The Shepherd's Purse
Please Note: Personal health matters should be discussed with an appropriate health care practitioner. The sole responsibility for the application of the information contained herein remains with the reader and user of this information.
Allspice pimenta officinalis
See Cautions below in RED
Contains: Eugenol, cineole, carophyllene
Parts Used: Berry
Actions: Pimento water and oil of pimento are helpful for flatulent indigestion or simple flatulence; the oil is used for hysteria. Taken with a laxative, the oil lessens the tendency toward griping.. As an ointment or a bath additive, allspice is said to have some anesthetic effects. Also used for rheumatism and neuralgia.
Use as: Pimento water: combine 5 parts crushed berries with 200 parts water and distill down to half the original volume. A dose is from 1-2 fluid ounces.
Oil: a dose is from 2-5 drops. For flatulence, take 2 or 3 drops on sugar.
Powder: a dose is from 10-30 grains.
Plaster: boil crushed berries in water until the mixture is thick enough to spread on a linen cloth.
Important Information
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Promotes digestion, relieves toothache, alleviates muscle pain. Tea for colds, menstrual cramps and upset stomach. Treat indigestion, flatulence and diabetes. Apply crushed berries to bruises and joint and muscle pains. Allspice owes its medicinal actions to eugenol, a chemical constituent of its oil. Eugenol promotes digestion by enhancing the activity of the digestive enzyme trypsin. It's also an effective pain reliever and anesthetic. Dentists use eugenol as a local anesthetic for teeth and gums, and the chemical is an ingredient in the over-the-counter toothache remedies Numzident and Benzodent. Allspice may be applied directly to painful teeth as first aid until professional care can be obtained. For toothache, apply allspice oil directly to the tooth, one drop at a time, using a cotton swab. Take care not to swallow it allspice oil. For a medicinal tea, use one to two teaspoons of allspice powder per cup of boiling water. Steep for 10 to 20 minutes and strain. Drink up to three cups a day. Effective against E.coli, staphylcoccus, streptococcus, protozoa, fungus, and parasites Helps in altitude sickness. Evergreen native to West Indies and South America |
Cautions: Don't use allspice if you have a chronic digestive disease, as duodenal ulcers, reflux disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel, diverticulosis, or diverticulitis. In people with sensitive skin, particularly those with eczema, allspice oil may cause inflammation. If inflammation develops, stop using it. Its highly concentrated oil should never be swallowed. As little as one teaspoon can cause nausea, vomiting and even convulsions. |
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