Herb Guide

For a brief cross reference of ailments, or further information see Why use Herbs. Herb Guide is referenced by the plants common name. The Herb Guide is a very general overview of some of the more common plants and is not intended to replace the advice of a licensed medical practitioner.

ALFALFA: Nutritive, with high mineral an vitamin content, including vitamin K and iron; contains phyto; estrogen precursor for menopause; lowers cholesterol.
ANGELICA: For strong menstrual cramps with scanty flow; for intestinal colic, poor digestion; stimulating expectorant for coughs.
ARNICA OIL: EXTERNAL USE ONLY For bruises, swelling and other athletic injuries.
ASTRAGALUS: Contains flavonoids, choline: primarily promotes and stimulates immune function. Mild antibiotic; enhances endurance.

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B


BAYBERRY: Astringent for venous congestion, especially in respiratory or GI mucosa, as gargle for sore gums or sore throat.
BLACK COHOSH: Female tonic, relaxes smooth muscle, relieves nervous rritation and menstrual cramps; reduces joint inflammation as in arthritis.
BLACK WALNUT: Astringent, antiseptic, purifier, especially for skin eruptions; anti fungal and vermifuge in larger doses.
BLOODROOT: Digestive tonic, bronchial expectorant; topically for skin infections, as gargle for oral lesions (prevents plaque build up).
BLADDERWRACK: Supplies trace minerals, good for low thyroid, obesity and removing toxic minerals.
BLUE COHOSH: Female tonic, improves uterine tone.
BLUE VERVAIN: Sedative and diaphoretic; useful in early stages of flu.
BUCHU: Diuretic and urinary antiseptic; for gravel, infection of the bladder, acid urine.
BURDOCK: Blood and liver cleanser; for skin eruptions; gout, diabetes; mild immune stimulant.
BUTTERNUT BARK: Laxative and mild anti parasitic (similar to Black Walnut).

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C


CALENDULA: For infections, colds; mild immune and circulatory stimulation; excellent topically for skin injuries or lesions, including burns.
CASCARA SAGRADA: Laxative, best used sporadically in chronic constipation.
CATNIP: Children's tonic, colic, teething, also any stomach upset, gastritis.
CAYENNE: For first stages of a cold when skin and mucosa are hot and dry; a stimulant, improves circulation; aids utilization of other herbs; stimulates digestion and appetite; helpful in asthma formulas.
CELANDINE: For biliary colic, chronic liver disease, jaundice good overall liver tonic and cleanse; for skin eruptions.
CHAMOMILE: A calmative to gastrointestinal and nervous system, especially in children (colic, teething), and the elderly (improves appetite, digestion and sleep).
CHASTE TREE (Vitex): Menstrual regulator, improves circulation and tone of female organs, promotes progesterone production.
CHERRY BARK: Tonic and expectorant, especially in bronchial congestion.
CHICKWEED: Mild diuretic for water retention; demulcent for coughs; topically for skin eruptions and hemorrhoids.
CLEAVERS: Good diuretic, blood purifier acts to reduce gravel or stones.
COLTSFOOT: Demulcent for bronchial and gastric irritations including asthma, cough and lung congestion.
CORNSILK: Diuretic; may be used for bladder and prostate problems.
CRAMP BARK: Antispasmodic for dysmenorrhea and other rhythmic uterine pains; for smooth muscle cramps or spasms including intestinal; sometimes used for threatened miscarriage.
CRANBERRY: Strong diuretic and urinary antiseptic (acidifies the urine).

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D


DAMIANA: Mild diuretic and tonic for nervous depression and poor appetite; for recurring genitourinary complaints with emotional causes.
DANDELION: Excellent diuretic (leaf) and liver cleanser (root); lowers cholesterol and blood pressure.
DEVIL'S CLAW: Anti; inflammatory, possibly acting on prostaglandin pathways; useful in arthritis and other join inflammations.
DEVIL'S CLUB: Blood purifier; builds endurance; has been used for lowering blood sugar.
DONG QUAI: Menstrual regulator; the Chinese say it "regulates the hormonal balance and flow."

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E


ECHINACEA: Strong immune stimulating properties; useful in colds, flu, sore throat, infections, skin eruptions, allergies, viral disease and immune deficiency.
ELDER FLOWERS: Expectorant, diaphoretic (causes sweating); blood purifier, and mild laxative; long traditional use for early stages of coughs, colds and flu.
EPHEDRA: A strong nerve stimulant, relieves swelling of mucus membranes and opens air passages due to antispasmodic action; used in asthma and allergies.
EYEBRIGHT: For colds, sinus congestion, and allergies; acts as topical astringent; for mild eye inflammations; use when there are watery discharges from nose and eyes.

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F


FENNEL: Aids digestion, gas and appetite; used with laxatives to prevent cramping.
FEVERFEW: For headache or rheumatic inflammation; prevention of migraine headache (only works in the fresh or the freeze dried form.)

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G


GARLIC: For general health enhancement; strong antibiotic with antimicrobial, antifungal and anti; parasitic action; lowers blood pressure; protects against colon cancer; a stimulant, diaphoretic, expectorant and stomachic.
GENTIAN: A bitter tonic and stomachic; stimulates appetite and digestive secretions; especially useful with debilitated persons.
GINGER: For indigestion and gas pain; motion sickness; a general stimulant and aids respiratory congestion; joint pain.
GINKGO: Improves peripheral circulation; helpful in memory, hearing and potency restoration and improve; ment of cerebral and coronary blood flow.
GINSENG: Used for nervous disorders and indigestion; a stimulant for mental, physical and nervous exhaustion; aids utilization of food and serves as a nutrient. Adaptogen for stress. Normalizes body systems such as blood sugar; male tonic.
GOLDENSEAL: For indigestion, and appetite stimulation; combats colds, diarrhea, flu and infection; use glycerin extract topically for skin ulcerations and mucous membrane inflammations.
GOTU KOLA: For emotionally caused depression with sluggish digestion; poor circulation and low endurance and energy; stimulant; promotes mental clarity; topically for minor skin abrasions.
GRAVEL ROOT: Soothes mucosal irritations; especially in urinary tract, bladder and prostate; flushes sediment from kidney.

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H

HAWTHORN
Strong heart tonic (strengthens heart muscle and improves coronary blood flow); lowers blood pressure.
HOPS
For gastric spasms due to nervousness; strong muscle relaxant; sedative for anxiety; promotes restful sleep; estrogenic properties.
HOREHOUND
An excellent expectorant for coughs and lung congestion.
HORSETAIL
Diuretic and astringent, useful in gravel and kidney problems. High mineral content includes silica and calcium.
HUCKLEBERRY
Astringent, containing tannins and anthocyanins; improves vision; stimulates circulation, especially in venous system; useful with diarrhea, eye disorders, hemorrhoids and sugar metabolism problems.
HYSSOP
Carminative for indigestion/gas; also a diuretic, mild respiratory sedative;expectorant.

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J


JUNIPER BERRY: Diuretic, useful in bladder or kidney conditions, especially chronic bladder infections.

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L

LICORICE: A demulcent and expectorant for coughs and respiratory congestion; stimulant; promotes estrogen; improves adrenal function.
LOBELIA: Strong bronchial dilator, expectorant, antispasmodic and larger doses, emetic; use for asthma and any lung congestion, hiccoughs; helpful in stopping smoking.
LOMATIUM: Antibacterial and immune stimulating; for colds, flu, viral sore throats, chronic viral disease, respiratory infections and congestion; antifungal and anti; parasitic.

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M

MARSHMALLOW: Excellent demulcent for soothing mucous membrane irritation in gastrointestinal, respiratory and urinary tract disease.
MILK THISTLE: For liver disease and cleansing; actually aids liver regeneration after toxic exposure.
MOTHERWORT: Antispasmodic and female tonic (improves blood flow to the female organs); sedative for hysterical complaints, tachycardia, nervous pulse.
MULLEIN: Demulcent, expectorant and anodyne properties make it useful with irritations of the lungs and bowels. the oil can be used for ear problems.
MYRRH: Soothes mucous membrane irritation; astringent, stimulant, stomachic; good topically for wounds or as gargle for oral lesions; immune stimulating and antifungal.

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N


NETTLES: An astringent and alkalizing diuretic; good nutritive and high mineral content; a mucosal astringent that decreases secretions.

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O


OAT: Nervine, stimulant and antispasmodic; nutritive to nervous system; restores energy and vital force to weakened system; helpful in breaking addictions.
OCOTILLO: Relieves pelvic lymphatic congestion such as "boggy" uterus and prostate.
OREGON GRAPE: Liver tonic and cleanser, blood purifier; for poor protein digestion or hangovers; for sluggish gastrointestinal system.
OSHA: Aid for bronchial irritations, congestion, or coughs that are dry; anti viral, immune stimulating properties.

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P

PASSION FLOWER: antispasmodic and nerve sedative; good for worry, anxiety or depression, especially menstrual, or in children or the elderly; induces restful sleep; aid for neuralgia, tense muscles, dysmenorrhea and hypertension.
PAU D'ARCO: Antiseptic and blood purifier; used with candida, lymph congestion, and tumors; improves GI utilization of nutrients.
PEPPERMINT: Relieves gas pains, aids digestion, calms nausea and diarrhea as in flu.
PIPSISSEWA: Diuretic, astringent, excellent for urinary tract infections, especially if kidneys involved including gravel and stones; use when urination is scanty, painful and contains mucous.
PLANTAIN: Diuretic, antiseptic, and astringent, used topically for wounds in healing salves or internally for mucosal irritations.
PLEURISY ROOT: Antispasmodic, diaphoretic, expectorant; for bronchitis, pneumonitis, pleurisy, especially with hot, dry mucosa.
PRICKLY ASH: Stimulant and astringent for poor peripheral circulation or venous congestion including pelvic, also mouth ulcerations.
PROPOLIS: Antiseptic with soothing and healing properties; good for mouth, gum and skin ulcerations.

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R

RED CLOVER: Strong blood purifier; nutritive to nervous system; aid for spasmodic cough, ulcerations and tumors.
RED RASPBERRY: Relieves nausea and improves digestion; improves uterine tone and blood supply; increases milk production.
RED ROOT: Expectorant astringent antispasmodic for tonsillitis and bronchitis or any lymph swelling, also with enlarged spleen or liver; hastens clotting time.
RHUBARB: Appetite stimulant in small doses, and tonic bitter for indigestion and gas; in large doses a laxative/purgative.

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S


SARSAPARILLA: Soothes mucous membranes; relieves gas; useful with rheumatism and serves as a precursor for hormone production; excellent digestive tonic.
SAW PALMETTO: Diuretic; enhances endurance; breaks down mucous in respiratory congestion; useful in prostate (BPH), urethritis and kidney problems.
SHEPHERD'S PURSE: Hemostatic astringent; helps stop passive gastrointestinal or uterine bleeding; diuretic, breaks down urate stones.
SHIITAKE MUSHROOM: Stimulates the immune system aiding response to chronic infection, tumors, and debilitated states (Fresh freeze drying uniquely preserves the active polysaccharides).
SKULLCAP: Antispasmodic and nervine; for nervous muscle activity (spasms or twitches); for insomnia, anxiety and neuralgia.
SLIPPERY ELM: For indigestion and gas; soothes mucous membrane in GI and respiratory disease.
ST. JOHN'S WORT: For agitation and depression; mild immune stimulation and antiviral; used topically over migratory or shooting pains, especially with nerve involvement. May aid with children's bed wetting.
STONE ROOT: Sedative, antispasmodic, astringent, diuretic; for mucous or gravel in the urine, or any pelvic venous and lymphatic congestion including , hemorrhoids, swollen prostrate laryngitis.

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U

USNEA: Antibiotic; useful in bacterial infections (especially of the intestine), and colds and flu where it also has immune stimulating properties and in fungal conditions.
UVA URSI: Good diuretic, for urinary tract disorders, gravel in the urine (potency enhanced in freeze; dried form).

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V

VALERIAN

Strong nervous system sedative; for anxiety, irritability, insomnia due to excessive worry or depression; mild pain relief. Herb Guide Home Page

W

WHITE WILLOW: Tonic and astringent (contains tannin and salicin); brings down fevers, aid for indigestion due to disease; may relieve headache or joint inflammation
WILD YAM: Antispasmodic; relieves colic; spasm or cramping of smooth muscle including gall bladder and uterus; hormone precursor.
WITCH HAZEL: Astringent, tonic, sedative for mild hemorrhage; topically for varicosities and hemorrhoids.
WORMWOOD: Bitter tonic, stomachic for feeble digestion; brings down fevers; clears the intestines of worms.

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Y

YARROW: Diaphoretic, stimulant; for colds and fever; slows passive bleeding from boggy mucosa.
YELLOW DOCK: Blood cleanser (high iron content); helpful in anemia, chronic skin disorders and congestion; for poor fat digestion and constipation.
YERBA MANSA: Improves lymph drainage in mild colds, sore throats and sinus infections; also in subacute colitis and cystitis.
YERBA SANTA: Expectorant and antispasmodic; for coughs, bronchitis and asthma; anti fungal.
YUCCA: Contains steroidal saponins including sarsapogenin, a potential cortisone precursor; used internally and externally for slow healing ulcers and skin eruptions, arthritis and joint inflammation.

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