Subject: Alt.folklore.herbs - medicinal herb FAQ (v.1.19) Part 3/7
Date: 22 Mar 1996 21:24:10 GMT
Summary: Frequently asked questions with answers, a general
 introduction to and a resource list for medicinal herbs.

Posting-Frequency: monthly (on or about 20th)
Version: 1.19

==========
2.1.10 Ginkgo biloba
-----
From Penny (Zhomankenh@aol.com):

HARVESTING THE LEAVES

Best time to harvest leaves for high flavonoid content is in the fall,
after they begin to turn color.  Flavonoids, which may be the most
active anti-oxidants in ginkgo and exhibit a vessel-toning effect,
reach their highest levels in the leaves at this time.

However, the most important active constituents in ginkgo leaves (the
ginkgolides and bilobalide) reach their highest levels around Aug. or
Sept., in late summer or early fall, before the leaves start to turn
color.  If you are interested in getting max. levels of these
constituents, you should harvest the leaves when they are a dark, rich
green, because these constituents drop the their lowest levels after
the leaves have turned yellow and begin to fall off the tree.

Considering all of the above, the optimum time for harvesting ginkgo
leaves may be harvested just about the time they begin to turn color,
or a little before in Sept.

After picking the leaves, shade-dry them on a screen, allowing good air
circulation from the bottom and the top.  Best condition is one that
will dry the leaves quickly (in 2 to 3 days) but not overheat them.
Never dry leaves in the sun.  To test that the leaves are thoroughly
dried, "snap" a leaf stem to make sure.  When the leaves are dried, put
them in a paper bag inside a plastic bag, and store them in a cool,
dark place - in a tinted glass jar is best.

Tea is a traditional way to take ginkgo and when used over a longer
period of time (up to 9 mos), it may provide good benefits, especially
as a preventative supplement to the diet.  A tea of the leaves can be a
good way of taking ginkgo because most of the important active
compounds in the live plant are water-soluble.  Because of changes in
the levels of active constituents during the growing season and
variations in levels of these compounds between different populations
of ginkgo, the use of the leaves is best as long-term therapy, mostly a
prevention.  One drawback of the tea, it has a bitter, astringent and
slightly sour flavor - this formula is quite palatable:

Brain and Circulation Tea

  ginkgo       1 part
  lavender     1/2 part
  wood betony  1 part
  lemon balm   1 part
  stevia herb  1/8 to 14 part

Adjust the amount of stevia according to how sweet you want your tea.
Stevia is VERY Sweet, you might start on the low side.

SAFETY AND TOXICITY

Ginkgo leaves and cooked nuts have a safe history of use that goes back
several thousand yrs.  When using a preparation of the whole leaves or
seeds, you can safely assume that within a normal dose range there will
be no danger of negative side effects.

In one study involving 2,855 patients who took ginkgo extract, about
3.7% experienced minor gastric upset which had no lasting effects when
the ginkgo was discontinued.  Another test with 8,505 patients who took
ginkgo for 6 mos revealed that only 0.4% (33 people) experienced minor
side effects, most commonly mild stomach upset.  It is noteworthy that
tests show that even high doses of ginkgo extract do not change the
hormonal balance in men, and that neither does ginkgo affect the sugar
metabolism of the body - which means it is safe for diabetics, who
often suffer from poor circulation and therefore might benefit from
ginkgo treatment.  Finally, no disturbances in the formation of new
blood cells or the functioning of the liver and kidneys were observed,
even after long-term use.

Highly purified extract (24%) is so concentrated, it has a stronger
activity per amount of extract than the ginkgo preparations used for
thousands of yrs. in Chinese medicine.  Not only has the internal
balance changed in the purified extract, but so has the potential
toxicity, both short-term and long-term.  Fortunately, Schwabe has done
an enormous amount to testing which demonstrates that the purified and
concentrated extract is safe.  Thousands of people have taken high
doses of the extract and have been rigorously examined for any
undesirable bodily changes.

THE FRUITS

Ginkgo fruits have been the object of much bad press - due to their
potentially foul odor, which smells something like rancid butter.
Aside from its unaesthetic odor, the pulp of ginkgo can actually be
irritating to the skin and cause rashes in some people, for it contains
similar irritating chemical substances to those found in poison oak and
ivy.  Many cases of contact dermatitis have been reported from handling
the fruit when its skin is cut or broken, though rashes have not been
reported from contact with the leaves or any other part of the tree.
In China, traditional processing methods are used to remove the pulp
cleanly from the nuts.

Christopher Hobbs has done a book on Ginkgo. See 4.1 below.

-----
Ginkgo leaves and standardized extracts:

> Can you eat ginkgo leaves whole, or is that not advisable?  Can the
leaves be made into a tea?  What part of the ginkgo is used to make
ginkgo biloba extract?

jonno@teleport.com (Jonathan Treasure)
Eating the leaves, or even infusing them is not common practice. There
is nothing to *STOP* you from doing it I suppose, but it would not be
an effective way of ingesting medicinal amounts of the herb. You need a
lot for results - which is why some companies have produced concentrated
extracts which are the equivalent of about 80:1 strength of what they
consider to be the active ingredients. In other words one gram of
standardised extract is like eating 80 grams of dried leaf. It is the
leaf that is used in herbal medicine.

Moses David Goldberg <mosesom@wco.com> wrote:
We should not forget that Ginkgo has been used for thousands of years
in practice before reductionistic capitalistic herbal companies came
out with standardized extracts.  The healing efficacy and synergy of
the ginkgo leaves in tea or tinctures should not be underscored.  It may
not have 24% of Ginkgolodes per batch but I would rather take the
tincture than all the packaging and environmental waste that comes along
in your $20 box of Standard Extract Pills.

jonno@teleport.com (Jonathan Treasure)
I agree with your predilection - it is the case that all the original
European Ginkgo research was done with standard 1:3 tinctures. My own
opposition to standardisation is not so much packaging although that is
loathsome, but that it runs counter to the fundamental idea that the
whole plant is the basis of its medicinal properties. Today's active
ingredient is tomorrow's redundant constituent...who makes these
decisions anyway? It is the scientific phytomedicine companies
marketing departments... However - in the case of Ginkgo (and one or
two other herbs) there IS an argument for taking a *concentrated*
format because a large amount of regular tincture is needed to achieve
results in e.g. senile memory performance. It does not have to be
standardised - a regular reconstituted solid extract would do the job.

-----
From ac956@osfn.rhilinet.gov (Roy Collins):

Culinary use of Ginkgo Nuts
I made a few inquiries to some of my Oriental friends and found that the
*nuts* are used as an ingredient in stir fried veggies, and are added to
soups and stuffing. The fresh nuts must first be prepared before use by:
1) lightly tapping the nut with the blunt edge of a heavy cleaver to
   crack the shell,
2) Pull the hard shell apart and remove the nut,
3) Drop nuts into boiling water and simmer on low flame for 10 minutes,
4) Skins should then peel right off.

==========
2.1.11 Kava kava
-----  by Dennis McClain-Furmanski (dynasor@infi.net)

Kava-kava (Piper methysticum) is a plant native to the Pacific
Islands, originally from the island of Vanuatu. Following the influx
of missionaries over the last century, its cultivation and use has
decreased but not disappeared. Several botanical houses in the US and
elsewhere have begun regular cultivation. The supply remains low, as
the harvest rotation period is from 1.5 to 5 years. Restrictions on
import have been considered and may be imminent, meaning only locally
grown supplies will be available. Indigenous growths are now being
protected as endangered in some areas, but this does not preclude
cultivation.

Kava is more of a social and ceremonial preparation than it is
medicinal. Its primary action is as a relaxant, and at high levels an
intoxicant and divinitory preparation. In normal use, the kava drinker
becomes relaxed and sociable, and may later drift off into revery.
Large doses, as used by village chieftains and seers, induces a
trance-like state with vivid dreaming. It is still used in some areas
as a medicinal liniment, being prepared there as a tincture. Modern
use of kava has included a preparation given to electroshock therapy
patients as a muscle relaxant.

The active constituents of the plant, such as the lactone resins
yangonine and kawaine, are found primarily in the root rhizomes,
although some preparations such as the Hawaiian liniment make use of
the fresh stem. Most preparations use chopped root material. There are
some commercial products in the form of tablets made from a powder,
but these tend to suffer in strength, apparently due to excessive
drying.

Use of kava requires bringing the insoluble resins into emulsion.
Traditional preparation is done by chewing the stems and spitting them
with copious saliva into a bowl, to which water and coconut juice is
added. The mixture is then kneaded and strained through fiber and
drunk immediately.

A more palatable preparation is to wrap about an ounce in a single
layer of plain cotton cloth or a few layers of cheese cloth, and tied
off to form a ball. This is dunked in a quart or so of water, lifted
and squeezed out, repeating this until the bubbles forming from the
dripping water tend to remain on the surface of the water -- about 10
to 15 minutes. As with the traditional preparation, this tastes
strongly musty and not particularly pleasant. It is drunk immediately
in gulps. A tablespoon of sugar helps, and my favorite additive is a
tablespoon of Ovaltine or other malted mixture. Most non-traditional
preparations such as herb teas and other mixtures are either too low a
dosage or improperly prepared and so are ineffective, most probably
due to the bad taste of effective dosages.

A tincture is made by soaking the chopped root material in 3 times its
volume of alcoholic liquor such as brandy or gin. This is shaken daily
over 2 or 3 weeks and then strained. Internal use is 1 to 2 ounces,
and external use is an ounce rubbed into sore muscles or soaked into a
cloth which is laid over the affected area.

Some reports have been made regarding chewing and swallowing fresh
root. All the same effects are noted, with the addition of a
decongestant-like opening of breathing passages. This is only in
healthy individuals; there is no true decongestant effect in congested
individuals.

Heavy daily use of kava for years has been reported to cause dry,
flaking skin, yellowing of the eyes and persistent lethargy. The doses
involved are those used by local chiefs and visionaries, and normal
recreational or medicinal use will not cause this. When this syndrome
does appear, 2 to 3 weeks of abstinence cures it. Reports of lowered
peripheral blood flow seem to be anecdotal only.

The plant itself is available from some ethnobotanical houses, and
seems to thrive even in non-tropical conditions, though it still
requires indoor cultivation.

==========
2.1.12  Pau D'Arco
-----
by Dennis McClain-Furmanski (dynasor@infi.net)

Pau D'Arco (Tabebuia impetiginosa), also known as Taheebo and Lapacho
colorado, is a tree native to the Andes and nearby rain forests. The
bark, and in particular the inner bark lining, is scraped and turned
into a tea. It has been used for centuries by the indigenous peoples
as an immunofortifier.

Recent pharmacologic studies have uncovered the anti-tumor agent
lapachol, as well as the anti-candidas agent xylidione, and the
consistent effects of both have gathered the interest of the global
pharmacological community. Claims that the tea contains a large
proportion of oxygen in solution have peaked the interest of the
oxygen-therapy movement, and it is being considered for anti-AIDS/HIV
testing.

The normal preparation is a small amount of scraped bark prepared as a
normal tea. The taste is reported to be heady and pleasant.

-----
hrbmoore@rt66.com (Michael Moore), as a sidenote in a post on herbs and
fibroids:

I, frankly, have no idea why you would want to use Pau D'Arco
(Tabebuia spp.).  It is a useful anti-oxidant and anti-fungal.
I fail to see its implication with fibroids.  Besides, it is a
pocket-change byproduct of rain-forest timbering...don't let anyone
fool you otherwise.

==========
2.1.13  Wild yams and contraception
-----

>...I recently read an article about the use of wild yam in gel caps
as a form of birth control.  The article warned that it is only
effective if taken in regular doses (3 size 00 capsules twice a day)
and then you have to wait 2 months before it works.  I would be
willing to try it--I've had a horrible time with conventional birth
control, but the article had no references or explanation of how
the wild yams work.  Has anyone else heard of this?  I'd appreciate
any info.

From moon2peg@slip.net (Peggy Wilbur):

... I feel that it is important to nip this one in the bud. The
following is based on my own extensive research on phytoestrogens.
While my research has led me deep into the chemistry of phytoestrogens
and the physiology of the endocrine system, I keep it very basic
here:

Wild Yam, (Dioscorea villosa), contains a number of substances known as
phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are those plant chemicals that bind to
our cells' estrogen receptor sites and, theoretically, trigger the
components of estrogenic activity (activity does not necessarily mean
production).
This binding is possible due to striking similarities, in shape and
structure, to the body's own steroids. By binding to these estrogen
receptor sites when blood estrogen levels are high, phytoestrogens are,
again theoretically, able to reduce overall estrogen activity (Key to
the estrogen-induced breast cancer debate). Conversely, when estrogen
levels are low, they are able to promote estrogenic action.

Well over 250 plant species contain phytoestrogens, including, for
example, Dong quai (Angelica sinensis), Red clover (Trifolium
pratense), Alfalfa (Medicago sativum), Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza
glabra), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga
racemosa), and Soybean (Glycine max).
There is much controversy surrounding the uses of such plants both
medicinally and nutritionally.

Some herbalists (and others) believe that the phytoestrogens found in
the Wild Yam, including steroidal saponins (mainly diosgenin), are
hormone "precursors", especially of progesterone.  However, while
diosgenin from D. villosa was once widely used, through an industrial
five-step chemical degradation (e.g. the Marker degradation), in the
industry manufacturing of progesterone-containing birth control pills,
the human body is not capable of such a synthesis using phytoestrogens
as a starting point.  Our bodies simply do not have the enzymes
necessary for such a "building block" conversion.  The estrogenic
effects that have been noted (i.e. in relation to relief of various
menopausal discomforts) may very well be due to the previously
mentioned binding of phytoestrogens to estrogen receptor sites, which
occurs when phytosterols cross the cell membrane and bind to a specific
cytoplasmic receptor molecule.  The receptor-hormone combination then
enters the nucleus, where it binds to a particular DNA sequence by
attaching itself to a specific site on a chromosome.  This attachment
activates those genes responsible for hormone-induced changes. (It gets
a bit more complicated than this, but I'll spare you!)

So again, while some steroids are bioconverted or biosynthesized
through the metabolic action of the liver to produce sex hormones (i.e.
cholesterol > estradiol), the liver does not produce estrogen or
progesterone by "building" upon the diosgenin in D. villosa.

Very brief, but hope this is of some use to you.  Wild Yam does not act
as a birth control pill just because birth control pills were once
synthesized from its constituents. While some women may write back and
say that the Yam has been effective for them, I might ask what other
factors may be at play in their lives that may be responsible for a
lack of pregnancy.

==========
2.1.14  Red raspberry and pregnancy
-----
You use an infusion of the leaf of Rubus idaeus to ease pregnancy and/or
childbirth. The controversy is when to use it - throughout the pregnancy
or just the last trimester. One piece of advice on the paracelsus list:

From: herbs@got.net (Roy Upton)
Almost all popular texts state that red raspberry is good to use
throughout pregnancy. On several occasions I have seen first trimester
women experience spotting each time they drank moderate amounts of the
tea. When they discontinued the tea, spotting stopped. Four tried the
tea again and spotting began again. I asked a few midwives about their
experience and found that they too had experienced the same thing, so
did not generally recommend it in the first trimester. I do not feel
that red raspberry is inherently problematic, but also feel that is
not necessarily inherently benign.

==========
2.1.15 Green tea (and caffeine)
-----
The usual question is: does green tea contain caffeine? The answer is
yes, if it hasn't been decaffeinated. So does black tea, and oolong.
A good post on teas in general and green tea in particular:

From alczap@thorne.com (Al Czap):
It is thought that the traditional use of tea (Camellia sinensis) began
in China about 4700 years ago. Europeans were introduced to the
beverage in the 1500's, and by the second half of the 17th century it
was being widely consumed throughout Europe. Today, tea is the second
most consumed beverage in the world (water is #1) with 2.5 million tons
of tea leaves produced annually.

The Chinese produce over 300 varieties of tea, which can be separated
into three basic categories; black tea, oolong tea, and green tea.
These three types of tea can actually be derived from the exact same
plant. The difference between them is how the leaves are handled after
harvesting. Black tea is allowed to ferment, and is then dried. Oolong
tea is partially fermented. Green tea is dried without fermenting.
Allowing the tea to ferment oxidizes naturally-occurring catechins,
transforming them into theaflavins and thearubigin, chemicals
responsible for the color and flavor of black tea. An increase in
theaflavins increases the commercial value of black tea, but decreases
the catechin content.

Green tea infusion contains intact catechin polyphenols, which give
rise to its bitterness and astringency. Six catechin polyphenols have
been isolated from green tea; (-)-epigallocatechin, (-)-epicatechin,
(-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), gallocatechin-3-O-gallate (GCG),
methyl-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate, and (-)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate
(ECG). These substances were tested for their antioxidant activity, and
the gallic acid esters EGCG and EGC were found to be the strongest
antioxidants, with EGCG being over 200 times more active than Vitamin E
in an in vitro model. In another test, EGCG was more active against fat
rancidity (lipid peroxidation) than Vitamin C or Vitamin E, and also
exhibited synergistic action with those vitamins.

Many nutritive and protective qualities have been associated with green
tea, both in infusion and extract form. A Japanese epidemiological
study of 9500 non-drinkers/non-smokers age 40 and above showed a
decreased incidence of stroke (CVA) in those consuming green tea, with
a direct correlation between increased consumption and decreased
incidence, so that at 3-4 cups a day the overall incidence of CVA was
17 percent that of people drinking no tea. Other epidemiological
studies show a decreased risk of esophageal, gastric, and colon
neoplasms with tea consumption.

Numerous studies have shown that standardized green tea extracts or
components of the extract exhibit antioxidant activity, stimulation of
glutathione peroxidase and catalase, induction of phase II enzymes, and
inhibition of cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, and angiotensin converting
enzyme. Green tea extract also has anti-platelet-aggregation activity,
and inhibits delta-amylase and sucrase, in addition to the known effects
of catechin: collagen stabilization, histidine decarboxylase inhibition,
and hepatic support.

Green tea extracts can contain a substantial amount of caffeine, and
may be standardized to low levels of polyphenols. HPLC isolation and
identification reveals that the main constituent of our extract is EGCG
(epigallocatechin gallate), the most active compound in the extract.

-----
For some research abstracts on Green tea visit the Thorne Research
Abstracts page:
http://www.thorne.com/thorne_abstracts.html
or go straight to the Green tea abstracts on that page:
http://www.thorne.com/greentea.html

==========
2.1.16  Comfrey hepatotoxicity
-----

From: Rene Burrough <100735.543@compuserve.com>

Comfrey is the victim of a bad press, inaccurate reports, and four true
cases of toxicity which in themselves are not straightforward, but
suggest overdosing on comfrey. Governments in the UK & Australia have
restricted the uses of comfrey root or banned the plant respectively.

The problem is two-fold: firstly there are two "comfreys" and reference
to them is often casual.  Regular, common, medicinal comfrey is
Symphytum officinale.  Russian comfrey, the great compost heap maker,
is Symphytum x uplandicum. Medical herbalists in the UK, from whose
written reports I am extrapolating, point out that Russian comfrey was
probably the herb used in the toxicity trials yet regular comfrey is
also restricted or banned.

Secondly, when the toxicity tests were done in the late 70s, a chemical
constituent called pyrrolizidine alkaloid was isolated, extracted from
<comfrey> leaves & injected into baby rats at what many medical
herbalists consider an "unrealistic level". In other words far more
comfrey than a human would eat to get such a toxic level of <PAs>. Also
baby rats are smaller than humans; they do not have the same metabolism
as humans; and an isolated chemical injected outside the rat's stomach
wall is not the same as a human eating leaves with many chemical
constituents and digesting them normally. A chemical in isolation will
cause different reactions from a group of chemical constituents
containing that one as well.

To digress, but to explain, I hope.  Aspirin is a synthesized chemical,
acetylsalicylic acid, based on a real life plant constituent found in
meadowsweet & willow.  Aspirin can cause ulcerations of the stomach
lining; meadowsweet has a soothing, gummy constituent called mucilage
which lines the stomach, preventing erosion of the stomach wall but
allowing the anti inflammatory properties of the salicylates of the
herb to be utilized.  OK?

So -- the bad guys in <comfrey>, the <PAs> were isolated & did bad
things. But that too must be qualified.

The early research, late 70s, concluded that these <PAs> do indeed
cause liver damage in humans. Medical herbalists would point out that
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids can cause obstructions of the veins in the
human liver, known as hepatic veno-occlusion, but <were not shown to
cause liver cell abnormalities> and that the level of alkaloids in
comfrey was too low to <cause specific damage to liver circulation> in
any case.

And finally, is comfrey carcinogenic?  The carcinogenic alkaloid has
been identified as symphytine which apparently is about 5% of the total
alkaloids in comfrey.

The original, often cited report was written by Culver et al in 1980.
There have been many criticisms since of the research itself; how the
scientific testing was conducted, which comfrey was really used, etc.
What I found most interesting was the tumors in all but three of the
rats were benign -- out of three groups of 19-28 rats and 3 groups of
15-24 rats. <And the three malignant tumors were of low malignancy>.
There were clear cut cases of liver damage.  That's in rats.

There are four cases involving humans which due implicate comfrey. One
involved a woman who was finally diagnosed as having veno-occlusive
disease & did consume a quart of herbal tea/per day that contained
comfrey. A second case involved a boy with Crohns disease who was
treated with conventional medicine for some time before going over to
comfrey root & acupuncture. The long running malnutrition may have
weaken the liver predisposing it to the venal obstruction problem.
Comfrey root was blamed.  The drugs were not considered as
possibilities. The third case involves a woman who overdosed: 10 cups
of comfrey tea a day & handsful of comfrey pills. After 9 years, she
had serious liver problems. The fourth case became a fatality.  A
vegetarian, given to specific food binges for weeks, took an unknown
amount of comfrey for flu like symptoms possibly over a period of four
months. The particulars of his case are blurred. All cases involve
comfrey; in at least three, there are suggestions of overdose or
abuse of the plant.  WHICH plant, I don't know.

There are also disagreements about the efficacy & safety of leaves vs.
root. Some studies show the leaf to be almost alkaloid free -- thus
safe. The UK finally restricted the internal use of comfrey root...
saying that there are still too many unanswered questions.  Most
medical herbalists I know will politely to vigorously disagree, but the
law restricts the root. At least externally the root's OK here & the
leaves can still be used as tea or poultice.

I'm sorry this is so long, but bear with me one more paragraph, please.
I must credit Penelope Ode, MNIMH, former Editor, writing in Herbs, the
British Herb Society magazine & Margaret Whitelegg, MNIMH, whose paper
for the National Institute of Medical herbalists to the UK government
in <Defence of Comfrey> was later published in the European Journal of
Herbal Medicine. Both were published in 1993. I cannot do justice to
their articles so briefly, but I do hope I have fairly summarized their
writings. Any misstatements, confusion of explanations here are mine.

Rene Burrough

==========
2.1.17 Pennyroyal
-----
In answer to your question...how deadly & which one.  The very brief
answer is both IF you're talking about ingesting the isolated,
essential oil.  So, here's a longer answer.

Pennyroyal, European Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium). Labiatae.
American Pennyroyal, Mock Pennyroyal (Hedeoma pulegioides). Labiatae.
Other synonyms for American Pennyroyal: Pudding grass, Lurk-in-the-
ditch, Squaw mint, Mosquito plant.

I knew very little about pennyroyal, except that it seems to keep the
ant population down in a large stone planter I have.  Six feet long by
2 feet wide & 3 feet deep to ground level, it has been a hotbed of  ant
breeding for 15 years or so.  Anything that grew there was by courtesy
of millions of ants.  I put two creeping pennyroyals in...and for the
last two years there have been considerably fewer massive colonies of
ants.  Some have moved underground and over to the veggie patch, but
that's beside the point. Ants don't like pennyroyal, so that's my
starting point.

Certainly the essential oil used topically or the fresh leaves crushed
and rubbed onto the skin will ward off mosquitoes and fleas (see
section IX). Philbrick & Gregg, in their ancient & treasured _Companion
Plants_ agree. They also state that the American pennyroyal yields a
commercial oil which can repel gnats & mosquitoes. Soak a dog collar in
an infusion of pennyroyal or add a strong decoction into the floor
washing water are well regarded folklore remedies by Adele Dawson.
Richard Mabey claims pennyroyal is also good with bites of all kinds,
repelling ticks as well as the above.  Tierra suggests using citronella
oil with pennyroyal oil for external application against mosquitoes.

Topically, it is a refrigerant, antiseptic, insect repellent, and thus
good for skin eruptions, itching, formication [the sensation of small
insects crawling all over the skin] & gout [presumably for its cooling
property applied to the affected, <burning> joint in an acute attack].
Parenthetically, it is only the _British Herbal Pharmacopoeia_ that
includes gout in the pennyroyal portfolio.

I HISTORY OF THE NAME:
from Malcolm Stuart's _Encyclopedia of Herbs & Herbalism_
Pennyroyal was held in very high repute for many centuries throughout
Europe & was the most popular member of the mint family. Pliny is
regarded as the originator of its name "pulegium" ...derived from
"pulex" meaning flea...since both the fresh herb & the smoke from the
burning leaves (smudging) were used to eradicate the insects.  Linnaeus
retained the association with fleas when he gave the plant its
botanical name. Prior to that scientific classification, the unusual
aroma led some to consider it a thyme.

"Puliol" was an old French name for thyme, & this plant was designated
the royal thyme or "puliol royale" which was corrupted into pennyroyal.
In modern French, the herb is called "la menthe Pouliot".

Herb books written in the US tend to list American Pennyroyal (Hedeoma
pulegioides) first , and medical herbals written in the UK & Europe
prefer Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium). All agree the <other> pennyroyal
has the same or similar properties. Where the real differences lie are
in the appearance & life cycle of the two herbs.

II DESCRIPTION OF PENNYROYAL:
Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) is an aromatic  Perennial and is common
wild or garden plant in the UK, France & Germany; found in wet grounds
around the Med & in Western Asia. Mrs. Grieve  says the more common, at
least in the UK, is the creeping or <decumbens> pennyroyal.  With weak,
prostrate stems, though quadrangular -- as all mints have square stems
--  it roots easily  where ever the leaf nodes touch the ground.  H 10-
15cm or 4-6in. S indefinite.  <Erecta>  the upright or sub-erect has
stouter stems, & obviously there's no rooting at leaf nodes. It is less
common in the UK but better for cultivation according to Mrs. G..  H 20-
30cm or 8-12in. S indefinite. A planting will last 4-5 years, though
Mrs. G says frost may kill it, & a new planting should be made each
year. Deni Brown lists pennyroyal as fully hardy [minimum -5C or 5F).
Ethne Clarke's _Herb Garden Design_ shows pennyroyal appropriate for
Zones 5-9.

The leaves of Pennyroyal are generally small, ovate, slightly serrate,
slightly hairy, and opposite.  For the record, the leaf of the non-
creeping pennyroyal can be up to 3cm or 1.5in long and may be entire
rather than slightly toothed. The color depends on the variety and
whether wild or cultivar.  Greyish-green to light green.  The
IMPRESSION of the appearance of the leaves is similar to that of wild
oregano (Origanum vulgaris), marjorams (O. majorana, O. onites) &
thymes...that is... tiny & crowded together on thin stems but with more
rounded leaves.  Not surprisingly Mrs. G described pennyroyal  as < the
smallest of the mints & very different in habit>.

The small flowers are produced in distinctive, dense whorls (similar to
corn or fieldmint & gingermint in bloom. ) The tight, axillary clusters
appear in July-August with colors ranging from reddish -purple to
lilac.  There are few flowering stems on the prostate form; they lie on
top of what appears to be "a dense green turf". Seed is light brown,
very small & oval.

To harvest: for drying, the stems should be gathered  just before
flowering in July. Pungently aromatic, it can be added to potpourris &
insect sachets.  The dried herb can also be made into infusions, liquid
extract, tinctures for medicinal uses. (see section X)

III DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN PENNYROYAL:
According to Deni Brown, there are 39 species of annuals & perennials
in the NAmerican genus, Hedeoma. They have no great merit as garden
plants, but are often seen in herb gardens. Its neat habit & aromatic
foliage makes it especially suitable for containers & planting near
seats & entrances, or between paving stones.

American pennyroyal is an Annual, found in dry fields & open woods from
the East coast to Minnesota/Nebraska. It is bushy plant with erect,
square stems. H 10-40cm (4-16in) S 7-24 cm (3-10in)  it bears small,
opposite, thin ovate leaves sparingly toothed. Axillary clusters of
small, tubular lavender or purplish flowers appear from June-October.
The whole plant has a pleasant, aromatic, mint-like smell.  The name
_Hedeoma_ comes from the Greek <hedys> for sweet and <osme> for scent.
It has also been described as having an acrid taste and aroma; none-
the-less it is used as the basic flavoring herb of North Carolina black
pudding... hence the local name of Pudding Grass.

A culinary aside: In the north of England, Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)
is also used in black pudding, and in Spain it is added to sausages.

To harvest: plants should be cut when in flower for drying. The fresh
herb can be gathered and used almost as a "strewing herb" for deterring
fleas.

IV THERAPEUTICS OF MENTHA PULEGIUM:
For the basic framework, I am using the information from the _British
Herbal Pharmacopoeia, 1983_ supplemented by Potter's, Culpepper's
Colour, David Hoffmann, Deni Brown, & Simon Mills.

Actions: Carminative, Spasmolytic = arresting or checking spasm
especially of smooth muscle. [Antispasmodic means preventing or
relieving.] Diaphoretic. Uterine stimulant/ Emmenagogue... principally
used for delayed menses. (see section VIII)

Topically: Refrigerant. Antiseptic. Insect repellent.

Indications: Flatulent dyspepsia.  Intestinal colic.  The common cold.
Delayed menstruation. Topically: Cutaneous [skin] eruptions.
Formication. Gout.

Specific indications: Delayed menstruation owing to chill or nervous shock.
Contraindication: Inadvisable in pregnancy. (see section VIII)

In small doses & as an infusion, pennyroyal is used for colds (as it
promotes sweating), With its richly aromatic volatile oil, pennyroyal
will ease indigestion, wind, nausea, colic, dyspepsia, and  painful
menstruation. It is considered a warming & stimulant herb by Culpepper,
while Adele Dawson also suggests its use in cases of stomach spasm &
hysteria.  Hoffmann explains that the volatile oil will relax spasmodic
pain & ease anxiety. NB: This should NOT  be construed as ingesting the
isolated, essential oil which could be fatal. (see section IX)  The
volatile oil is a constituent of the plant & will be released in the
preparation of the infusion.

Pennyroyal is given to children with stomach & bowel upsets & also to
ease feverish symptoms in measles & whooping cough.  Taken by infusion
according to Culpepper.

BHP suggested dose: for an infusion: 1- 4gm of dried herb in 1C **
boiling water; steeped for 10-15 minutes.  3 times a day.
Or 1-4ml of liquid  extract (1:1 in 45% alcohol).  3 times a day.
Other herbals consulted tend to suggest smaller doses: up to 2 or 3gm
dried herb; up to 2ml tincture...though Potter's range is from 0.5ml -
5ml of the liquid extract.
**NB: the general proportions for infusions are: 30gm dried herb or
75gm fresh herb to 500ml boiling water. So "one cup" is the proverbial
length of a piece of string.

Pennyroyal is available on the General Sales List in the UK. [In
itself, that is an indication of its considered safety.]

The BHP suggests the following combinations: for acute amenorrhea - may
be combined with Chamaelirium (False Unicorn Root), Achillea
millefolium (Yarrow), & Picrasma (Quassia, Quassia Wood, Jamaica
Quassia); for flatulent dyspepsia - may be combined with Filipendula
(Meadowsweet), Althaea Root (Marshmallow root) & Melissa (Lemon Balm);
in the common cold - may be combined with Sambucus (Elderflower) &
Achillea millefolium (Yarrow)

V THERAPEUTICS OF HEDEOMA PULEGIOIDES:
The basis of this information came from Lust's _Herb Book_, Deni
Brown's _Encyclopedia of Herbs, Tierra's Plant Herbology, & Earl
Mindell's _Herb Bible_

Properties & uses:  carminative, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, sedative,
expectorant. The Amerindian tradition shows use of pennyroyal for
headaches, feverish colds, & menstrual cramps & pain. It was also used
as a digestive herbal tea. It was listed in the _US Pharmacopoeia_
(1831-1916).

It is still used internally for colds, whooping cough(the expressed
juice can be made into a lozenge/sucking candy).  In childbirth, the
PLANT  is used.
NB: the essential oil taken internally could be fatal. (see section IX)
It should be used by qualified practitioners only.

Topically: as a  wash for skin eruptions, rashes, and itching.

Suggested dose: 1 tsp. herb/1C water. 1-2 cups/day. Tinctures 20-60
drops at a time, as needed. For children, small, frequent doses.

VI CONSTITUENTS OF MENTHA PULEGIUM. (The American pennyroyal has
similar constituents.) Sources: Potter's, Malcolm Stuart, Tierra, &
David Hoffmann.

Volatile oil  (0.5-1%) of which approx. 85% is a ketone, pulegone; also
isopulegone, menthol, isomethone, limone, piperitone, neomenthol.
There are also misc. bitters, tannins, & flavone glycosides.

Pulegone is described as a toxic compound, "notorious for causing
abortions".  It is present in both Mentha pulegium & Hedeoma
pulegioides.

VII ADDITIONAL  MEDICAL INTERPRETATIONS:
Tierra in _Planetary Herbology_  collectively describes Hedeoma
pulegioides & Mentha pulegium ...in much the same way as mentioned
above. He does add the following: The Energetics are spicy, bitter,
warm . The Meridians/organs affected are liver & lungs.

In David Bellamy's & Andrea Pfister's _World Medicine_ they have a
large section called The Families of Healing Plants. Mentha pulegium is
listed with two sources of information: The 1907 British Pharmaceutical
Codex and Book I of Avicenna's _Canon_. The BPC states that Oil of
Pennyroyal (Ol. Pulegii) is given as an emmenagogue. During excretion,
it mildly irritates the kidneys & bladder, and reflexly excites uterine
contractions.  Avicenna lists the herb as Mint (Podina in Urdu). The
leaves are the part used. The herb's Temperament is described as Hot &
Dry in the 2nd Degree.

VIII HOW DEADLY IS DEADLY...AND WHICH PENNYROYAL ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
Simon Mills in _Out of the Earth_ issued the strongest warning that I
found in my trawl of herbals.  There are a number of herbs which should
be avoided altogether because they can damage the fetus or provoke a
miscarriage. In many popular herb books the term emmenagogue is found,
widely but erroneously, having come to refer to a gynecological remedy.
In fact, the effect of an emmenagogue is to bring on a delayed
menstruation: it takes little imagination to realize that the most
common reason for a delayed menstruation is pregnancy and that
emmenagogues are thus abortifacients.  Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) is
among 21 herbs Simon Mills lists.  This information was part of a short
section of herbs in pregnancy..those quite safe, and those not so.

In his first book, _The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism_ written 6 years
earlier, Mills quite carefully does NOT list emmenagogue among the
actions. He does include uterine stimulant with this caution:
<pennyroyal should not be used in pregnancy or when any delayed
menstruation might denote pregnancy; it is as likely to damage the
fetus as procure the abortion.>

The second most complete, cautionary listing was found in Earl Mindell's
_Herb Bible_.
He is talking about American pennyroyal (Hedeoma pulegioides).
<Back in the days when abortion was illegal, this herb was used to
induce abortion. In some cases, it resulted in hemorrhaging & serious
complication for the mother. Therefore, it should never be used for
this purpose. Today, pennyroyal is one of the herbs used by herbalists
to facilitate labor & delivery. It should be used only under the
supervision of a knowledgeable practitioner. If you do use this herb,
do not exceed the recommended dose & do not take for more than a week
at a time.>

Richard Mabey in _The Compete New Herbal_ warns <...the oil taken
internally can be highly toxic and there are a number of cases of the
deaths of women who tried to procure abortions by taking the oil.>

Tierra in _Planetary Herbology_  goes further in his explanation. <To
take the oil internally to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is very
dangerous, and in a few cases has resulted in death. All essential oils
are life-threatening if taken internally. There is a possibility of
fetal damage from the use of pennyroyal (Hedeoma pulegioides or Mentha
pulegium) to induce abortion, but this may be true only of the
undiluted oil and not the infusion.>

Malcolm Stuart raises an important, tangential danger.  <Although long
considered an abortifacient, it has been found that this effect is
usually only possible with a dose of the oil which is highly toxic and
leads to irreversible kidney damage.>
He then goes on to state:
<The plant oil can therefore be used as a flavoring agent, but only
when the concentration of pulegone does not exceed 20mg parts per 1kg
of the final product being flavored.>

IX   PS ON PESTS
And just to round things out, he adds that the plant may cause contact
dermatitis which is certainly worth noting before rubbing crushed,
fresh leaves on your skin to avoid mosquito bites.
He adds that the pennyroyal leaves are also good for insect bites
after-the-fact. They act as a rubefacient...that is drawing more blood
to the area which improves its cleansing action on the affected tissue.

X ODDS AND SODS
While some herbalists maintain that a fresh herb/plant is medically
more efficacious, I have not seen any preferences specified for either
Pennyroyal or American Pennyroyal.  Most herbals referred to the dried
herb...so by omission one can assume dried is the preferred state.
Why? I don't know.

Forms of internal dosage:
The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, Mrs. Grieve, & Potter's call for a
liquid extract to be taken. Hoffmann & de Baiiracli Levy use infusions.
Lust calls for a tincture to be used.

As a reminder, the differences are:
Tincture:  solution of substances (both active & inactive
therapeutically) extracted from medicinal plants by the maceration or
percolation of the plant with alcohol or alcohol-water solutions.
Liquid extract: product obtained by treating plant material with a
solvent or mixture of solvents designed to extract the desired
constituents.
Infusion: made by pouring a given volume of boiling or just boiled
water over a given quantity weight of herb and letting it steep/infuse
for a given time.
Always cover to keep the volatile oils in the infusion...otherwise
they'll escape...evaporating into the air.

by Rene Burrough
100735.543@compuserve.com

==========
2.1.18 Cat's Claw
-----
From: griztotm@pacificrim.net  Kris Gammon

Latin name: Uncaria tomentosa. Peruvian name: una de gato.

Cat's Claw is a thick, long, slow growing woody vine that grows between
400 and 800 meters above sea level in the Amazon jungle. This vine gets
its name from the small, sharp thorns, two at the base of each pair of
leaves, which looks like a cat's claw. These claws enable the vine to
attach itself around trees climbing to a height of 100 feet or higher.

In 1959, Nicole Maxwell made a journey to the Rio Putumayo. She
painstakingly began her collection of specimens and data of medicinal
plants in the Amazon. This was her first long jungle trip although she
had made previous excursions. Her findings are well written in "Witch-
Doctor's Apprentice: Hunting for Medicinal Plants in the Amazon". She
describes a number of plants and their applications, among which is
una de gato.

Research began on Cat's Claw in the early 1970's. Mr. Klaus Keplinger
filed the first patent in the US on Uncaria tomentosa in 1989 when the
plant's alkaloids were isolated and tested. There are mainly six
oxindole alkaloids most prevalent in the Cat's Claw bark, known as:
isopteropodine, pteropodine, mitraphylline, isomitraphylline,
ryncophylline, and isorynchophylline. Three of these have been proven
to be effective immuno-stimulants. Ryncophylline has been shown in
laboratory testing to display an ability to inhibit platelet
aggregation and thrombosis.  This means this alkaloid may be useful in
the prevention of stroke and reducing the risk of heart attack by
lowering blood pressure, increasing circulation, and inhibiting both
the formation of plaque on the arterial walls and formation of blood
clots in the vessels of the brain, heart and arteries.

As well as these alkaloids, Peruvian and Italian researchers have
discovered other beneficial phytochemicals inherent in the plant,
including proanthocyanidins, polyphenols, triterpines, and the plant
sterols: beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol. These might
explain the antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-tumor and anti-
inflammatory properties attributed to this plant.

In 1991 there was a new study to isolate the chemical compounds found
naturally within the plant that would be responsible for anti-
inflammatory principles. This led to "the isolation and
characterization of a new quinovic acid glycoside called glycoside 7 as
one of the most active anti-inflammatory principles to be uncovered."

Many species of the genus Uncaria exist in nature...more than 30.  It
is the tomentosa species that offers the most promise as a therapeutic
agent. Uncaria guianensis is frequently confused with Uncaria
tomentosa. Consumers should check the Cat's Claw bottles they buy for
"Uncaria tomentosa" and choose from a reputable company. Cat's Claw is
available in capsules, extract and the raw bark for brewing tea.

Cat's Claw is used for: Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, leaky bowel
syndrome, colitis, hemorrhoids, fistulas, gastritis, ulcers, parasites,
intestinal flora imbalance, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, chronic
fatigue syndrome, environmental toxic poisoning, organic depression and
those infected with the HIV virus.

Most of the clinical research which show these alkaloids to be
antiviral, anti-inflammatory, immunostimulating, antimutagenic,
antioxidant, etc., are tests done "in-vitro" (proven in the test tube)
not "in-vivo" (proven in the human body).

Cat's Claw root should never be used as the medicinal qualities are
most prevalent in the inner bark and harvesting the root kills the
plant. Consumers should refuse to buy any Cat's Claw root products in
order to ensure the plant is not destroyed. Peruvian law is now in
place to help protect Uncaria tomentosa.

==========
2.1.19 Golden Seal appeal - and Goldthread too
-----
Please use alternatives to Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) whenever
possible. If you have to use Goldenseal please grow your own.

Here's why:

-----
From Michael Moore (hrbmoore@rt66.com):

The condition of Golden Seal is DISASTROUS these days.
Most of what is on the market is being illegally poached from the
grimly diminished wild populations, since the floods and heavy
precipitation of the last couple of years has ruined a large part of
the Golden Seal that was in cultivation.

Golden Seal and Echinacea preparations are the BEST selling herb
formulas over the last several years, with every product line
brainlessly adding to the problem by HAVING to include another one in
THEIR product line...meanwhile the plants are disappearing from the
wild at an ever-quickening pace to feed our nitwit lemming marketing
fads.

Sorry...I am NOT down on wildcrafting...I have done it for almost 30
years, and taught it for over 20 years...but EVERY GODDAMN STAND of
Golden Seal that I coppiced for years in the Missouri and Arkansas
Ozarks (I use primarily the secondary leaf for fresh plant tincturing,
and rarely gather roots unless to transplant) has been wiped out in the
last four years...three years ago I found perhaps a dozen plants that
still survived in SEVEN localities in SIX counties in TWO states...
there had been thousands the year before.

-----
From Anita Hales <hales1@ktn.net>:

There are some other plants that contain berberine, an active
constituent of Goldenseal.  I use them regularly in place of
Goldenseal. They are Goldthread and Oregon Grape, roots of both.
Goldthread is very common in my area and it is a small prolific plant.
It is a very potent medicinal plant and is good for maybe most of the
things one would use Goldenseal for.

-----
From luna@bbs.tsf.com:

Like Michael, I found not a single plant of wild goldenseal last summer,
despite rambling and foraging at least 400 miles last summer on
foot through some of the most remote mountainous areas of the
Northeastern US.  I found a few ginseng plants, quite a few wild
orchids, but not ONE specimen of goldenseal.  They MAY still be out
there..... we can only hope......

Like Anita I have been using gold thread (Coptis trifolia) the past
two years in place of goldenseal.

Gathering goldthread is a labor of love; carefully following those tiny
threads through the rotting leaf mold on the forest floor takes time,
if one is not to disturb the surrounding plants.  But what a way to
spend a fall day... out of the wind, sitting on the forest floor
cushioned by newly fallen leaves, soaking up the fading sun's warmth,
and gathering medicine for the coming winter.   It's not a "grab it and
dash off" kind of plant.  Maybe that "difficulty" in gathering  gold
thread will save it from the destructive overharvesting that has
decimated the goldenseal population?

Praying for spring and the return of things green, here in the frozen
north...

vicki - luna@bbs.tsf.com

-----
From hrbmoore@Rt66.com (Michael Moore)

If you want to see what Coptis (Goldthread)  LOOKS like, I have three
JPEGS of Goldthreads that can be viewed on my web site.  The 800 or so
images are all listed by genus, although I plan on getting up a
linkpage by common name pretty soon.  Goldthread, in my opinion, is
possibly the queen of remedies for stomatitis and slowly healing mouth
sores (Myrrh and Anemopsis being preferable for acute problems).

If you ever get a chance to gather some, be sure to use the leaves and
stems as well...all parts of the plant are active.  The constant
reference to Goldthread Roots is a clumsy remnant of the crude drug
trade of a century ago...the dried roots could be stored in burlap bags
for a DECADE, the foliage lasted but a year or two.  With drastic loss
of wild places in the last century, we need to revamp our often
wasteful use of herbs, gathered according to standards set in greener
(and profligate) times.

Michael Moore (hrbmoore@rt66.com)
http://www.rt66.com/hrbmoore/HOMEPAGE/HomePage.html

==========
2.2 Herbs for specific things

==========
2.2.1  Herbs for mosquitoes and other bothersome bugs
-----
Actually this isn't medicinal - if you don't count doing something for
the bites.  But it's asked every year come bug time, so I'm including
it anyway.

-----
REPELLING THEM
-----
>I'd heard rumors of vitamins and herbs that naturally repel insects,
>though I'm not sure which ones.. any help is greatly appreciated

courtesy Aine Maclir (amaclir@unibase.unibase.com):
There are a couple of things that I know of.
1. Wear Citronella essential oil (which isn't the greatest smelling
   stuff around, but I guess it beats Off).
2. Take the equivalent of 1500 mg of fresh garlic clove (a 15 mg
   capsule of garlic powder or 3 x 5 mg capsules) orally every day.
   Taking garlic will cause your skin to secrete a natural insect
   repellent.
For best results, do both.  Don't wear perfumes or scented deodorants
  and wear light-coloured clothing as darker colours attract
  bugs...this is particularly true of blue denim jeans.  To make
  sleeping more comfortable, burn either an insect coil or a couple of
  sticks of citronella incense in your cabin before going to bed,
  making sure that all the doors and unscreened windows are closed, so
  no more of them get in.
If you do get bitten, applying a small dab of ammonia to the bite
  immediately after being bitten can help ease the itching.  And
  there's always the old favorite...calamine lotion...if you're not
  going to be anywhere that being coated in pink polka dots will be
  unfashionable (g).  Aloe vera and witch hazel will also soothe
  insect bites.
If you are going to be in an area that's also known for tics, just be
  on the lookout for them whenever you've been in a wooded area and if
  you find one stuck to you, use rubbing alcohol to make it let go and
  carefully remove it with a pair of tweezers.  Salt applied to a
  leech will get rid of it (in case you're around water that has any
  of those  "suckers" (g)).
I think that should about cover every blood-thirsty creature you're
  likely to run into at a summer camp, recalling my own experiences.
  I've been on canoe trips through Algonquin Park, Ontario (known for
  having some of the biggest and thirstiest mosquitos, blackflies and
  leeches in Canada) and I live in Saskatchewan, where we could make
  mosquitos our provincial bird!

From sfrye@interaccess.com (amethyst):
I've had good results taking B-complex supplements daily. Seems the
bugs like the odor of B-1 about as much as I like the taste of it. ;P

From starla lacy (lacys@cadvision.com):
Here in Canada, we struggle with flies the size of horses!  This
  essential oil mix has always worked great for me:
    3 parts lemongrass (or citronella)
    1 part thyme
    2 parts lavender
    1 part peppermint (or eucalyptus)
Mix together in a new plant sprayer (you may dilute with springwater if
  desired). This mix also has the advantage of smelling pleasant and is
  safe for use around kids and pets.
Shake the mixture well before using if you decide to dilute it with
water.

-----
From Mateo Rutherford (mcrutherford@lbl.gov):
I have used tobacco tea to kill lice and knits (spelling?). It is easy
to prepare.  Buy a cigar or some rolling tobacco and boil the hell out
of it in a liter or so of water.  When cool shlop it on your hair and
cover your hair with a plastic shower cap or something like that for 20
minutes then shampoo.  One application should be enough, but I would
often do a follow up about three or four days after the first
application.

From fukada@uhunix.uhcc.hawaii.edu (Mach T. Fukada)
However, keep in mind that nicotine that is extracted from the tobacco is
also toxic to humans (people don't get too much of it when the smoke it
because it burns up). It should be used with care if there are cuts on the
scalp which may increase the rate that it is absorbed into the bloodstream

From amy.winans@psl-online.com (Amy Winans)
> I was wondering if there are any herbals that can be taken to
  reduce the attack of mosquitos.  I happen to live in an area where
  they are abundant.
I do well know what you mean! Here's what I've gathered on that subject,
  and keep (all) on hand as needed:
1. You can join the rest of America and buy a caseload of Avon's Skin
  So Soft. I have about a dozen friends who worship it religiously.
2. You can stock up on anything containing Citronella, although I fear
  it may still be too new to really know if there is Life for it after
  the Candles. I'm seeing a lot of oils and lotions saying it's in there,
  though.
3. Continue to use the old standby's with DEET in them, like Off's
  Offtastic, or whatever, or Cutter's. Have heard personal testimonials
  on Cutter's.
4. Investigate local ancient customs; as I discovered when I read the
  area's native Indians, the Karankawas, employed an effective remedy to
  a problem which was (unbelievably) much more horrid than it presently
  is; that is, they killed them an alligator, skinned him, liquified the
  fat and slathered it on! Kept quite a few things away, one of which WAS
  mosquitoes!
Seriously, though, there is probably something in that we could replicate
  today with something similar but more sweet-smelling. So, if anyone has
  any ideas, as well as things to ingest that might make your "scent"
  less attractive to mosquitoes, please post!

==========
End of part 3 of 7
==========
