Alfalfa-Medicago sativa
Parts Used: Leaves and flowers
Action: Alterative, tonic
Application: General tonic, rich in vitamins and minerals, source of Vitamin
k, alkalinizes body, affinity for kidneys
Preparation: Infusion, tincture
Black Cohosh-Cimicifuga racemosa
Parts Used: Roots
Actions: Anti-spasmodic, alterative, nervine
Application: Used when there is a need for balancing estrogen, calms smooth
muscle and has a special affinity for the uterus, relieves nervous tension
and rhuematism that is related to menstrual stress, do not use during
the early months of pregnancy because it can cause uterine contractions
Preparation: Infusion, tincture
Burdock-Arcticum lappa
Parts used: Roots
Actions: Alterative, diuretic, hepatic (liver tonic), bitter
Application: Aids digestion through its bitter qualities, helps clear
'hot' blood as Burdock is cooling, helps with balancing of the liver and
kidneys, effective for psoriasis and eczema (if used for several months)
Preparation: Infusion, tincture
Calendula-Calendula officinalis
Parts used: Whole flower tops or just petals
Actions: Anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, lymphatic, astringent
Application: Promotes cell repair, antiseptic, used externally for bruised,
scraped, cut or burned skin, wonderful for postpartum sitz baths, cracked
nipples, diaper rash
Preparation: Salve, infusion
Catnip-Nepata cataria
Parts used: leaves and flowering tops
Actions: Carminative, anti-spasmodic, nervine, astringent
Application: Calming, cools fevers, relaxes digestive system, used for
colic, safe for babies, "If every mother had catnip herb on the shelf,
it would save her many a sleepless night and her child much suffering."
(Kloss, 1939, pg. 215)
Preparation: Infusion or tincture
Chickweed-Stellaria media
Part Used:Leaves and flowers
Actions: Demulcent
Application: Cools inflamed cuts, scrapes, infected wounds, skin irritations
etc., also tastes great in salads
Preparation: Infusion, salves
Comfrey-Symphytum officinale
Part used: Roots and leaves
Actions: Demulcent, anti-inflammatory, astringent
Application: Amazing herb for speeding wound healing, cell proliferate,
soothing demulcent for mucous membrane and burned tissue, use for perineum
and sore nipples
Preparation: Salve, infusion, decoction, poultice, compress
Dandelion-Taraxacum officinale
Part Used: Roots and leaves
Actions: Diuretic, hepatic, chologogue, tonic, bitter
Application: liver tonic, decreases congestion in the liver, induces flow
of bile, root is a powerful hepatic, use for edema
Preparation: Young leaves in salad, root as decoction, tincture
Echinacea-Echinacea angustifolia, E. purpurea
Part used: Roots, leaves and flowers
Actions: Immune stimulator, anti-microbial, anti-catarrahal, alterative
Application:Activates macrophages stimulating immune response, safe to
use during pregnancy, "Echinacea's effectiveness will decrease if
it is used continuously. It is best to use it in cycles, generally five
days on, two days off, repeated until the
infection or illness has corrected itself." (Gladstar, 2001, p. 329).
Use at the first sign of a cold or flu for best results.
Preparation: Decoction, infusion, tincture
Garlic-Allium sativum
Part used: Bulb
Actions: Anti-microbial, hypotensive
Application: Acts on bacteria, viruses, and intestinal parasites, lowers
blood pressure, combine with Echinacea for infections, combine with Hawthorn
and Motherwort for high blood pressure
Preparation: Eat cloves, capsules, tincture
Hawthorn-Crataegus oxyacantha
Part Used: Berries
Actions: Tonic, hypotensive, diuretic
Application: Improves circulation, tonic for heart, "…hawthorn
is also a wonderful remedy for `broken hearts' and for depression and
anxiety. It is a specific medicine for those who have a difficult time
expressing their feelings or who suppress their emotions. Hawthorn helps
the heart flower, open, and be healed" (Gladstar, 2001, p.341).
Preparation: Decoction, tincture
Marshmallow-Althaea officinalis
Part used: Roots
Actions: Demulcent, emollient
Application: Soothes and coats mucous membranes- used for sore throats,
diarrhea, constipation, vaginal irritation, and bronchial inflammation,
safe for children, Yes, marshmallow root is the herb that marshmallows
were originally made from.
Preparation: "Our pioneer parents cooked the root with honey or sugar,
formed it into soft balls, and gave it to their children to suck on to
soothe a sore throat" (Gladstar, 2001, pg.349), decoction, chew on
fresh or dried root
Motherwort-Leonurus cardica
Part used: Leaves
Actions: Nervine, anti-spasmodic, cardiac tonic, hypotensive
Application: "Motherwort tincture calms without causing drowsiness,
making it ideal as an ally at work and at home, whenever pressure and
stress threaten to overwhelm you." (Weed, p. 43), used for all smooth
muscle, (heart, vessels, and uterus) tension, lowers blood pressure
Preparation: Infusion, tincture
Mullein-Verbascum thapsus
Part used: Leaves and flowers
Actions: Tonic for lungs, demulcent, anti-inflammatory
Application: Leaves are a wonderful all around remedy for the respiratory
system. Thins mucous, strengthens lung tissue, and reduces inflammation
of the trachea and bronchioles. Flowers and garlic infused in olive oil
relieve earaches.
Preparation: Smoke leaves, water infusion of leaves, oil infusions of
flowers, tincture
Nettle-Urtica dioica
Part used: Leaves
Actions: Tonic, astringent, diuretic, hypotensive (when high blood pressure
is caused by kidneys), nutritive
Application: consider nettles a whole body nourisher and toner, balances
out allergies such as hay fever
Preparation: Infusion, tincture
Peppermint-Mentha x piperita
Part used: Leaves
Actions: Carminative, diaphoretic, nervine, anti-microbial
Application: Peppermint cools hot tissue, calms upset stomach, thins mucous
Preparation: Infusion, tincture
Plantain-Plantago major Part used: Leaves, seeds
Actions: Anti-inflammatory, astringent
Application: Soothes hemorrhoids, calms burning and itching, seeds used
in laxative blends
Preparation: Poultice for hemorrhoids and varicose veins, infusion, compresses,
salve, seeds ground up and put in juice are a good laxative
Red Clover-Trifolium pratense
Part used: Flowers and leaves
Actions: Alterative
Application: Blood purifier and strengthener, rich in minerals
Preparation: Tasty infusion, tincture
Red Raspberry-Rubus idaeus
Part used: Leaves
Actions: Uterine tonic, astringent
Application: Strengthens, tones and nourishes the uterus, rich in iron
and calcium
Preparation: Infusion, tincture
Shepherd's Purse-Capsella bursa-pastoris
Part used: Aerial parts
Actions: Astringent, diuretic
Application: Stops bleeding from cuts or nosebleeds, used in postpartum
hemorrhage, shrinks hemmorhoids
Preparation: Infusion, compress, tincture
Thyme-Thymus vulgaris
Part used: Leaves
Actions: Anti-microbial, carminative
Application: Relieves coughs, calms respiratory system, used externally
as soak for infected tissue, antiseptic
Preparation: Infusion, syrup, compress, tincture. Steam
Uva-ursi-Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Part used: Leaves
Actions: Anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, astringent
Application: Specific for the urinary system use with cranberry juice
for urinary tract infections, "Excellent remedy for dysentery, piles,
hemorrhoids, excessive menstruation, for the spleen, liver, pancreas,
and when there are mucous discharges from the bladder with pus and blood."
(Kloss, p.321)
Preparation: Strong infusion for UTI
Valerian-Valeriana officinalis
Part used: Roots
Actions: Nervine, hypotensive, carminative
Application: "Its name is derived from the Latin valere, `to be well'
or `to be strong.' (Gladstar, 2001, p. 369) non-addictive sedative, nerve
tonic, brings on restful sleep, relaxes smooth muscles
Preparation: Infusion (although smell is offensive to some, it tastes
better than it smells!), tincture
Yarrow-Achillea millefolium
Parts used: Flowers and leaves
Actions: Diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, bitter, anti-microbial
Applications: "Yarrow is one of the best diaphoretic herbs and is
a standard remedy for aiding the body to deal with fevers. It lowers blood
pressure due to a dilation of the peripheral vessels." (Hoffman,
1993, pg. 4:116), uterine hemorrhage
Preparation: Infusion, tincture, salve, poultice, compress
Yellow Dock-Rumex crispus
Parts used- Root
Actions: Alterative, laxative, hepatic, tonic
Applications: Used for jaundice, iron deficiency anemia, liver tonic,
laxative, cleanses blood
Preparation: Decoction, tincture
