Herb basics: Natural Remedies from Bad Breath to Tummy Aches

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Weighing in on Dose

Ever wondered how the recommended doses of herbs and supplements are determined? Herb manufacturers base dosage on a 150-pound adult, which is considered an average for both men and women, says Beth Davis, education director for ZAND Herbal Formulas.

But you may want to adjust the dose if you weigh 25 percent more or less than 150 pounds—that is, if you weigh less than 112 pounds or more than 187 pounds, says Davis. She offers this simple way to calculate your individualized dosage:

Divide your body weight by 150. Take the result and multiply it by the recommended daily dose. The ­answer is your new, ­adjusted dose.

For example, if you weigh 300 pounds and the recommended dose is three tablets:

300 ÷ 150 = 2 and
2 ¥ 3 = 6, so you could take up to six tablets.

Or, if your child weighs 50 pounds and the recommended dose is three tablets:

50 ÷ 150 = .333 and .333 ¥ 3 = 1, so your child would need only one tablet for a full dose.

As always, it’s best to consult a health-care practitioner before using herbs, especially in the case of children.

An Herb for the Tummy and Toes

It is the time of year when many people start worrying about athlete’s foot. But a little lemongrass may help soothe both minds and itchy feet.

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), a prominent ingredient in Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, is characterized by its strong citrus flavor. The volatile oil’s main compounds are citral and citronellal.

Although the stalks and leaves of lemongrass are primarily used to make digestive teas, the herb can also help fight fungal infections, par­ticularly athlete’s foot. Research shows that citral inhibits some fungal growths at more than four times the rate of tea tree oil.

To treat athlete’s foot, try drinking lemongrass tea several times a day. If you want an extra boost, apply the used leaves or teabags directly to the affected areas.

Sources: Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. New York: DK Publishing, 1996.

Pengelly, Andrew. The Constituents of Medicinal Plants. Muswellbrook, NSW, Australia: Sunflower Herbals, 1997.

Crazy for Chai

If you’ve visited a coffee shop recently, you know that it isn’t just for coffee any more. Alongside herbal teas, you’ll also find a spicy tea drink called chai, which has soared in ­popularity recently. Some chai companies have ­experienced growth as high as 120 percent in the past year, says Lori Spencer, vice president of marketing at Oregon Chai in Portland.