Valerian December 12, 2007

From American Academy of Family Pediatrics

Valerian is a safe herbal choice for the treatment of mild insomnia and has good tolerability. Most studies suggest that it is more effective when used continuously rather than as an acute sleep aid; more rigorous studies are needed to confirm these results. A potential advantage of valerian over benzodiazepines is the lack of sleepiness on awakening when used at the recommended dosages. Valerian also may be helpful in weaning patients with insomnia from benzodiazepines. The use of valerian as an anxiolytic requires further study. Long-term safety studies are lacking.

Dosage

Based on the reviewed studies, the effective dosage of valerian root extract for treatment of insomnia ranges from 300 to 600 mg. An equivalent dose of dried herbal valerian root is 2 to 3 g, soaked in one cup of hot water for 10 to 15 minutes.²⁵ The product should be ingested 30 minutes to two hours before bedtime.

from wikipedia

Oral forms
Oral forms are available in both standardized and unstandardized forms. Standardized products may be preferable considering the wide variation of the chemicals in the dried root, as noted above. When standardized it is done so as a percentage of valerenic acid or valeric acid. Physician Formulas makes a 300 mg capsule standardized to 0.8% valerenic acid (2.4mg).  Nature’s Sunshine Time-Release Valerian tablet contains 500 mg of valerian root extract standardized to 0.8% valerenic acid (4mg).  Nature Made makes a 400mg capsule standardized to only 0.07% valerenic acid (0.28mg).  Nutraceutical makes two 50mg capsules under the names Solaray and Thompson standardized to 0.8% valeric acid (0.4mg)^.

Dosage is difficult to determine due to the lack of standardization and variability in available forms. Typical dosages of the crude herb vary from 1-10 grams per day. Valerian root is non-toxic but may cause side effects in excessive doses.

 

Flaxseed December 11, 2007

I’m not a doctor! This is just information I’ve collected for my families use only

 

From herbalist.com

Flaxseed derives from the Flax plant, which has been around since the beginning of the world. From the beginning of time the usefulness of Flaxseed for healing has been noted and well used by many civilizations. Flaxseed is one of the oldest and original of all healthy foods. The botanical name for Flaxseed is Linum usitatissimum and it was first used by the ancient Egyptians for both nutritional as well as medicinal reasons. Employed as a healing method during the days of the Roman Empire, Hippocrates used it frequently in treating his patients. In particular Flaxseed was once used as a mild laxative as it was found to be high in fiber and a gummy material called mucilage.

The Flax plant is blue in color and is readily to be found growing in the Western Canadian Prairies. Both the seeds and the oil are essential elements of the Flax plant. Flaxseed oil is very high in an essential fatty Acid called alpha-linolenic Acid (ALA) which is beneficial to those who suffer from circulatory problems and a variety of heart conditions. ALA is a member of the all-important substances known as omega-3 fatty acids.

Primrose December 11, 2007

I’m not a doctor! This is just information I’ve collected for my families use only

From herbalist.com

Primrose is a short-stemmed plant that comes from the genus Primula and sports tufted basal leaves that are somewhat egg-shaped in appearance and look more oblong once the plant has reached maturity. The Primrose plant has showy attractive looking flowers that bloom on different stalks. The Primrose plant is a wildflower that grows in North America, New Zealand, Europe and various places throughout Asia.
The importance of the Primrose plant or evening Primrose plant as it is sometimes referred to is that the seeds are full of a fatty oil that is beneficial for healing. The seeds of the plant are used to make evening Primrose oil which is especially beneficial for female problems such as premenstrual syndrome, uncomfortable Menstruation and endometriosis. Consuming evening Primrose oil on a regular basis can bring about a decrease in menstrual cramps, and breast tenderness. This special oil can also help to curb cravings for carbohydrates, decrease the incidence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) flare-ups and control the inflammation that accompanies endometriosis. Research studies have shown that many women who suffer from PMS have very low levels of GLA in their bodies.