Sida

     Ephedrine. It's an alkaloid that has been used medicinally for hundreds of years. Typically it's either extracted from Ephedra, a shrub that contains high amounts of ephedrine and grants it's name to the chemical, or it's synthetically produced in a lab. This alkaloid is great for a number of health problems, including bronchitis, asthma, and nasal congestion. However, with it's possible side effects and due to it's being one of the chemicals used in the production of methamphetamine, ephedrine has been strictly regulated and is mostly illegal to posses and use unless you have a prescription.

     So you may have noticed that the name of this post is Sida, and you may be wondering why my opening remarks are about Ephedrine. Well, Sida contains small amounts of this alkaloid. Which makes Sida illegal to posses and use in most states, unless you are a licensed acupuncturist. While I understand the reasoning behind the regulation of ephedrine, having the regulation be so strict might be going a bit overboard. A plant like Sida, which contains a very very small amount of ephedrine, and is readily found in my front yard, cannot be harvested and used by most people because of this regulation. However, it's a common weed in my area, and is a traditional wild food. Most people who would want to harvest and use this plant are not going to harvest enough of it to be able to extract a large enough amount of ephedrine to synthesize methamphetamine. Not to mention, regulating a traditional food source can be a bit upsetting to those who still use it for food. Imagine if the government were to regulate spinach in the same fashion.

     But enough about my rant, and on to the more pleasant details about this awesome little herb.

Medicinal Uses:

Scientific Name- Sida acuta, S. carpinifolia, S. rhombifiolia, S. cordifolia, S. spinosa, and S. tiagii. There are over 120 species world wide that have been used in a traditional sense. These are the ones that have been studied the most and who's traditional use has been verified, largely, by modern science.

Common Names- Most of the plants in the Sida genus are typically called something to do with “fanpetals.” S. spinosa is known as Prickly Fanpetals. S. cordata is called Heartleaf Fanpetals. However, most of the more medicinally useful species tend to be the exceptions. S. acuta is commonly called Wireweed, Teaweed, Ironweed, and Broomweed (it's typically used to make brooms). S. cordifolia is commonly known as Country Mallow. S. rhombifolia is Cuban Jute. If you haven't noticed yet, a lot of the names have something to do with cordage of some sort. These plants are usually used for a traditional kind of cordage just about everywhere they grow.

Parts Used- Every part of this plant is used. Most commonly, people tend to stick to the arial parts. Though that could be due to the ease of the harvest. Stephen Harrod Buhner, author of Herbal Antibiotics, states that “harvesting the root of a mature plant in this genus is as difficult as conveying to a politician the meaning of the word integrity.”

Parts Eaten- One of my favorite foragers, Green Deane, says that Sida is “barely edible.” However, I also know of several people who drink a tea made from the leaves, and cook the young leaves and flowers as a pot herb. Personally, I don't mind it as a pot herb, mixed in with other greens, and the tea is pleasant.

Summary of Actions- Antibiotic, abortifacient, anthelmintic, antidote, antiemetic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antipyretic, antirheumatic, aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory, bitter, cardio tonic, contraceptive, cytotoxic, demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, emollient, nervine,  febrifuge, hepatoprotective, hypotensive, hypoglycaemic, stomachic, tonic, and vulnerary

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)- Huang Hua Mu, as Sida rhombifolia is known in China, is used to clear heat, benefit dampness, and stop pain. Typically it is used to lift depression, to treat bronchitis, clear up cough, and to help treat urinary tract infections.

Ayurveda- Known as Bala in the Ayurvedic tradition, this herb balances all three doshas, but works particularly well on vata. It's beneficial to treat diarrhea, and can be described as nutritive and invigorating. It's often used to rejuvenate the nervous, circulatory, and urinary systems. It's also cooling and astringent and also used to speed the healing of wounds, reduce inflammation, and to treat bleeding disorders.

Antibiotic- Sida is a systemic antibiotic, meaning that it gets absorbed into the blood stream and circulates throughout the whole body. Sida works well to treat systemic Staph infections, infected wounds, E. coli, Listeria, Salmonella, and quite a few other bacterial infections.

Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria- MRSA has become a pretty big problem in recent years. Sida works extremely well to help treat MRSA and other resistant infections by blocking their ability to reproduce. MRSA and other resistant bacteria developed their resistance to antibiotics because of the single compound nature of the antibiotics. Herbs can sometimes prove super effective against them because they contain hundreds of compounds that the bacteria just cant seem to fight as efficiently.

Fever- The whole plant is useful to help reduce fever. It's also a great antimicrobial, so it helps fight the cause of the fever as well. 

Wound Care- The juice of the roots is used to help speed the healing of wounds, but the leaf can also be used in a poultice for the same. 

Digestion- Being a member of the Mallow family (Malvaceae), Sida is full of mucilage. This makes it ideal for most issues with the digestive system, helping to soothe the entire gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It's great to help relieve stomach aches, indigestion, and diarrhea.

Upper Respiratory- The ephedrine content of Sida makes is a great ally for most upper respiratory conditions, including asthma and bronchitis. 

Male and Female Reproductive Uses- Soothes inflammation of the testicles. The juice of the whole plant is also used to help treat gonorrhea. It is also used to help increase the quantity and quality of sperm while helping to control the pre-ejaculation of sperm. It's also used to help stimulate the start of menses in women who are having problems with late menses. This is why it's so dangerous in the early stages of pregnancy. It has been historically used as a birth control method for this reason.

Contraindications and Warnings- This plant does contain a small amount of ephedrine, a controlled substance here in the U.S. Ephedrine has been known to increase heart rate, especially in conjunction with caffeine. This can cause some serious health problems. It can also interact with a number of medications, including steroids, beta-blockers, and MAO inhibitors. Check with your doctor before taking this herb in any quantity. Also not recommended for the early stages of pregnancy, though it can be beneficial in the final trimester. Check with your doctor or midwife before taking this herb if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Sida also lowers blood glucose levels, so use caution if your are diabetic. Sida is also harmful to goats. 


     I only included a basic introduction to this amazing herb.  If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below.

References:

Book- Herbal Antibiotics by Stephen Harrod Buhner

Bala: Med India: https://www.medindia.net/alternativemedicine/bala.asp

Bala-Country Mallow-Sida Cordifolia-Uses, Side Effects: Easy Ayurveda: https://easyayurveda.com/2012/10/03/country-mallow-sida-cordifolia-ayurveda-details-health-benefits/

Bala (Sida Cordifolia): Bimbima: https://www.bimbima.com/ayurveda/herb-information-balasida-cordifolia/614/

Country Mallow: Himalaya Wellness: http://www.himalayawellness.com/herbfinder/sida-cordifolia.htm

Herbal Antibiotics: Herbal Prepper: https://www.herbalprepper.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Herbal-Antibiotic-Presentation-Slides-Feb-2016.pdf

Sida Acuta: Aravindh Herbal Labs: http://www.aravindhherbal.com/sida-acuta.html

Sida Acuta: Henriette's Herbal Homepage: https://www.henriettes-herb.com/plants/sida/acuta.html

Sida Acuta: Herbpathy: https://herbpathy.com/Uses-and-Benefits-of-Sida-Acuta-Cid4894

Sida Acuta: Useful Tropical Plants: http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Sida+acuta

Sida Cordifolia: WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-837/sida-cordifolia

Sida Rhombifolia: Earth Medicine Institute: http://earthmedicineinstitute.com/more/library/medicinal-plants/sida-rhombifolia/

Sida, Wireweed: Eat The Weeds: http://www.eattheweeds.com/sida-wireweed/

Systemic Herbal Antibiotics-Sida: Health Tips: http://tipsdiscover.com/health/systemic-herbal-antibiotics-sida/

Top 10 Health Benefits and Medicinal Uses of Bala (Sida Cordifolia): Gyanunlimited: https://www.gyanunlimited.com/health/top-10-health-benefits-and-medicinal-uses-of-bala-sida-cordifolia-for-weight-loss-hair-and-skin/11756/

Ualisualisan: Philippine Medicinal Plants: http://stuartxchange.org/Ualisualisan.html

Juniper

    It's that time of year. The time when people are decking their halls and gathering together to celebrate whichever Holiday they choose to celebrate. In my house, there is always a tree. Christmas trees are beautiful, traditional, and make the house smell like you're walking in the woods on a snowy Christmas morning. When you combine that wonderful scent with the scent of Holiday cooking, you get a comfortably Christmas-y scent that everyone loves. One of my favorite spices to help bring more of that Christmas tree scent into the season (though I do use it year round) is Juniper.

     Juniper Berries are actually not berries at all. They are the female seed cones of Juniperus communis, a conifer (cone bearing plants) commonly known as the Common Juniper. This shrub has the largest range of any woody plant and can be found in most places in the northern hemisphere. In many parts of it's natural habitat, Juniper will only grow close to the ground, but it can easily reach 15 ft tall and there are even a few variants that have been known to reach 50 ft. This tree is extremely amiable to a number of different growing conditions, which probably is why it's one of the most popular conifers used in traditional Bonsai art.

     I will admit that I am one of those “weird people” who loves to drink gin. Most people I've encountered just don't get it. And when I describe gin as “Christmas tree in a bottle” they get super confused. But I LOVE the fresh flavor, and it's all thanks to Juniper. Not only is Juniper used to flavor gin, but it's also a common spice in traditional German food, as well as an amazing herb to use for quite a long list of health benefits. If you talk to culinary experts, they'll tell you that Juniper is great to flavor meat and to use in sauces. I tend use Juniper berries in a lot of foods and drinks that I make during this time of year. Wassail, mulled wine, and my homemade cranberry sauce, are just a few of my favorite recipes that use Juniper Berries.

Medicinal Uses:

Scientific Name- Juniperus communis

Common Names- Common juniper, fairy circle, hackmatack, gin berry, horse savin, gorst, aiten, dwarf juniper, genevier, mountain common juniper, old field common juniper, genévrier, ginepro, enebro, gemeiner, gin plant, wachholder, reckholder

Parts Used- Commonly, the dried and ripe berries but sometimes the needles and wood have been used for medical purposes. Essential oils are often made using a combination of needles, wood, and powdered berries.

Summary of Actions-  Antiseptic, sudorific, antirheumatic, depurative, antispasmodic, stimulating, stomachic, astringent, carminative, diuretic, rubefacient, vulnerary, and a tonic.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)-  Known as Du Song Zi, Juniper has quite a number of uses in TCM. It's bitter and pungent and works primarily on the heart, spleen, and lung meridians. It's also known to promote digestion, warm the middle, expel phelgm, warm the lungs, and cleanses both the kidney and liver.

Ayurveda-  Juniper has several names in Ayurveda; Hapusha, Matsyagandha, Aaraar, Abhal, and Haubera.  Juniper is recommended for pacifying both kapha and vata doshas, and for enhancing pitta dosha to aid metabolic functions.

Essential Oil-  Juniper essential oil is a well known antiseptic, used in the past to treat wounds, and even to sanitize medical equipment. Makes an excellent choice for deodorants and deodorizing sprays. When diffused it helps to sanitize and cleanse the air.  It is also calming and stress relieving without sedating. There are some studies that even recommend this oil over medication for certain insomnia patients. It's also a gentile stimulant, helping to overcome fatigue, dizziness, and even depression.

Joint Pain-  Juniper helps to increase blood circulation, remove toxins, and reduce swelling, all of which help ease join pain caused by gout, arthritis, or rheumatism.

Skin Conditions-  This herb is amazing at helping treat skin conditions. In fact, it's one of the most common uses today. It helps speed up your body's natural healing process, helping to reduce the appearance of scars, sooth rashes, and helps reduce the inflammation that leads to outbreaks of eczema and psoriasis. Some studies are actually pointing to Juniper helping treat certain cases of vitiligo, a condition that causes patches of skin to loose pigmentation.

Antibacterial and Antiviral-  Juniper is a great herb for use in your household cleaning products. It works to kill most of the common bacteria, fungi, and viruses you find in your home. It also is effective against Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) , even against the antibiotic resistant strains of Staph and other resistant bacteria.

Heart Health-  Juniper helps to reduce high blood pressure, helps to lower high triglycerides, and acts as a tonic for the circulatory system. It also helps to cleanse blood of toxins like uric acid, heavy metals, pollutants, and excess hormones.

Digestive Issues-  Often used as a bitter herb, to aid the production of bile and ease digestion, Juniper is also excellent for quite a few other digestive issues. It's a carminative, helping to relieve flatulence and bloating. It's also a stomachic, helping to speed the healing of ulcers and helps prevent their formation.

Diabetes-  Ingested, Juniper has high amounts of natural insulin, which helps lower blood sugar. It also works to benefit the pancreas, helping to strengthen it as long as no permanent damage has been done already.

Urinary Tract and Kidneys-  This is the major action of Juniper. It's a great diuretic, helping to cleanse the body of excessive toxins. It's also been known as an effective remedy for kidney and urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and quite a few other kidney and urinary tract related issues.

Contraindications and Warnings- Avoid use if you are pregnant, nursing, or trying to get pregnant. Check first with your doctor if you are suffering with kidney problems. Topical use of juniper can cause skin irritation, burning, redness, or swelling in certain people. Some individuals experience stomach and intestinal irritation after ingesting juniper. Juniper interacts with diabetic medications as well as medical diuretics so talk to your doctor if you are on any of those. Individuals should stop taking juniper at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery to prevent blood sugar concerns.



     I only included a basic introduction to this amazing herb.  I hope you have learned a new appreciation for this lovely conifer.  If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below.

Refrences:

9 Health Benefits of Juniper Berries: Dr. Axe: https://draxe.com/juniper-berries/

13 Incredible Benefits of Juniper Essential Oil: Organic Facts: https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-juniper-essential-oil.html

Juniper: Ayurveda Medicare: https://ayurvedamedicare.com/herbs/juniper/

Juniper: Baseline of Health Foundation: https://jonbarron.org/herbal-library/herbs/juniper

Juniper: Medicinal Plants India: http://www.medicinalplantsindia.com/juniper.html

Juniper: WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-724/juniper

Juniper: White Rabbit Institute of Healing: https://www.whiterabbitinstituteofhealing.com/herbs/juniper/

Juniper Benefits: Herbwisdom: https://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-juniper.html

Juniper Berries: A Modern Herbal: https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/j/junipe11.html

Juniper Berries: Richard Whelan: https://rjwhelan.co.nz/herbs%20A-Z/juniper_berries%20.html

Juniper Berry Oil: Ayurvedic Oils: http://ayurvedicoils.com/tag/juniper-oil-in-ayurveda

Juniper (Gin Berry): Ageless: https://ageless.co.za/herb-juniper.htm

Juniper- Health Benefits and Side Effects: The Herbal Resource: https://www.herbal-supplement-resource.com/juniper-herb.html

Juniper Herbal Remedies: Annie's Remedy: https://www.anniesremedy.com/chart_remedy.php?oil_ID=30

Juniper Herbal Remedies: How Stuff Works: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/herbal-remedies/juniper-herbal-remedies.htm

Juniper Plant Benefits- How To Use Juniper for Herbal Use: Gardening Know How: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/juniper/juniper-herbal-use.htm

Medicinal Benefits of Juniper Berries: SF Gate: https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/medicinal-benefits-juniper-berries-7691.html