Squaw Vine

Latin: Mitchelle repens

It is a “utero-tonic, prostrate tonic.“ (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

A “parturient, emmenagogue, diuretic, astringent, tonic … It is among the best remedies for preparing the uterus and whole body for child birth … [also] painful periods … As an astringent it has been used in the treatment of colitis …” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Image

By Photo by David J. Stang [CC BY-SA 4.0  (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Sumach

Sumach

 Latin: Rhus aromatica/glabra

 TCM:  Wu Bei Zi is Rhus Chinensis

“Sumac (Rhus glabra) … is important as a healing agent due to its ability to cause local inflammation by contact with it, thus drawing blood to the area.”

 (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))

It is a “stimulating and tonic diuretic” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“Sweet Sumach is a useful astringent that is especially indicated in the treatment of urinary incontinence … [it] has a reputation for being able to reduce blood sugar …[but this is] open to debate.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

“Wu Bei Zi (Rhus Chinensis) … gallnut of Chinese sumac … sour, salty, cold … contains … binds up … preserves … restrains … absorbs.” Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica”

Lady's Slipper

Latin: Cypripedium pubescens

 It is a “meningeal vaso-relaxant” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“Lady’s Slipper is one of the most widely applicable nervines that we possess in the materia medica. It may be used in all stress reactions, emotional tension and anxiety states. It will help elevate the mood, especially where depression is present … It is perhaps at its best when treating anxiety that is associated with insomnia.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Thuja – Arbor Vitae – Tree of Life

Latin:  Thuja occidentalis

TCM:  Bai Zi Ren is Thuja orientalis

It is a “vaso-tonic alterative.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“Thuja’s main action is due to its stimulating and alterative oil. In bronchial catarrh Thuja combines expectoration with a systemic stimulation beneficial if there is also heart weakness … avoid if there is dry irritable cough … [or] pregnancy”. (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Bai Zi Ren (Thuja orientalis) is “sweet, neutral … nourishes the heart and calms the spirit: for irritiablity, insomnia, forgetfulness, and palpitations with anxiety due to heart blood deficiency.”

Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica”

Myrrh

Latin: Commiphora molmol/myrrha

 TCM:  Mo Yao

“… has an agreeable aromatic odor and a bitter acrid taste … it is a stimulant to the circulation and to the uterine and bronchial mucous membranes …” (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))

An “autonomic tropho-restorative to the gastro-intestinal tract.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“Myrrh is an effective anti-microbial … [it] stimulates the production of white blood corpuscles … and has a direct anti-microbial effect …” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

“Bitter, neutral … invigorates the blood …promotes healing” (Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica”)

Wild Indigo

Latin: Baptisia tinctoria

A “stimulating antiseptic vaso-tonic alterative” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“… is to be considered wherever there is focused infection. It is especially useful in the treatment of infections and catarrh in the ear, nose and throat. It may be used for laryngitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis … it will heal mouth ulcers, gingivitis and help the control of pyorrhoea. Systematically it may be helpful in the treatment of enlarged and inflamed lymph glands … and also to reduce fevers.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Media

By Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA (Dwarf Wild Indigo) [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Schizandra Fruit

Latin:  Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis

 TCM:  Wu Wei Zi

An “adaptogen and nervine” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“Deep immune activation … specific immune-modulators include: …Schisandra chinensis: tonic, for the central nervous system, uterine and respiratory stimulant, anti-hepatoxic…” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica” say, “sour, warm … stops coughing … tonifies the kidneys … inhibits sweating … quiets the spirit and calms the heart…”

Ligusticum - Szechuan Lovage Root

Latin: Radix Ligustic Chuanxiong

TCM:  Chuan Xiong

 “Deep immune activation … specific immune-modulators include: …Ligusticum wallichi: tonic, anti-microbial, hypotensive, mild nervine…” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica” say, “…acrid, warm … invigorates the blood … expels wind and alleviates pain …”

cf: Ligusticum porter (Osha)… a “stimulating diaphoretic”(Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

Keeping the lungs strong

Paul Robin and Paul Brecher in, “Practical TCM”, say, “To keep the lungs strong we eat rice, chicken eggs, duck and chestnuts. Then in autumn when it is dry our lungs can stay balanced.”

Astralagus

Latin: Astragalus propinquus, astralagus membranaceus

TCM: Huang Qi

Also known as milkvetch.

 “Immune enhancer, tonic.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica” say, “Sweet, slightly warm … Tonifies the spleen … [and] lung … [and] blood …”

David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal” notes its role in deep immune activation along with, amongst others, Ligusticum wallichii and Schizandra chinensis.

Marigold

Latin: Calendula officinalis

Arabic: Aladhiriun naba'at

TCM: Jin Zhan Ju

For “bruises, sprains, muscle sprains, ulcers …” (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))

“Stimulating antiseptic to the skin and mucous membranes.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“Anti-inflammatory, astringent, vulnerary, anti-fungal, cholagogue, emmenagogue. Marigold is one of the best herbs for treating local skin problems … ulcers …gall-bladder problems … indigestion … delayed menstruation and painful periods.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Arnica

Latin: Arnica montana

TCM: Shan Jin Che

“A cardiac stimulant; in large doses, a depressant …[for] sprains, bruises, abrasions …” (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))

A “circulatory stimulant.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“Anti-inflammatory, vulnerary. Do not use internally.   For the treatment of bruises and sprains.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Coltsfoot

Latin: Tussilago farfara

TCM: Kuan Dong Hua

 “Demulcent and tonic expectorant.”

(Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“Expectorant, anti-tussive, demulcent, anti-catarrhal, diuretic. Coltsfoot may be used in chronic or acute bronchitis, irritating coughs, whooping coughs, asthma…” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica” say, “acrid, warm… stops coughing.”

Dandelion

Latin: Taraxacum officinale

TCM: Pu Gong Ying

A “relaxing cholagogue and choleretic.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“Diuretic, cholagogue [stimulating the flow of bile from the liver], anti-rheumatic, laxative, tonic.  Dandelion is a very powerful diuretic … one of the best natural sources of potassium … a most valuable general tonic and perhaps the best widely applicable diuretic and liver tonic.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica” say, “bitter, sweet, cold … clears heat and toxicity … resolves dampness.”

Elder

Latin: Sambucus nigra

TCM: Jie Gu Mu

“Relaxing vaso-tonic alterative and diaphoretic.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“The Elder tree is a veritable medicine chest by itself. The leaves are used primarly for bruises, sprains, wounds … flowers for colds and influenza … berries have similar properties to the flowers with the addition of their usefulness in rheumatism.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Keeping the spleen strong

Paul Robin and Paul Brecher in, “Practical TCM”, say, “To keep the spleen strong we eat millet, beef and apricots. Then in late summer when it is humid our spleen can stay balanced.”

Keeping the heart strong

Paul Robin and Paul Brecher in, “Practical TCM”, say, “To keep the heart strong we eat millet, sheep and plums. Then in summer when it is hot our heart can stay balanced.”

Yellow Dock

Latin: Rumex crispus

“The root of the plant is often made into an ointment to ease itching.” (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))

“Relaxing and stimulating vaso-tonic alterative.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

An “alterative, purgative, cholagogue. Yellow Dock is used extensively in the treatment of chronic skin complaints such as psoriasis …[and] a valuable remedy for constipation.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Media

By National Library of Medicine - History of Medicine (https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlmhmd/37183788081/) [No restrictions], via Wikimedia Commons

Meadowsweet

Latin: Filipendula Ulmaria

TCM: Xuan Gao Wen Zi Cao

An “antacid and stomach tonic.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“Anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, stomachic, antacid, anti-emetic, astringent.  Meadowsweet is of the best digestive remedies available… It acts to protect and soothe the mucous membranes … reducing excess acidity.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Chamomile

Latin: Anthemus nobile, Matricaria chamomilla, Matricaria recutita

TCM: Huang Chu Ju

“An infusion of the small flower heads acts as a tonic, digestive aid, and calmative, while in large doses, it acts as an emetic and diaphoretic.” (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))

A “carminative and anti-spasmodic.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“Anti-spasmodic, carminative, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiseptic, vulnerary…. The apparently endless list of conditions it can help all fall into areas that the relaxing, carminative and anti-inflammatory actions can aid.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).