PLANT MEDICINE STORIES

  RED ROOT (A Corner Stone Plant In Any Lyme Protocol) (The #2 most important plant medicine in my clinical herbal practice) *If you are using dry root extract, you are missing out on the true effectiveness of this amazing lymphatic plant medicine - Ceanothus americanus, Ceanothus cuneatus, Ceanothus fendleri, Ceanothus greggii As a medicine I have used all the above species, and I prefer Ceanothus greggii. Many Lyme infected people at some point, come across and may use Red Root for helping their lymphatic system work better. Before I get into the herbal medicine Red Root and the reasons...

Cupressus arizonica - Arizona Cypress with immature cone This tree is a member of the Cupressacea family, when fully grown, these evergreen trees can reach thirty to forty feet tall. While the tree is more common in Northern Mexico, it can be found scattered throughout the Southwestern United States, especially in more remote and isolated canyons.   Arizona Cypress ~ 30 foot tall   When fully grown, it is usually no more than 40 feet tall and 2 feet in diameter.  Its scalelike, gray green leaves are similar to those of junipers, but in contrast to them, they have dark, red...

Pedicularis (Betony/Lousewort) Prepared by Michael Moore With Clinical Notes, Observations, Uses, by Michael Cottingham   Pedicularis grayi    Pedicularis grayi    The first part of this article are notes and writings by Michael Moore on the Pedicularis spp.    Pedicularis spp. (Betony, Wood Betony, Lousewort, Elephant‘s Head, Parrot's Beak, Indian Warrior, etc.etc.) This circumboreal genus of “Scrophs” (Scrophulariaceæ Family) has racemes of showy and distinctive flowers that lend themselves easily to anthropomorphic interpretations. Nearly all species are found in the cool and mountainous regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with the greatest diversity found in the tundra and transcontinental forests. New Mexico, on the...

DESERT WILLOW - Chilopsis linearis    DESERT WILLOW - Chilopsis linearis   The Chilopsis linearis, more commonly known as the desert willow, is a native to the southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. Its Latin name Chilopsis refers to the lip-like flower and linearis refers to the long narrow leaves. Though its many common names refer to it as a willow, it is not related to the willow species. This willow-like plant typically is a natural protector against flood and erosion damage.  It is also an indicator plant, telling us ground water is close to the surface. The flowers are large, showy, and trumpet...

THE AMAZING WORLD OF MARAVILLA -

(Mirabilis multiflora & Mirabilis longiflora)

This Wild Four-O’Clock or known by the traditional remedios name of  - Maravilla, is a member of the Nyctaginacea family, and the two species I use as a medicine are Mirabilis multiflora and Mirabilis longiflora. 

I often find the Mirabilis multiflora to be little stronger in its effects, but in reality, either species works just fine!

You find this plant growing in abundance on hillsides and mesas from 2,500 to 7,500 feet in Arizona, California, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. Also can be found growing under trees in about every major river drainage throughout the Southwest. Very abundant and very sustainable  in all aspects. 

The root is the part we use as a medicine, making fresh plant extract at a 1:2 ratio, using 70+% alcohol. Dry root extract can be done as a 1:5 using 60% alcohol and 40% water. Tea is not preferred, since its numbing effects are not usually desired in the mouth or throat, but in the upper GI. However dried root, ground into a fine powder is useful when put into capsules. I usually prefer “00” capsule size. 

There has been very little to no chemical work done on this amazing plant. The pharmacology or constituent work very lacking, and this would be a very good candidate for some upcoming ethnobotany student! 

This is why I use Maravilla - 

#1  It is an anorectic. It sedates and numbs the stomach lining, and lessens appetite. One “00” capsule or 20 to 30 drops of the fresh root extract, will essentially make it seem like you just ate a huge meal, when in fact you did not!

#2 It stimulates the central nervous system, bringing a mild alertness. Similar to a cup of coffee.

#3 It releases stored sugar, raising blood sugar slightly, thus releasing stored energy.

So what you have is a plant that reduces hunger or appetite, then stimulates your nervous system, then releases stored sugar. Amazing, right?  Sure it is, but unfortunately it could be abused by weight loss fanatics who are always looking for the next “wonder thing” for weight loss.

DO NOT USE: 

# Do not use if you have LOW BLOOD SUGAR

# Do not use if you need to eat. Do NOT use if you are struggling with anorexia.

# Do not use if you have high blood pressure

# Do not use if you have diabetes

# Do not use if you are pregnant

However, if you are a person who is learning to eat less, but your caloric intake demands have been high, then by using this plant, a few days a week, you will learn to eat less… and actually lose a little weight in the process. More importantly this plant can help you function and learn to eat less in a healthy matter. It is a good plant tool, just do not abuse it or get caught up in that cultural psychology of needing to loose weight syndrome. 

Here is how I have used it with people: 

A man came to me one time, he was working for the power company as a line man. Pretty strong and healthy, very active in his job. He worked in the field putting up power lines. Probably consumed twice the normal amount of calories each day. However he burnt those calories up most days.

When I met him, he had just got promoted from field work to a supervisor desk job ( to me that is not a promotion, hahaha). While he was used to consuming a huge amount of calories in his field work, the desk job now required half as much. After a few weeks he began to put on a lot of extra pounds. 

I had him use 2 “00” capsules per day for a month. After the month he had lost 20 pounds, and was now eating much smaller meals to feel full. After a few months, and a total loss of about 30 pounds, he stopped using the Maravilla capsules, and returned to a normal healthy weight and meal size.

Maravilla capsules or extract, when done properly can retrain your stomach to feel full on a lot less food. This is a very useful physiological and psychological tool for staying healthy.

I have noticed too, that there may be a built in safety factor with this use of this plant. Sometimes plant intelligence is breathtaking! After you have used Maravilla for a few months, the last couple of months intermittently - like every other day, it seems to reach a limit. Once your stomach has reached the size that seems normal, it just does not seem to work as effectively. Seems you loose interest and have lost all the weight you are going to loose. I like that effect, and that is why I have decided to even mention this plant.