Re: herbal remedy

Grandma would give a decoction of mace ( outer hull of nutmeg) to calm
and help young one's sleep . i would greatly apreciate your coments on
this
ashe...@xxxxxxx wrote:
Carla wrote:

And, of course, chamomile tea. I would hesitate to give a child anything
stronger unless I felt the person recommending it really knew what they
were doing.

there is a long list of herbs in the categories of calmative, sedative,
nervine, or soporific; also insomnia and sleeplessness are topics...
narcotic might be a descriptor too, but we don't use poppies anymore...

I browsed the indices of "Peterson's Field Guides Eastern/Central
Medicinal Plants and Herbs," "Rodale's Illustrated Enclyopedia of
Herbs,"
and "Herbs that Heal, (Weiner & Weiner)." Each book has its own
strengthes and weakness. For instancd HTH has a substantially
different and shorter list of calmatives than sedatives, while PFG
lists practically the same herbs in both lists; and Rodale's lists
are identical and shorter and more focused. A calmative would
be a gentle herb, where as a sedative can be dangerous if the
dosage were too high. All 3 books reference dangerous herbs
as sedatives such as hemlock, hellebore, and belladonna.

Anyways, common to each of these sources were the following herbs:
Catnip, Hops, Passionflower, and Valerian. Common to two of the
the lists were: Lemonbalm, St John's Wort, Chamomile, Motherwort,
and Scullcap. Other interesting herbs included Serpentwood
(Rauwolfia).

Herbal PDR#2 lists many herbs under Sedatives and Sleep Induction:
The following are the Herbs approved by the German Commission E:
Bugleweed, English Lavender, Hops, Kava Kava,
Lemon Balm, Passion Flower, Rauwolfia, and Valerian

Crossing all these references to the Herbal PDR Ed#2 for
Contraindications,
Precautions and Adverse Reactions:

Valerian can sometimes cause GI complaints, and
long-term use can sometimes create restlessness, and can sometimes
potentiate (increase) the effect of CNS depressants, and ought not
be used with alcohol or in a pregnant condition.

St. John's Wort has problems as an MAOI inhibitor, ought not to be used

with SSRI, and causes photosensitivity, amongst other complaints [for
me
anyway, st. joan's wort helps elevate my mood, and enhance my dreams].

Chamomile (german): can be dangerous if one has allergic reactions
to members of the Compositae family, and ought not be mixed with
alcohol and benzodiazepines

Motherwort should not be used during pregnancy

Rauwolfia is not for pregnancies, depressions, alcohol, barbituates,
digitalis,
or Levodopa.

Bugleweed also treats hyperthyroidism so should not be used by a
hypothyroid

Kava kava is not for the depressed, alcohol, cns depressants,
pregnancy, and has
a rich list of adverse reactions

all the other herbs are presumably on the G.R.A.S. (generally regarded
as safe) list.

anyways, i'm just someone on the internet with access to a library of
books
and an interest in the subject. right now i'm growing a garden of
herbs for
my own amusement and perhaps one day as a business. it'll be several
years, I reckon, til I pursue a degree in the field. A child with
autism probably
ought to have a health practitioner get to know the child personally.

I would check out passionflower as by all accounts it is safe. Germany
and
Italy use it. One variety P. Quadrangulais "Giant Granadilla" actually
produces
serotonin. It is a beautiful flowering vine with a pleasant smells and
taste;
which may be important in getting a child to accept it - as opposed to
valerian which was called "phu" by Galen because of its strong odor.

Personally I like and use LemonBalm. Hops really are soporific;
I use them in beer I brew for my own sedation. Folks will make
pillows out of the Hop cones and the aroma is said to be sleepy
and helps one dream better.

regards, aesc

"a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down" Mary Poppins

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: herbal remedy
    ... I would hesitate to give a child anything ... there is a long list of herbs in the categories of calmative, sedative, ... different and shorter list of calmatives than sedatives, ... lists practically the same herbs in both lists; ...
    (alt.gathering.rainbow)
  • Re: herbal remedy
    ... there is a long list of herbs in the categories of calmative, sedative, ... different and shorter list of calmatives than sedatives, ... lists practically the same herbs in both lists; ... Motherwort should not be used during pregnancy ...
    (alt.gathering.rainbow)
  • Re: herbal remedy
    ... All good herbs for adults. ... remedy to help get to sleep, sure, books are great resources. ... But the subject was a child. ... lists practically the same herbs in both lists; ...
    (alt.gathering.rainbow)