Apocalyptic Apothecary

by Ron Foster

  The one two punch of Echinacea Flower and Golden Seal Root is well known for its alleged efficacy in preventing or shortening recovery time from colds or flu amongst preppers and herbalists alike. Many medical studies and reports have examined the properties of these powerful plants for synthetization and exploitation.

  Now many people are aware Echinacea is a primo immune enhancer but what many don’t consider is Echinacea’s history began when Echinacea purpurea was used by the Great Plains Indians as a painkiller. It’s an especially effective natural pain reliever for the following types:

  Pain in the bowels

  Pain associated with headaches

  Pain associated with HSV (herpes)

  Pain associated with gonorrhea

  Pain associated with measles

  Snake bites

  Sore throats

  Stomach ache

  Tonsillitis

  Toothache

  Chances are that most of you probably won’t be using herbs to combat typhoid or malaria or rattlesnake bites or rabid dog bites.

  Echinacea is a terrific herb not only for stimulating the immune system, killing bacteria and reducing inflammation, but it also inhibits the destruction of tissue by flesh-eating bacteria, venomous snakes in the pit viper family (rattlesnake, copperhead and water moccasin) and hobo spiders. Echinacea oil is known to help neutralize snake bites. This property of echinacea was first discovered by the American Indians.

  Echinacea is endemic to North America and before it was over-harvested, it grew abundantly from the east to the middle of the continent. First used by many native tribes in a wide variety of ways, it became an official part of the botanical medicine in the 1880‘s. Its use became popularized and within decades it was considered one of the most important herbs in practice.

  Were people impressed with its ability to fight off a cold or flu?

  Actually, the first popularized use of echinacea was for rattlesnake bites!

  I got much of the following Echinacea story from my research with permission at R. Echinacea Benefits. Retrieved from https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/echinacea-benefits.html

  Historical references say Dr. Meyer had learned about using Echinacea for snake bites from a Native American woman. He then experimented with it for a number of years before going to John King and John Uri Lloyd with his findings. He claimed he had treated 613 cases of rattlesnake bites in animals and humans using his special blend of herbs (Echinacea, hops and wormwood). At first, he was brushed aside and ridiculed for making such outrageous claims.

  Dr. Meyer offered to send John King a rattlesnake so that he could experiment with treating animals who had been bitten. Dr. King declined. Dr. Meyer then offered to travel to Dr. King and allow himself to be bitten by the snake to prove the efficacy of his herbs in person. Dr. King again declined, but the persistence of Dr. Meyer inspired him to take a closer look at this plant.

  Although Dr. Meyer didn’t get bit by the rattlesnake in Dr. King’s presence, there are reports of him willingly submitting to this venomous reptile in order to prove his remedy’s effectiveness. In 1919, the Eclectic physician Ellingwood reported that Dr. Meyer willingly injected himself with the venom of a rattlesnake on his right hand. After six hours, significant swelling had reached his elbow. He then dosed himself with his blend of herbs, taking them both internally and externally, went to sleep and woke up four hours later to find the pain and swelling was gone.

  Dr. Meyer popularized Echinacea through his rattlesnake exploits but he also claimed it could cure a wide range of ailments. Besides ameliorating the bites and stings of venomous creatures (including snakes, scorpions, spiders, bees, etc.), he also used it for serious infections like typhoid and malarial fever, cholera, trichinosis, and what would later be known as strep. He used it for a variety of “bad blood” conditions such as boils, carbuncles, acne, hemorrhoids, eczema and abscesses. And yes, he even used it for what could be cold and flu symptoms, nasal and pharyngeal catarrh.

  Sounds too good to be true?

  During that time in history it was common to sell “snake medicine,” patented medicines making claims of outrageous miracle cures. And it was for this reason that Dr. Meyer was at first brushed aside as a quack.

  But after the Eclectic physicians really started to work with Echinacea, all of Dr. Meyers’ claims were proven true.

  "For twenty to twenty-five years, echinacea has been passing through the stages of critical experimentation under the observation of several thousand physicians, and its remarkable properties are receiving positive confirmation... All who use it correctly fall quickly into line as enthusiasts in its praise."

  - Ellingwood, 1919

  The Eclectics later wrote extensively about Echinacea and used it for many of the same ailments that Dr. Meyer did, as well as rabid dog bites, rheumatism, syphilis, uterine infections, vaginal infections, gonorrhea, blood poisoning and cerebral meningitis. They also used it for prolonged infections due to poison ivy/oak poisoning.

  In this day and age, if you are hiking through rattlesnake country, certainly take your echinacea tincture with you in the form of Woods Walker with its other beneficial herbs along for the ride. If you happen to get bitten by this venomous creature, take your echinacea tincture liberally - on your way to the hospital.

  Echinacea boosts the immune system, and thus helps to fight infections. In the event of a snake bite, we strongly recommend taking a large dose of echinacea supplements, and repeating every 2- 6 hours.

  You may wish to apply moistened bentonite clay topically during this time. Bentonite clay is known to remove toxins, and is also advised for treating spider bites. For best results, mix echinacea powder with the bentonite clay and water. Apply this paste to the wound. You may simply open echinacea supplement capsules to obtain the powder.

  Take the formula orally at a rate of about a tablespoon every two hours for an adult human. Dogs get a teaspoon.

  Remember too that echinacea is a mild herb. Take it often… every two hours or so for acute conditions, three times a day for chronic injuries.

  Always remember to seek medical attention at the earliest opportunity, because snake bite victims should get antivenin as soon as possible. These techniques are virtually guaranteed to help a victim, but they may not be enough to save a person from a fatal snake bite.

  There are a couple of considerations with the Echinacea dosage. One, if you are dealing with something on the external surface of the skin, such as bug bites, wounds, acne, boils, etc., then it’s most effective when applied externally as well as taken internally. I personally like to take the tincture internally while applying a fomentation of the decocted echinacea root. You can also dilute the echinacea tincture for external use.

  Secondly, consider how often you dose Echinacea. Eclectics used Echinacea in smaller doses frequently; the exact amounts and frequency varied by practitioner. When dealing with an acute condition, taking 30-60 drops only three times a day is not ideal. Echinacea is better taken every hour or every couple of hours for something like snake bite the first 6 hours.

  Helps manage anxiety

  Echinacea was tested as an antianxiety supplement and found to be effective. Echinacea extract helps regulate the synapses that aid communication between your body and brain. While it can’t turn off the “fear reflex” that people who have anxiety attacks experience, it can limit the physical effects of your fears and help you to feel calmer. Echinacea can be an excellent herb for those that battle with anxiety or worrisome snake bites.

  Reduces inflammation

  Because of its clinically demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties, Echinacea has been suggested as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, ulcers, Crohn’s disease, and other conditions that are caused or worsened by inflammation. The biologically active compounds in Echinacea work with your body to keep its inflammation response down. This contributes to healing and relief for many inflammation-related issues. Interestingly, in Germany, dietary herbs are regul
ated by the government, and above ground parts of the Echinacea purpurea species are actually approved as natural remedies for urinary tract infections, upper respiratory tract infections, colds and slow-healing wounds.

  A one-ounce bottle holds approximately 29.5 ml, 7.4 teaspoons, 29.5 droppersful, and 1,000–1,200 drops.

  In a clinical study of asthma sufferers, echinacea acted similarly to classic synthetic drugs in treating asthma. “Recent studies have shown that secretion of asthma-related cytokines in the bronchial epithelial cells can be reversed by Echinacea preparations.” In particular, echinacea showed significant bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory effects. Study authors concluded that this “provide(s) a scientific basis for the application of this herb in traditional medicine as a supplementary treatment of allergic disorders of the airways, such as asthma.”

  Goldenseal is an herb that is native to southeast Canada and northeast United States all the way down to Alabama. It was also used for multiple generations of Native Americans prior to the European colonization of the Americas for many different purposes. Upon the colonization, knowledge of the benefits from consuming this herb spread all over the world, making it today one of the most popular herbs in America (let alone the entire world). Goldenseal is also said to increase the effectiveness of other herbs and medicines. It’s regularly combined with echinacea, an herb associated with strengthening the immune system

  Goldenseal root was used medicinally by American Indians of the Cherokee, Catawba, Iroquois, and Kickapoo tribes as an insect repellent, a diuretic, a stimulant, and a wash for sore or inflamed eyes. It was used to treat arrow wounds and ulcers, as well as to produce a yellow dye. Early settlers learned of these uses from American Indians and the root found its way into most 19th century pharmacopeias. The Eclectic medical movement, a branch of American medicine incorporating biobotanical elements and popular in the late 19th century, was particularly enthusiastic in its adoption of goldenseal for gonorrhea and urinary tract infections.

  Different species of Echinacea are used in North America for treating snake bites. The plant contains echinacoside, cichoric acid, ketoalkenes, alkyl amides and polysaccharides.

  Echinacea was used by the Plains Indians to treat bee stings, as well as spider and snake bites and thus, acquired the name “snake root.” Remember that Echinacea slows the rate of tissue degradation and necrosis (tissue death), limiting tissue injury and speeding healing. Keep applying it to the wound every 30 minutes.

  Goldenseal's major healing compounds are thought to be alkaloid compounds called hydrastine and berberine. The latter has been more widely researched; studies have shown that it can kill microbes, reduce inflammation, and possibly stimulate immunity.

  Goldenseals benefits can be attributed to its alkaloids, especially hydrastine and berberine. The latter is also responsible for its characteristic golden color. The alkaloids are strongly astringent and help reduce inflammation of the mucous membranes. Hydrastine has also been reported to lower blood pressure and stimulate peristalsis (bowel elimination).

  Berbine and its’ sulfate, berberine sulfate, have been demonstrated to have anticancer activity in vitro and also have been shown to have antibacterial, anti-fungal and immunostimulatory activity, as well. Berberine has shown marked effects on acute diarrhea and its antibacterial qualities interfere with the ability of microorganisms to adhere to the walls of host cells.

  Clinical anti-parasitic trials conducted in India showed berberine administration improved gastrointestinal symptoms and resulted in a marked reduction in Giardia-positive stools. In comparison to metronidazole (Flagyl), another popular giardiasis medication, berberine was nearly as effective at half the dose. Could be someone drank bad water or didn’t have sense to use a water filter or boil it. Bad water in a grid down situation is a main concern: what do you have to combat this? Woods Walker tincture would help overcome the Giardia.

  Goldenseal is mostly used for its anti-bacterial effect; most of the researches of Goldenseal involve the anti-bacterial effects of berberine and hydrastine. Berberine has demonstrated to have anti-bacterial effect against Vibrio cholera.

  Anti-candidal effects

  The antifungal activity of trial denture cleansers prepared with berberine hydrochloride was examined against Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. glabrata. A commercial denture cleanser and a trial denture cleanser that exhibited strong antifungal activity was tested for their effects on Candida sp., the color stability of the denture and the surface roughness of acrylic resin plates. The results of these tests revealed that the trial denture cleanser removed 64 % to 89 % of adhered cells from acrylic resin surfaces and had little effect on the other physical properties tested.

  Edgar Cayce sometimes referred to Goldenseal as "Life Everlasting" and recommended it to create 'a high vibration in the blood supply'.

  Studies have recently explored the mechanisms by which berberine inhibits certain human cancer cells and reduces inflammation and found that berberine is more effective in clearing a malaria-related parasite than tetracycline. Safety- Goldenseal is generally safe when taken as directed. Goldenseal is not recommended for women who are pregnant or lactating.

  Goldenseal boosts the immune system and helps protect the body from numerous bacterial, fungal, and viral infections.

  Any of the countries with a lack of running water are also breeding grounds for intestinal parasites like tapeworms. When tapeworm eggs enter the body, they hatch in the colon and spread throughout the intestinal tract, attaching to the wall of the intestines where they feed off the blood supply to the digestive system.

  Tapeworm infestation has severe adverse health consequences if left undiagnosed and untreated. Those individuals living in high-risk zones for intestinal parasites can protect themselves from infection by drinking goldenseal tea. The anthelmintic properties of goldenseal rootstock help to starve the intestinal worms, forcing them to die off and leave the body without laying eggs.

  Goldenseal is a hepatic substance, meaning that it has value in cleansing the body of free radicals and toxins while supporting optimal health and detoxification of the liver and kidneys. This hepatic nature of goldenseal helps to improve circulation, increasing blood flow to vital organs.

  People who suffer from the effects of bowel dysfunction, experience frequent bouts of bloating, gas, and abdominal pain. There are a variety of gastrointestinal disorders and diseases that can lead to bowel irregularity, including IBS, Crohn’s disease, and gluten intolerance.

  These diseases cause severe cramping and discomfort after eating, especially if the patient consumes refined carbohydrates or gluten proteins found in rye, wheat, and barley. Most patients with these disease or disorders affecting the digestive system require a specialized diet to avoid attacks of gastrointestinal distress. How many preppers have large quantities of wheat etc. in their preparedness stores? It’s nice to have something stored on hand that can help those that would have great difficulty eating it, if that was all that was available.

  Fortunately, goldenseal contains polyphenols that enhance digestion soothing the symptoms of bowel irregularity. Goldenseal reduces systemic inflammation in the gut, allowing for easier digestion and improved microbiome health.

  Goldenseal also has a mild nervine effect, calming the nervous system while preventing inflammation of neural pathways that may lead to the development of an allergy attack. If you suffer from allergies, then we recommend you rely on goldenseal tea to help you through this time of the year. Goldenseal tea also has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties that help destroy pathogens while calming the nervous system, reducing your fever when you are sick.