Hawthorn
Latin name: Crataegus oxyacantha. Origin: Central Europe. Part used: the flowering top.
This thorny shrub with small fragrant flowers, white or pink, is common from Asia to Europe. It has been more recently acclimatized in North America. The hawthorn is very abundant in the wild in France, where its flowering tops are harvested from April onwards.
Its use is recommended since the beginning of the century as a tonicardiac thanks to the work of JENNINGS and HUCHARD at the beginning of the 20th century. More recently, two major active ingredients have been highlighted: hyperoside (flavonoldes), present in the flowers and vitexin, mainly in the leaves. These two active ingredients act as a heart rate regulator by reducing heart palpitations and the exaggerated perception of heartbeats in the elderly. Beyond its action on tired hearts, hawthorn acts more widely on the circulatory system by increasing the coronary flow (prevention of angina pectoris) with a hypotensive effect. The synergy of its various components, which only the total powder preserves, also gives it a sedative activity of the central nervous system, ensuring a notable effect in states of nervousness, anxiety and sleep disorders in adults and children.
Traditional uses: heart rhythm disorders - nervousness, anxiety - sleep disorders in adults and children.
Directions and duration of use: 2 capsules of hawthorn powder, 270 mg, in the evening during meals and before bedtime, to be taken with a full glass of water for 3 to 4 weeks. cure to be repeated.
Recommended associations: passion flower - valerian.
Poppy
Latin name: papaver rhoeas origin: eastern europe. part used: the seed.
The poppy is an annual plant growing spontaneously at the edge of cereal fields, and in places where the land has been recently turned over (newly built highways for example...). The plant is harvested in the wild in eastern European countries. The stems are bristly and have single or double pinnate leaves, which are also hairy. The flowers consist of 4 elliptical red petals, often with a dark spot at the base. Seeds contain alkaloids.
Traditional uses: Nervousness - Anxiety - Emotionality.
Directions and duration of use: 2 capsules in the evening during the meal and 2 before bedtime, to be taken with a large glass of water for 6 to 8 weeks. children: 1 to 2 capsules in the evening, to be taken with a large glass of water. the poppy is recommended for everyone, including the elderly and children. capsules dosed at 120 mg seed powder.
Recommended associations: hawthorn - escholtzia.
Escholtzia
Latin name: Eschscholtzia calif. Origin: California. Part used: the aerial flowering part.
Its attachment to the Papaveraceae family and its geographical origin give it its common name of "California poppy".
Nowadays this plant is very widespread, appreciated for the cheerfulness of its yellow-orange flowers and therefore used for ornamental purposes in gardens. Very recently, various scientific works have demonstrated the presence of a natural hypnotic; californidine (family of alkaloids) having a beneficial effect on the quality of sleep in the sleep phase but also on night awakenings and nightmares. Without toxicity, escholtzia has no side effects, especially when waking up in the morning, it does not cause any addiction. This plant of the same family as the poppy was already well known to the American Indians. Natural hypnotic, it is the alkaloids it contains (californidine) that allow to get back to sleep. A natural anxiolytic, this plant can perfectly replace common hypnotics without any addictive effect. The plant is antispasmodic, acting on intestinal pain and spasms.
Traditional Uses: Insomnia - sleep disorders - anxiety - nervositis.
Directions and duration of use: 2 capsules of total escholtzia powder, dosed at 240 mg, in the evening during the meal and before bedtime, to be taken with a large glass of water for 6 to 8 weeks. Cure to be renewed. Children: 1 to 2 capsules in the evening, to be taken with a large glass of water, in case of sleep disorders.
Hops
Latin name: Humulus lupulus. Origin: Europe. Part used: the cones.
The hop is a voluble plant (liana) of the Cannabaceae family, cultivated for the elaboration of beer since the 8th century in Germany. The leaves, with stiff hairs, are deeply divided into 3 to 7 toothed lobes. The female feet bear flowers grouped in elongated clusters (cones) that give rise to small dried fruits, surrounded by a scaly membrane. The drug, which has an aromatic odour and bitter taste, is produced in the hop fields of many Western European countries.
Traditional Uses: Sedative - relaxing - nervous disorders of menopause - painful periods - anxiety.
Directions and Duration of Use: 1 capsule twice a day, morning and evening, with a large glass of water. Hop powder capsules (150 mg).
St. John's Wort
Latin name: Hypericum perforatum. Origin: Europe. Part used: the flowering tops.
The yellow flowering tops and the leaves pierced with a thousand holes of St. John's wort, a very common plant in Europe and America are characteristic. For centuries, the flowers have been used in maceration to produce "St John's Oil" to treat wounds and burns. More recently, American scientists have discovered the properties of St John Wort for the treatment of mood disorders and mild depression. The active compound of the plant is hypericin, whose xanthones are believed to inhibit the Mono Amine Oxidase, which has been shown to have a beneficial effect on temporary mood disorders.
Traditional uses: temporary mood disorders.
Directions and duration of use: 2 capsules morning and evening, total powder of St. John's wort (flowering tops) dosed at 250 mg, to be taken with a large glass of water at mealtimes for 20 days, to renew.
Precautions for use: Avoid in children under 8 years, pregnant women or breastfeeding. Risk of photosensitization, avoid exposure to sunlight and U.V. during the treatment. Discontinue use in case of skin manifestations such as erythema.
Recommended associations: VALERIANE.sale of plant capsules with the best quality ratio.
Contraindicated with tri-therapy.
Passion flower
Latin name: Passiflora incarnaca. Origin: Mexico. Part used: the aerial part.
Native to Central America and especially Mexico, the passion flower was recognized very early by the Aztecs for its sedative properties. It is only during the 16th century that Spanish conquerors introduced it in Europe. They saw in its flower a representation of the crucifixion and passion of Christ.
It is the high content of flavonoids and alkaloids, concentrated in the aerial part, which gives it its beneficial activity on sleep disorders. Indeed, the passionflower makes it possible to fight against insomnia while restoring a quality sleep.
In parallel to this activity, it reduces the feeling of anxiety and states of nervousness caused by modern life. It can therefore advantageously be used as a replacement for conventional hypnotics, provided that the latter undergo a weaning period.
Traditional Uses: Nervositis - anxiety - stress - insomnia.
Directions and duration of use: 1 capsule morning and noon and 2 capsules in the evening of total passion flower powder, dosed at 230 mg, to be taken with a large glass of water at bedtime in case of sleep disorders for 3 to 4 weeks. Children: 1 to 2 capsules in the evening, to be taken with a large glass of water in case of sleep disturbance.
Valeriane
Latin name: Valeriana Officinalis. Origin: Europe. Part used: the root.
Valerian, from the Latin valere: to do well, is a robust plant, common in the wild in wetlands (near rivers) throughout temperate Europe. It is nowadays widely cultivated for pharmaceutical purposes. Commonly called "catnip" for its strong and unpleasant smell that attracts cats, the virtues of valerian have been recognized since ancient times. Already widely used by Greek and Roman doctors for its diuretic and antitussive analgesic properties, it was not until the 18th century that an English doctor (HILL) confirmed its sedative properties for the central nervous system. It is to an essential oil (responsible for its pronounced smell) and to esters with neuro-sedative properties, valepotriates, that we owe its hypnotic activity and its beneficial effects on anxiety and anguish. It is therefore the plant of choice in cases of insomnia due to nervous and intellectual overwork. It does not cause addiction or drowsiness during the day and is devoid of toxicity.
Uses: sleep disorders (insomnia due to overwork) - anxiety -anxiety.
Directions and duration of use: 2 capsules of total valerian powder, 270 mg, in the evening during the meal and before bedtime, to be taken with a large glass of water for 6 to 8 weeks. Cure to be renewed Children: 1 to 2 capsules, in the evening, to be taken with a big glass of water, in case of sleep disorders.