Drug Interactions: In large dosages, anthraquinones type laxative compounds may increase action of other laxatives and should not be taken at same time. With chronic use/abuse, a potassium deficiency may develop that may potentiate effects of cardiotonic glycosides.

Contraindications: Laxatives are contraindicated in case of impacted bowel (serious bowel obstruction) or ileus of any origin (danger of intestinal rupture). Rhubarb root should also not be taken during pregnancy due to reflex stimulation of uterus or during lactation because a proportion of active aglycones reach mother's milk.

Side Effects: If used as prescribed, none known. Like all other anthracene glycoside laxatives, rhubarb root should not be used continuously over a prolonged period as this disturbs water and electrolyte balance of body. An increased loss of water and salts, especially potassium salts, may occur and ultimately a dangerous electrolyte imbalance can develop that can be fatal if it persists. Large doses of Turkish rhubarb root tea may cause gastric disturbance, nausea and diarrhea due to anthraquinones type laxative compounds.

Burdock is a very important component in an ancient native North American herbal decoction, usually available as either powder to brew a tea from or as a liquid tonic itself. It is known variously by many names, but most commonly as Essiac. The basic Essiac Ingredients are.

1. Burdock Root (Arctium lappa), 2. Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella) 3. Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva) 4. Turkey Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum).

References:

Dreessen M, Eyssen H, and Lemli J. 1981. The metabolism of sennosides A and B by intestinal microflora: in vitro and in vivo studies on rat and mouse. J Pharm Pharmacol 33: 678-681. Driscoll JS, Hazard Jr HB, Wood Jr, and Goldin A. 1974. Structure_antitumor- activity relationships among quinone derivatives. Cancer Chem Rep, Part 2 4: 1-27. Duke JA. 1985. Turkish rhubarb. In Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, p. 404; Emodin. p. 572. Wichtl M (ed). 1994. Rhei radix - Turkish rhubarb root (English translation by Norman Grainger Bisset). In Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. CRC Press, Stuttgart, pp. 415-418. Yagi T, Yamauchi K, and Kuwano S. 1997. The synergistic purgative action of aloe-emodin anthrone and rhein anthrone in mice: synergism in large intestinal propulsion and water secretion. J Pharm Pharmacol 49: 22-25.

Disclaimer: This article in no way should be taken as “medical advice” on any product, condition or course of action, nor does it constitute in any way “medical advice” endorsing any specific product, specific result, nor any possible cure for any condition or problem. This article is meant as a source of information upon which you may base your decision as to whether or not you should begin using any vitamin, mineral and/or herbal supplement for better health, or begin using a “greens” product as a dietary supplement.

If in doubt, or if you have questions, you should consult your physician and, if possible, consult a second physician for a possible different opinion. The author does not bear any responsibility for your decisions nor for outcome of your actions based upon those decisions.

Loring Windblad has studied nutrition and exercise for more than 40 years, is a published author and freelance writer.

Safety/Precautions: Unlike many other essential oils, there are few safety notes to share with you. Lavender essential oil can be used neat, meaning without diluting it in a plant based carrier oil, but it must be done in small amounts and only for minor skin problems. However, it is advised to dilute lavender with a vegetable carrier oil such as olive oil, jojoba, sweet almond oil, etc., just to make certain that your skin doesn’t have an allergic reaction. Please be very careful when purchasing pure lavender essential oil to be used for minor medical burn treatment emergencies as you will need true lavender, type containing lowest amount of camphor, and NOT lavandin, genus which has up to 8% camphor – a burn causing ingredient!

Please do not take lavender essential oil internally!

Uses for Lavender: Bath soak ~ All you need is approximately 15 drops in your bathtub of warm to hot water and you should find yourself relaxing. Candle ~ Add a few drops to a candle, next to wick, not on it as essential oils are flammable. Lavender will fill room with its soothing floral aroma and relaxation should follow. Sachet ~ Add dried lavender buds to a small muslin bag and store in your drawers/cupboards, and especially where linen is stored. This method also works well as a natural bug repellent if you hang a scented lavender sachet in your closet(s) on a hanger. Hair ~ Add two to four drops to your hairbrush and brush your hair. Not only will it smell great, doing this helps to condition it naturally. Also, lavender is believed to stimulate hair growth and its antibacterial properties can help eliminate scalp conditions.

Blending With Lavender: The happy combination of two florals is pronounced with intermingling of rose, jasmine or geranium (Bourbon or Rose). For more dramatic combinations, consider mixing lavender with following essential oils: bergamot or any citrus essential oil, clove, rosemary, eucalyptus, patchouli, clary sage, cedarwood, tea tree, oakmoss, vetiver, or pine.

Finding High Quality Lavender: The most important things to look for on any glass bottle of lavender essential oil will be four categories. Naturally, you would expect to see “Lavender” on label. However, here are four facts that you will find on any bottle of essential oil from a reputable supplier/company:

1.Botanical/Latin name. If in search of true lavender it would be Lavandula angustifolia. 2.Part. What part of plant has essential oil been extracted from? For lavender, that is flowering tops. 3.Method of extraction. Is it an absolute, enfleurage, carbon dioxide (CO2), or has it been steam distilled? In this case it has been steam distilled. While lavender can be found in CO2 form as it’s most expensive, or as an absolute, most common type is steam distilled. 4.Country of Origin. As noted, lavender comes from many different countries, and my personal preference is for type from Bulgaria. Location can make a sizeable difference for many reasons such as climate, type of soil, high/low altitude, etc.

Other factors to look for are price, as too low of an amount means it has been adulterated in some way or is possibly synthetic. Essential oils should be stored in a glass bottle to protect contents. Then you must continue to keep your lavender in best environment and that would be in a cool, dark place.

For practical reasons, it’s better to buy a small amount. Not only is this more economical, but this way you can determine what lavender oil you like best. You can consult with a certified aromatherapist for advice on obtaining best quality lavender. Another way is to locate a reputable farm where lavender is grown, as this would be best place in which to purchase your lavender essential oil. Lavender farmers will be able to answer your questions and advise you on what type of lavender is best suited for your needs. You will be advised that lavender is harvested in summertime and that immediately after it has been distilled is not best time to buy it—usually one to two years after distillation is when it matures. For example, I purchased a bottle of lavender in April, and following spring I started to notice a less herbal, and more rounded floral aroma. Another benefit to lavender is that it has a fairly long shelf life (approximately five years) and, like fine wine, can improve during its bottled lifespan.