or arthritis.
The most common degenerative disease is osteoarthritis, caused by
wear and tear on the joint. It is characterized by the breakdown of
joint cartilage and adjacent bone in the neck, lower back, knees, hips,
and/or fingers. The symptoms include pain, stiffness, and swelling in
the joints. Degeneration of the joints also occurs with rheumatoid arthritis,
an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system
attacks the membranes surrounding the joints.
Common first-line treatments for relief of symptoms of degenerative
joint diseases are the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs), which include aspirin and other salicylic acid derivatives,
acetaminophen, indomethacin, ibuprofen, and diclofenac (Hardman
et al., 1996).

Prostane

Ingredients:

Salep orchid (Orchis mascula L.) tuber
Hygrophila (Astercantha longifolia Nees.) seed
Lettuce (Lactuca scariola L.) seed
Cow-itch (Mucuna pruriens (L.)DC.) seed
Elephant creeper (Argyreia speciosa [L. f.] Sweet) root
Small caltrops (Tribulus terrestris L.) fruit
Jeevanti (Leptandenia reticulataW. & A.) whole
Stone flower [Parmelia perlata (Huds.) Ach.] whole

Prostane® is manufactured by The Himalaya Drug Company in
India and distributed in the United States by Himalaya USA. Each
tablet contains 600 mg of a proprietary blend of eight herbs. Prostane
is also sold as ProstaCare®. The product is called “Speman” in the
clinical trial we reviewed. Unfortunately that trial did not include any
details on the product, so we were unable to compare the material
used in the trial to the current product.


We reviewed one study with Prostane for treatment of acute and
chronic urinary retention due to prostate enlargement. A nonmalignant
enlargement of the prostate that is common in men older than 40
years of age is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Symptoms
of BPH include increased urinary urgency and frequency, urinary
hesitancy, intermittency, sensation of incomplete voiding, and decreased
force of the urine stream.


Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

An open, placebo-controlled study with Prostane included 55 men
with acute and chronic urinary retention due to prostate enlargement.
Forty-seven participants had BPH, six had fibrotic disease, and two
had prostate cancer. Forty-five of the patients were treated with
Prostane and ten served as controls. Approximately 74 percent (28 of
38) of those in the treatment group with BPH had improved symptoms
and decreases in prostate size and urinary congestion after 10 to
14 days of treatment with two tablets three times daily. The other ten
in the treatment group with BPH required surgery (prostatectomy).
All men that served as controls required surgery (Mukherjee, Ghosh,
and De, 1986). The clinical efficacy of Prostane in this study was
rated as undetermined due to poor study design.


No side effects were reported in a clinical trial with 45 subjects
given two tablets three times daily for a month (Mukherjee, Ghosh,
and De, 1986).

Resistex

Ingredients:

Astragalus [Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch. ex Link)
Bunge] root
Eleuthero (Siberian ginseng) [Eleutherococcus senticosus
(Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim.] root
Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyey) root
Stephania (Stephania tetrandra S. Moore) root
Echinacea [Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench] root
Barrenwort (Epimedium grandiflorum C. Morren) leaf and
flower
Dong quai [Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels] root


Resistex® is manufactured and distributed by Botanica BioScience
Corporation. Each capsule contains 450 mg of a proprietary blend of
Echinacea purpurea root and extracts of astragalus, eleuthero (Siberian
ginseng), Asian ginseng, stephania, barrenwort, and dong quai.



The Resistex formula was developed with the intention of providing
resistance to infection with colds or flu. The initial cause of a cold
or flu is a viral infection. Colds are caused most commonly by a
rhinovirus and less often by a coronavirus. The influenza viruses
cause the flu. In theory, bolstering the immune system can prevent
disease or reduce symptoms. A number or herbal preparations have
been promoted as immunostimulants for this purpose, including
those containing echinacea and/or eleuthero (Wagner, 1997). Other
herbs have been described as adaptogenic, i.e., substances that assist
in nonspecific heightened resistance to stress. The adaptogenic properties
of these herbs may be due, in part, to antioxidant and/or
immunomodulatory activity (Davydov and Krikorian, 2000). Herbs
with adaptogenic activity ascribed to them include eleuthero, Asian
ginseng, ashwaganda, astragalus, and schisandra (Davydov and Krikorian,
2000; Wagner, Nörr, and Winterhoff, 1992; Wallace, 1998).


Cold and Flu (Prevention)

 
An open, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 61 participants
found Resistex to significantly reduce the incidence of colds and flu
compared to recall of the previous season. Subjects were divided into
three groups and given one or two tablets of Resistex or placebo.
Treatmentwas initially for four weeks, followed by a one-week intermission,
which was followed by several two-week treatment periods,
each separated by one-week intermissions. The total trial length was
four and a half months. As a result, the group that received two tablets
Resistex (900 mg daily) had a 67 percent reduction in the incidence of
colds and flu compared to the previous season. In comparison, the
group that received one tablet (450 mg daily) had a 43 percent reduction,
and the placebo group had a 14 percent reduction (Wang, 1998).
Methodological flaws, such as the dependence on recall for the previous
season’s incidence of colds and flu, and lack of detail in the trial
report led our reviewer, Dr. Richard O’Connor, to rate the clinical
outcome of this trial as undetermined.


No side effects were reported in a controlled clinical trial with 61
patients that used a dose of 900 mg per day (Wang, 1998).

Sinupret

Ingredients:

Gentian (yellow gentian) (Gentiana lutea L.) root
Cowslip (primrose) (Primula veris L.) flower
Sorrel (sour dock) (Rumex acetosa L.) aerial parts
European elder (Sambucus nigra L.) flower
European vervain (vervain wort) (Verbena officinalis L. ssp.
officinalis) aerial parts



Sinupret® is manufactured in Germany by Bionorica Arzneimittel
GmbH. It contains a blend of five powdered plant materials: gentian
root, European elder flower, European vervain aerial parts, cowslip
flower, and sorrel aerial parts. Each tablet contains 78 mg of herbs.
Sinupret is also sold in a liquid form: 100 g contains 29 g of aqueous
alcoholic extracts (59 percent ethanol) of the herbs mentioned
previously. Sinupret is distributed in the United States by Mediceutix,
Inc.

Sinupret was approved as a drug to treat acute and chronic sinusitis
by the federal authorities in Germany in 1997. Sinusitis is characterized
by symptoms of nasal obstruction, discharge, postnasal drip,
headache, and sore throat. It is often caused by a bacterial infection,
and may follow a common cold or flu. Acute sinusitis may last for up
to three weeks, but if it lasts for three months, it is considered chronic.
Medical treatment is often aimed at eliminating the bacterial infection
(if present) and reducing symptoms of sinus congestion and nasal
discharge (Behr, 1998).

Two double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies on patients
with acute or chronic sinusitis were reviewed. In a good-quality trial,
160 subjects with acute sinusitis were given either Sinupret (two 78
mg tablets three times daily) or placebo in addition to antibiotic and
decongestant therapy. After two weeks, radiographic (X-ray) reports
and patients’ assessments showed significant improvement with Sinupret
compared with placebo (Neubauer and März, 1994).

The other trial, with poor methodological ratings, included 31 subjects
with chronic sinusitis and compared treatment with either the
liquid or tablet form of Sinupret with two matching placebos. After
one week of treatment, radiographic and ultrasound findings showed
improvement with both forms of Sinupret compared with placebo.
Complete recovery occurred in 12 of 16 subjects in the treatment
group and in 6 of 15 subjects in the placebo group (Richstein and
Mann, 1999).