Ingredients: The herbs I use to make my Virginia's Herbal E Tonic™ are
all certified organic herbs all grown and cultivated in Canada.
Burdock Root (Arctium lappa): Certified Organic
Burdock Root is one of the foremost detoxifying herbs
in both western and Chinese herbal medicine. It is used to treat conditions caused by an
overload of toxins such as throat and other infections, boils, abscesses, eczema and other
skin disorders. A diuretic, it is used for gout and for arthritic swelling and deposits
within the joints. Burdock root is also used as a blood cleanser and to help rid the body
of waste products and for helping rid the body of heavy metals.
| Key Constituents
Bitter glycosides (arctiopicrin)
Flavonoids (arctiin)
Tannins
Polyacetylenes
Volatile oil
Inulin (up to 45%)
Sesquiterpenes |
Key Actions
Cleansing
Mild diuretic
Antibiotic
Antiseptic |
Research
Antibiotic: Studies in Germany (1967) and Japan (1986) showed that
polyacetylenes especially in the fresh root, have antibiotic effect.
Other Research: Burdock root has antibacterial and antifungal properties, and diuretic and
hypoglycemic (lowering blood sugar levels) effects. It also appears to have
anti-tumor action. Arctiin is known to be a smooth muscle relaxant. |
Uses
Cleansing herb. Burdock is used in both western and
Chinese herbal
medicine as a detoxifying herb used to remove toxins in fevers and infections such as
mumps and measles. The root helps the body eliminate waste products in chronic skin
diseases and arthritic conditions. |
Burdock is rarely used on its own in remedies. It
is usually mixed with other herbs, to balance its strong cleansing action
The burdock root is comprised mainly of carbohydrates,
largely INULIN (not insulin), mucilage, starches and some sugar. Inulin is the principle
active ingredient in burdock root and it has been shown to have remarkable curative powers
in lab studies. Inulin helps strengthen the organs, especially the liver, and its natural
sugars help to regulate blood sugar metabolism. Some diabetics claim that they have been
able to eliminate the need for taking insulin. It is believed that Inulin in burdock root
plays an important role in helping to clear up diabetic conditions because of its ability
to regulate sugar metabolism.
Inulin is also regarded as a powerful immune system
regulator, and when teamed up with echinacea it is a powerful immune system booster.
Inulin is thought to attach itself to the surface of white blood cells and make them work
better. It is even thought that Inulin can activate T-Cells in the attack against cancer
cells.
In animal studies, burdock root extracts have been
shown to destroy bacteria and fungus cultures, as well as showing strong anti-tumor
activity.
Slippery Elm (Ulmas rubra) Certified Organic.
Slippery Elm is used extensively for inflammation of
the lungs, bowels, stomach, heart, diseases of the female organs, kidney and bladder. It
apparently soothes ulcerated or cancerous stomachs and heals all mucus membranes. It is
also an immune system booster.
Mucilage has a smooth acting cleansing action. The
cleansing action is due to the sticky substance found in the gum resins of the plant,
which helps dissolve mucus that has been deposited in the tissues of your body organs,
lymph glands and nerve channels.
Slippery Elm has a lubricating action that protects and
softens all the membrane linings in the body, especially those membranes damaged by
chemotherapy and other cancer treatments. Membranes damaged and inflamed from other
illnesses might also be healed or helped by Slippery Elm.
As part of the cleansing action, the gum resins in
Slippery Elm bark gather up dissolved toxic waste in your body, including your bowels and
helps discharge them accordingly.
| Key Constituents
Mucilage
Starch
Tannins |
Key Actions
Demulcent
Emollient
Nutritive
Laxative |
Research
There is limited research into slippery elm, but its action as a herb with
large quantities of mucilage is well understood. When the herb comes in direct
contact with inflamed surfaces such as the skin or the intestinal membranes, it soothes
and coats the irritated tissue, protects it from injury, and draws out toxins or
irritants.
When slippery elm is taken internally, it is thought likely that it
causes a reflex stimulation of nerve endings in the stomach that leads to secretion of
mucus by the membranes of the uterine tract. |
Uses
Taken regularly, slippery elm is nutritious and soothing. It is an
excellent food in convalescents and debilitated states, especially if the digestion is
weak or overly sensitive.
Slippery Elm is a particularly soothing herb and can bring instant relief from acidity,
diarrhea and gastroenteritis. It will also help alleviate conditions such as colic,
inflammation of the gut, constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticulitis and irritable bowel
syndrome
The herb is a useful remedy for urinary problems such as chronic cystitis.
|
| |
|
|
|
Sheep
Sorrel: (Rumex acetosella) Certified Organic.
Virginia's Herbal E Tonic™ contains 16 cups of wild sheep sorrel. Virginia Richardson was taught
the recipe while she lived in Bracebridge 30 years ago. The recipe she was taught
calls for 16 cups of sheep sorrel not the 16 oz's dry weight measure of sheep sorrel used
in other manufacturers recipes.
16 cups of sheep Sorrel is used instead of 16 oz dry weight measurement since the
Natives who revealed the recipe, did not have a way of measuring dry weight.
Everything was measured in cups. The original recipe was formulated by the Ojibwa
First Nations Peoples of Ontario.
Sheep Sorrel is high in vitamins A and B-complex, C, D,
E and K. It is very rich in minerals including calcium, iron, magnesium, silicon, sulfur
chlorine and trace amounts of iodine and zinc.
Beneficial elements in sheep sorrel are the carotenoids
and chlorophyll. Chlorophyll has been shown in lab studies to increase resistance to
x-rays, purify the liver, stimulate the regeneration of fresh tissue, relieve pancreas
swelling, cleanse the walls of blood vessels and strengthen the cell walls. Vitamin A
strengthens the immune system by increasing the production of white blood cells and
T-Cells. It is the white blood cells and the T-Cells that are known to destroy cancerous
cells.
| Key Constituents
Anthraquinones
Chrysophanol
Emodin
Physician
Oxales |
Key Actions
Detoxifying
Nutritive
Laxative |
Research
There is limited research into sheep sorrel |
Uses
See below
|
Turkey
Rhubarb Certified Organic
Aids and helps cleanse the digestive canals and the entire digestive
tract, improves digestion and appetite. It stimulates colon action and glandular
secretions, alleviates bowel pain, clears colon blockage, duodenum ulcers and is an
excellent stomach tonic. Turkey rhubarb (Rheum palmatum) should not be confused with
domestic rhubarb, the variety commonly used to make rhubarb pies
| Key Constituents
Anthraquinones
(about 3-5%)
Rhein
Aloe-Emodin
Emodin
Flavinoids (catechin)
Phenolic acids
Tannins (5-10%)
Calcium oxalate. |
Key Actions
Laxative
Astringent
Eases Stomach Pain
Antibacterial |
Research
Anthraquinones & Tannins:
Medicinal value is due to irritant,laxative and purgative properties of the anthraquinones
and in large doses the rhizome is strongly laxative. |
Uses
Diarrhea and constipation.
|
Echinacea
(Echinacea angustifolia) Certified Organic
This is one of the most popular herbal
products on the market. It has been used for years in the fight against ailments that
increase the stress on the immune system; upper respiratory conditions such as colds, sore
throat, enlarged lymph glands (tonsillitis), coughs, flu, and ear infections. Studies have
found this plant to be highly anti-bacterial and anti-viral, probably due to its
stimulating effect on the human immune system. The ability to combat infections has given
Echinacea a reputation for relieving fevers.
Echinacea (purple coneflower). The subject of more than
350 scientific studies, most conducted in Europe, Echinacea seems to stimulate the immune
system nonspecifically rather than against specific organisms. In laboratory tests,
Echinacea increased the number of immune system cells and developing cells in bone marrow
and lymphatic tissue, and it seemed to speed their development into immunocompetent cells
(cells that can react to pathogens). It speeds their release into circulation, so more are
present in blood and lymph, ~and increases their phagocytosis rate--the rate at which they
can digest foreign bodies. Echinacea also inhibits the enzyme hyaluronidase, which
bacteria use to enter tissues and cause infection. This inhibition helps wounds to heal by
stimulating new tissue formation.
Echinacea exhibits interferon like antiviral activity
documented through extensive experiments in Germany. For example, in a double-blind,
placebo-controlled study of 180 volunteers, Echinacea's therapeutic effectiveness for
treating flu-like symptoms was "good to very good" (Braunig et al., 1992).
Another study showed that orally administered Echinacea extracts significantly enhanced
phagocytosis in mice (Bauer et al., 1988). Water-soluble Echinacea components strongly
activated macrophages (Stimpel et al., 1984), enhanced immune system cell motility, and
increased these cells' ability to kill bacteria. Other immune system cells were stimulated
to secrete the disease-fighting tumor necrosis factor and interleukins 1 and 6 (Roesler et
al., 1991). Another study showed that Echinacea polysaccharides increased the number of
immunocompetent cells in the spleen and bone marrow and the migration of those cells into
the circulatory system. The authors said these effects resulted in excellent protection of
mice against consequences of lethal listeria and ~candida infections (Coeugniet and Elek,
1987).
| Key Constituents
Alkamides (mostly isobutylamides with olefinic and acetylenic bonds)
Caffeic Acid (mainly echinacosides and cynarin)
Polysaccharides
Volatile Oil (humulene)
Echinolone
Betaine. |
Key Actions
Immune stimulant
Anti-inflammatory
Antibiotic
Detoxifying
Increases sweating
Heals wounds
Antiallergenic. |
Research
Echinacea's effects are not yet fully understood, but it is known that a
number of constituents simulate the immune system to counter both bacterial and viral
infections. The polysaccharides have an antihaluronidase action, inhibiting the
ability of viruses to enter and take over cells, while the alkamides are antibacterial and
antifungal. Echinacea also has a general stimulating effect on the body's immune
system and is currently being investigated for the increase in production of killer
t-cells. |
Uses
Varied for many different illnesses and diseases.
|
Black Walnut
Certified Organic.
Black Walnut is accepted by herbalists to be natures strongest parasite killer. Dr. Hulga
Clark advocates that killing parasites may play an active and considerable role in keeping
the body clean and in strengthening the immune system.
| Key Constituents
Anthraquinones
(about 3-5%)
Rhein
Aloe-Emodin
Emodin
Flavinoids (catechin)
Phenolic acids
Tannins (5-10%)
Calcium oxalate. |
Key Actions Laxative
Astringent
Eases Stomach Pain
Antibacterial |
Research Anthraquinones & Tannins:
Medicinal value is due to irritant,laxative and purgative properties of the anthraquinones
and in large doses the rhizome is strongly laxative. |
Uses Diarrhea and constipation.
|
|