Common Name: Damiana Latin name: Turnera diffusa Family: Turneraceae or Passifloraceae (I’ve seen both) Parts used: leaves Tissue or system affinity: Nervous system, Circulatory system Taste: Pungent Energetics: warming, slightly drying Actions: anti-depressant, aphrodisiac, anxiolytic, nervine and metabolic stimulant Uses: A native plant of southern Texas, Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, this … Continue reading
Filed under herbal morsel …
Peach: there’s more to it than the fruit!
Common Name: Peach tree Latin name: Prunus persica Family: Rosaceae Parts used: fresh leaves, fully dried leaves (((NOT wilted leaves, which contain higher levels of cyanide))) Tissue or system affinity: digestive system, nervous system Taste: Slightly sweet, aromatic Energetics: cooling & moistening Actions: relaxing nervine, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, anti-emetic Uses: a traditional Southern Folk Medicine herb; … Continue reading
Milky Oats: the herb that soothes and coats
Common Name: Oats Latin name: Avena sativa Family: Poaceae (Grass family) Parts used: fresh milky green seed heads, dried stalk, dried seeds Tissue or system affinity: nervous system, mucous membranes, skin Taste: slightly sweet Energetics: neutral & moistening Actions: nervine, nutritive, mineralizer Uses: Oats are really overlooked as an herb. Milky oats (tincture of the … Continue reading
Peppermint: cool down & perk up
Common Name: Peppermint Latin name: Mentha peperita Family: Lamiaceae Parts used: leaves Tissue or system affinity: digestive system, nervous system Taste: pungent Energetics: cooling & drying Actions: mild analgesic, antinauseous, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive Uses: This herb is so commonly known and so legendary, that we know it is safe and effective (and a key herb … Continue reading
Yarrow: herb of the battlefield (or just an amazing first aid herb)
Common Name: Yarrow Latin name: Achillea millefolium Family: Asteraceae Parts used: leaves, flowers Tissue or system affinity: skin, uterus, urinary tract, throat, mucous membranes Taste: bitter, astringent Energetics: cooling & drying Actions: anti-inflammatory, astringent, vulnerary, antiviral, diaphoretic, styptic, hemostatic, febrifuge, antibacterial, aromatic Uses: One of the best first aid herbs I know of. You can … Continue reading
Agrimony: uncurling fists since the beginning of time
Common Name: Agrimony Latin name: Agrimonia eupatoria (pictured above); we also have two natives species, one I find often along trails…however, I haven’t worked with them medicinally yet as I cultivate A. eupatoria in my garden ( the two wild species are A. parviflora and A. rostellata) Family: Rosaceae Parts used: leaves (collected before flowering), … Continue reading
Black Walnut: the fungal fighter
Common Name: Black walnut Latin Name: Juglans nigra Family: Juglandaceae (Walnut family) Parts used: green hulls, nuts, leaves, bark Tissue or system affinity: skin, intestines Taste: bitter, astringent Energetics: cooling, drying Actions: vermifuge, astringent, anti-fungal, mild laxative Uses: all references here to use are associated with the green hulls => topically as tincture, salve or … Continue reading
Holy Basil: clear mind & heart
Common Name: Holy Basil (Tulsi) Latin Name: Ocimum sanctum Family: Lamiaceae (Mint family) Parts used: all above ground Tissue or system affinity: heart, brain, circulatory system Taste: sweet, slightly bitter, aromatic Energetics: cooling, drying Actions: adaptogen, antibacterial, antiviral, carminative, hypotensive Uses: internally as a tincture or tea; a very tasty and delightful Ayurvedic herb from … Continue reading
Sweet Gum Tree: the warm protector
Common Name: Sweet gum Latin Name: Liquidambar styraciflua Family: Hamamelidaceae (Witch hazel family) Parts used: green balls, leaves, bark, resin Tissue or system affinity: lungs, throat, joints, immune system Taste: aromatic, slightly bitter Energetics: warming, slightly drying Actions: anti-viral, expectorant, astringent, drawing Uses: topically, the resin can be used to draw out infection; topically, the … Continue reading
Lindsay Kolasa 