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")

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”).

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”).

Cayenne

Latin: Capsicum minimum, Capsicum frutescens

 “[It] is used for a long list of ailments [and can used] as a catalyst for speeding other ingredients quickly throughout the body … to promote and continue the internal combustive heat produced by lobelia, and its always recommended to take the two together… one of the most powerful stimulants known among herbs.” (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))

 “A general vaso-stimulant to the heart, arteries and capillaries, [a] cardio-vascular stimulant” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“A stimulant, carminative, tonic, sialagogue, rubefacient, antiseptic. Cayenne is the most useful of the systemic stimulants.  It regulates the blood flow, equalising and strengthening the heart, arteries, capillaries and nerves.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Black Willow

Latin: Salix nigra

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

An “anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, analgesic, antiseptic, astringent. Black Willow is a safe natural source of aspirin-like chemicals, which helps explain its reputation in the treatment of rheumatism and arthritis … and used as part of a wider treatment for any connective tissue inflammation anywhere in the body, … also useful in rheumatoid arthritis.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Image

By PumpkinSky [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

Thyme

Latin: Thymus Vulgaris

Arabic: Zatar

It has “… a strong, pungent, spicy taste and odor … used medicinally as a tonic, a carminative, an emmenagogue, and an anti-spasmodic. Externally, the oil of thyme is used for toothache, neuralgia, and painful swellings.” (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))

An “anti-septic.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

A “carminative, anti-microbial, anti-spasmodic, expectorant, astringent, anthelmintic. It can be used … internally for respiratory and digestive infections … asthma.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Yarrow

Latin: Achillea millefolium

An “astringent, alterative, a diuretic, and a tonic … used to stop [bleeding] … in the treatment of colds, influenza, measles, smallpox, chickenpox, fevers… Yarrow acts as a blood cleanser and opens the pores to permit free perspiration, taking along with it, unwanted waste and thus relieving the kidneys.” (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))

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

“Diaphoretic, hypotensive, astringent, diuretic, antiseptic … 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 … stimulates digestion …” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Valerian

Latin: Valeriana officinalis

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): Xie Cao

An “anti-spasmodic and a stimulant and is of value in treating hysteria ... and whooping cough. Valerian is used … as a nerve tonic.” (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))

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

“Valerian is one of the most useful relaxing nervines that is available to us.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Comfrey

Latin: Symphytum officinale

Arabic: As-sanfiitun

A “demulcent, expectorant, and astringent, for almost any condition which requires a general cleansing of the entire internal system. The whole plant is made into a tea and consumed more or less freely for complaints such as arthritis, gallstones, stomach disorders, asthma … and female disorders.” (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))

For external use for “fractures … bruises … ulcers, wounds, inflamed skin…” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“… a powerful healing agent in gastric and duodenal ulcers, hiatus hernia and ulcerative colitis.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Echinacea

Latin: Echinacea Angustifolia

“It is useful in treating all diseases caused by impurity of the blood.” (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))

A “vaso-tonic alterative, lymphatic vaso-tonic, immune modulator.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“Echinacea is the prime remedy to help the body rid itself of microbial infections. It is effective against both bacterial and viral attacks.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).