A TASTE OF YOUR OWN MEDICINE; BE CAREFUL WITH HERB MIXTURES.

Byline: Phil Davis and Carol Bidwell Staff Writers

Before aspirin, the prescription for a fever or headache was a bitter tea of willow bark. St. John's wort and yohimbine are the herbal predecessors of Prozac and Viagra. And mullein was soothing sore throats centuries before Sucrets.

Even the dandelions so thoughtlessly mowed down in yards across the nation each weekend contain powerful medicines that have been used to cure everything from appetite loss to rheumatism for more than 1,000 years.

``A lot of people call herbal medicine New Age, but it's really Old Age,'' said Dr. Michael Hirt, a Tarzana physician, UCLA professor and expert on herbal remedies. ``Hippocrates prescribed honey as an aphrodisiac. That's where we get the term honeymoon.''

Many herbs are proven, powerful drugs. But if mixed with the wrong prescription or over-the-counter medications, the results can be disastrous - even fatal.

``You can handle a lot of this on your own,'' Hirt said. ``But this is medicine, and as with any medication, there are potential side-effects and complications. Yohimbine can interact with blood-pressure medications and substantially raise your blood pressure, and then you're more likely to end up in the emergency room than in the bedroom.''

Use of these healing plants never really went out of fashion in Europe and Asia, but only in recent years have herbs made a comeback in America. In the November issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a researcher reported nearly 60 million Americans now use one or more alternative treatments to cure the aches and pains of everyday life.

Most varieties of herbs are now sold in sanitized-for-your-protection caplets, but it's not too hard to grow and mix your own home remedies.

All you need is a green thumb, a little bit of knowledge and a teacup.

``I think most people are smart enough and have enough common sense to use Tylenol and Pepto Bismol, and it's the same with herbs,'' Hirt said. ``Give them the same respect you would give any other over-the-counter medication.''

You've harvested your homegrown echinacea and dried it. What now?

There are three ways to prepare a home remedy: teas, tinctures or poultices, said Ojai herbalist Amanda McQuade Crawford, a graduate of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists in Britain and founder of both the American Herbalists Guild and the College of Phytotherapy in Alberquerque, N.M.

Teas are generally made from flowers or leaves. Use about 1 ounce of dried herb to a pint of boiling water, and steep for 5 to 10 minutes (simmer bark or roots a bit longer). Strain out the solids and drink a half-cup to a cup of the liquid up to three times a day, Crawford advised.

Tinctures are herbal essences in more concentrated form, mixed with water and alcohol. And they're trickier to prepare.

According to ``The Complete Book of Herbs'' (Penguin USA; $19.95), the recipe for a tincture is 4 ounces of powdered herb or 8 ounces of fresh herb, mixed with 2-1/2 cups of 60 proof alcohol (vodka or brandy). Put the mixture in a container with a tight lid and leave in a warm place, shaking twice a day for two weeks. Strain out as much liquid as possible and store in a dark glass vial or jar. The daily dosage is five to 15 drops.

Herbal poultices draw illness out through the skin. Poultices are prepared by mashing herbs into a paste and mixing with a little boiling water. They can be applied directly to the skin and held in place with gauze.

Some popular recipes:

A poultice of capsicum, also known as cayenne and paprika, soothes arthritis pain when pasted over an aching joint. Capsicum draws out the chemicals that tell the brain to send pain signals, effectively ``bankrupting'' pain, Hirt said. Hirt said capsicum also shows promise in treating migraine headaches, but the method - applying it inside the nostrils - is painful.

A bitter tea of chopped dandelions (a little honey will help the taste) can ease bloating and give the body a boost of vitamin K. (Remember: Using weed killers and non-organic fertilizers on or around a plant you're also using as medicine is not a good idea.)

Parsley, too, has diuretic properties. The popular dinner plate garnish also is nutritious and a great breath freshener.

A cup of tea containing one tablespoon of ground ginger root can relieve nausea and help the body fight the rhinovirus, the microscopic culprit behind the common cold.

The key to herbal remedies is not to overdo it. There are no warning labels in the garden, so it's a good idea to do your homework and check with your doctor before gulping down a homemade herbal cocktail.

``People have the idea that herbs are weak and you have to take masses of them,'' Crawford said. ``But it's quite the opposite. You often just need a pinch.''

Hirt agreed. Herbs demand respect.

Take the hardy aloe plant. The gooey gel in aloe leaves is proven to speed healing and soothe sunburns. But the plant also produces a yellowish juice that is a possibly dangerous laxative.

``It's very powerful,'' Hirt said. ``It can cause cramping, gas and diarrhea. I'd be very careful using it as a laxative. But it's great on topical wounds.''

In addition to fighting colds and improving circulation, popular herbs like ginger, garlic and ginkgo thin the blood and can cause dire reactions when mixed with prescription blood thinners.

``There are actual case reports of garlic and blood thinners actually causing spontaneous bleeding,'' Hirt said.

Crawford said herbal remedies - particularly home-grown herbs - are usually much more affordable than over-the-counter medicines, but they're not for everyone: ``It makes sense for a single mother without insurance, for instance, to take an herb that costs a couple of dollars a month rather than something from the drugstore that costs $400 a month.''

But herbs are a lot of work. They also generally take longer to work their magic than a store-bought remedy. And enforced rest and relaxation is part of the prescription, said Dr. Mary Hardy, medical director of the hospital-affiliated Cedars-Sinai Integrative Medical Group.

For Americans with jet-propelled lifestyles, that rest can be just as helpful as what's ingested, said Hardy, who uses traditional medicine and also works with acupuncturists and herbalists to cure her patients.

``Particularly with the increasing resistance to antibiotics, I'd give a patient with a cold or virus some echinacea to boost their immune system, a tea of linden flowers, yarrow and some chamomile maybe to gargle, and some essential oils of eucalyptus and fenugreek to thin mucous,'' Hardy said. ``It's not `quick, take a pill and feel better'; it gets the patient involved.''

Growing, using medicinal herbs

Aloe

Description: Fleshy, green succulent used for its gel-filled leaves.

Where to grow: In full sun or light shade in gritty, well-drained soil. Also comfortable in pots.

Medicinal use: Slice open leaves and squeeze gel onto burns, cuts and rashes. Or, crush and use as a poultice for chapped skin, dermatitis, eczema and burns. Dried gel can be taken internally as a laxative and diuretic.

Dosage: No guidelines on use as gel or poultice. Taken internally, usual daily dosage is 20 to 30 milligrams, taken throughout the day.

Warning: Get professional help for second- or third-degree burns. Ingesting too much aloe (using daily for longer than a week or two) can cause a potassium deficiency, abdominal pain.

Garlic

Description: Bulbs grow underground, each containing 12 to 20 paper-skinned cloves; tall, green above-ground stalks are topped with pink flowers.

Where to grow: Plant 6 to 12 inches apart in sun or partial shade; likes rich, well-drained soil but will tolerate poor soil.

Medicinal use: Stimulates appetite, acts as mild diuretic and laxative; reduces blood pressure, thins blood, protects against colds.

Dosage: Usual daily dose is 4 grams, about three-quarters of a teaspoon of fresh garlic.

Warning: Can cause internal bleeding when taken along with doctor-prescribed blood thinners; also can cause bad breath, stomach disorders if taken in excess.

Ginkgo

Description: Slow-growing, hearty tree that can grow 30 to 50 feet tall unless cut back.

Where to grow: Grows in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or light shade.

Medicinal use: Treats circulatory disorders, senility, poor circulation in the brain, dizziness, anxiety.

Dosage: Daily intake of 120 milligrams usually recommended, or up to 240 milligrams a day for people with severe memory loss. Roasted seeds can be eaten, and steeped seeds and leaves made into a strong tea.

Warning: An overdose can cause severe weakness, cramps, mild digestive problems.

Echinacea

Description: Hardy, green plant with mauve flowers resembling daisies.

Where to grow: Likes full sun and well-drained soil.

Medicinal use: Maintains strength and vigor, fights infections, treats urinary tract infections, burns, skin ulcers.

Dosage: Usual daily dose is 6 to 9 milliliters, about 1-1/4 to 1-3/4 teaspoonfuls of juice squeezed from leaves.

Warning: Do not take if you have multiple sclerosis, AIDS, tuberculosis, leukemia or autoimmune diseases.

Sources: ``The PDR Family Guide to Natural Medicines & Healing Therapies'' (Three Rivers Press, $23); ``The Complete Book of Herbs'' (Penguin Books, $19.95); ``The Natural Guide to Medicinal Herbs and Plants'' (Barnes & Noble Books, $8); ``A Handbook of Herbs'' (Barnes & Noble Books, $7.99).

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, Box

PHOTO (1--Color--Cover) The herbalist is in

The use - and misuse - of homegrown remedies

Gus Ruelas/Daily News

(2) Microbiologist Olivia Tadena does a test here to detect possible E. coli at Pharmavite in San Fernando.

Tom Mendoza/Daily News

BOX: Growing, using medicinal herbs (See text)