Herb Of The Week - Tarragon

[Guest guest]

These folks used to carry a very nice tarragon and lavender tea that a

friend of mine loved and raved to me about ...

 

Happy Friday!

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

http://www.tarragoncentral.com/uses.htm

 

Thank you to " The therapeutic benefits of tarragon. " Copyright 2001 by

PageWise, Inc. for the following information:

 

Tarragon is widely used as an herb in cooking but also has a medicinal

history of use. The ancient Greeks chewed tarragon to treat toothaches

because of its ability to numb the mouth. Tarragon has also been used as

a digestive aid, a mild sedative, and as a heart disease prevention aid.

Tarragon is an herb which has a flavor that resembles licorice. It was

used during the Middle Ages as an antidote for poisonous snakebites.

 

Today it is used mainly in cooking but still has medicinal values when

added to foods. It is great for the digestive system; it relieves

stomach cramps and promotes the appetite.

 

It is also in many folk remedies for toothaches. It can be used to

promote menstruation and fights fatigue and calm the nerves. Tarragon

can also be substituted for salt for people with high blood pressure.

 

Tarragon also promotes the production of bile by the liver, which aids

in digestion and helps to speed the process of eliminating toxic waste

in the body. Tarragon tea can be made to aid in this process. The main

components of tarragon are estragole and ocimene. These with tannins,

bitters, terpenes, flavonoids and coumarin, give the healing properties

for the stomach and liver.

 

Children are prone to getting intestinal worms; tarragon is extremely

valuable at fighting this parasite. It also relieves insomnia,

hyperactivity, depression, or nervous exhaustion. While tarragon

stimulates the digestion, it is reputed to be a mild sedative and has

been taken to aid sleep. With its mild menstruation-inducing properties,

it is taken if periods are delayed. The root has traditionally been

applied to aching teeth.

 

Parts Used

 

The fresh or dried leaves and roots of the tarragon plant.

 

Medicinal Uses/Indications

 

Tarragon is a recognized herbal treatment for the following conditions

and symptoms:

 

* Insomnia

 

* Toothache

 

* Upset stomach

 

* Loss of appetite

 

* Intestinal Worms

 

* Hyperactivity

 

* Anti-Bacterial properties for cuts

 

* Depression

 

Available Forms

 

Tarragon is available in the following forms:

 

* Teas

 

* Dried leaves

 

* Infusions

 

* Tinctures

 

* Essential oil

 

* Fresh Leaves

 

How to Take It

 

The following are recommended uses of Tarragon:

 

* Tea for calming benefits: To prepare tarragon tea, take one cup

boiling water and pour over one tablespoon tarragon and let stand for

ten minutes, and drink. It is recommended to drink at least one cup of

tarragon tea per day.

 

* Tea for Parasites:Tarragon tea has been used in helping to

remove parasites, take one quart of boiling water and one ounce of

tarragon leaves, pour water over leaves and let stand for ten minutes,

strain and drink two cups in the morning and refrigerate the remaining.

It is recommended to drink at least four cups per day, once in the

morning and in the evening.

 

* Tea for for insomnia, hyperactivity, depression, or nervous

exhaustion. (or anything " jittery " ) 1 ½ tsp cut dried herb in 1 ¾ cups

boiled water, steep 40 minutes, drink warm

 

* Tea to aid Digestion: For digestion steep a handful of dried

leaves in a jar with apple cider vinegar, stand 7 hours, strain and

seal. Take 1 tbsp before each meal.

 

* Hiccups: Chew a leaf to stop hiccups.

 

* External use: inhalation: dried leaves in 2 to 3 cups of boiling

water; inhale vapors for headache, depression, or insomnia.

 

* Topical application: Apply crushed leaves to small cuts to help

fight bacteria before washing and bandaging.

 

* Toothache: try chewing a couple of fresh or dried leaves until

it is a paste and hold with tongue against sore tooth or area for oral

pain (adults only). It will numb the bothersome area.

 

 

 

 

Precautions

 

There are no side effects reported, although there is a slight risk of

allergic reaction to tarragon in certain people.

 

Possible Interactions

 

No noteworthy interactions (positive or negative) between tarrgaon and

conventional medications are known to have been reported in the

literature to date.

 

Supporting Research

 

Title: The therapeutic benefits of tarragon Description:The therapeutic

benefits of tarragon are many. Learn how tarragon has many uses in

aromatherapy. Copyright 2001 by PageWise, Inc.

 

 

Culpeper, N. Culpeper's Color Herbal. Tawfiq N. Wanigatunga S. Heaney

RK. Musk SR. Williamson G. Fenwick GR Induction of the anti-carcinogenic

enzyme quinone reductase by food extracts using murine hepatoma cells.

European Journal of Cancer Prevention. 3(3):285-92, 1994 May.

 

 

Atanassova-Shopova S, Roussinov KS. On certain central neurotropic

effects of lavender essential oil. Bull Inst Physiology. 1970;8:69-76.

 

Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Boston,

Mass: Integrative Medicine Communications; 1998.

 

Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 25th ed. Philadelphia, Pa:

W.B. Saunders; 1974.

 

Gamez MJ, Jimenez J, Navarro C, Zarzuelo A. Aromatherapy: evidence for

sedative effects of the essential oil of lavender after inhalation. Z

Naturforsch. 1991;46c:1067-1072.

 

Grieve M. A Modern Herbal. Vol. I. New York, NY: Dover; 1971.

 

Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. Montvale,

NJ: Medical Economics Company; 1998.

 

Guillemain J, Rousseau A, Delaveau P. Effets neurodepresseurs de l'huile

essentielle de Lavandula angustifolia Mill. Ann Pharmaceutiques

Francaises. 1989;47:337-343.

 

Hardy M, Kirk-Smith MD. Replacement of drug treatment for insomnia by

ambient odor. Lancet. 1995;346:701.

 

Lis-Balchin M, Hart S. A preliminary study of the effect of essential

oils on skeletal and smooth muscle in vitro. J Ethnopharmacol.

1997;58(4):183-187.

 

Schulz V, Hansel R, Tyler V. Rational Phytotherapy: A Physicians' Guide

to Herbal Medicine. 3rd ed. Berlin, Germany: Springer; 1998.

 

Siurin SA. Effects of essential oil on lipid peroxidation and lipid

metabolism in patients with chronic bronchitis. Klin Med (Mosk).

1997;58(4):43-45.

 

Thomson WA, ed. Medicines from the Earth: A Guide to Healing Plants.

Maidenhead, England: McGraw-Hill Book Company; 1978.

 

Yamada K, Mimaki Y, Sashida Y. Anticonvulsive effects of inhaling

lavender oil vapour. Biol Pharm Bull. 1994;17(2):359-360.

 

_____

 

2000 Integrative Medicine Communications

 

The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the

information or the consequences arising from the application, use, or

misuse of any of the information contained herein, including any injury

and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product

liability, negligence, or otherwise. No warranty, expressed or implied,

is made in regard to the contents of this material. No claims or

endorsements are made for any drugs or compounds currently marketed or

in investigative use. This material is not intended as a guide to

self-medication. The reader is advised to discuss the information

provided here with a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, or other authorized

healthcare practitioner and to check product information (including

package inserts) regarding dosage, precautions, warnings, interactions,

and contraindications before administering any drug, herb, or supplement

discussed herein.