Category: Herbalism research

Wild Yam (Dioscorea Villosa)

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Wild Yam in the forest

Wild yam – Dioscorea villosa

Family: Dioscoreaceae

Growth form and description: Non-woody perennial vine with heart shaped leaves. Young plant is upright with leaves in whorls of 4-8, vine grows from center of each whorl and leaves become alternate as plant matures, reaching as much as 15 feet (Howell, 2006).

  • Stem: smooth and twisting
  • Leaves: whorled when young, alternate as plant matures, heart shaped, visible veins, varied in color from light to dark green and varied in size with smaller leaf size on newer growth
  • Flowers: nondescript, green
  • Fruit/seeds: prominent three-winged seed pod is green in summer and becomes brown in autumn (Foster & Duke, 2014). 
  • Root: “Crooked, branched, somewhat flattened with few rootlets; very hard and tough, but breaks with an abrupt, somewhat fibrous fracture; pale-brown externally and white within, with yellowish wood-bundles; odorless and taste insipidly mucilaginous but developing a slight acridity after chewing for a little while” (Wall, 1917, p. 221).

 

Key identification features: vining, heart shaped leaves with triangular, 3-winged seed pods

 

Part used medicinally: dried root

 

Herbal actions: anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, anti-rheumatic, hepatic, mild diaphoretic, and cholagogue (Hoffman, 2003; Howell, 2006).

 

Traditional uses and actions: It was used by indigenous people to relieve many types of pain and cramping as well as morning sickness (Howell, 2006).

 

Modern use: Wild Yam has chemical components called diosgenin, which are steroid precursors that were extracted by pharmaceutical companies as the basis for many types of synthetic hormone medications. This use led to its popularization as a replacement for women’s reproductive hormones and the misconception that herbal preparations of the plant could be used as a hormone replacement. However, the plant does not contain estrogen or progesterone. Commonly used by herbalists today in a similar manner as traditional use, it is specifically indicated for acute flares of rheumatoid arthritis and blocked bile flow (British Herbal Medicine Association, 1989). Additionally, its anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties  may be helpful during digestive inflammation and pain, ovarian and uterine cramping and pain, and similar types of issues.

 

Suggested use: 2-4 ml 3x/day of tincture or 1-2 tsp dried root decocted for 10-15 mins (Hoffman, 2003). Note- the British Herbal Pharmacopeia recommends a tincture dose of 2-10 ml 3x/day.

 

Sustainability: This plant is on United Plant Savers’ “Species at Risk” list. As a popular medicinal from the forests of the Eastern U.S., it is at risk from over harvesting and habitat loss, and almost all of the herb used in commerce is wild harvested. The good news is that the plant is easy to grow and can be sustainably harvested.

 

Sustainable harvesting methods: The root is dug in the fall. Dig root gently as if to transplant it. Cut off 2/3 to 1/2 of the root (leave at least 1 inch remaining) and replant the remaining part of the root that is attached to the stem. You should have no problem with this plant regrowing!  

 

References: 

British Herbal Medicine Association. (1989). British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. (1983 ed.). U.K.: British Herbal Medicine Association.

Hoffman, D. (2003). Medical Herbalism. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.

Howell, P.K. (2006). Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians. Mountain City, GA: BotanoLogos Books.

Foster, S. & Duke, J. (2014). Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin.

Wall, O.A. (1917). Handbook of pharmacognosy. Lane Medical Library. Digitized by Google; retrieved from: http://books.google.com/books?id=oEGpexesWYQC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Brief notes on some favorite herbs

Goldenrod at Scorpion Hollow
  • Astragalus: Immune support for winter wellness, use in soup stocks and warm drinks to stay healthy!
  • Bitters tincture: Great for folks with sluggish digestion, these get your juices flowing and therefore are best taken before a meal. Bitter flavors help prime our digestive system so that we can better absorb and digest our food. They must be tasted in order to work, so be sure to hold the tincture in your mouth and experience the flavor for the full benefit. 
  • Catnip: Has the opposite effect in humans vs. cats! Relaxing to the gut, antispasmodic, nervous system support. Specific for stress induced gastric issues.  In glycerite form its great for kids, and it can be used to help them with fevers, colic, sleep issues and upset tummy. 
  • Elderberry: Supports your respiratory and immune systems. Best to prepare with as little heat as possible to preserve all the beneficial compounds.
  • Fire Cider: Vinegar + honey concoction of spicy, pungent, decongesting, blood moving and antimicrobial herbs. Apple cider vinegar, raw honey, fresh horseradish, onions, garlic, and hot peppers make up the basic formula.
  • Goldenrod: Used internally for the respiratory and urinary systems, and topically as an anti-inflammatory. For acute respiratory issues it can work well on its own to clear mucus and inflammation in the sinuses. It is also nice in combination with red root and antimicrobial herbs for infection or with nettle for seasonal allergies.  For chronic allergies, its best used in combination with immunomodulating and liver support herbs. 
  • Holy Basil: Stress support (adaptogen), antibacterial, antiviral, mood enhancing, immune balancing, blood sugar stabilizing, supports healthy blood pressure, anti-inflammatory, brain and nervous system tonic (really its good for almost everything!) 
  • Lemon Balm: Relaxing, mood lifting, anti-viral, makes a nice glycerite that is safe for children.
  • Motherwort: Calming, supportive to the nervous  system, analgesic, antispasmodic, hypotensive, helpful for many female reproductive system conditions across the life spectrum such as post-partum pain, hot flashes and menopausal anxiety. Also calming to the heart.
  • Passionflower: Nervous system support, anodyne, hypotensive, calms the racing mind so you can sleep, helps muscle/nerve pain, teething children, nervous headaches.
  • Skullcap: Supremely relaxing nerve tonic, anti-spasmodic, helpful for restless legs, tremors, depleted nervous system, middle of the night wakefulness.
  • St. John’s Wort oil: Nerve soothing, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, antiviral. Helps with nerve pain, inflamed joints and muscles, relaxation and also speeds wound and bruise healing. External use.
  • Thieves Oxymel: A blend of aromatic herbs that was used in medieval times to ward off the plague, combine with vinegar and honey for more benefit to the digestive and immune systems. Use any or all of the following antimicrobial herbs: lavender, rosemary, holy basil, lemon balm, bee balm, pineapple sage, garlic, clove, black peppercorn. Makes a good salad dressing base too!

Herbs for Anxiety – The Possibilities are Endless!

Finding herbal alternatives for common mental health concerns is one of my passions. There is surprising amount of scientific research to support the use of herbs such as passionflower, chamomile, lemon balm, valerian, hops, and kava for anxiety. Often, this research looks at these herbs alongside benzodiazepines and finds them to be just as, if not more effective. These herbs are safer as well, and come without fear of addiction or other negative side effects. While in graduate school, I wrote a short research summary on passionflower and chamomile that was published in my University’s newsletter (starting on page 3!).

Women’s health – formulation for hormone balance

Graduate school taught me how to apply rational product design in herbal formulation through body system assessment, evaluation of herbal actions, and the application of scientific knowledge.  This project involved research on pathophysiology of a particular disease, evaluation of the existing herbal products on the market, development of a product and brochure design, and concluded with a presentation about the project. It reflects my passion for the use of herbs to promote women’s health, so you’ll have to overlook my marketing design skills!

As I look back at the product brochure, I realize that the use of the word “PMS” and the phrase “premenstrual syndrome  due to hormonal imbalance” are disease claims that are not permitted by the FDA (if I was actually selling a product). I completed this project before my compliance classes and have since learned that any marketing associated with a product, whether it be in a brochure, “liking” a Facebook post, or customer testimonial, must not contain any disease references.

Project presentation

Visiting United Plant Savers’ Goldenseal Sanctuary

This was a pivotal event in my herbal studies. I spent five days at the United Plant Savers’ Goldenseal Sanctuary in Southeastern Ohio learning from the staff of United Plant Savers about medical plant conservation and from the staff at Equinox Botanicals about their sustainable herbal products business. Whether it was camping in the field with the fireflies and frogs or digging calamus, I was totally “in my element.”

As a result of this visit, I produced a flora of 20 species of wild medical plants that were growing at the field site along with a more in-depth exploration of ecological and sustainability concerns for three at-risk species. I hope to work on this in the future and add more specific pictures for some of the key botanical features.

Lauren Kallmeyer Flora

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

This presentation provides an Introduction to Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis – 2/23/2016

Hashi presentation image

 

I created this presentation in grad school for someone that has a new Hashimoto’s diagnosis. Autoimmune diseases, thyroid in particular, are one of my top clinical interests because of the challenges they present for me and many women that I know. Nutritional modification is the number one focus when managing autoimmune diseases, but the right herbal support can also make a big difference!