Herbal Action: Astringent

Discharge and skin tone

Astringent herbs increase firmness and tone of skin. They are drying, so they lessen excessive discharges from the nose, eyes, intestines, urinary tract, vagina, abscesses, and ulcers.

What they do:

• Contract, firm, and strengthen body tissues by precipitating proteins

• Reduce excess secretions and discharge

• React with tissues to create a protective layer

• Help heal wounds, prevent leakage, and protect from infection

How they're used:

Astringent herbs are used both externally and internally — as washes, compresses, and salves for skin and wounds, or as teas and extractts for internal discharge and tissue tone.

When to consider them:

Varicose veins, hemorrhoids, wrinkles, saggy tissues, ulcers, wounds, sinus, urinary tract, and vaginal discharge, swollen tonsils, chronic diarrhea, prolapsed organs, and excessive discharge generally.

Herbs

• Agrimony

• Barberry

• Bayberry

• Black walnut

• Blackberry

• Bugle

• Bugleweed

• Calendula

• Capsicum

• Chaparral

• Comfrey

• Crampbark

• Cranesbill

• Elecampane

• Eyebright

• Gravel root

• Hawthorn berry

• Horsetail

• Lady's mantle

• Lungwort

• Mullein

• Periwinkle

• Pipsissewa

• Rose petal

• Plantain

• Prickly ash

• Red raspberry

• Rhubarb

• Rosemary

• Sage

• St. John's wort

• Sandalwood

• Self heal

• Shepherd's purse

• Smartweed

• Squaw vine

• Stone root

• Trillium

• Uva ursi

• Vervain

• White oak bark

• Wild cherry

• Witch hazel

• Yarrow

• Yellow dock

• Goldenrod