Category: Uncategorized

Botanical name: Stellaria media Linn

Other name: starweed, satin flower, or mouse-ear

The roots of common chickweed are shallow and characterized by a fibrous structure. This plant thrives in various soils but exhibits optimal growth in neutral pH soils with high nitrogen content. Conversely, it tends to struggle in low pH or acidic soils. Sticky chickweed, while visually resembling common chickweed, distinguishes itself with a more upright growth habit.

Medicinal Uses:

• Relieve rheumatic pains and psoriasis
• Asthma
• Blood disorders
• Conjunctivitis
• Constipation
• Inflammation
• Dyspepsia
• Skin ailments
• Obesity

Botanical name: Capsicum annuum

Other name: chili pepper, chile pepper, hot pepper, and red chillies.

Cayenne pepper, a variant of Capsicum annuum, is believed to have its roots in Cayenne, French Guiana. This spice is crafted by drying and grinding the fruits, ranging from orange to deep-red, and gains its distinctive piquant flavor from the presence of the chemical compound capsaicin.

Medicinal Uses:

• Relieve pain from rheumatoid arthritis
• Joint pain from fibromyalgia
• Migraines
• Diabetic neuropathy in the legs and feet
• Injuries to the lower back
• Osteoarthritis

Botanical name: Frangula purshiana

Other name: cascara, cascara buckthorn, cascara sagrada, bearberry

Cascara sagrada, translating to “sacred bark” in Spanish, has a historical legacy as a laxative employed by Native Americans for centuries. Embraced by Western medical practices in the 19th century, cascara sagrada continues to be a component in over-the-counter laxative formulations, frequently blended with other herbal ingredients like aloe vera.

Medicinal Uses:

• Constipation
• Emptying the colon before a colonoscopy
• Other conditions

Botanical name: Elettaria cardamomum

Other name: green cardamom or true cardamom

Cardamom, derived from the seed pods of the cardamom plant, a close kin to ginger and turmeric, originates from South India. The triangular pods consist of spindle-shaped clusters of seeds encased in a thin outer shell, offering the option to savor them either whole or ground.

Medicinal Uses:

• Ease inflammation
• Protect your cells against something called oxidative stress
• Handle insulin
• Blood pressure

Botanical name: Calendula officinalis

Other name: Calendula, Calendula (Pot Marigold), Common Marigold, Garden Marigold, Gold bloom, Holligold, Marigold, Mary Bud, Pot Marigold, Ruddles

Calendula is an annual plant that flourishes in nearly all types of soil, commonly spotted in Europe, Western Asia, and the United States. It shares familial ties with daisies, chrysanthemums, and ragweed. Characterized by branching stems that reach heights between 30 to 60 cm, this plant exhibits vibrant blooms from early spring through the duration of the frost season.

Medicinal Uses:

• Help wounds heal faster
• Increasing blood flow and oxygen to the affected area
• Helps the body grow new tissue
• Improve skin hydration and firmness

Botanical name: Ruscus aculeatus

Other name: knee holly or piaranthus

The Butcher’s broom root is commonly used by steeping it as tea or extracting its essence. Belonging to the lily (Liliaceae) family, it is also known as box holly. The usual method of preparing the dried root involves making tea or an extract. For a tea from chopped roots, add 1 teaspoon of the herb to a cup of boiling water and steep in a closed teapot for 10 minutes. It’s important not to heat the teapot. Remember to strain the mixture before consumption.

Medicinal Uses:

• Hemorrhoids
• Gallstones
• Symptoms of poor blood circulation such as pain
• Heaviness
• Leg cramps
• Leg swelling
• Varicose veins
• Itching and swelling

Botanical name: Bupleuri Radix

Other name: chai hu

The utilization of Bupleurum root dates back to ancient times, appreciated for its role in promoting liver functions and serving as a tonic for the spleen and stomach. In Chinese herbalism, there exist more formulations centered around Bupleurum than any other herb. A common practice involves incorporating Bupleurum-based formulas into one’s herbal routine for the initial one or two years, after which individuals often phase out these formulations from their tonic regimen.

Medicinal Uses:

• Treat colds
• Fever
• Digestive disorders
• Chronic liver diseases
• Depression symptoms

Botanical name: Borago officinalis

Other name: starflower

Borage, also recognized as starflower, is an annual herb belonging to the Boraginaceae family of flowering plants. Indigenous to the Mediterranean region, this herb, despite containing minor quantities of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, boasts edible parts, and its seeds are a source of oil.

Medicinal Uses:

• Increase urine flow
• Prevent inflammation of the lungs
• Promote sweating
• Increase breast milk production
• Treat bronchitis and colds

Botanical name: Juglans nigra

Other name: eastern black walnut and American walnut

The root system of the walnut tree is expansive, with a deep and wide-spreading structure that includes a distinct taproot, particularly during its early years. An example of this is evident in a 9-year-old walnut tree extracted from an Indiana plantation, where the taproot measured 2.3 meters (7.5 feet) in length, while the lateral roots stretched over 2.4 meters (8 feet) away from the taproot.

Medicinal Uses:

• Expels Parasites. One of the key active components of the black walnut hull is juglone
• Promotes Healthy Skin
• Improves Cardiovascular Health
• Holds Antifungal and Antimicrobial Activity
• Helps Protect Against Cancer

Botanical name: Actaea racemosa

Other name: Actaea racemosa, baneberry, black snakeroot, bugbane, bugwort, Cimicifuga racemosa, macrotys, rattle root, rattlesnake root, rattletop, rattleweed, rheumatism weed, and squawroot.

The economic significance lies in the rhizomes and roots of black cohosh. The rhizome exhibits a dark brown to black hue, characterized by a thick and knobby texture, and features sizable buds on its upper surface. Fibrous roots, predominantly concentrated on the lower part of the rhizome, further contribute to its structure.

Medicinal Uses:

• Dietary supplement for hot flashes
• Other menopausal symptoms
• Menstrual cramps
• Premenstrual syndrome