The Medicinal Uses of Snowball Bush (Viburnum opulus)

Disclaimer.  I am not a licensed health practitioner.  This is just another post on an item you might wish to have available if needed so that a physician can treat you and your family as best as possible.  No medication, including those available over the counter, should be taken without consulting a physician.  Information shared here is for educational and entertainment purposes only.  It is not medical advice nor a substitute for licensed medical care.  A qualified, licensed physician or other medical provider should be consulted before beginning any herbal or conventional treatment.

 
Snowball bush, Viburnum opulus, is also known by numerous other common names, including highbush cranberry, (European) cranberry bush, Guelder rose, and cramp bark.  It is the last of these common names that suggest what it's used for and where the medicine comes from.

Viburnum opulus prefers damp, moderately alkaline soils, but adapts to grow well just about everywhere.  If it doesn't occur naturally in your area, you can plant it in your yard.  It's a shrub commonly used in home landscaping.  (I got mine at Home Depot.)  High in vitamin C, the berries are similar to cranberries and often substituted for such in cooking, including making jams and jellies.  While considered edible, when consumed in large quantities they can cause nausea.   

Harvest:  It is the inner bark of the snowball bush that is medicinal.  It is best harvested after pruning in the spring, before the leaf buds open.  Alternatively, the bark may also be gathered in the fall, after the leaves change color.  It is then dried for later use. 

A decoction of the bark is an alternative to raspberry leaf tea and ginger for menstrual cramps.  It can be used instead of capsaicin cream, devil's claw, or white willow bark for lower back pain.

Medicinal uses:  Historically, cramp bark was used primarily for relieving menstrual cramps, easing labor and delivery, and preventing miscarriage.  It was also used to a lesser extent in treating mumps, gallstones, and asthma, and also valued for its use in reducing anxiety and high blood pressure.  It is used similarly to willow for managing tension headaches.  Modern research has demonstrated its efficacy in treating duodenal ulcers and endometriosis.  There are anecdotal reports of it being useful in treating restless leg syndrome, arthritis, inflammation, and epididymitis.

When Viburnum is being used to treat menstrual cramps, it is most effective if taken two to five days before cramps begin. 

Tincture:  Viburnum opulus is tinctured in a 1:5 ratio in 50% alcohol.  (One part Viburnum bark powder by weight to five parts alcohol by volume.)  The recommended dosages range from 30-90 drops, up to four times per day, to 1/4 teaspoon in 4 ounces of water, 2-3 times per day. 

Decoction:  For relieving painful cramping associated with menstruation, before it begins and after it ends, three times per day boil one tablespoon of powdered bark in a cup of water for ten minutes and drink.  For gallstones, four times per day boil 1/2 teaspoon of powdered bark in one cup of water for ten minutes and drink.

When it comes to menstrual pain, this species is reportedly better for pain in the back that radiates down to the thighs.  A related species, Viburnum prunifolium (black haw), works better for cramps in the pelvic region.

Contraindications:  May lower blood pressure.  May aggravate tinnitus.  Avoid use with blood thinners.

For further reading:
Stephen Buhner, Herbal Antibiotics, p 379.  
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21186982
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17218766 (ulcers)
https://medicinalherbals.net/cramp-bark-viburnum-opulus/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27647013  (endometriosis)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/viburnum-opulus
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Viburnum+opulus
https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/g/gueros44.html

https://herbpathy.com/Uses-and-Benefits-of-Viburnum-Opulus-Cid2143

 3.23.20

Time’s Up!

That’s been the gist of several articles recently published on a wide array of blogs, some that I check frequently, and others that are new to me.  I’ve never seen so many appear so close to one another in time and to be speaking with the same degree of absolute urgency. 

Truth be told, I thought our time was just about up over a decade ago.  I would have said it was too late to prepare.  And yet, here we are.  So maybe our time isn’t up just yet.  Maybe there are several more weeks or months or years. 

Regular readers here acknowledge that I don’t present a lot in the way of beginner or low-level information on preparing for the challenges staring us down.  There are an awful lot of newbie checklists out there.  The world probably doesn’t need another one.  And yet, I have to admit, I often have a viewpoint that differs substantially from the conventional wisdom.  I never had any plans to post something like a “TEOTWAWKI’s almost here” list—go buy all this stuff right now to prepare.  I think those lists are popular with bloggers because many are Amazon affiliates looking to cash in a bit. 

However, as I was preparing a blog article on radiation last week, I re-read a few articles at Shane Connor’s GoodNewsNuke.com.  And one of them was specifically written to the 99% of people who don’t prepare and then run around like crazy when there’s a crisis.  He wrote to help them out, knowing that even a little preparation at the last minute may spell the difference between life and death.  It was written with such compassion for and lack of judgment against those who just realized they needed to act.  And it got me to thinking, what would I list as the most important items for someone who suddenly decided to panic (because we can’t rightfully call it preparing) at literally the last minute?

Two years ago I posted a list of items that were the first things to disappear during the COVID shutdowns.  Interestingly, the ubiquitous “First Items to Disappear” in a crisis lists online didn’t have much in common with the reality.  You can read that article here. So what would I recommend?  And why?  Actually, I just decided to pretty much scratch the why.  They don’t have time.

I realize this list won’t be of much use to regular readers here.  But if you’re like the rest of us, you probably know a person or two who will suddenly wake up and realize the time to panic is incredibly short.  You might direct them to the following info to get them started.

FOR THE NEWBIES:

You’ve suddenly realized that your world is about to collapse and you’d like to acquire essential items while it’s still possible.

If you’ve got a team and the ability to divide and conquer, split up the duties.  Send a couple of people grocery shopping so that you can get what you want without looking like a hoarder.  You might just follow each other around the store and just check out through different lanes.  Use cash if you don’t want your purchases tracked.  Send another person to Home Depot.  A third to the feed and ranch (great source for fish antibiotics and medical supplies).  A fourth to the pharmacy.  And someone at home to print up references before the internet goes down. 

FOOD

The amount of food you want depends on how long you are preparing for.  All quantities are in pounds and have been rounded up to the nearest pound.  This is the amount needed to provide 2000 calories per day—survival-type rations, in other words, just barely enough.  You’ll want to supplement with canned foods.

	Salt	Oils	Sugars	Grains	Dry beans	Dry milk
2 weeks	1	1	3	17	3	1
1 month	1	2	5	33	5	2
2 months	2	4	10	66	10	3
3 months	3	5	15	100	15	4
6 months	5	10	30	200	30	8
1 year	10	20	60	400	60	15

 

Salt, iodized if possible

Cooking oil, coconut if possible—makes a fantastic butter substitute and has some medicinal uses as well

Sugar, again, not just for baking, but also has some medicinal uses—allow an extra pound or two for medicinal purposes

Popcorn—quick and easy to prepare, especially with coconut oil (above)

Flour

Oats, mostly for eating, but also has medicinal uses

Rice

Beans

Milk, this is just for baking, not drinking.  If you wish to have enough to drink, buy more. 

Egg substitutes—unflavored gelatin, garbanzo bean liquid

Baking powder

Vinegar—some is for regular eating, more for food preservation and a lot for cleaning

Baking soda—not just for cooking, but also for cleaning and has some medical and medicinal uses as well

Yeast, if you bake bread

In addition, stock up on the other non-perishables you normally consume as much as your finances allow.

WATER

Bleach, regular, unscented

Betadine

Coffee filters, to remove contaminants before further treatment

Soda bottles

GARDEN

Seeds—hybrid preferred.  The yield will be higher in adverse conditions, and after one year, you’ll be able to find others who have saved open-pollinated seeds.  Besides, seed-saving isn’t something learned in just a year when you’re just learning how to garden.

Fertilizer—maybe.  You can start using humanure.  If you didn’t prep, you’re going to have to.  Sorry.

Garden tools

Gloves—garden, leather, nitrile, dishwashing

Large rolls of plastic—lighter weight for protecting soil from fallout, heavier weight for making row covers to get a jump start on growing vegetables.

CLEANING

Rubbing alcohol

Bleach

Soap

Dish detergent

Vinegar

Baking soda

MEDICAL

Vitamins

Benadryl

Pain relievers

Vaseline

“Fish” antibiotics

Bandages and dressings

Duct tape

Rubbing alcohol

Alcohol wipes

Betadine

Caffeine pills (medical uses and withdrawing from coffee)

If time and finances allow, consult the Master Medical Shopping List for additional items it would be wise to have on hand.

PRINT

Substitutes lists (ex., substitutes for eggs in baking, oil in cooking, butter, milk, etc.)

Recipes

Manuals—Survival and Austere Medicine, 3^rd Edition, Humanure Handbook, Nuclear War Survival Skills, etc.

Every item listed here and hundreds more are covered in over 1000 posts on this blog.  To learn more, type search words into the search bar on the right.  Save or print information, or order the books from Amazon. 

Links to related posts:

Calories and recommended food storage amounts

Master Medical Shopping List 

References:

https://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/2022/03/if-youre-still-not-listening-youre.html

https://www.theorganicprepper.com/selcos-neighborhood/

http://goodnewsnuke.com/

https://ballseyesboomers.blogspot.com/2022/03/folks-get-your-canned-tuna-sardines-now

 

Eleven Substances That Prevent Radiation Uptake and Eliminate Radiation from the Body

Putin’s veiled threats of exercising the nuclear option make this a great time to review what happens when people are exposed to nuclear radiation and fallout, and what we can do to treat the symptoms.  And if we want to be able to treat those symptoms, we have to be prepared—especially because some of the treatment options are not on anybody’s list of normal items to stock.

When it comes to nuclear radiation and fallout, an ounce of prevention is worth a megaton of cure.  Much of this prevention involves topics way beyond my level of expertise, and besides, extremely informed and competent individuals have already written on these topics and provide their information free of charge.  I can’t recommend the following sources highly enough.

• Nuclear War Survival Skills by Cresson Kearny has been previously reviewed here on the blog.  This manual provides extensive information on all aspects of preparing for and surviving a nuclear event.  And it’s a free download.  Link below.
• In his The Good News About Nuclear Destruction Shane Connor distills the essential information we all need to know for surviving a nuclear blast.  In addition, he has posted several other articles on his website addressing various aspects of preparing for such an occurrence.  What’s interesting to me is that while Shane sells potassium iodide tablets that prevent the thyroid from assimilating radioactive iodine following a nuclear disaster, he recognizes that most Americans won’t prepare.  Experience with public panic following 9/11 and Fukushima showed that potassium iodide tablets all over the country were sold out within days.  And yet, Shane also provides information on substitutes and action plans for the 99% of people who don’t act until it’s (too?) late.  There is really a lot of good information that bears reviewing by even the most devout preppers.

In addition to printing Nuclear War Survival Skills (if you haven’t already) and reviewing the information at Shane’s site, take a look at the following substances you may wish to acquire for preventing radiation uptake and eliminating it from the body.  Other topics on treating radiation sickness and burns will be covered in the future. Stuff like constructing shelters is way above my pay grade and is addressed very well in the aforementioned references.

The three kinds of radiation we are most concerned with are iodide, cesium, and strontium.  Radioactive iodide is a fine, light particle that can affect areas even hundreds of miles downwind.  Fortunately, it has a short half-life.  Radioactive cesium and strontium do not travel as far, but they have much longer half-lives.  All can cause rapid death in high doses and slower death due to cancer in lower doses.  Anything we can do to prevent exposure and uptake will increase our chances for survival.

Radioactive iodide options

Potassium iodide tablets like Iosat, ThyroSafe, and Thyroshield saturate the thyroid with iodine to prevent absorption of radioactive iodide.  They must be taken before exposure to be effective.  Attempting to order the pills after an event just won’t work.  But not everybody needs them.  A previous blog post addressed this topic and should be reviewed.

Iodine tincture or povidone iodine (Betadine) may be painted on the skin to prevent iodine uptake by the thyroid.  However, this treatment needs to begin days in advance of exposure, as uptake through the skin is slower than by using the iodide tablets.  This procedure is also discussed in the blogpost linked below on the need for potassium iodide tablets.

Kelp is high in iodine and may help saturate the thyroid to prevent absorption of radioactive iodide.[1] However, dosing is difficult at best. And, of course, the kelp has to be harvested before the disaster occurs.

Levothyroxine may possibly decrease the absorption of iodide.  According to Dr. Cynthia Koelker, full dose thyroid replacement therapy (100-200 micrograms, or 0.1-0.2 milligrams, daily, for adults) could be attempted.  Levothyroxine has been used to treat patients for depression, and when the medication is discontinued, thyroid function returns to normal.[2] 

Radioactive cesium and strontium options

Calcium and vitamin D.  In the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster, Russian scientists suggested that ingesting excessive calcium and vitamin D might decrease the absorption of radioactive strontium.  Strontium, like calcium, has a high affinity for bone cells.  If the body is saturated with calcium and the receptor sites in the bone cells can be filled with calcium, there will be no place for the strontium to go, and it will be eliminated from the body.  However, while scientists assert that it is a sound theory, it hasn’t actually been tested.[3]

Prussian blue is currently used in the treatment of cancer.  The US FDA determined that Prussian blue (the medicine, not the paint) is safe and effective for treating internal contamination with radioactive cesium and thallium.[4]  Unfortunately, it is available by prescription only and is not generally available through overseas pharmacies.  If any of you can find a source for it, please share.

Milk thistle has been shown to prevent the development of skin cancer in mice.  It was also shown that the milk thistle did not do so as a sunscreen but rather acted by some intrinsic pathway that is not yet understood.[5]

Pectin, specifically apple pectin, was employed by doctors treating children up to 16 years after the disaster at Chernobyl.  In just one month of treatment, daily use of pectin reduced the radioactive cesium in children by over 62%.[6] 

Corn silk was shown to exhibit a protective effect in mice by preventing damage caused by gamma radiation. ^[7]

Peppermint.  The results of a 2013 study published in Cytotechnology showed that peppermint worked well to protect mice from the effects of gamma radiation.  Fresh peppermint leaves were harvested, washed, air dried, and then heated in 80°C water for 36 hours.  The mice were given the peppermint infusion in a dosage of 1 g/kg for seven days before exposure to gamma radiation in a dose of 6 Gy (a dose that will be lethal for more than half the population).[8]  The researchers concluded that the peppermint treatment offered some level of protection, but didn’t say much more than that. 

Most of these substances are fairly inexpensive and easily obtained.  If nuclear disaster is a concern, you have options for mitigating the risk.

Links to related posts:

The Medicinal Uses of Pectin  

Nuclear War Survival Skills—review and a link to free download  

Medicinal Uses of Corn Silk  

Betadine for Preparedness  

Do You Really Need Potassium Iodide Tablets?  

The Medicinal Uses of Peppermint

The Medicinal Uses of Milk Thistle 

References:

The Good News About Nuclear Destruction  http://www.ki4u.com/goodnews.htm

What to Do if a Nuclear Disaster Is Imminent  http://www.ki4u.com/guide.htm

---

[1] Cynthia Koelker, Armageddon Medicine, 2012, 472.

[2] Ibid, 471-72.

[3] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3^rd Edition, 2017, 366.

[4] FDA ENCOURAGES NEW DRUG APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS FOR PRUSSIAN BLUE AS A TREATMENT FOR THALLIUM OR RADIOACTIVE CESIUM CONTAMINATION, 31 January 2003,  https://www.fda.gov/drugs/bioterrorism-and-drug-preparedness/fda-encourages-new-drug-application-submissions-prussian-blue-treatment-thallium-or-radioactive (accessed 22 March 2022).

[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4116427/

[6] VB Nesterenko, et al., Reducing the 137Cs-load in the organism of "Chernobyl" children with apple-pectin, Swiss Medicine Weekly, 10 January 2004, Vol 134 No 1-2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14745664/ (accessed 7 March 2022).

[7] K Hasanudin, et al., Corn Silk (Stigma Maydis) in Healthcare: A Phytochemical and Pharmacological Review, Molecules, 2012, Vol 17 No 8, https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/8/9697/htm (accessed 3 February 2022).

[8] Hassan HA, Hafez HS, Goda MS. Mentha piperita as a pivotal neuro-protective agent against gamma irradiation induced DNA fragmentation and apoptosis : Mentha extract as a neuroprotective against gamma irradiation. Cytotechnology. January 2013, Vol 65 No 1, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3536878/ (accessed 22 March 2022).