Black Cohosh
Plant Part Used Root/rhizome Introduction Black cohosh has made a name for itself in many parts of the world. The hairy roots of this plant have been used in Chinese medicine for centuries as a remedy for conditions such as headache, non-eruptive measles, gingivitis, and other disorders. Native Americans used it as a remedy for […]
Hawthorn
Plant Part Used Flower, leaf, and berry Introduction Historically, hawthorn was used by Roman physicians as a heart drug in the first century A.D. The literature from that period focuses on its symbolic use of hawthorn for religious rites and political ceremonies. During the Middle Ages, hawthorn was used for the treatment of “dropsy,” or […]
Shiitake Mushroom
Plant Part Used Fruiting body and mycelium. Introduction Shiitake has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years as a medicinal agent. Shiitake mushroom grows on the trunks or stumps of trees. The medicinal part used is the mycelia or immature growing stage of the mushroom. Recent attention has been placed on shiitake […]
Olive Leaf
Plant Part Used Leaf Introduction Olive trees are widely cultivated throughout Mediterranean countries as a source of olives and olive oil. The trees products have been traditionally used not only in foods, but in health conditions including malaria, infections, cardiovascular diseases, and for general well-being. Modern scientific studies may back up many of these traditional […]
Calendula
Plant Part Used Flowers Introduction Calendula has been used for centuries. It is mentioned in herbal medical texts that date back to 1373. The name, calendula refers to the plant’s tendency to bloom in accordance with the calendar – every month in some regions of the Mediterranean. Historically, calendula was used both as a culinary […]
Hops
Plant Part Used Strobiles Introduction Hops has been used since Roman times as a crucial ingredient in brewing and as a mild sedative. Today, hops is still used to brew beer and as an agent to calm one’s anxiety. Interactions and Depletions Interactions Anti-anxiety medications / Anti-depressants OTC products causing drowsiness Alcoholic beverages Barbiturates Drugs […]
Eleuthero, Siberian Ginseng
Plant Part Used Root Introduction Eleuthero is one of the top selling herbal products in the United States. It is a member of the ginseng family, but it is of a different genus than other popular ginsengs. The use of eleuthero root dates back 2,000 years in the records of Chinese medicine when it was […]
Picrorhiza
Plant Part Used Root/rhizome Introduction Picrorhiza is a perennial herb that grows high in the Himalayas. The root and rhizome of this plant have been used in Indian traditional medicine since ancient times to treat liver troubles, upper respiratory problems and more. Recently, researchers and clinicians have reported the value of picrorhiza as an immune-enhancing […]
Cascara Sagrada
Plant Part Used Aged bark Introduction Native Americans in California introduced this herb, which they called sacred bark, to 16th-century Spanish explorers. Being much milder in its laxative action than the herb buckthorn, cascara became popular in Europe as a treatment for constipation and has been in medical use in the U.S. since 1890. Cascara […]
Horse Chestnut
Plant Part Used Seed Introduction The horse chestnut tree was introduced into Northern Europe from the East in the sixteenth century. The French used extracts of horse chestnut seed for the treatment of hemorrhoids as early as the 1800s. Germany has been using extracts of horse chestnut seed for chronic venous insufficiencies for a few […]
