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This health article is part three of four installments of our herbal supplements encyclopedia. Please see the bottom of this page for links to the other encyclopedia health article sections.

Marigold (Calendula)
Marigold is a beneficial herb for digestive problems, and is sometimes used in the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers. Calendula has anti-fungal properties and may be used both internally and externally to combat such infections.

Photo by Luis Brito

Marshmallow Root
Marshmallow root has been used in traditional European medicines for more than 2000 years. It is commonly used to soothe and stabilize the digestive tract.

Meadowsweet
Meadowsweet contains the analgesic substance “salicin,” which provides the basis for acetylsalicylic acid, or aspirin. Meadowsweet doesn’t relieve pain as well as aspirin (simply because it’s much lower in salicin), but it’s much less likely to cause aspirin’s major side effect — stomach upset. Some studies have shown that meadowsweet actually protects the stomach against aspirin-induced ulcers.

Milk Thistle
A compound in milk thistle seed known as “silymarin” has been shown to protect the liver from a variety of toxic substances. It prevents toxins from penetrating the interior of liver cells while promoting the growth of healthy new cells to repair liver damage. Milk thistle seed has demonstrated significant value in the treatment of hepatitis, cirrhosis, inflammatory liver disease and liver damage from toxic substances. It has also been used as an antidote for death-cap mushroom poisoning, and has antioxidant properties. Native to Europe, the milk thistle plant generally reaches a height of 2 to 5 feet. Also known as “Our Lady’s Thistle,” legend has it that the veins in the leaf of the milk thistle plant were turned white by drops of the Virgin Mary’s breast milk. Because of this legend, milk thistle was once used as a tonic for nursing mothers.

Parsley
Parsley seed, leaf and root are all used medicinally for urinary problems, but only the leaf and root have been thoroughly tested and found effective for kidney and bladder stones and urinary tract infections. In animal tests, parsley has been found to trigger and strengthen contractions of the uterus. In folk medicine, parsley is also used to treat stomach and intestinal disorders, jaundice, water retention and failure to menstruate, although its effectiveness for these ailments has not been scientifically proven. Juice pressed from fresh parsley is a folk remedy for insect bites.

Now grown worldwide, parsley originated somewhere in the Mediterranean regions. The Ancient Greeks employed it in their funeral rites, fashioning it into wreaths for their tombs. Ironically, this most widely used of kitchen herbs was never used for cooking in Ancient Greece. Instead, it was held sacred and reserved for the dead.

Although a common herb, parsley seems an unlikely candidate for medicinal use. The oil extracted from the plant is surprisingly potent, and in large doses it may be dangerous. Parsley is not recommended for people with water retention due to a heart or kidney condition, and it should not be used if there is a kidney inflammation. Do not take parsley if you have ever had an allergic reaction to parsley or its active ingredient, apiole, or if you are pregnant.

When using parsley to flush out the urinary system, be sure to drink large amounts of fluid. There is a slight possibility that parsley will cause a skin reaction. Contact with freshly harvested plants can increase sensitivity to the sun in light-skinned individuals. Refined parsley oil is considered too toxic for medicinal use, and high doses of parsley oil (or preparations rich in the oil) can be poisonous. Symptoms of poisoning include increased contractions of the bladder, intestines and uterus; excessive weight loss; bloody stools; nosebleeds; and, possibly, kidney shutdown. If you suspect you are having a toxic reaction, check with your doctor immediately.

Passion Flower
Although proven effective for edginess and insomnia, passion flower may also be used as a remedy for depression and nervous stomach. Homeopathic practitioners prescribe it for asthma and whooping cough. Applied externally, it has been used for hemorrhoids.

This perennial vine, which reaches 30 feet in length, grows naturally in the southeastern US, Brazil and Argentina, and is cultivated in Europe as a garden plant. The blossoms are considered symbolic of Christ’s Passion (their central corona, for example, represents the Crown of Thorns), which accounts for the plant’s name.

The above-ground parts of the plant hold its medicinal value. In animal tests, researchers found that passion flower slows the passage of food through the digestive tract.

Primrose
Both the flower and root of primrose are used medicinally. Documented therapeutic effects are a decongestant action and an effectiveness in thinning and loosening phlegm, which makes it easier to expel phlegm from the lungs. Folk remedies suggest the flower can be a remedy for headache, nerve pain and tremors, and may be used as a “heart tonic” for sensations of dizziness and cardiac insufficiency. Primrose root is taken for whooping cough, asthma, gout and insomnia. Also referred to as “cowslip,” primrose is used in homeopathic medicine for skin conditions and to whiten and smooth the skin.

At customary dosage levels primrose is generally safe, but there is a possibility of developing a sensitivity to the plant, particularly the leaves and flowers. Do not take primrose if it causes an allergic reaction. An overdose of primrose can lead to stomach problems, nausea and diarrhea.

Photo by Stephanie Berghaeuser

Rose Hip
A well-known source of vitamin C, rose hip is often recommended for boosting resistance and fighting infections, although there is no scientific evidence of this. The seed of rose hip is recommended for urinary tract infections and for treatment of rheumatism, gout, kidney disease, water retention and sciatica, which is nerve pain in the lower back and thigh. (These remedies also have no scientific evidence.) Named “dog rose” because it was once believed to have an effect against rabies, this prickly climber grows up to 10 feet in length and produces large white or pink flowers. The plant’s seed receptacle contains its vitamin C, and the seeds themselves have compounds that flush excess water from the body and exert a laxative effect.

Rosemary
In folk medicine, rosemary (also known as compass weed or polar plant) was used to make salves for poorly healing wounds and eczema. In homeopathic medicine the herb is used for female sexual disorders. (Its effectiveness for these purposes remains unproven.) It is the essential oil of rosemary that provides medicinal benefit, which includes an ability to control spasms in the gallbladder and upper intestine, improve the flow of blood to the heart and strengthen the action of the heart muscle. Oil of rosemary improves circulation when applied externally.

Historically, rosemary had a reputation for improving memory, which led to its becoming a sign of lovers’ fidelity and to its being worn at wedding ceremonies. In Italy and Spain, it was believed to ward off evil.

Skin reactions from contact with the herb have been observed on occasion. Ingesting very large quantities of rosemary leaves or oil can cause severe reactions. Although no cases of overdose are on record, it may potentially cause coma, spasm, vomiting, inflammation of the digestive tract, uterine bleeding, kidney irritation, swelling in the lungs and possibly death. If you suspect an overdose seek medical attention immediately.

Photo by Kristian Birchall

Read part one (A-F)
Read part two (G-L)
Read part four (S-Z)

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