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TEASEL FOR TENDONS

7/22/2018

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​The Abbaye Saint Magloire, south of the picturesque Brittany town of Dinan  dates back to the 6th century AD. Over the centuries the abbey has fallen victim to war and destruction and was rebuilt in the 14th century, thus facilitating an interesting architectural transition from Romanesque to Gothic.

This summer it is an exciting venue for historical and artistic exhibitions that are being held inside the abbey and in and around the extensive grounds outside. There is also a restored herb garden which boasts some fine examples of both culinary and medicinal herbs, one of which is  pictured above - Dipsacus sylvestris, which is commonly known as Teasel and in Chinese medicine as Xu Duan. 

The plant blooms every two years, it is not however the flowers but the root that medicinal herbalists use to produce medicine. Extracts from the root are thought to be very good at tonifying both the liver and kidneys. Teasel is used to strengthen bones, tendons and joints, as it has sweet, pungent and also slightly warming properties. It can be used to treat cases of bone fracture and tendon damage. 


Teasel is considered as a suitable remedy to assist aching backs and dodgy arthritic joints in the knees and other places. It promotes good circulation, alleviates pain and also helps tackle excess flaccidity in skeletal structures, especially those associated with kidney and liver deficiencies. So some accompanying symptoms to look out for, when deciding if to use it to treat skeletal problems, include secondary symptoms people may have, such as weakness, exhaustion, dizziness and mental and physical apathy. 

Although the following are not necessarily its primary indications for usage,
it has been used as an auxiliary herb in cases of enuresis, impotence and spermatorrhea.

It should only be used cautiously and under strict professional supervision in cases of Lyme's Disease.

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AN AYURVEDIC SPRIG OF LAVENDER

7/20/2018

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​Everyone that I have ever met loves lavender. It is not only a beautiful plant, but also a very useful one in the arena of natural medicine. It can be used in tinctures and teas and also externally as a massage oil.

In Latin it is known as Lavendula officinalis and in Ayurveda it is called Dharu. The scented flowers are the part of the plant that is used medicinally.

Ayurvedically, the quality or Guna of lavender is sharp, penetrating, oily and light. It has a pungent taste or Rasa. It’s potency or Virya is a cooling one. The post digestive effect or Vipak is pungent.

These attributes mean that it is a cooling and calming herb that can assist in nervous problems such as anger, insomnia, irritability and low self esteem. It can help relieve headaches. It calms nausea and is anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, so is very useful in cases of infection. 

I often combine a tincture of lavender in equal parts with a tincture of Calendula officials to cleanse and dress wounds, as such it makes a perfect post surgical antiseptic. 

Orally ingested it can treat asthma, colds, coughs and catarrhal congestion. Whatever your constitution, it can benefit you. It is an antioxidant and can reduce free radicals. It also has proved effective against parasites such as those causing the tropical disease Leishmaniasis caused by sandfly bites.

One of it’s constituents is a pentacyclic terpenoid called Amyrine. This is a strong anti-viral agent and has also been shown to have an important cytotoxic effects during experimental research conducted on tumours (David Bramwell 2004).
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    Author:
    ​Dr. Colin Perry

    Traditional Doctor of Naturopathy, Master Herbalist and Podiatrist.

    TELEPHONE
    01481 822778 and
    ​make an appointment.

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