Alteratives are herbs that will restore the proper function of the body and increase health and vitality. Generally they act to alter the body’s processes of metabolism so that the body can heal. These work in a variety of ways from helping with nutrition to elimination. Many of these types of herbs improve the ability of the body to eliminate waste through the kidneys, liver, lungs or skin.

Alteratives can be used safely in many diverse conditions as supportive remedies, but should be thought of first where chronic inflammatory or degenerative conditions exist. These would include the skin diseases, various types of arthritis and the wide category of auto-immune problems.

Alteratives & their Secondary Actions

Anti-Catarrhal Action:

Echinacea, Garlic, Golden Seal, Nettles, Poke Root, Wild Indigo

Anti-Inflammatory Action:

Blue Flag, Bogbean, Cleavers, Golden Seal, Guaiacum, Sarsaparilla

Anti-Microbial Action:

Blood Root, Buchu, Chaparral, Echinacea, Garlic, Golden Seal, Pasque Flower, Poke Root, Wild Indigo

Anti-Spasmodic Action:
Black Cohosh, Blood Root, Garlic, Pasque Flower, Red Clover

Astringent Action:

Golden Seal, Nettles

Bitter Action:

Bogbean, Burdock, Golden Seal

Diaphoretic:

Garlic, Queen’s Delight, Sarsaparilla, Guaiacum

Diuretic Action:

Blue Flag, Bogbean, Buchu, Burdock, Cleavers, Nettles, Sarsaparilla, Guaiacum

Emmenagogue Action:

False Unicorn Root, Black & Blue Cohosh

Expectorant Action:

Blood Root, Mullein, Red Clover

Hepatic Action:

Blue Flag, Bogbean, Burdock, Garlic, Golden Seal, Fringetree, Mountain Grape, Poke Root, Yellow Dock

Hypotensive Action:

Black Cohosh, Garlic, Nettles

Nervine Action:

Black Cohosh, Pasque Flower, Red Clover

Vulnerary Action:

Cleavers, Golden Seal

Alteratives for different parts of the body

There are certain herbs that are well suited to different body systems.

Circulatory system:

The actions of these herbs are not specifically for this system but they will aid in circulation which helps the body operate at its peak. The lymphatic aspect of this system is aided by Cleavers, Poke Root, Chaparral and Echinacea.

Respiratory system:

The main Alteratives for the lungs and Respiratory system as a whole are Mullein, Blood Root, Liquorice, Garlic and Golden Seal.

Digestive system:

The Alteratives that will work on the liver, pancreas and other digestive organs are of great importance in herbal medicine. A small selection would include Blue Flag, Burdock, Bogbean, Fringetree, Garlic, Golden Seal, Nettles, Sarsaparilla and Yellow Dock.

Urinary system:

Many herbalists that use these herbs for diuretics are also urinary alteratives. These possibly include Buchu, Cleavers, and Bearberry.

Reproductive system:

The general types of Alteratives are of value to this system but the specific Alteratives that aid this system are Black Cohosh, Blue Cohosh, False Unicorn Root, Golden Seal, Raspberry leaves, and Saw Palmetto.

Muscles and Skeleton:

Many Alteratives are important here including Black Cohosh, Bogbean, Bladderwrack, and Burdock.

Nervous system:

By helping the body to be whole, all Alteratives aid the strained nervous system, but Pasque Flower and Red Clover are especially helpful as Alteratives with a nervine action.

Skin:

The skin system is where most Alteratives are used so the list of herbs is extensive. Alteratives often used for the skin are Burdock, Cleavers, Echinacea, Figwort, Fumitory, Mountain Grape, Red Clover, Sarsaparilla and Yellow Dock.

Alterative Herbs

Black Cohosh-Blood Root-Blue Flag-Bogbean-Burdock-Chaparral-Cleavers-Echinacea-Figwort-Fringetree-Fumitory-Garlic-Guaiacum-Golden Seal-Mountain Grape-Nettles-Pasque Flower-Poke Root-Queen’s Delight-Red Clover-Sarsaparilla-Sassafras-Wild Indigo-Yellow Dock

Typical Places Found: Cultivated worldwide

How to Collect This Herb:

The bulb with its numerous cloves should be unearthed when the leaves begin to wither in September. They should be stored in a cool dry place.

Part Used: Bulb

Anti-microbial, diaphoretic, cholagogue, hypotensive, anti-spasmodic.

Garlic is among the few herbs that have a universal usage and recognition. Its daily usage aids and supports the body in ways that no other herb does. It is one of the most effective anti-microbial plants available, acting on bacteria, viruses and alimentary parasites. The volatile oil is an effective agent and as it is largely excreted via the lungs, it is used in infections of this system such as chronic bronchitis, respiratory catarrh, recurrent colds and influenza. It may be helpful in the treatment of whooping cough and as part of a broader approach to bronchitic asthma.

In general it may be used as a preventative for most infectious conditions, digestive as well as respiratory. For the digestive tract it has been found that Garlic will support the development of the natural bacterial flora while killing pathogenic organisms. In addition to these amazing properties, Garlic has an international reputation for lowering both blood pressure, blood cholesterol levels and generally improving the health of the cardio-vascular system. The essential oil of Garlic possesses a distinct hypolipidemic, or fat reducing, action in both healthy people and patients with coronary heart disease. Garlic should be thought of as a basic food that will augment the body’s health and protect it in general. It has been used externally for the treatment of ringworm and threadworm.

Combinations: For microbial infections it will combine well with Echinacea.

Preparations & Dosage:  A clove should be eaten three times a day. If the smell becomes a problem, use Garlic oil capsules; take three a day as a prophylactic or three times a day when an infection occurs.

How to Collect This Herb:  The rootstock is dug up when the leaves have dried. The remains of the stem and root fibers should be removed. Wash thoroughly and dry in the sun.

Part Used : The rootstock

Stimulant, carminative, anti-spasmodic, rubefacient, diaphoretic, emmenagogue.

Ginger may be used as a stimulant of the peripheral circulation in cases of bad circulation, chilblains and cramps. In feverish conditions, Ginger acts as a useful diaphoretic, promoting perspiration. As a gargle it may be effective in the relief of sore throats. Externally it is the base of many fibrositis and muscle sprain treatments. Ginger has been used world-wide as an aromatic carminative and pungent appetite stimulant. In India, and in other countries with hot and humid climates, ginger is eaten daily and is a well-known remedy for digestion problems. Its wide-spread use is not only be due to flavor, but to the anti-oxidant and anti-microbial effects, necessary for preservation of food, essential in such climates.

Ginger Preparations & Dosage

Infusion: pour a cup of boiling water onto l teaspoonful of the fresh root and let it infuse for 5 minutes. Drink whenever needed. Decoction: if you are using the dried root in powdered or finely chopped form, make a decoction by putting l l/2 teaspoonfuls to a cup of water. Bring it to the boil and simmer for 5-l0 minutes. This can be drunk whenever needed.

Tincture: the tincture comes in two forms, weak Tincture B.P. which should be taken in a dose of l.5-3ml three times a day and the Strong Tincture B.P. which should be taken in a dose of 0.25-0.5ml three times a day.