Lavender

Lavandula angustofolia

Monograph

1. Plant Family:
• Lamiaceae, or the mint family ^[1]
2. Habitat & Cultivation:
• Lavandula angustofolia is the medicinal strain of lavender that is safe to take internally. It is native to lower mountain regions and is cultivated in mainly France, but also grown in the U.S., Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, Yugoslavia, the Netherlands, the U.K. and Australia. ^[1]
3. Parts Used:
• Flower ^[2]
4. Herbal Actions:
• Carminative
• Antispasmodic
• Relaxing nervine
• Antidepressant
• Rubefacient
• Emmenagogue
• Hypotensive ^[2]
5. Body System Indications:
• Neuro - Depression, insomnia, nervous system tonic
• MSK - Aches and pains, rheumatism ^[1]
6. Plant Constituents:
• Volatile oil; coumarins; triterpenes ^[2]  
7. Energetics:
• Pungent, cool, dry ^[3]
8. Safety:
• No side effects have been reported. ^[2]
9. Interactions:
• None known. ^[2]

Personal Experience

1. Organoleptics:
• The dried flower petals are bluish-purple tubules. They are very soft. The smell is strong, no other way to describe it than “lavender” smell. Very strong, floral, and peppery.
2. Preparation Method:
• Decoction: 1 cup boiling water over 1 tsp dried herb, infuse for 10 mins. Drink 3x/day.
• Do not take lavender essential oil internally ^[2]
3. Usage Notes:
• I made a tea using Hoffman’s instructions. It is a lovely tea, but then again I enjoy floral teas. It is a little spicy and is very drying in my mouth. It made me feel ‘clarified’ and relieved some mental fog/headache.

Sources:

1. Zollinger, R. & Riccio, L. (2019). Week 2 Study Questions. Bastyr University: WI-19_MW5125-A Botanicals 5: Holistic Gynecologic Health
2. Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
3. Frawley, D. & Lad, V. (2001). The Yoga of Herbs. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press.

Eleuthero

Eleutherococcus senticosus

Monograph

1. Plant Family:
• Araliaceae, or the ginseng family ^[1]
2. Habitat & Cultivation:
• Eleuthero grows abundantly in Russia and Northern China, and was introduced to the USA in the late 1970s as “Siberian Ginseng” although it is not actually a ginseng! ^[1]
3. Parts Used:
• Root ^[2]
4. Herbal Actions:
• Adaptogen
• General tonic ^[1]
5. Body System Indications:
• Enhance the body’s nonspecific resistance to various internal and external stressors
• Enhance physical and mental performance
• Simulate immune response
• GI - Anti-hepatotoxic
• Cardiovascular - Angina, hypertension, hypotension,
• Respiratory - Chronic bronchitis
• Neuro - Depression, neuroses, insomnia ^[1]
6. Plant Constituents:
• Eleutherosides; glycosides/ aglycones- sterols, lignans and phenolics; polysaccharides ^[2]
7. Energetics:
• Pungent, sweet, heating ^[3]
8. Safety & Interactions:
• May interfere with cardiac medications (including hypo- and hypertensive drugs) and hypoglycemic agents. It may also enhance the efficacy of antibiotics monomycin and kanamycin. ^[2]

Personal Experience

1. Organoleptics:
• The dried, ground root is pale yellow-brown in color. It’s very flaky like small pieces of hay. Not a strong smell, maybe a little sweet.
2. Preparation Method:
• Tincture: (1:5 in 40%) 10-20 mL 1-3x/day
• Decoction: 150 mL of boiling water over 2-3g dried herb, steep 5-10 mins ^[2]
3. Usage Notes:
• I have eleuthero tincture and was taking it frequently for over a year. It is pretty pleasant to take. Sweet and warming. When I take it I feel that it helps with my stress level, but it also increases my heart palpitations.

Sources:

1. Zollinger, R. & Riccio, L. (2019). Week 2 Study Questions. Bastyr University: WI-19_MW5125-A Botanicals 5: Holistic Gynecologic Health
2. Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
3. Frawley, D. & Lad, V. (2001). The Yoga of Herbs. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press.