My Dad had the worlds' most beautiful skin. I can still remember him when he was 27 or 28 years old, his skin shining like satin in the sunlight. If he got a tiny mosquito bite or sore, he picked at himself, nervously,and constantly. From my own experience, being genetically descended from his clan, any skin irritation I have also resonates with the whole body, until any action going on around me is secondary to the aggravation.

 I didn't think about his shingles very much until (1) I picked up a Virology text at a library sale, and learned a little of Zoster, the medical name for Shingles. (2) My Father was dying at age 71 not only of cancer, but of Zoster, which had turned half the skin of his arms to enormous, bruised reddish -purple blotches. I learned from my book that the disease begins to break down the capillaries under the skin, until the skin cannot breathe for the organism.

Because another family member has begun to exhibit blotches which are similar, I began to explore healthful alternative medicines on the Internet, to find that advances in Virology studies have proven that Zoster is actually internalized Chicken Pox (something my 1978 Virology text did not tell me) and that the pox virus lodges in the spine, surfacing as enormous yellow blisters, sometimes all over the skin.
I also found that there is now an experimental immunization clinic hoping to prevent zoster, involving people over sixty - more later.

"The antiviral drugs acyclovir, famcyclovir and valacyclovir can lessen the initial pain and make the rash go away sooner. "

These drugs may also help with the painful aftereffects known as postherpetic neuralgia.

 The name shingles is believed to come from the Latin word "cingulum," which means belt or girdle, because shingles typically has a belt-like appearance. Shingles is also known as herpes zoster, or simply zoster, because it is caused by a herpes virus called varicella-zoster.

 Medical generics Treatment for shingles includes antiviral drugs, steroids, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and topical agents.  Sometimes serious effects including partial facial paralysis (usually temporary), ear damage, or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) may occur. Persons with shingles on the upper half of the face should seek medical attention immediately as the virus may cause serious damage to the eyes. Most people who have shingles have only one bout with the disease in their lifetime. However, individuals with impaired immune systems, i.e., people with AIDS or cancer, may suffer repeated episodes.

" Treatment for shingles includes antiviral drugs, steroids, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and topical agents.  Sometimes serious effects including partial facial paralysis (usually temporary), ear damage, or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) may occur. Persons with shingles on the upper half of the face should seek medical attention immediately as the virus may cause serious damage to the eyes. Most people who have shingles have only one bout with the disease in their lifetime. However, individuals with impaired immune systems, i.e., people with AIDS or cancer, may suffer repeated episodes. "

REFS: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/shingles_doc.htm

http://www.itm.etat.lu/legisnat/cd_99/1206/1206.pdf

"The virus remains latent in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord after the initial attack of chicken pox. The disease occurs most frequently in people over the age of 50. It may be activated through such factors as trauma to the spinal cord and its roots through surgery or X-ray therapy. Shingles is characterized by pain along an affected nerve and its branches and the eruption of blisters over skin areas supplied by the nerve."

The above quotation is from an article, worth reading in its entirety, made by an MD,Doctor David L. Hoffmann, B.Sc. (Hons) M.N.I.N.H.  .This Doctor recommends alternative treatments for Shingles which are herbal - Oat Straw (from the Oat Grass) Scullcap ,Peppermint , St. Johns' Wort ,Echinacea and Artemisia vulgaris. 

http://www.healthy.net/asp/templates/article.asp?PageType=article&ID=1584

St. Johns Wort

This site (Herbs by Northdays Image) has covered St Johns Wort (Hypericum perforatum)with both an article and a properties page, to which this article shall add the other six herbs as listed above. Their horticultural names are:

  Click the names or images below for each section. This Zoster page sections show links to the properties of each herb.

TO PROPERTIES PAGE

It sounds so stoned! No wonder Scots, who consume 99.99 percent of the worlds' oatmeal (it seems) are statistically considered to turn out the highest percentage of genius level University graduates in the world. I once read an article which attributed the intellectual success (in part) of my Scottish relatives to a diet which regularly included oats!! (Don't quote me, but - think about it!)

One of those magickal womens' sites I so love describes the power of Oats this way:

From Wise Woman Herbs:

An Oatstraw..'infusion strengthens the nerves, helps reduce emotion distress, promotes sound sleep, keeps the bones and heart strong, and strengthens libido'.

http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_oats.htm

Bathing for Skin Distress

"In Europe, oat straw is used for various baths, which, when taken regularly, are helpful support for a number of ailments: Full Bath: Good for rheumatic problems, lumbago, paralysis, liver ailments and gout, kidney, and gravel problems. Bath herb (Oatstraw or Oatmeal) to soften skin and to help eczema and neuralgia. Sitzbath: Good for bladder and abdominal problems, intestinal, colic, and bedwetting. Footbath: Good for tired or chronically cold feet. Local Wash: Good for skin diseases, flaky skin, frostbite, chilblains, wounds, and eye problems."

 http://www.viable-herbal.com/herbdesc3/1oat.htm  

More Magic From Dragon Alley:

Oatstraw Magical uses : OATSTRAW (Avena sativa)- nervous system tonic; calming; high in minerals; great daily tea; pregnancy tonic

http://www.herbalsmokeshop.com/dreamsmoke.htm

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Scullcap

Scullcap (Scutellaria Galericulata and Scutellaria Laterifolia, also called Blue Pimpernel, Helmetflower, Hoodwort, Mad-dog Skullcap, and Madweed ,also blue skullcap, blue pimpernel, hootwort, side-flowering skullcap, mad-dog-weed, skjolddrager) was publicized as a cure for rabies in 1773, and its sedative and antispasmodic effects earned this plant it's common names of Mad-dog and Madweed. 

TO PROPERTIES PAGE

" It is very difficult for this herb to shake the mistaken lore that it's name is derived from being shaped like a human skull. The proper spelling is Scullcap, not Skullcap." Actually, I asked a Pharmaceutical experts site spokesperson, and the opinion was that the herb is actually spelled Skullcap. So, when researching, type in both spelings to be thorough.

http://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php (? ID= 24744)  

google images and uses/scullcap 

 http://www.herbs2stopsmoking.com/medicine or chemical: scutellarin, a "calmative"

http://www.magialuna.net/

American Scullcap

Parts used and where grown: Scullcap is another member of the mint family, but it looks more like a Closed Blue gentian, a fairly rare Ontario wildflower..American Scullcap has a rose-red flower, though. Scutellaria lateriflora grows in eastern North America and is most commonly used in United States and European herbal products containing scullcap. The above-ground (aerial) part of the plant is used in herbal preparations. It is not interchangeable with Chinese scullcap.   Scullcap was used historically as a sedative for people with nervous tension and insomnia. It was, and continues to be, commonly combined with valerian for insomnia, also as a remedy for epilepsy and nerve pain.

http://www.gnc.com/health_notes/Herb/Scullcap_American.htm

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Mentha piperita
Family: Labiatae, Latin name: Mentha piperita M. piperita
Commonly known as Peppermint, Mint, Pfefferminze, spearmint, brandy mint and chocolate mint.

TO PROPERTIES PAGE

 Peppermints'  fragrant leaves unmistakeably smell and taste like soft white buttermint toffee. The leaves grow on stalks up to two feet in height, and  its stems, have a reddish cast. Its dense spikes of violet flowers bloom in late summer.If you are lucky enough to find real Peppermint, you can strike it easily by setting a couple of the stems into clear water,which will root the stems in a week or so. This can go straight into the earth and will take off at first through runners creeping along the ground, which grow to adulthood within the growing season.

http://www.rain-tree.com/hortela.htmHORTELA

Magic Peppermint

Magical and other Properties:

 "Peppermint has been used in healing and purification spells, believed to raise the vibrations of an area. To this end, it was rubbed against furniture, walls and floorboards. It was used in pillows to promote sleep, and was believed to make the dreams pre-cognitive. It was also believed to be useful in mixtures for love spells ."

http://www.earthbow.com/herbs/herb_index/peppermint.htm

Mentha piperita Chocolate Mint great images- sweets and tea manufacturer.

http://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/menpiperitachocolate.htm  

 Botanical Art

http://www.botanic-art.com/Peppermint.htm

http://www.phytotherapies.org/monograph_index.cfm

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Echinacea spp. Compositeae

TO PROPERTIES PAGE

 Echinacea links page resource:lots of info

Black Sampson. Coneflower. Niggerhead. Rudbeckia. Brauneria pallida (Nutt.).

The plant was named Echinacea by Linnaeus, and the name Rudbeckia, after Rudbeck, father and son, who were his predecessors at Upsala. The flowers are an almost cyclamen pink, and the florets are seated round a high cone.

"Echinacea increases bodily resistance to infection and is used for boils, erysipelas, septicaemia, cancer, syphilis and other impurities of the blood, its action being antiseptic . It has also useful properties as a strong alterative and aphrodisiac. As an injection, the extract has been used for haemorrhoids and a tincture of the fresh root has been found beneficial in diphtheria and putrid fevers."

 Echinacea purpurea has similar properties to E. angustifolia; the fresh root of this is the part used.

Grieves @ botanical.com/

Echinacea Cleans Up Stingers

Echinacea spp.

Blue skies up above, everyones in love, look up a heteroxylan in your polysaccharide spare time, and watch the skies above move through the plants' daytime...

( my source was "Insects, Allergy and Disease" by Calvin Davis Hollister-Stier Laboratories, Cutter Laboratories Inc.)

Hyaluronidase

An enzyme that activates hyaluronic acid, by breaking down its polymeric structure, thus promoting the diffusion of substances through the tissues. Hyaluronidase, referred to as the "spreading factor", hydrolyzes the hyaluronic acid gel in the spaces between the cells, and fibres of the connective tissues. The function of hyaluronidase within the venom is to reduce the viscosity of the greound substance. As a result, there is an acceleration with regards to the dispersion of the venom.

Chapter, "Black Widow Spider" p. 47, "Insects, Allergy and Disease" by Calvin Davis Hollister-Stier Laboratories, Cutter Laboratories Inc.

Since I dislike the snowballing irritation of insect sting, I was delighted to discover that polysaccharides in Echinacea help to regenerate tissue destroyed by hyaluronidase. Some insects' or snakes' stings will make the flesh actually necrotic (that is, gangrenous and dead)

Article on Echinacea © David L. HoffmannB.Sc.(Hons),M.N.I.M.H.below:

  http://www.healthy.net/

 In the Middle Ages, the plant was known as Cingulum Sancti Johannis, because the belief was that John the Baptist girdled himself with the herb in the wilderness. People believed it to preserve the wayfarer from fatigue, sunstroke, wild beasts and evil spirits. A crown made from Mugwort was worn on St. John's Eve to prevent evil possession, and in Holland and Germany one of its names is St. John's Plant , because of the belief, that if gathered on St. John's Eve it gave protection against diseases and misfortunes.

In the early days, people used this plant commonly as a substitute for tea, since tea was expensive at the time.

It has stimulant and slightly tonic properties, and is of value as a nervine and emmenagogue, having also diuretic and diaphoretic action. Its chief employment is as an emmenagogue, often in combination with Pennyroyal and Southernwood. It is also useful as a diaphoretic in the commencement of cold.Considered effective in folk remedies for palsy, dropsy, hysteria, nausea and jaundice.It is also considered effective for deworming, though not as potent as its close relative, Wormwood.

A lot more about Mugwort in Grieves..

More of Moore, and otherwise in :

Link to:

© 2003 Native Essence Herb Co  http://store.yahoo.com/allherbs/ Re: Cat's Claw with Venus Flytrap 50/50

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http://www.mmfnd.org/

http://www.mic.ki.se/Diseases/c2.html