Remember, just
because something is natural, it doesn't make it safe. The following herbs have
the potential to be very harmful or even deadly if ingested. I suggest avoiding
them. However, if you choose to use them, please do your research first. And if
you are taking any medication, consult your doctor before using any herb.
Aloe
Vera Can be a powerful laxative
Borage
Harmful in large doses; may cause liver damage and cancer
Broom
Toxic; diuretic
Chaparral
BANNED IN THE UNITED STATES
Coltsfoot
May cause cancer
Comfrey
May cause liver damage and cancer
Ephedra
Should not be used by people with heart conditions, blood pressure, diabetes or
thyroid disease
Floxglove
Potent heart toxin
Juniper
Shouldn't be used by women who are pregnant or have kidney disease
Licorice
Excessive amounts may cause fluid retention and high blood pressure
Pennyroyal
The essential oil may cause convulsions in large doses
Pokeweed
May cause respiratory paralysis and convulsion
Rue
May make skin more susceptible to sun damage
Sassafras
May cause cancer
Yohimbe
Side effects include nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, palpitations,
insomnia and tremors
Never
ingest the following:
Aconite,
Balm of Gilead, Belladonna, Black Hellebore, Black Nightshade, Byrony, Calamus,
Camphor, Carnation, Comfrey, Deadly Nightshade, Deerstongue, Eucalyptus,
Euphorbium, Fern, Geranium, Heliotrope, Hemlock, Henbane, Hyacinth, Ivy,
Mandrake, Mistletoe, Mums, Narcissus, Nightshade, Pine, Ranunculus, Tonka,
Trefoil, Water parsnip, Wisteria, Wolfbane, Woodwarm, Yew
Use
the following with caution as they may have ill effects on people with
preexisting medical condition or sensitivity:
Acorn,
Angelica, Bladderwack, Clover, Flax, Hemp, Hops, Juniper, Licorice, Mace,
Nutmeg, Periwinkle, Red sandalwood, Rhubarb, Sandalwood, Stephontis, Sweet
flag, Tobacco, Woodruff
Dangerous
Herbs for Pregnant Women
Below
you will find a list of dangerous herbs for pregnant women to handle. Some of
you might be shocked to find ordinary "kitchen herbs" on the list,
but herbs such as sage and thyme can stimulate uterine contractions.
I
complied this list from research done when I was pregnant. I do not claim that
this is an all-inclusive list. Please research, or better yet, avoid any herb
you are uncertain of. It is much better to be safe than sorry. As with any
medicine, always check with your doctor before use.
I
would like to call special attention to the dangers of Pennyroyal. This herb is
especially dangerous; it has been linked to spontaneous abortions. If you have
it in any form -- including massage or bath oils or lotions --- please discard
it immediately. Remember, your baby's life is not worth the risk of keeping
dangerous supplies that can easily replaced after your baby is born.
The
following commonly used cooking herbs may encourage miscarriage and should be
avoided during the first trimester and used sparingly throughout the pregnancy:
Basil,
Caraway Seed, Celery Seed, Ginger, Fresh Horseradish, Savory, Marjoram, Nutmeg,
Rosemary, Saffron, Sage, Parsley, Tarragon and Thyme.
The
following herbs are best avoided while trying to conceive as well as during the
first trimester. They have been known to prevent conception and/or cause the
uterine to contract:
Pennyroyal,
Wild Carrot Seed · Rue · Buckwheat · Elder · Smartweed · Ginger root · Tansy ·
Angelica · Lemon Balm · Bethroot · Black Cohosh · Blue Cohosh · Cotton Root
Bark · European Vervain · Ergot fungus · Feverfew (in flower) · Hyssop ·
Liferoot (in flower) · Lovage · Marijuana · Mistletoe · Motherwort · Mugwort ·
Osha · Peruvian Bark · Rosemary (in flower) · Rue · Saffron · Sumac · Sweet
Flag · fresh Wood Sorrel
The
following herbs could cause birth defects:
Ma
Huang (Ephedra) · Osha · Flax seed · Senna · Aloes · Castor Oil · Turkey
Rhubarb · Buckthorn · Cascara Sagrada · Buchu · Horsetail · Juniper berries ·
Agave · Ginseng · Licorice · Hops · Sage
Here
are some more herbs to be weary of:
Herb........Effect
Aloe-Laxative
Adler
buckthorn-Laxative
American
Mandrake-Stimulates uterine contractions
Angelica
-Emmenagogue
Barberry
-Uterine stimulant. Emmenagogue
Birthroot
-Uterine astringent, Emmenagogue
Black
Cohosh -Stimulates uterine contractions
Blessed
Thistle -Strongly stimulates digestion, metabolism
Bloodroot
-Stimulates uterine contractions
Blue
Cohosh -Stimulates uterine contractions
Butternut
-Laxative
Calamus
-Stimulates uterine contractions
Cascara
Sagrada -Laxative, Stimulates uterine contractions, Emmenagogue
Cayenne
-Stimulates uterine contractions
Cinchona
-Emmenagogue
Coltsfoot
-Possibly fetotoxic
Cotton-Root
Bark -Emmenagogue
Damiana
-Affects nervous system and hormonal actively
Dockis
-Laxative
Drug
Aloe -Laxative
Ephedra
-Cardiac stimulant, Emmenagogue
Fennel
-Stimulates uterine contractions
Feverfew
-Emmenagogue, Stimulates uterine contractions
Flaxseed
-Stimulates uterine contractions
Goldenseal
-Uterine stimulant, Emmenagogue
Gotu
Kola -Affects nervous system
Juniper
berries -Possibly fetotoxic, affects kidneys
Lady's
Mantle -Stimulates uterine contractions, Emmenagogue
Licorice
-Stimulates uterine contractions, Emmenagogue
Mayapple
-Stimulates uterine contractions
Meadow
Saffron -Laxative
Mistletoe
-Stimulates uterine contractions, Emmenagogue
Mugwort
-Emmenagogue
Nutmeg
-Slightly toxic
Osha
-Emmenagogue
Parsley
-Emmenagogue
Passion
Flower -Stimulates uterine contractions, Emmenagogue
Periwinkle
-Stimulates uterine contractions, Emmenagogue
Pennyroyal
-Emmenagoue, Known to cause spontaneous abortions
Pleurisy
root -Cardiac stimulant
Poke
Root -Stimulates uterine contractions, Emmenagogue
Purging
Buckthorn -Laxative
Rhubarb
-Laxative, Stimulates uterine contractions
Rue
-Emmenagogue
Sage
-Emmenagogue, causes hormonal activity, Stimulates uterine contractions
Sarsaparilla
-Causes hormonal activity
Scotch
broom -Cardiac stimulant
Senna
-Laxative, Stimulates uterine contractions, Emmenagogue
Shepard's
purse -Homeostatic
Tansy
-Emmenagogue, Stimulates uterine contractions
Wild
Cherry -Emmenagogue
Wormwood
-Emmenagogue, Stimulates uterine contractions
Yarrow
-Emmenagogue
(An
Emmenagogue is an agent that promotes menstrual flow.)
Mandrake
---Synonyms---Mandragora.
Satan's Apple.
---Part
Used---Herb.
---Habitat---The
Mandrake, the object of so many strange superstitions, is a native of Southern
Europe and the Levant, but will grow here in gardens if given a warm situation,
though otherwise it may not survive severe winters. It was cultivated in
England in 1562 by Turner, the author of the Niewe Herball.
The
name Mandragora is derived from two Greek words implying 'hurtful to cattle. '
The Arabs call it 'Satan's apple.'
---Description---It
has a large, brown root, somewhat like a parsnip, running 3 or 4 feet deep into
the ground, sometimes single and sometimes divided into two or three branches.
Immediately from the crown of the root arise several large, dark-green leaves,
which at first stand erect, but when grown to full size a foot or more in
length and 4 or 5 inches in width - spread open and lie upon the ground. They
are sharp pointed at the apex and of a foetid odour. From among these leaves
spring the flowers, each on a separate foot-stalk, 3 or 4 inches high. They are
somewhat of the shape and size of a primrose, the corolla bell-shaped, cut into
five spreading segments, of a whitish colour, somewhat tinged with purple. They
are succeeded by a smooth, round fruit, about as large as a small apple, of a
deep yellow colour when ripe, full of pulp and with a strong, apple-like scent.
---Medicinal
Action and Uses---The leaves are quite harmless and cooling, and have been used
for ointments and other external application. Boiled in milk and used as a
poultice, they were employed by Boerhaave as an application to indolent ulcers.
The
fresh root operates very powerfully as an emetic and purgative. The dried bark
of the root was used also as a rough emetic.
Mandrake
was much used by the Ancients, who considered it an anodyne and soporific. In
large doses it is said to excite delirium and madness. They used it for
procuring rest and sleep in continued pain, also in melancholy, convulsions,
rheumatic pains and scrofulous tumours. They mostly employed the bark of the
root, either expressing the juice or infusing it in wine or water. The root
finely scraped into a pulp and mixed with brandy was said to be efficacious in
chronic rheumatism.
Mandrake
was used in Pliny's days as an anaesthetic for operations, a piece of the root being
given to the patient to chew before undergoing the operation. In small doses it
was employed by the Ancients in maniacal cases.
A
tincture is used in homoeopathy to-day, made from the fresh plant.
Among
the old Anglo-Saxon herbals both Mandrake and periwinkle are endowed with
mysterious powers against demoniacal possession. At the end of a description of
the Mandrake in the Herbarium of Apuleius there is this prescription:
'For
witlessness, that is devil sickness or demoniacal possession, take from the
body of this said wort mandrake by the weight of three pennies, administer to
drink in warm water as he may find most convenient - soon he will be healed.'
Bartholomew
gives the old Mandrake legend in full, though he adds: 'It is so feynd of churles
others of wytches.' He also refers to its use as an anaesthetic:
'the
rind thereof medled with wine . . . gene to them to drink that shall be cut in
their body, for they should slepe and not fele the sore knitting.'
Bartholomew
gives two other beliefs about the Mandrake which are not found in any other
English Herbal - namely, that while uprooting it the digger must beware of
contrary winds, and that he must go on digging for it uptil sunset.
In
the Grete Herball (printed by Peter Treveris in 1526) we find the first avowal
of disbelief in the supposed powers of the Mandrake. Gerard also pours scorn on
the Mandrake legend.
'There
have been,' he says, 'many ridiculous tales brought up of this plant, whether
of old wives or runnegate surgeons or phisick mongers, I know not, all which
dreames and old wives tales you shall from henceforth cast out your bookes of
memorie.'
Parkinson
says that if ivory is boiled with Mandrake root for six hours, the ivory will
become so soft 'that it will take what form or impression you will give it.'
Josephus
says that the Mandrake - which he calls Baaras - has but one virtue, that of
expelling demons from sick persons, as the demons cannot bear either its smell
or its presence. He even relates that it was certain death to touch this plant,
except under certain circumstances which he details. (Wars of the Jews, book
vii, cap. vi.)
The
roots of the Mandrake are very nearly allied to Belladonna, both in external
appearance and in structure. The plant is by modern botanists assigned to the
same genus, though formerly was known as Mandragora officinalis, with varieties
M. vernalis and M. autumnalis. According to Southall (Organic Materia Medica,
8th edition, revised by Ernest Mann, 1915), the root:
'contains
a mydriatic alkaloid, Mandragorine (Cl7H27O3N), which in spite of the name and
formula which have been assigned to it, is probably identical with atropine or
hyoscyamine.'
The
roots of Mandrake were supposed to bear a resemblance to the human form, on
account of their habit of forking into two and shooting on each side. In the
old Herbals we find them frequently figured as a male with a long beard, and a
female with a very bushy head of hair. Many weird superstitions collected round
the Mandrake root. As an amulet, it was once placed on mantelpieces to avert
misfortune and to bringprosperity and happiness to the house. Bryony roots were
often cut into fancy shapes and passed off as Mandrake, being even trained to
grow in moulds till they assumed the desired forms. In Henry VIII's time quaint
little images made from Bryony roots, cut into the figure of a man, with grains
of millet inserted into the face as eyes, fetched high prices. They were known
as puppettes or mammettes, and were accredited with magical powers. Italian
ladies were known to pay as much as thirty golden ducats for similar artificial
Mandrakes.
Turner
alludes to these 'puppettes and mammettes,' and says, 'they are so trymmed of
crafty theves to mocke the poore people withall and to rob them both of theyr
wit and theyr money.' But he adds:
'Of
the apples of mandrake, if a man smell of them thei will make hym slepe and
also if they be eaten. But they that smell to muche of the apples become dum .
. . thys herbe diverse wayes taken is very jepardus for a man and may kill hym
if he eat it or drynk it out of measure and have no remedy from it.... If
mandragora be taken out of measure, by and by slepe ensueth and a great lousing
of the streyngthe with a forgetfulness.'
The
plant was fabled to grow under the gallows of murderers, and it was believed to
be death to dig up the root, which was said to utter a shriek and terrible
groans on being dug up, which none might hear and live. It was held, therefore,
that he who would take up a plant of Mandrake should tie a dog to it for that
purpose, who drawing it out would certainly perish, as the man would have done,
had he attempted to dig it up in the ordinary manner.
There
are many allusions to the Mandrake in ancient writers. From the earliest times
a notion prevailed in the East that the Mandrake will remove sterility, and
there is a reference to this belief in Genesis xxx. 14.
---Cultivation---Mandrake
can be propagated by seeds, sown upon a bed of light earth, soon after they are
ripe, when they are more sure to come up than if the sowing is left to the
spring.
When
the plants come up in the spring, they must be kept well watered through the
summer and kept free from weeds. At the end of August they should be taken up
carefully and transplanted where they are to remain. The soil should be light
and deep, as the roots run far down - if too wet, they will rot in winter, if
too near chalk or gravel, they will make little progress. Where the soil is
good and they are not disturbed, these plants will grow to a large size in a
few years, and will produce great quantities of flowers and fruit.
Culpepper
tells us the Mandrake is governed by Mercury. The fruit has been accounted
poisonous, but without cause.... The root formerly was supposed to have the
human form, but it really resembles a carrot or parsnip.
*can
also buy them from this site
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