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NP009 Collinsonia PlusTAGS: ALLERGY/SINUS | ANTIOXIDANTS/HERBAL FORMULAS | IMMUNITY Stone root formula for sinus and circulatory health INTRODUCTION “Remember it in any wrong of the venous capillary system.” — Lloyd’s Bulletin “The first mention of Collinsonia’s use for some functional problems of the sinus that I ran across was in Eat Right For Your Type, which gives some idea of the depth of Dr. D’Adamo’s herbal knowledge.” Dr. D’Adamo has found Collinsonia (Stone root) to be of great reliability in assisting to stabilize the lining on the sinus cavities and to minimize the build-up of excess mucus in the sinus cavities, throat, and stomach. DESCRIPTION/ BACKGROUND Collinsonia or “stone root” (other common names have included knob root, horse balm, and richweed) has traditionally been employed for passive venous congestion or engorgement. It was historically described as astringent, alterative, diuretic, tonic, etc., none of which give a very clear idea of its effects. A more apt description of its actions in old herbal texts often emphasizes its ability to overcome undue congestion with accompanying pain, irritation, and a sense of stagnation, whether it is within the rectum, pharynx (throat), or other vascular area. In the Merck Index its active principles are listed as resins, saponins, tannins, and mucilage.
TABLE 1: Key agents in Collinsonia Plus. Collinsonia canadensis. It was used historically as a tonic and as an antispasmodic (essentially something to relax smooth muscle tissue). Comments in old herbal texts refer to its ability to relax painful constrictions and spasms of the rectum. As such it was often used in the past for fistulas, ulcers, and fissures. It had a similar reputation for relaxing activity on urinary organs, where it was thought to relax the ureter, and therefore increase urination, reduce irritability of the bladder and assist with passage of kidney stones. Dr. D’Adamo frequently refers to some forms of chronic sinus discomfort as “hemorrhoids of the head”. In essence, the lining of the sinus cavity is made from similar material as the lining of the venous system, and just like with a hemorrhoid, this tissue has become inflamed or irritated. So this gives one possible clue to its use. When there is a sense of pressure, congestion, or a generalized inflammation in the area of your sinuses (with or without excess mucus production), Collinsonia used regularly will often bring about a subjective sense of improvement. Another often mentioned use of Collinsonia is its ability to counteract the build-up of gastric catarrh. This word has fallen out of common use, even within the medical profession, but implies inflammation of a mucous membrane resulting in an increased production of mucus. Collinsonia’s two most common historical applications were for “preacher’s throat” and hemorrhoids. Preacher’s throat is best thought of as the irritation, dryness, or scratchiness to the throat that develops as a result of overuse. Hence the idea of the preacher who was constantly delivering a sermon and had chronic problems with sore throat or an irritated sensation from overuse of his voice box. I think its reputation in this area is well deserved. Its use in hemorrhoids seems to also be well worth a try. This has without question been its primary use among herbalists and naturopaths. Hemorrhoids can be a result of several different factors. Generally, we hear that they are a result of straining too hard to defecate, constipation or from low fiber diets and the subsequently harder stools. Other explanations for hemorrhoids include a weakness and irritation in venous tissue and liver congestion (causing increased pressure through the portal veins). In Boericke’s Materia Medica, Collinsonia is listed as having an ability quite specific to all of these functional derangements. Do not expect this plant to cure you of hemorrhoids overnight; it won’t. However, it does offer the possibility of relief if used regularly for a prolonged period of time.
Larch Arabinogalactan. Larch was added to this supplement as a way of modulating the microbiome to help make the immune system more robust. For example, Larch has been shown to increase the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA’s), principally butyrate and proprionate. These special fatty acids are critically important for the health of the colon. Larch has also been shown to modulate Natural Killer Cell and Macrophage activity via interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and IL-6. TYPICAL DOSAGE Typical dosage is 1-2 capsules twice daily, best taken away from meals. PRODUCT HISTORY This product was introduced by NAP in 1999 after first being specifically designed for readers of my first book, Eat Right For Your Type, and to replace the use of the more cumbersome tincture form in my clinic. REFERENCES
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