Finding the Knowledge and Spreading It
A few years after I've decided that I will not continue my studies of Environment Protection Engineering, and instead gonna learn myself herbalism from books in free time, while running garden design business to cover the bills. I found myself in a situation, when I have read all the important books about herbs and herbal treatments released in Polish language, and have knew all the herbs available in the country (and tried most of it). Still hungry for more herbal knowledge, I've started to hunt online for books on the subject released in English and look for rare herbs species in more unexpected places (like ornamental plants sections in garden centers - that's how I first found Helichrysum italicum, freshly imported to Poland, and not known in the country previously, while commonly utilized as medicinal and culinary herb in Italy, later in England I've found Pseudowintera colorata imported as an ornamental plant from Australia).
And as I browsed through the pages of books or internet, and plants in gardens, fields, garden centers or online shops. I've decide to archive and to share in form of a blog my rare findings with others, whether they are culinary herbs enthusiasts looking for new unique tastes and aromas. But even more importantly if they are professional herbalists or simple amateurs looking for new herbal cures.
When I recently have found old copy of '' Folk Remedies from Around the World '' by John Heinerman (2000 Prentice Hall, USA) in book shop in the Philippines. I was both full of hope to find some knew knowledge on its pages, as sceptic. As year after year, book after book, it is harder and harder to find something new for me. Though I'm keeping the searching read, just as I'm keeping to spend hours or days in fields, forests or other places looking for new useful plants species.
And after the initial disappointment with the book, I've found on its pages a gem-of-a-knowledge. An information so unheard and so meaningful, that I've knew instantly that I should spread it further, as it might help some people to save some lives.
Coma Awakening Thanks to Aromatic Herbs
Under the entry for Coma, Heinerman wrote in his book about the case of awakening thanks to use of herbs. A 32-year old woman was in a state of coma due to car accident caused head injuries. The attending doctors attempts to bring her back to consciousness were unsuccessful. Then the woman's husband ask for help American Indian Crow medicine woman named Toma Medicine-in-the-Wind. Toma has brought a paste made from few crushed garlic cloves, pinch of cayenne pepper, finely ground fresh Yerba Santa leaves (probably Eriodictyon californicum and not Piper auritum, both plants are commonly known under this name), few crushed pine needles and a little bit of wintergreen oil mixed with bear grease - vaseline can be used as a substitute and she said that sometimes she is adding Mentholatum ointment or Vicks Vaporub for greater smell intensity (both creams are rich in menthol). The Indian healer proceeded to rub the mixture on the patient's forehead, throat, inside the arms bends, on both wrists, inside the palms of the hands, and upon the soles of the feet. Then the comatose woman was turned on her side and the rest of the mixture was applied from her neck to the base of her spine.
After just 15 minutes '' The white woman began making stirring motions which eventually brought her to a full wakeful state.'' - the medicine woman said.
It is clear that the key factor in the formula is the essential oils of the herbs used. And anyone that have learn about essential oils, or experienced stimulating effect of aromas of the mentioned plants, know how powerfully it acts directly on the brain functions. I know that there are many people being sceptic about effectiveness of essential oils (even among herbalists), saying that aromas can only act as a placebo and influence emotional state in a way that music or images does. But using essential oils for medical purposes has not only very long history in many highly developed civilizations, since ancient Egypt, India and China.
It also become a modern science called Aromatherapy and Aromachology, with the second focusing only on study how we can affect our brain actions like emotions by smelling substances. While Aromatherapy is a science about how aromas cause not only mental but also direct physical changes, on our organs like skin, lungs, muscles, digestive system etc.). And it is well proved that aromatic oils particles are intercepted by smell receptors of olfactory system, and that immediately cause reactions in limbic system, that further cause changes in actions of our brain, and also the body. That makes essential oils the most direct and potent acting substances on our brains.
So giving full credibility to this Native American healer story, I've started to do more research on use of herbs and essential oils in particular, for coma awakening. But unfortunately there is almost nothing to be found on internet on this subject. And all of my friends that practice herbal treatments, in such a different countries as Poland, Bulgaria, UK, USA, the Philippines, Ethiopia and Australia. Have said to me that they have never heard about any herbal remedies being used to help to awake from coma.
On the website Oils Testimonials (I do not know how credible source of information it is, as the website is owned by oils trading company, but I found none better source writing about the subject), there are two testimonies about coma awakening thanks to treatment with essential oils.
First one is saying about awakening of a woman with brain injury due to car accident, that was described by doctors as severe and with not much hope. She woke from coma after her mother used Peppermint oil on her forehead and diffused it in the air constantly. link
The other one is about a woman that was in a coma for two weeks after car accident, and have woke few hours after her grandma used Frankincense, Black Spruce, Blue Tansy, Camphor Wood, Geranium and Cypress essential oils combination. link
I personally would also try to use Tea Tree oil for massage and diffusion. As from my own experience I can say that it is a great aroma for keeping your mind awake and alert (it even cause me sleeplessness), so maybe also it can help remove blockages in human brains that shut the awareness.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine aromatic resins of Styrax benzoin (called Benzoin in English and An Xi Xiang in Chinese) and Liquidambar orientalis (known as Oriental Sweetgum Oil, Liquid Storax, Styrax Levant or Su He Xiang) are recommended for patients in coma, with both being not suitable if the patient has high temperature (An Xi Xiang , Su He Xiang ).
Other Herbal Treatments for Comatose Patients
In Traditional Chinese Medicine also Ginger tea and Cloves are given to patients in coma. Cloves was also suggested to me as a potentially effective herb for coma awakening by Alemayehu Tiruneh traditional medicine practitioner from Ethiopia, when I asked him about the subject. He also said that he sees other herbs used as anticonvulsants, like Basil and Passion Flower, to have possible potential to help brings people back from coma.
And in ancient Ayurvedic texts of Caraka Samhita, we can find recommendation of lemon juice, Ginger, Asafoetida and Black Pepper for coma arousal therapy.
Besides for the herbs aiming directly to awake people from coma, many herbs can be given to comatose patients to help keep their bodies in a healthy state. That includes herbs for supporting proper functioning of liver, urinary system or guts, for healthy circulation and keeping the body free from infections. But any herb should be given with extra scrutiny. As it much easier to put the body that spends days in bed without movement into imbalance by improper administration of herbs, than that of a physically active patient.
In many cases coma is a body defence reaction to reduce brain activity to minimum in order to lower the swellings in the brain (due to contusion or poisonous substances) and for repairing process. Administration of teas from herbs known for improving cerebral blood flow, like Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) or Gingko biloba, could be very helpful.
Low Cost Therapies are Often the Most Worth to Try
Coma is a terrible condition, a state between dead and alive, with many different causes and levels. But often a simple approach can be a blessed solution to many serious health problems, even those live threatening. And as the use of essential oils is very simple, low cost and safe therapy (If done with adequate cautious, as pure essential oils are very powerful substances that are potentially harmful if used in excess. For example oils like Peppermint can seriously irritate mucous membranes in respiratory tract, if there is excess of it in the air. And therefore it should be done only by people with proper knowledge and experience in aromatherapy). I think that it is really important to spread the message about this mostly unknown form of treatment for awakening from coma. So that everyone that knows anyone in a coma state, weather it is family member, friend or a patient, knew about this chance and give it a try. And even if it will not work in every case, maybe it will save some lives.
Please let us all know in the comments section below if you have any experience or other knowledge about this subject.
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