Read The Everything Guide to Herbal Remedies Online
Authors: Martha Schindler Connors
The Everything Guide to Herbal Remedies (28 page)
Several species of bugs—including bees, wasps, and hornets—can sting you, leaving behind venom and sometimes a stinger, plus a welt that’s itchy or painful or both. Biting insects, such as ticks, spiders, fleas, and mosquitoes, like to take away something (usually a bit of blood), and leave a bit of saliva that creates a reaction (usually itching and inflammation) in return.
Conventional medicine typically treats these problems with OTC anesthetics and anti-inflammatory/anti-itch medicines such as corticosteroids and antihistamines. Herbal alternatives include these:
| • Echinacea ( Echinacea purpurea ) | Used topically, echinacea is a mild anesthetic and antiseptic that fights infection and speeds healing. In the lab, it’s been shown to reduce inflammation and swelling better than a topical NSAID. |
| • Eucalyptus ( Eucalyptus globulus ) | Eucalyptus oil works as a topical antiseptic and painkiller; it can relieve pain and itching, speed healing, and prevent infection. |
| • Sangre de Grado ( Croton lechleri ) | This South American tree is known for its anti-inflammatory and woundhealing prowess. Research shows it can relieve the pain and itching caused by all sorts of insects—including fire ants, wasps, and bees— and poisonous plants. It’s also good for treating cuts and scrapes. |
| • Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) | A powerful astringent, witch hazel can dry up “weeping” rashes and create a virtual bandage over the area by sealing cell membranes and reducing the permeability of surrounding blood vessels. Research shows that it performs better than hydrogen peroxide in helping skin heal (it’s also a strong antimicrobial and antioxidant). |
| • Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) | Tea tree oil reduces histamine-induced (allergic) inflammation of the skin and can decrease the welt left from insect bites and stings. It also has antibacterial properties to help prevent infection. |
Conventional insect repellants use chemicals such as N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, better known as DEET, to keep biting insects at bay. Products that contain the chemical permethrin, which is both a repellant and an insecticide, can be applied to your clothing and personal items.
DEET and permethrin can be toxic to people as well as insects, and research shows that they might cause neurological problems and most definitely cause skin reactions (permethrin is designed to be used on clothing only—not skin—and many experts advise saving the DEET for your clothes, too). Herbal alternatives include these:
| • Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora) | Camphor (the herb) contains camphor (the chemical), which is a natural insect repellant. It’s also an effective pain and itch reliever (approved by the FDA), so you can also use it to treat bites you’ve already got. |
| • Lemon eucalyptus | The oil from this Australian native is registered with the Food and Drug |
| (Eucalyptus citriodora, Corymbia citriodora) | Administration and was recently approved as an insect repellant by the Centers for Disease Control. |
| • Neem ( Azadirachta indica ) | Topical neem preparations have been shown to repel several different species of mosquitoes. |
Self-Care and Beauty
Over the last few millennia, humans have put a lot of effort into looking good. Primitive people used twigs to keep their teeth clean, the ancients used fragrant and naturally frothing plants to clean themselves, and Roman women dabbed on creams made with olive oil, rose water, and saffron to keep their skin glowing. Many of the ingredients used in modern lotions and potions are the same as our forbears used—and many more are synthetic concoctions that may actually do more harm than good.
Modern cosmetics contain a laboratory’s worth of synthetic chemicals, virtually all of which are deemed safe—or safe enough—by the government. Unfortunately, that’s not much of a guarantee. Many people choose herbal self-care products over comparable conventional products because of concerns over safety.
The rules governing the marketing and sale of personal care products are enforced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Current regulations prohibit companies from selling “adulterated or misbranded” products—things that contain (or are packaged in containers that contain) poisonous or dangerous substances, are spoiled or contaminated, or have labels with false or misleading information. (A big exception to this rule is hair dyes, which are made with known carcinogens.)
They also require manufacturers to list a product’s ingredients and any other information necessary for a consumer to make an informed purchase. If a product contains ingredients that are restricted (such as cancer-causing hair dyes or foaming bath agents, which are known irritants), its label must include the appropriate warning.
What the FDA doesn’t control is a product’s actual composition: what’s in it, how (and if) it works, and if it’s safe. Unlike drugs and medical devices, cosmetics fall outside the agency’s premarket approval authority, meaning the FDA can step in and try to stop the sale of a product or take action against the company that’s selling it only after it’s been shown to be in violation of the law. Cosmetics firms, believe it or not, are on the honor system when it comes to manufacturing and selling products that are safe.
Of course, herbs and herbal products fall under the same rules (or lack thereof) that the lab-created cosmetics do, and a skin cream made with jojoba (a natural moisturizer) isn’t inherently safer than one made with triethylhexanoin (a synthetic). Unless you grow your own botanicals—and control the seeds you plant, the water you give them, and the dirt you plant them in—you can’t be completely sure of what you’re getting.
As is the case with conventional products, you also can’t always trust the label: There’s no official definition of “natural” when it comes to consumer goods, meaning a manufacturer can slap a green label onto a products that’s entirely lab created. If you’re buying packaged products, be sure to read the label carefully. (For more, see
Chapter 17
).
The Environmental Working Group reports that nearly 90 percent of the ingredients in personal care products have not been assessed for safety. Many products contain ingredients that are known toxins and are linked to serious health problems, including cancer and neurological damage. More than 400 products being sold today have been found to be unsafe even when used as directed.
Despite these issues, in most cases, you’re still better off with herbs than synthetics. Because they’re made with ingredients that are almost always gentler and less likely to cause a reaction than their synthetic counterparts, herbal cosmetics and personal care products generally are a better option.
Hair grows all over your body, with a few exceptions (including your lips, palms, and soles of your feet), and the average person has about 5 million hairs, most of which grow for between two and six years before falling out and being replaced. Hair—especially the hair on your head—can be a good indicator of your overall health.
Although there are huge variations in what’s normal and healthy when it comes to hair (some people have hair that’s thicker, curlier, or longer than others), a healthy head of hair is generally shiny, lively, and full. The living parts of the hair—the root, the follicle that contains it, and the sebaceous (oil) gland that’s attached to it—are beneath the surface of the skin. The part that’s visible, the shaft, which is covered by a cuticle, is dead. Hair gets its color from melanin—the more melanin, the darker the hair. Loss of melanin results in gray or white hair.
Healthy hair requires a few things to stay that way: a good diet with plenty of protein and fat (essential for hair, skin, and other tissues), sufficient sebum, or oil that’s produced in the scalp (enough to coat and protect the hair shaft, but not so much that it builds up or collects excess dirt), and a healthy balance of hormones. The good news is that many herbs—whether incorporated in commercial products or used
au naturel
—can keep your hair healthy without all the synthetic ingredients.
Many herbs can deliver the same effects—cleaning, conditioning, styling, and coloring—that their lab-created counterparts do, without the hazards.
You can use a simple herbal infusion—a type of “tea” that’s not really made of tea
(Camellia sinensis)
but is made the same way—to give your hair color a boost without all the toxins. Try chamomile
(Matricaria recutita)
if your hair is light and amla
(Emblica officinalis, Phyllanthus emblica)
or walnut
(Juglans regia)
if it’s dark brown or black.
For centuries, people have used herbs to clean their hair and scalp. Here are a few you can use today:
| • Olive (Olea europaea) | Olive oil is the most common source for castile soap, a vegetable-based cleanser that’s gentle for both hair and skin. Castile soap can also be made with other plant oils, including almond (Prunus dulcis), jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis), hemp (Cannabis sativa), and coconut (Cocos nucifera). |
| • Ritha (Sapindus mukorossi) | The dried fruits of this Asian tree, also known as reetha, soapnut, or Chinese soapberry, also produce a gentle lather. You can find it in some commercial shampoos (imports from India) or mix the powder with water and use it straight. |
| • Shikakai (Acacia concinna) | This Indian shrub, also known as soap pod, contains natural saponins, or soap-like chemicals. It’s been used for centuries throughout India and Southeast Asia as a gentle shampoo, and it is sold today as a powder (which you mix with water to make a paste) or incorporated into ready to-use shampoos or oil-based treatments. |
| • Yucca (Yucca glauca) | The roots of this Native American plant, also known as soapweed, can be crushed and used as a shampoo. Yucca was also used by the Indians of the Great Plains and Southwest to promote healthy hair growth. |
Many companies are now selling dry shampoos, powdered formulations that can be sprayed into your hair to absorb excess oil and buy you another day without washing. Corn
(Zea mays)
—or, more specifically, cornstarch, which is extracted from corn flour—makes an effective natural alternative. Just sprinkle a bit onto your scalp, then brush it away.
Hair can be damaged by physical trauma (rough handling or blow-drying), chemicals (coloring or straightening), and environmental factors like UV light. The following herbs can help:
| • Avocado (Persea americana) | Both the pulp and the pit (actually, the oil from the avocado seed) can be used to condition and repair hair. |
| • Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) | Jojoba oil is considered to be one of the closest herbal cousins of human sebum. It’s a classic hair conditioner, used alone or incorporated into commercial products. |
Some people like to take their hair beyond the basic (clean and healthy) without venturing into the world of synthetic dyes and styling products, which can leave hair and scalp damaged.
Commercial hair colors are a virtual chemical bath and contain some of the harshest ingredients you can find in an over-the-counter (OTC) product. But you’ve got some more natural options:
| • Amla (Emblica officinalis, Phyllanthus emblica) | Also known as amalaki or Indian gooseberry, the fruits of this tree are a mainstay of Ayurvedic medicine (used to strengthen the hair and scalp, among other things). Powdered amla fruit can be used as a shampoo (it contains a soap-like chemical) and hair color (it creates an ashy brown shade). Amla oil is used as a hair conditioner, as well. |
| • Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) | This is classic treatment for temporarily brightening natural or out-of-a-box blonde hair (it also works on streaks and highlights). |
| • Henna (Lawsonia inermis, L. alba) | The best-known natural hair color and one of the earliest cosmetics (Cleopatra was reportedly a fan), henna contains a reddish pigment called lawsone. Henna has been used traditionally around the world to dye hair as well as skin (it’s the pigment used in mehndi and other temporary “tattoos”). |
| • Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria) | Like henna, indigo has a long history of use as a hair and body dye. Once (mistakenly) known as “black henna,” indigo actually contains a bluish black pigment—the same one that gives blue jeans their color—that creates a very dark hair color. Some people mix indigo with henna to get a deep brown color. |
| • Tea (Camellia sinensis) | Black tea contains mildly astringent tannins (which leave hair shiny) plus dark pigments that intensify and revive black and dark brown locks. The leaves and husks of the walnut (Juglans regia) and the leaves of the eclipta, or false daisy, plant (Eclipta alba, E. prostrata) are also used to make a rinse for dark brown hair. |
Natural henna produces a reddish brown color—there’s no such thing as “neutral” or “black” henna—so products promising to deliver other colors must contain additional ingredients. Some manufacturers add chemical dyes or metal salts, which can react with the chemicals in conventional hair products and leave you with green, purple, or otherwise horrific hair. Read labels carefully.