Ointment (for wounds). See method two for creams and salves in Chapter 3 for instructions on how to make an ointment from an infusion or decoction.
Dosage: How much do you use?
No scientific information is available about how much agrimony is safe. A traditional dosage is
3 g of the herb daily used internally
One cup of tea (1 teaspoon of the herb, brewed approximately 5–10 minutes) at a time, no more than three times per day
¼–½ teaspoon of the tincture, three times per day.
What should you be aware of before using it?
We don’t know much about the potential risks of agrimony. It hasn’t been studied much at all.
These are the precautions we do know about (or at least suspect):
If you can’t insure the purity of your ingredients and the sterility of your procedures, don’t use a homemade ointment on an open wound.
Agrimony is high in tannins. No high-tannin herb should be taken internally over the long term (more than a few months).10
Don’t take it internally if you are also taking butterbur.
Don’t take it internally it if you are constipated. Don’t use large doses internally because they can lead to constipation.
Agrimony taken internally can affect blood sugar levels. If you are diabetic, check with your doctor before taking agrimony internally. Be cautious when using it in conjunction with herbs known or suspected to affect blood sugar levels. (See Chapter 5 for a list.)
If you are taking a diuretic (including some blood pressure medicines) check with your doctor before taking agrimony internally.
If you are prone to high blood pressure, check with your doctor before taking agrimony internally, as agrimony can raise blood pressure, especially if you take it in high doses.11
Be careful about sun exposure after using agrimony internally. Sun sensitivity reactions have been reported.12
No scientific information is available about how well agrimony is tolerated topically.
Note that though agrimony is sometimes known as “cocklebur,” it is not the common cocklebur found throughout North America.
Also, be aware that the Chinese agrimony, xian he cao (Agrimonia pilosa), and Agrimonia eupatoria have different properties and are not interchangeable.
Aloe Vera
Scientific name: Aloe vera, Aloe vulgaris, or Aloe barbadensis
Also known as Barbados or Curaçao aloes
Aloe Vera
The Aloe genus contains at least 324 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees.13 The most commonly used medicinal aloe is Aloe vera, and it is the one we’ll be referring to here. Aloe vera is a succulent, meaning that it is a plant that stores water in fleshy leaves or stems. It grows wild in Africa and Madagascar, but because of its medicinal and decorative properties, it is now a common houseplant throughout the world. It also grows perennially outdoors in the frost-free parts of Florida, Texas, and Hawaii. Aloe leaves contain a clear gel that can be squeezed or scraped from the outer skin. It is this gel that is used medicinally.
For centuries. aloe gel has been used for burns and minor wounds. We have evidence of its use dating back to before the first century. Alexander the Great is rumored to have conquered Madagascar so his army would have an adequate supply of aloe to treat wounds. Cleopatra used it as part of her beauty regimen. Hippocrates and Arab physicians also used it. The Egyptians called aloe the “Plant of Immortality” though not because of its health benefits but because it can live for long periods of time bare-rooted, without soil.14 In both Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine it is used, among other remedies, as a treatment for eczema.15 In traditional Arab medicine, it’s used for wound healing.16
What is it good for?
Minor burns. Aloe is best for first degree burns. It may also be used on small, minor second degree burns. This use has centuries of folk medicine behind it. In fact, the use of aloe on burns has good recognition not just in the popular culture, but also in segments of Western mainstream medicine as well. Animal studies show great advantage to using aloe on burns of all severities.17 Clinical studies show that burns can heal in about two-thirds the time when treated with aloe.18
Minor wounds. Aloe can also be used on cuts, scrapes, and other minor wounds and skin irritations. The traditional evidence for using aloe to treat minor wounds is also strong. At the very least, aloe provides a protective barrier over the wound. That much is fairly universally agreed upon.19 The gel also contains several active ingredients that have been isolated in the laboratory: pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, and ingredients that relieve itching and increase blood flow to an injured area. Some research suggests that it may also have antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties.20 Clinical trials have been mostly but not completely positive.21 In humans, aloe has been shown to speed healing from deep scrapes, canker sores, frostbite, and flash burns of the conjunctiva.22 One study of aloe on surgical wounds, however, showed that it may actually slow wound healing time for deep or major wounds.23 But in general the evidence for benefit in treating superficial wounds is better than for most herbal remedies.
Plantar warts. Plantar warts, warts on the soles of the feet, may respond to aloe compresses. This use is not backed by research and is mainly anecdotal, but if aloe does indeed have antiviral and immune stimulating properties, those properties may help in the elimination of plantar warts.
Major wounds. Studies using aloe for more major wounds, for example post surgical wounds, have been less impressive, showing that aloe actually slowed wound healing over a placebo.24 Similarly, healing from dermabrasion25 is slowed by aloe. Aloe should be used only for minor wounds.
How do you use it?
Fresh gel. Aloe is one herb that’s easy to grow and is best when used fresh. If you keep an aloe plant on hand, you can remove a leaf, split it open, and either squeeze or scrape out the gel, or you can simply apply the entire split leaf directly to burns or wounds like a poultice.
Commercially processed gel. If you don’t have a plant or prefer to keep gel on hand, make sure it is processed well. Improperly processed aloe can lose its medicinal effects. The International Aloe Science Council provides a seal of certification for products that have followed proper processing procedures.26 To treat a burn, immediately cool the effected area with cool water. After the burn is thoroughly cooled, apply the aloe gel topically.
Baths. For sunburn, you can add 1–2 cups of aloe juice to a lukewarm bath.
Ointments. If you apply an aloe ointment to sunburn, make sure that ointment does not contain petroleum jelly, benzocaine, lidocaine, or butter, because these can make a sunburn worse.
Compress. For warts, apply a pea-sized amount of the gel to a compress and completely cover the wart with it. Change the compress daily.
Dosage: How much do you use?
Aloe is typically tolerated very well when used externally. If you use commercially prepared aloe, make sure that it’s pure (98% or more aloe). When using aloe on sunburns, you may wish to use a diluted product. Make sure that the dilution is no more than