In addition to cayenne pepper, activated charcoal, and garlic, these three herbs are essential for your medicine cabinet:
- GOLDEN SEAL
This root is one of my favourite herbs, and it has many uses. It’s very important in stopping bleeding, especially of the gums, and cuts and bruises that you or your child may get. Applying the powder directly to bleeding gums or to a bleeding cut helps to stop the bleeding in short order. It also can be used on wounds and sores that may take a long time to heal, such as a cold sore, herpes on your mouth or private parts, or any other chronic wound. Golden seal helps to kill germs and promote wound healing. Taken as a tea, it can be used to treat various respiratory tract infections, infected and bleeding haemorrhoids, and it also helps to heal active peptic ulcer disease, of course, once your H pylori has been eradicated.
This herb is not safe in pregnancy and it’s not safe to give to children.
If you are taking a blood thinner, as with most of these herbs, be cautious in how you use golden seal as it may increase your risk of bleeding.
- PEPPERMINT
This was my favorite hot beverage as a child. It’s used to treat migraines, menstrual cramps, nausea and vomiting, gastroenteritis, along with many other conditions; even in pregnant mothers. Peppermint can be used as an essential oil to apply to your tummy for menstrual cramps and other abdominal pain and syndromes. It can be taken as a tea which is our favourite way to use pepper mint.
- SLIPPERY ELM
Slippery elm has gained its popularity because of its effectiveness in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. Slippery elm is known to induce and stimulate the production of mucin or mucus within your intestinal tract and so this helps to coat your stomach and small intestine. It has been used in the treatment of acid reflux, peptic ulcer disease, gastritis, duodenal ulcers.
As opposed to an antacid, this stimulates your body’s natural defences against acid by restoring that mucous barrier, so the acid can work naturally and the stomach lining is protected.
Caution
This herb must be used with caution. It is absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy. If taken in pregnancy, especially in the early stages, it can induce an abortion, so if you’re pregnant, do not take this herb. These herbs are available all over Jamaica and I encourage everybody to go out right now and make sure that they are within your medicine cabinet.
This may save your life and the life of someone you love.
Dr. Orlando Thomas is a certified functional medicine physician. Contact him at [email protected]
