The leaves and flower tops of the horehound have long been used in home remedies for the common cold. They are now used primarily as flavorings in liqueurs, candies, and cough drops. Extracts of the plant have also been used for treating intestinal parasites, as a diaphoretic, and as a diuretic.

The active ingredients are obtained from the leaves and flowers of M. vulgare. Horehound's active compound, marrubi in, stimulates secretions in the bronchioles and works as an expectorant. It also contains antiarrhythmic properties, but is of limited use for this purpose because large doses can also cause arrhythmias.

Marrubin acid, derived from marrubiin, stimulates bile secretion. An aqueous extract from horehound may have antagonistic activities toward serotonin. The horehound extract has hypoglycemic effects. Horehound is available as dried herb, liquid extract, lozenges, powder, syrup, and tea.

The horse chestnut has been used as a traditional remedy for arthritis, rheumatism and the management of varicose and hemorrhoids. The seeds are toxic, and many methods have been used to rid them of toxicity. The herb is more popularly used in Europe.

The useful constituents of horse chestnut are derived from the seeds and bark of the Aesculus tree. Aescin seems to provide some weak diuretic activity and may decrease the permeability of venous capillaries. It also has a tonic effect on the veins and prevents collagen breakdown by inhibiting glycosaminoglycan hydrolases. Sterol content may have some anti-inflammatory activity. The toxic glycoside, aesculin, is a hydroxycoumarin with potential antithrombotic activity; however, the toxin is removed during preparation. Horse chestnut is available as capsules and as creams made from an aescin/cholesterol complex, in products such as Arthro-Therapy, Cell-U-Var Cream, Varicare, Varicosin, Venocare Ultrajoint Response, and Venastat.

Horseradish has been cultivated for about 2,000 years. Early settlers brought the plant to America. Early uses included reducing sciatic nerve pain, expelling afterbirth, relieving colic, increasing urination, and killing intestinal worms. Horseradish is one the "five bitter herbs" of Passover.

Topically, the mustard content irritates the skin and stimulates local blood flow, giving relief to minor muscle aches and inflamed joints or tissues. Both the mustard oil and the glucosinolate composition give the root its characteristic pungency, helping to decrease congestion and inflammation of the respiratory tract. Horseradish may also have some antimicrobial activity against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Horseradish is available as fresh or dried root, ointment with 2% mustard oil from pressed root, and tincture.

Juniper berries have long been used as a flavoring in foods and alcoholic beverages such as gin. Gin's original preparation was used for kidney ailments. Immature berries are green, taking 2 to 3 years to ripen to a purplish blue-black. The active component is a volatile oil, which is 0.2% to 3.4% of the berry. The best described effect is diuresis, caused by terpinene-4-01, which results from a direct irritation to the kidney, leading to increased glomerular filtration rate. Juniper berries are available as ripe berry, also called berry-like cones or mature female cones, fresh or dried, and as powder, tea, tincture, oil, or liquid extract.

Reported uses

Juniper berries are used to treat urinary tract infections and kidney stones. They're also used as a carminative and for multiple nonspecific GI tract disorders, including dyspepsia, flatulence, colic, heartburn, anorexia, and inflammatory GI disorders.

Juniper berries may be applied topically to treat small wounds and relieve muscle and joint pain caused by rheumatism. The fragrance is inhaled as steam to treat bronchitis. The oil is used as a fragrance in many soaps and cosmetics. Juniper berries are the principle flavoring agent in gin, as well as some bitters and liqueurs.

As a food, maximum flavoring concentrations are 0.01% of the extract or 0.006% of the volatile oil. Other reported effects of juniper include hypoglycemia, hypotension or hypertension, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects, and stimulation of uterine activity leading to decreased implantation and increased abortifacient effects.

Lady's mantle is obtained from the root, stem, leaves, and flowers of the Alchemilla vulgaris plant. The above-ground parts of Lady's mantle contain tannins, mainly ellagic acid glycosides (6% to 8%), and various flavonoids, such as quercetin. Tannins impart a mild topical astringent that's useful in treating wounds. It's also used to treat gastrointestinal ailments. Lady's mantle is available as tea, tablets, tincture, ointment, and drops.

Reported uses

Lady's mantle is used as a topical astringent for wounds, ulcers, eczema, and skin rashes.

The tea is useful in controlling mild diarrhea; it has been used also to reduce uterine bleeding, ease menstrual cramps, and regulate the menstrual cycle.

Licorice is obtained from Glycyrrhiza glabra, varieties of which are indigenous to Europe and Asia. The medicinal parts include the unpeeled, dried roots and runners, the peeled dried roots, and the rhizome with the roots.

Licorice contains 7% to 10% glycyrrhizin (glycyrrhizic acid), natural sugars, glucose, mannose, sucrose, flavonoids, isoflavonoids, and sterols (betasitosterol and stigmasterol). Glycyrrhizin is a glycoside 50 times sweeter than sugar. Licorice has been found to stimulate the release of secretin, a potential mediator of antiulcer activity. Carbenoxolene, a semisynthetic ester of glycyrrhetic acid, is an active ingredient for treating stomach ulcers.

Diverticulosis, the formation of small pouches in the intestinal walls, is a precursor of diverticulitis, a condition in which the pouches become infected because they're filled with debris. Your best bet, then, is to treat diverticulosis so you don't develop diverticulitis. Many of the following remedies are helpful for both conditions:

Take psyllium (a high-fiber seed) or wheat bran with lots of fluids daily to keep your bowels moving comfortably and to help prevent diverticulitis.

Use generous amounts of raw garlic, an antiinfective, in dishes such as salads. Or take 3 garlic capsules 3 times daily.

Drink slippery elm tea to calm inflamed intestines. To make the tea, simmer 2 teaspoons of powder in 1 cup of water for 15 minutes. Drink up to 3 cups daily until symptoms subside.

Aromatherapy

Ease your aching, cramping muscles with a delightfully soothing rosemary lavender massage. To prepare the blend, combine 3 drops each of German chamomile, rosemary, and ginger; 8 drops of lavender; and a If ounce of almond or avocado oil. Massage the oil into the affected muscles after a relaxing, warm bath. For a different blend, try Roman chamomile, bay, peppermint, and safflower oils. Other beneficial oils include marjoram and clary sage.

Ayurvedic Medicine

In Ayurveda, muscle cramping and spasms are caused by excess vata, which is increased by cold, too much exercise, or poor blood circulation. An Ayurvedic practitioner may suggest massaging the affected muscle with oil of shatavari to relax the muscle fibers. He also may encourage you to soak your feet in hot mustard tea.

Aromatherapy is a recent therapeutic technique or science which makes use essential oils to build up and create a certain positive effect upon the human cells and the body as a whole. This has a very refreshing effect which is beneficial to the human body and mind. This effect is being created or induced by the special aroma or external application of these special aromatherapy essential oils.

Aromatherapy does rely very heavily upon these variety of special essential oils. If a person or an individual is very new to this aroma therapy, there are so many inexpensive ways to know and determine if aromatherapy meets his individual requirements and needs. One of these method is the use of aromatherapy item called the essential oil kit.

Apple cider vinegar has been used to treat various illnesses for centuries. If one can get past its bitter taste, one can find relief in its healing attributes. It has been known to aid in the treatment of arthritis, gout, acne, high cholesterol, chronic fatigue, and acid reflux.

One of its more common purposes is to stave off a cold or flu. It is said to help cure a sore throat, soothe a stubborn cough, and treat a sinus infection, the usual symptoms that accompany a cold or flu. Using an apple cider vinegar flu remedy is easy, natural, and safe for most individuals.

How it works
When you contract a cold, your body's pH factor becomes slightly more alkaline. Apple cider vinegar, which is acidic, helps to rebalance the body's acid level.