While looking around for other potentially helpful herbs for CF, I came across info stating the medicinal properties of an herb known as Cowslip (also called Lungwort, and primrose root - but NOT evening primrose). In one of the large physician natural substance databases that I belong to, I was going through some Thyme oil research, and found that they were suggesting thyme oil's useage is even better when taken with Cowslip. Cowslip itself seems to have a calming nature to it, is great for headaches, and if you have issues with trembling, it helps that also. What really caught my eye though is that it has been used for a very long time to fight bronchitis and general lung ailments, with it's strongest asset being "the controlling of mucous in the lungs". I will link what I have found, and was just curious if anyone else into herbals have tried this in any variation?
(general herbal history of it) http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/cowsl112.html
(from my super secret members area):
COWSLIP
Also Known As:
Artetyke, Arthritica, Buckels, Butter Rose, Crewel, Drelip, English Cowslip, Fairy Caps, Herb Perter, Key Flower, Key of Heaven, Mayflower, Our Lady's Keys, Paigle, Paigle Peggle, Palsywort, Password, Peagle, Petty Mulleins, Plumrocks, Primrose, Primula.
CAUTION: See separate listing for Marsh Marigold.
Scientific Name: return to top
Primula veris, synonym Primula officinalis; Primula elatior.
Family: Primulaceae.
People Use This For:
Orally, cowslip flower is used for respiratory tract mucous membrane inflammation, cough, bronchitis, insomnia, nervous excitability, headache, hysteria, neuralgia, and tremors. It is also used as a diuretic, antispasmodic, as a heart tonic for sensations of dizziness and cardiac insufficiency, heart failure, whooping cough, asthma, gout, and neurologic complaints.
In combination with gentian root, European elder flower, verbena, and sorrel, cowslip is used orally for maintaining healthy sinuses and treating sinusitis.
Safety:
POSSIBLY SAFE ...when used orally. Cowslip has been used with apparent safety in combination with other herbs (SinuComp, Sinupret, Bronchipret) (374,379,13557).
PREGNANCY AND LACTATION: Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.
Effectiveness:
Sinusitis. Taking cowslip orally in a specific combination product that also contains gentian root, European elder flower, verbena, and sorrel (SinuComp, Sinupret), seems to help improve symptoms and resolve acute or chronic sinusitis. Clinical studies have used Sinupret (374,379).
Bronchitis. Preliminary clinical research suggests cowslip root in combination with thyme (Bronchipret) relieves symptoms of bronchitis such as coughing, fever, and increased production of sputum (13557). More evidence is needed to rate cowslip for this use.
Mechanism of Action:
The applicable parts of cowslip are the flower and root. Cowslip contains triterpene saponins, flavonol glycosides, methyoxyflavones, and other flavonoids. Preliminary research suggests cowslip might have expectorant activity. Constituents of cowslip might also have anticancer activity
Dosage/Administration:
ORAL: For the treatment of bronchitis, a combination of cowslip root 60 mg and thyme 160 mg (Bronchipret) has been used three times daily (13557).
For acute or chronic sinusitis, a specific combination product (SinuComp, Sinupret) containing cowslip flower 36 mg plus gentian root 12 mg and 36 mg each of European elder flower, verbena, and sorrel has been used three times daily.
Interactions with Diseases or Conditions:
HYPERTENSION, HYPOTENSION: Theoretically, excessive doses may interfere with control of these conditions
Adverse Reactions:
Orally, cowslip in combination with other herbs can cause gastrointestinal adverse effects and allergic skin reactions
I haven't been able to find any cowslip/lungwort/primrose root essential oil off the net, but I was able to find a couple sources of capsules of the stuff:
http://www.zooscape.com/cgi-bin/maitred/GreenCanyon/questc101238
Also, the Germans apparently make a very cool syrup/pill made from this stuff and thyme oil. It doesn't seem like a lot amount wise (few pills, and few ML of fluid, if following the dosage directions, wouldnt last you that long for the amount that it costs), but here is what I found:
"Bronchipret" - http://www.bionorica.de/portal/ppr_bronchiprettp_en,6058,3918,7294,3918.html
for treatment of acute and chronic bronchitis, cough and excessive mucus production, fever and fatigue [Germany]
Herbal active ingredients
Dry extract from thyme, ivy and primrose roots
* secretolytic
* bronchospasmolytic
* antitussive
* anti-inflammatory
* antibacterial
* antiviral
They make this stuff in capsule and syrup form. To me it would be ideal if I could get my hands on a large amount of either, but would prefer the syrup.
Anyways, let me know if you guys have heard of, or anyone has taken any of this stuff, because I'm going to try it before long.
(general herbal history of it) http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/cowsl112.html
(from my super secret members area):
COWSLIP
Also Known As:
Artetyke, Arthritica, Buckels, Butter Rose, Crewel, Drelip, English Cowslip, Fairy Caps, Herb Perter, Key Flower, Key of Heaven, Mayflower, Our Lady's Keys, Paigle, Paigle Peggle, Palsywort, Password, Peagle, Petty Mulleins, Plumrocks, Primrose, Primula.
CAUTION: See separate listing for Marsh Marigold.
Scientific Name: return to top
Primula veris, synonym Primula officinalis; Primula elatior.
Family: Primulaceae.
People Use This For:
Orally, cowslip flower is used for respiratory tract mucous membrane inflammation, cough, bronchitis, insomnia, nervous excitability, headache, hysteria, neuralgia, and tremors. It is also used as a diuretic, antispasmodic, as a heart tonic for sensations of dizziness and cardiac insufficiency, heart failure, whooping cough, asthma, gout, and neurologic complaints.
In combination with gentian root, European elder flower, verbena, and sorrel, cowslip is used orally for maintaining healthy sinuses and treating sinusitis.
Safety:
POSSIBLY SAFE ...when used orally. Cowslip has been used with apparent safety in combination with other herbs (SinuComp, Sinupret, Bronchipret) (374,379,13557).
PREGNANCY AND LACTATION: Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.
Effectiveness:
Sinusitis. Taking cowslip orally in a specific combination product that also contains gentian root, European elder flower, verbena, and sorrel (SinuComp, Sinupret), seems to help improve symptoms and resolve acute or chronic sinusitis. Clinical studies have used Sinupret (374,379).
Bronchitis. Preliminary clinical research suggests cowslip root in combination with thyme (Bronchipret) relieves symptoms of bronchitis such as coughing, fever, and increased production of sputum (13557). More evidence is needed to rate cowslip for this use.
Mechanism of Action:
The applicable parts of cowslip are the flower and root. Cowslip contains triterpene saponins, flavonol glycosides, methyoxyflavones, and other flavonoids. Preliminary research suggests cowslip might have expectorant activity. Constituents of cowslip might also have anticancer activity
Dosage/Administration:
ORAL: For the treatment of bronchitis, a combination of cowslip root 60 mg and thyme 160 mg (Bronchipret) has been used three times daily (13557).
For acute or chronic sinusitis, a specific combination product (SinuComp, Sinupret) containing cowslip flower 36 mg plus gentian root 12 mg and 36 mg each of European elder flower, verbena, and sorrel has been used three times daily.
Interactions with Diseases or Conditions:
HYPERTENSION, HYPOTENSION: Theoretically, excessive doses may interfere with control of these conditions
Adverse Reactions:
Orally, cowslip in combination with other herbs can cause gastrointestinal adverse effects and allergic skin reactions
I haven't been able to find any cowslip/lungwort/primrose root essential oil off the net, but I was able to find a couple sources of capsules of the stuff:
http://www.zooscape.com/cgi-bin/maitred/GreenCanyon/questc101238
Also, the Germans apparently make a very cool syrup/pill made from this stuff and thyme oil. It doesn't seem like a lot amount wise (few pills, and few ML of fluid, if following the dosage directions, wouldnt last you that long for the amount that it costs), but here is what I found:
"Bronchipret" - http://www.bionorica.de/portal/ppr_bronchiprettp_en,6058,3918,7294,3918.html
for treatment of acute and chronic bronchitis, cough and excessive mucus production, fever and fatigue [Germany]
Herbal active ingredients
Dry extract from thyme, ivy and primrose roots
* secretolytic
* bronchospasmolytic
* antitussive
* anti-inflammatory
* antibacterial
* antiviral
They make this stuff in capsule and syrup form. To me it would be ideal if I could get my hands on a large amount of either, but would prefer the syrup.
Anyways, let me know if you guys have heard of, or anyone has taken any of this stuff, because I'm going to try it before long.