FromtheEarthtotheBar

From the Earth to the Bar

Several natural herbs are used in the creation of certain liquid spirits today.
Depending on the direction of specific use or purpose will determine what herbs
are selected for the Master Distiller’s desired result. Infusing is the process of
steeping or soaking without boiling, to instill individual selections of various fresh or
dried fruits, berries, seeds, peppers, grasses, mint, spices, herbs, plants, vegetables,
hops, and roots into a specifically chosen base spirit for accenting the flavor.

For instance, Aperitifs is a term for beverages consumed before a meal to stimulate
the appetite. Therefore, the distiller would want to use herbs or the volatile oils from
a specific plant constituent, with stimulant qualities. Lillet, Dubonnet, and Vermouth
fit in this category, which all have a wine base. Bitters drinks are known to stimulate
secretions of saliva and digestive juices. Angostura, Cinchona, and Wormwood are
examples. Aperol, Branca Menta, and Calisay are some bitter liquors on the market.
Digestifs is a liquor produced usually with an alcohol base, consumed after a meal to
stimulate digestion. Bitter Orange, Chicory, Kola Nut, and Star Grass fall into this
category. Campari, Fernet Branca, and Grappa are known as Digestif liquors.
Then you have Aphrodisiacs, Elixers, Herbals, and Tonics to continue with.

The herb Hyssop is known to be in Chartreuse, while Grains of Paradise can be
found in Bombay Sapphire gin. Damiana is a shrub who’s leaves are harvested
for many purposes as well as having its own liqueur known for its aphrodisiac
properties. Delving into Wormwood will show Thujone as the active key
constituent for the production of Absinthe, while the mash of fresh fruit is
used for the clear brandy-based liqueurs known as Eau-De-Vie , with an
aroma and flavor suggestive of fruit blossoms.

Below is a defined list for methods of extracting:

Decoction – A water-based preparation of bark, roots, berries, twigs, and seeds
simmered in boiling water.

Distillation – A purification process, where the given mixture is heated to separate the
volatile parts from its less active parts - Liquid >to Vapor >to Liquid.
A volatile oil distilled to produce essential oil.

Infusion – A water or alcohol-based preparation in which flowers, leaves, or stems are
brewed in a similar way to tea.

Maceration – To soften by soaking or steeping in a liquid, to separate the contitiuents.

Percolation – To cause a fluid as in boiling water to pass or ooze through or force up
and through a filter. A form of steeping.

Tincture – Plant medicine prepared by macerating an herb in water and alcohol,
having a stronger action

Origins and Medicinal backgrounds of the Plants, Shrubs, and Trees of our planet,
and the herbal extractions that lead to the concoctions and decoctions in various
liquors, liqueurs, cocktails, and tonics for culinary use – today and yesterday.

Root > Bark > Sap > Leaf > Seed > Flower > Fruit > Oil

The following entries have been selected for their various uses and applications,
as well as the most medicinally beneficial. Some are more kitchen-based than bar.

Botanical (Botany) – The biological science of plants

Medicinal – Having the healing and curative properties of medicine

Current Individual Entry Listing – 77

Agave

Agave americana   ( Agavaceae )   – Century Plant

Part used – Sap

The sap contains estrogenlike isoflavonoids, alkaloids, coumarins, and
vitamins A, B, C, D, and K.

Native to the deserts of Central America, it is now grown as an
ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical areas around the world.

A perennial with a large rosette of 30–60 fleshy, sharply toothed leaves
that reach a height of 6 ft, clusters of yellow flowers growing to 3 in,
bloom on a tall pole-like stem after 10 years or more.

A soothing and restorative remedy for digestive ailments, such as ulcers,
stomach, and intestines when inflamed, protecting from infection and
irritation. Agave is related to the aloe plant.

Actions – A demulcent, laxative, and antiseptic.

Aerial Parts Parts of plant growing above ground
Annual Plant that completes its life cycle in a year
Antioxidant Prevents oxidation and breakdown of tissues
Antispasmodic Relieves muscle spasm, or reduces muscle tone
Aril Secondary covering over the seed in certain plants

Allspice

Pimenta officinalis ( Myrtaceae )

Part used – Berries, essential oil

Native to the Caribbean and Central and South America,
and extensively cultivated in Jamaica.

Aromatic evergreen tree growing to 40 ft, with leathery oblong leaves,
clusters of small white flowers, and tiny green berries that turn brown
as they mature. The berries are gathered prior to becoming fully ripe,
because the volatile oil content reduces as they mature.

The herb acts as a stimulant, stomach settler, and antiseptic.
Similar action to that of the clove.
Also taken to relieve flatulence and indigestion.

Aloe Vera

A. Barbadensis ( Liliaceae ) – Aloes

Part used – Leaves, for the gel and bitter liquid

Native to eastern and southern Africa, it grows wild in the tropics
and is now cultivated worldwide.

A perennial with succulent leaves up to 2 ft long and a spike of orange
or yellow flowers. Commonly cultivated as a potted plant.

The gel is an excellent wound and burn healer, due to the constituent
aloectin B which stimulates the immune system.

The juice/bitter aloes liquid have natural laxative qualities, as they
stimulate the digestion, and has a healing effect on peptic ulcers.
Also excellent as an emollient.

Angelica

Angelica archangelica ( Umbelliferae )

Part used – Root, leaves, seeds, stems

Native to temperate regions of western Europe, the Himalayas, and Siberia.
Preferably damp sites near running water.
Aromatic biennial herb growing to 6 ft, with ridged upright hollow stems,
large bright green leaves, and greenish white flowers in umbels.

Known as a prized medicinal herb, it is considered one of the most
important of the soil. The root extract is considered to be anti-inflammatory.
The stems are candied for culinary use, and is one of the herbs used in gin.

Actions – A warming tonic remedy, it improves the blood flow to the
peripheral parts of the body – hands and feet. It also stimulates relief
from bronchitis and challenging chest conditions. The roots are mainly
used for respiratory conditions, yet all parts of the plant help relieve
indigestion and colic.

Angostura

Galipea officinalis ( Rutaceae )

Part used – Bark

Native to some Caribbean islands and to tropical South America.

Evergreen tree growing to 50 ft, with gray bark, shiny bright green leaflets,
and foul smelling flowers.

A traditional tonic and fever remedy in the native land, Amazonians use the
plant as a fish poison. There is a brand name of bitters on the market called
Angostura, but the herb is no longer an ingredient in the cocktail flavoring.

Actions – The bark contains bitter principles, alkaloids, and volatile oil.
With tonic properties, it stimulates the stomach and digestive tract as a
whole. Being antispasmodic, it is also reported to act upon the spinal
nerves of paralytic conditions. It is also known to control fevers.

Anise

Pimpinella anisum ( Umbelliferae )

Part used – Seeds, essential oil

Native to the eastern Meditteranean, western Asia, and North Africa.
Harvested when ripe in autumn, it is also used as a flavoring agent in cooking
and liqueurs such as Absinthe, Anisette, Herbsaint, Ouzo, Pernod, and Sambuca.

Erect annual growing to 2 ft, with feathery leaves, umbels of yellow flowers,
and ridged gray-green seeds. The leaves and seeds offer a sweet licorice flavor.

Cultivated in Egypt for over 4000 years, it has a long history of medicinal use
Anise contains the volatile oil anethole, which has an observed estrogenic effect,
which may substantiate its use as a stimulant of sexual drive and
breast-milk production.

Actions – Known for the ability to settle digestion, anise’s expectorant
action is reason for its use with respiratory ailments such as bronchitis,
asthma, and whooping cough.

Apricot

Prunus armeniaca ( Rosaceae )

Part used – Fruit, seeds, bark

Native to China and Japan for over 2000 years, it is now cultivated in Asia,
North Africa, and California.

Deciduous tree growing to 30 ft, this sturdy tree has oval leaves, clusters of white
5-petaled flowers, and pale yellow to deep purple fruit.

Actions – The fruit is cleansing and mildly laxative. The sizeable kernels are
highly toxic, but have prescribed in small amounts to treat coughs, wheezing,
asthma, mucus, and constipation. Laetrile, an extract, has been used in western
medicine as a treatment for cancer.

Artichoke

Cynara scolymus ( Compositae )

Part used – Flower heads, leaves, roots

Native to the Mediterranean region, it thrives in rich soil in warm temperate climates.
Plants that are commercially grown are renewed after 4 years.
Picked in early summer when the flower heads are unopened, along with leaves.

Perennial herb growing to 5 ft, with large thistlelike leaves, white beneath and
gray-green above, and very large purple-green flower heads.
Greatly valued by the ancient Greeks and Romans.

A Mediterranean home recipe uses fresh artichoke leaf juice mixed with wine or
water as a liver tonic. Good for diabetics, as it significantly lowers blood sugar.

A valuable medicinal plant, the leaves benefit the liver against toxins and
infection. All parts of the plant have bitter constituents and stimulate digestive
secretions. This also benefits the lowering of blood cholesterol levels.

Aromatic Plant with high levels of volatile oil
Astringent Tightens mucous membranes and skin,
reducing secretions and bleeding from abrasions
Aphrodisiac Excites libido and sexual activity
Axil Upper angle formed by leaf stem and supporting stem or branch
Ayurveda Traditional Indian system of medicine

Banana

Musa ( Musaceae ) – Plantain

Part used – Fruit, leaves, root

Native to India and Southeast Asia, and cultivated extensively in tropical and
subtropical regions. Generally picked a little early, and then allowed to ripen.

An evergreen with palmlike perennials growing to 28 ft, with large green leaves,
hanging flowering stems, with bunches of elongated green fruit which turns yellow.

The nutritious fruit is a careful yield, due to its origins with wild plants in
prehistoric times.

Actions – The plantain leaves, when dried and made into a syrup, are used in
Cuba to treat bronchial conditions of the chest. The root is a strong astringent
and has been given to halt the coughing up of blood. The unripe fruit and leaves
are used to treat diarrhea.

Barley

Hordeum distichon ( Gramineae )

Part used – Seeds

Cultivated in temperate regions worldwide.
The seeds are harvested when mature.

Annual grass growing to around 3 ft, with an erect hollow stem, lance-shaped
leaves, and ears with twin rows of seeds and long bristles.

Barley has been consumed since neolithic times, a period of human culture
beginning around 10,000 BC, and characterized by the invention of farming and
the making of technically advanced stone implements/tools.

Actions – Excellent as a form of porridge or barley water. It is soothing to the throat,
providing nutrients easily, such as proteins, sugars, starch, fats, and B
vitamins. It also acts as a demulcent, soothing sores, swelling, and inflammation to
the gut and urinary tract. It also aids digestion of milk, and a treatment for fever.

Bitter Orange

Citrus aurantium ( Rutaceae )

Part used – Fruit, peel, leaves, flowers, seeds, essential oil

Native to tropical Asia, it is now grown throughout the tropics and subtropics.
Orchards of bitter orange are also found along the Mediterranean coast,
especially Spain.

Evergreen tree growing to 30 ft, with leathery dark green leaves, perfumed
white flowers, and orange fruit.

With a wide range of medicinal uses, it has provided food and medicine for
thousands of years. Oil from its flowers, leaves, and young shoots are used
extensively in perfumery. Orange flower water is also a byproduct of distillation.
Lime and lemon have similar nutritional properties.

Actions – The fruit stimulates digestion, as the juice helps the body eliminate
waste products. Yet, if taken in excess, its acid content can exacerbate arthritis.
In western medicine, the essential oils are used to reduce heart rate and
palpitations, encourage sleep, and to soothe the digestive tract.

Blackberry

Rubus fruticosus ( Rosaceae )

Part used – Leaves, berries

Native to temperate areas of Europe, it is also naturalized in Australia
and the Americas.

A large prickly shrub growing to 12 ft, with palm-shaped leaves w/3-5 lobes,
white to pale pink flowers, and clusters of blackberries. It grows along roads,
open areas, and in woodland. Leaves are picked in summer, the berries in
summer and autumn.

Recommended in the 1st Century AD to use the ripe berries as a gargle for
sore throat. In European folk medicine, the blackberry leaves were used for
washing wounds, due to their strong astringent quality, and as a mouthwash
to strengthen gums and ease mouth ulcers.

Basal Leaves Leaves growing from the base of the stem
Bitter Stimulates secretions of saliva and digestive juices, increasing appetite.

Blackcurrant

Ribes nigrum ( Grossulariaceae )

Part used – Leaves, berries

Native to the temperate regions of Europe, western and central Asia, and the
Himalayas. Cultivated for its sour sweet fruit when ripe in mid-to-late summer,
and its leaves in early summer.

Erect shrub growing to 5 ft, with palm-shaped lobe leaves, small green-white flowers,
and clusters of blackberries.

The berries contain flavonoids, pectin, tannins, vitamin C, and potassium.

Actions – In Europe, the leaves are used as a diuretic, reducing blood volume
and thereby reducing blood pressure. Also used as a gargle for sore throats and
canker sores. High in vitamin C, the berries help strengthen the immune system’s
resistance to infection. Also known to be just as effective as lemon juice for patients
with pneumonia and influenza.

Buttertree

Madhuca spp. ( Sapotaceae )

Part used – Flowers, seed oil

Native to central and northern India.
The flowers, leaves, and seeds are gathered in summer.

Deciduous tree growing to 70 ft, with leathery leaves, clusters of scented
white flowers, and greenish fruit.

A source of food and medicine for over 2000 years, the flowers are eaten,
and are fermented to make alcoholic drinks.

Actions – The expectorant flowers are used to treat bronchitis and other
chest problems, and also taken to increase production of breast milk. The
seed oil is a laxative. The leaves relieve eczema, when applied as a poultice.

Carminative Relieves digestive gas and indigestion
Catkin A dense cluster of scale-like flowers, as of a birch
Compress Cloth pad soaked in a hot or cold herbal extract and applied to the skin

Cacao

Theobroma cacao ( Sterculiaceae )

Part used – Seeds, where the pulp contains many constituents that reflect its flavor,
and very small amounts of endorphins.

Native to Mexico and Central America, it is now also a major crop throughout the
tropics, as the seed pods are collected twice yearly. The word chocolate was
given to this tree by the Aztecs.

An evergreen tree growing to 25 ft, with pale brown bark, glossy oval leaves,
small yellow flower clusters, and large red-yellow seed pods close to the size
of a small to medium pineapple.

Most often used as the many food benefits it has, cacao’s medicinal actions
include it being of therapeutic value as a stimulant to the nervous system.
The seeds are taken as a heart and kidney tonic, and the plant may be
used to treat angina, and used as a diuretic.

Caraway

Carum carvi ( Umbelliferae )

Part used – Seeds, essential oil

Native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia. It grows wild, where it prefers sunny sites
up to 6000 ft above sea level. Caraway is also cultivated in Russia and the U.S.

Aromatic annual growing to 2 ft, with ridged stem, feathery leaves, and umbels of
white flowers in mid summer. The seeds are harvested ripe in late summer.

Commonly used in cooking, the seed also helps in the relief of colds of the
head and stomach

Action – An antispasmodic, diuretic, and expectorant.
It has beneficial effect on intestinal spasms, and is similar in action to anise.

Deciduous Plant that sheds its leaves each year
Decoction Water-based preparation of bark, roots, berries, or seeds
simmered in boiling water
Demulcent Coats, soothes, and protects body surfaces
such as gastric mucous membranes

Cardamom

Eletteria cardamomum ( Zingiberaceae )   –   Elaci (Hindi)

Part used – Seeds

Native to southern India and Sri Lanka, it grow abundantly in forests at
2500–5000 ft above sea level. Also cultivated in southern Asia, Indonesia,
and Guatemala.

A perennial growing to 15 ft, with mauve-marked white flowers, and very long
lance-shaped leaves. Harvested by hand in dry weather autumn just before
the pods start to open, and are dried whole in the sun. Each pod contains up
to 20 aromatic dark red-brown seeds.

One of the oldest spices in the world, it was used extensively in ancient Egypt
to make perfumes. Used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years as an
excellent remedy for digestive problems.

Actions – Carminative, aromatic, antispasmodic, digestive stimulant,
         tonic, eases stomach pain, aphrodisiac.

Preparations – Infusion, tincture, essential oil

Carob

Ceratonia siliqua ( Leguminosae )

Part used – Fruit, bark

Native to southeastern Europe, western Asia, and North Africa.
It flourishes in poor soil, in warm temperate climates.

Evergreen tree growing to 30 ft, with compound leaves, green flowers,
and large violet-brown fruit (bean pods). Harvested in late summer or autumn.

The fruit contains up to 70% sugars, fats, starch, proteins, vitamins, and tannins.

Pulp from the pods has long been used as a sweet food and for making
alcoholic drinks, and forms the basis of most cocoa-flavored drinks.
Both a nutritious food and a medicine. A decoction is also made, gently
helping to cleanse and relieve irritation within the gut.

Detoxification The process of aiding removal of toxins
and waste products from the body

Cashew

Anacardium occidentale ( Anacardiaceae )

Part used – Nuts, leaves, bark, root, gum

Native to tropical American forests and grasslands.
Now heavily cultivated in India and eastern Africa for its highly prized nuts.

Evergreen tree growing to 30 ft, with large oval leaves and pink streaked yellow
flowers on long spikes. The fruit hangs below the thickened stem and contains
the nut, encased in red or yellow flesh.

In Brazil, the “apple” or “fruit” of the tree is made into a liquor called Cajuedo.

The lining of the cashew nut is very toxic, yet after removal, the nut is
very nutritious, containing 45% fats and 20% protein.

Actions – The leaves are used in Indian and African herbal medicine for
toothache and gum problems, and in West Africa for malaria. The bark is
used in Ayurvedic medicine to detoxify snake bite.

The vapor of the shell’s inner and outer oils are caustic, highly irritant.
Do not use in any form.

Cinchona

Cinchona spp. ( Rubiaceae )   –   Peruvian Bark

Part used – The dried bark of the tree, bark of the trunk, branches,
and root contains alkaloids, especially quinine.

Native to the tropical regions of South America, mainly Peru. It is now
grown in India, Java, and parts of Africa, along with tree farm cultivation.

An evergreen tree reaching as tall as 80 ft, with reddish bark and leaves
that grow to 20 inches.

Best known as the source of quinine, taken as a remedy for malaria, the herb
is also used for fevers and digestive problems. The bitter constituents of
cinchona produce a digestive reflex stimulation, increasing saliva and stomach
secretions, and improves weak digestive functions.

Having a bitter taste, quinine is also used to flavor tonic water.

Actions – Appetite stimulation, antibacterial, astringent, antispasmodic, tonic

Preparations – Powder (to treat malaria), Decoction (for fevers),
                    Tincture (very bitter, to improve digestion)

Cinnamon

Cinnamomum verum ( Lauraceae)   –   Dalcini (Hindi)

Part used – Inner bark, twigs

Native to India and Sri Lanka, it is also cultivated throughout the tropical
regions of the world, especially in the Phillipines and West Indies.

An evergreen tree growing to 25–60 ft, with soft reddish-brown bark,
and yellow flowers.

With a long history of use, it is traditionally taken in the native land
even today, for colds, flu, and digestive problems.
Actions – Warming stimulant, carminative, antispasmodic, antiseptic, antiviral.
  It’s medicinal value is largely due to its volatile oil.

Preparations – Tincture, infusion, powder, and essential oil.

Clove

Eugenia carophyllata ( Myrtaceae )

Part used – Flower buds (dried–cloves ), leaves, stems

Native to the Molucca Islands (Indonesia) and the southern Phillipines, it is now
grown extensively in Tanzania, Madagascar, as well as the West Indies and Brazil
to a lesser extent.

An evergreen pyramid-shaped tree, strongly aromatic, growing to 50 ft.

Highly valued as an herbal medicine, antiseptic, antispasmodic, and mind & body
stimulant in India and Southeast Asia, and for a variety of other therapeutic uses,
such as acne, sores, styes, and skin ulcers. The volatile oil of clove is strongly anti-
bacterial, due to eugenol (up to 85%) being the largest, most important component

Actions – Antiseptic, carminative, stimulant, analgesic, prevents vomiting,
antispasmodic, and eliminates parasites.

Preparations – Tincture, powder, infusion, essential oil.
The dried flower buds (initially picked unopened) are used in infusions,
powders, and for oil extraction. The leaves and stems are occasionally
used for oil extraction.

Elixer A liquid herbal preparation with a pleasant taste,
due to the addition of fruit, and honey or sugar

Coffee

Coffea arabica ( Rubiaceae)

Part used – Seeds

Native to tropical East Africa, it is now cultivated in tropical areas worldwide.
Fermenting, sun-drying, and roasting create the best quality beans.

Evergreen shrub or small tree growing to 28 ft, with dark-green oval leaves, white
star-shaped flowers, and produces small red fruit, containing two seeds (beans).

Caffeine is a strong stimulant and a short-term stimulant as well. In long term,
it is thought to weaken the vitality, especially when above moderate consumption
over-stimulates the central nervous system.

Ayurvedic medicine states that unripe beans are best used for headaches,
and ripe roasted beans for diarrhea. In occasional consumption, it has a beneficial
effect on the nervous system, temporarily improving perception and physical
performance. It is a powerful diuretic, as it increases heart output and stimulates
digestive juices.

Coffee should be avoided by those prone to acid indigestion, high blood pressure
or palpitations, as it may cause a one degree rise in the body temperature of some.

Coriander

Coriandrum sativum ( Umbelliferae)   –   Cilantro

Part used – Seeds, essential oil, leaves

Native to southern Europe and western Asia, this herb is now cultivated
throughout the world. Seeds are gathered ripe in late summer.

Strong aromatic annual growing to 20 in, with finally cut upper leaves (known
as cilantro) and white or pink flowers producing little, round seeds (coriander)
in beige-colored seed coats.

Coriander has been used for well over 2000 years. Considered an aphrodisiac
in Europe, it is more often used as a spice than as a medicine. It settles spasms
and nervous tension. It is also chewed to sweeten the breath.

Essential Oil Distillation of volatile oils derived from aromatic plants
Estrogenic With a similar action to estrogen in the body, supporting
and maintaining the female reproductive organs

Corn

Zea mays (Gramineae)   –   Maize, Cornsilk, Yu Mi Shu (Chinese)

Part used – Fresh meal (corn), cornsilk (stamens) – dried or fresh

Native to the Andes and Central America. Propagated from seed in spring,
it is cultivated universally as a food crop. The cornsilk is harvested with the
ripe cob in summer, then separated and dried.

An annual grass reaching 10 ft, with plume-like male flowers.
The female flowers produce cobs.

Corn meal has been used by Native Americans for a wide range of ailments.
The Aztecs gave a corn meal concoction for dysentary, “heat in the heart”,
and to increase breast-milk production.

Actions – Urinary demulcent, diuretic, gently lowers blood pressure, and
mildly stimulated bile secretion. Cornsilk also has a beneficial effect on the
kidneys, by reducing stone formation, and is also helpful with chronic cystitis.

Cubeb

Piper cubeba ( Piperaceae )

Part used – Fruit

Native to Indonesia, cubeb is also cultivated in much of tropical Asia,
primarily in the shade of coffee bushes.

A climbing perennial growing to 20 ft, with oval to oblong evergreen leaves, small
flowers forming spikes, and round brown fruit, which is gathered when immature.

Cubeb contains a volatile oil (up to 20%), a bitter principle (cubebin),
an alkaloid (piperidine), resin, and fixed oil.

A member of the pepper family, it has a significant antiseptic action, it is also
helpful in relieving digestive problems. The fruit is used to counter urinary tract
infections, and its expectorant properties have been used in the treatment of
chronic bronchitits.

Expectorant Stimulates coughing and helps clear phlegm from throat and chest
Herbaceous Plant that dies down at the end of the growing season
Hallucinogenic Causes visions or hallucinations

Damiana

Turnera diffusa syn. T. diffusa var. aphrodisiaca ( Turneraceae)

Part used – Leaves (fresh and dried)

Native to the Gulf of Mexico, Southern California, the northern Caribbean Islands,
and Namibia. Growing best in hot climates, the leaves are harvested in summer,
when the herb is in flower..

An aromatic shrub growing to 6 ft,
with smooth, pale green leaves and small yellow flowers.

With traditional, historical use of the Mayan people in Central America as an
aphrodisiac, it is also used as a general tonic, and its stimulant action is a
remedy for people with mild depression.The leaves can also be used in a
hot cup of water, as a pleasant tasting tea. Damiana is also the name of a
liqueur from Mexico.

Actions – include use as a restorative to the reproductive organs (testosterogenic),
antidepressant, and a mild laxative.

Preparations – include tablets and tincture (for a relaxing nerve tonic and anti-
depressant), and as an infusion for general tonic, and useful for urinary infections.

Echinacea

Echinacea angustifolia & E. Purpurea ( Compositae )   –   Purple Coneflower

Part used – Root (fresh and dried), flowers

Native to the central parts of the U.S., it is now grown commercially in Europe
and the U.S.. The flowers are gatherd in full bloom. The roots of 4-year old
plants are lifted in autumn.

A perennial growing to 20 in, with daisylike purple flowers
and leaves covered in coarse hair.

One of the world’s most important medicinal plants, echinacea is also the most
highly regarded immune stimulant in Western herbal medicine, with the ability
to raise the body’s resistance to bacterial and viral infections. So beneficial, it
is now being investigated as a treatment for HIV and AIDS.

In Native American medicine, the Comanche used echinacea for toothache
and sore throats. The Sioux took it for rabies and snakebite.There is an organic
juice on the market today, with the flavor and name of Lemon Ginger Echinacea.

Actions – Immune stimulant, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, detoxifier,
antiallergenic, heals wounds, and increases sweating.

Preparations – Tincture (of root, for chronic infections)
Decoction (of root, to treat throat infections)
Capsules (of powdered root, for colds)
Tablets (immune stimulant for infections)

Eggplant

Solanum melongena ( Solanaceae )

Part used – Fruit, fruit juice, leaves

Native to India and Southeast Asia, it is now cultivated in many tropical areas.
The fruit is gathered when ripe in summer or autumn.

An erect herbaceous perennial growing to 28 in,
with slightly wooly leaves, violet flowers, and large purple fruit.
Eggplants have been cultivated as a food in Asia since ancient times.
They contain proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins A, B, and C.

Actions – Diuretic, emollient. The fruit lowers cholesterol levels in the blood,
and is a suitable part of a diet to help regulate high blood pressure.
It can also be used as an oil or ointment. The leaves (used externally only,
due to their toxicity) are a soothing poultice for burns, cold sores, and abcesses.

Elder

Sambucus nigra ( Caprifoliaceae )

Part used – Flowering tops (fresh and dried), berries (fresh and dried).

Native to Europe, it thrives in woods, hedges, and on wasteground.
It is now found and cultivated in most temperate regions.
Flower tops harvested in late spring. Berries picked in early autumn.

A deciduous tree growing to 33 ft, with oval leaves,
cream flowers, and blue-black berries.

Traditionally known as “Nature’s medicine chest”, elder has as much folklore
as a European plant, as that of mandrake. The berries are nutritious,
containing vitamins A and C. The flowers have many key constituents.

Actions – Diuretic, anti-inflammatory, increases sweating.

Preparations – Infusion of flower tops for colds, cough, and flu, as it tones the
mucous linings of the nose and throat, resisting infection. Also helps with chronic
congestion, allergies, ear infection, and arthritic conditions. Tincture– for hay fever.

Fig

Ficus carica ( Moraceae )

Part used – Fruit, latex

Native to western Asia, fig grows wild and often cultivated in temperate
and subtropical regions.

Deciduous tree growing to 12 ft, with large leaves and fleshy receptacles
that ripen into purple-brown pear-shaped fruit.

Many references to the plant in the Old Testament, due to the fruit’s sweetness
and its use as a medicine. Spartan athletes in ancient Greece were said to eat
figs to improve their performance.

Figs contain close to 50% fruit sugars (mainly glucose), flavonoids,
vitamins, and enzymes.

Actions – When the fruit sugars of the fig are dried, they have a gentle
laxative effect. Fig syrup is a remedy for mild constipation, and the emollient
pulp relieves pain and inflammation. Figs are also a mild expectorant. The latex
from the leaves is known to be analgesic, used to treat insect bites, stings, and
warts. Yet, the latex is toxic, and should not be used internally.

Garlic

Allium sativum ( Liliaceae )

Part used – Cloves of the bulb – whole, chopped, or crushed.

Native to central Asia, it is now grown worldwide, by dividing the bulb,
and is harvested late the following summer.

A bulbous perennial growing to 1–3 ft, with pale pink or green-white flowers.

Garlic is a powerful treatment for a host of health problems, such as bronchial
infections, digestive tract, prevents circulatory problems and strokes, and may
be taken with conventional antibiotics to support action and ward off side effects.

Actions – Antibiotic, antidiabetic, expectorant, increases sweating,
lowers blood pressure, reduces blood clotting.

Gentian

Gentiana lutea ( Gentianaceae )

Part used – Root (fresh and dried)

Native to the Alps and other mountainous regions of central and southern
Europe from Spain to the Balkans, flourishing at 2,300–8,000 ft.
The root is dug up and dried in early autumn.

An erect perennial growing to 4 ft, with star-shaped yellow flowers and oval leaves.

A powerful bitter, the herb is an essential ingredient of traditional aperitifs
and bitters such as the brand Angostura bitters.

Amorogentin, one of gentian’s key bitter constituents, when tested at certain
dilutions, is possibly the most bitter substance on the planet.

Actions – Bitter, digestive stimulant, eases stomach pain, tonic in old age.

Gentian stimulates the bitter taste receptors on the tongue, causing an increase
in the production of saliva and gastric secretions, which in turn stimulates the
appetite, improving the action of the digestive system, increasing the absorption
of nutrients across the gut wall, enabling it to cope effectively with a heavy meal.

Preparations – Tincture, decoction

Ginger

Zingiber officinale ( Zingiberaceae )   –   Sheng Jian (Chinese)

Part used – Rhizome (fresh and dried), essential oil

Native to Asia, it is also grown throughout the tropics. Grows well in fertile soil, and
needs plenty of rain. The rhizome is unearthed when the plant is 10 months old.

A perennial growing to 2 ft, with lance-shaped leaves, and stalks of white or yellow flowers.

Known as one of the world’s best medicines, as it brings relief to digestions troubled
by motion sickness, morning sickness, and is an important circulatory remedy.
Fresh ginger is given for fever, headaches, and aching muscles.

Actions – Antiemetic, carminative, circulatory stimulant, anti-inflammatory,
antiseptic, and inhibits coughing. It’s therapeutic benefits are due to its volatile
oil and gingerol content. Turmeric is a close relative to ginger.

Ginseng

Panax ginseng ( Araliaceae )   –   Ren Shen (Chinese)

Part used – Root (fresh and dried)

Native to northeastern China, eastern Russia, and North Korea.
Great skill is required for proper cultivation.
The plant takes at least 4 years to mature, when the active constituents
are most concentrated, and is normally harvested in autumn.

A perennial growing to 3 ft, with oval tooth leaves,
and a cluster of small gree-yellow flowers.

7,000 years of use, it is the most famous of all Chinese herbs,
and valued for its remarkable therapeutic benefits.

Actions – Adaptogenic, tonic.

Ginseng helps the body adapt to many reactive difficulties, such as stress
(mental, emotional, and physical), fatigue, hunger, and extreme temperature
changes, as it increases the strength of the immune function.

In China, it is best known as a stimulating tonic herb for athletes,
and as a male aphrodisiac. Overall, it’s a great tonic in maintaining vitality
through life for all ages. Even old age, it’s an excellent restorative and sedative.

Grains of Paradise

Aframomum melegueta ( Zingiberaceae )

Part used – Seeds

Native to tropical West Africa. The seeds are gathered when ripe.
They have been traded as a spice since the middle ages.

A perennial growing to 8 ft, with reedlike stems and narrow leaves.
Single mauve flowers bear scarlet fruits. The seeds are small, reddish-brown,
with a distinctly pungent, aromatic taste.

The volatile oil in the seed, called paradol, is related to gingerol in ginger.

This is also one of the botanicals used in Bombay’s “Sapphire” gin.

Actions – Primarily used as a condiment, the seeds are also a stimulant that
strengthens and warms the stomach, and very helpful with indigestion. It’s
stimulant properties are especially helpful for those with weak digestions.

Grape

Vitis vinifera ( Vitaceae )

Part used – Leaves, fruit, sap

Native to southern Europe and western Asia, grapes are grown and cultivated
throughout the world in warm temperate regions, for their fruit and to produce
wine. Leaves collected in summer, fruit in autumn.

Deciduous climber with erect rambling stems, tendrils, palm-shaped leaves,
clusters of small pale-green flowers, and bunches of fruit that vary in color
from green to black.

The ashes of the burnt branches are said to make the most
heavily stained teeth as white as snow.

The red leaves and grapes are helpful in the treatment of varicose veins,
and capillary fragility. Because the nutrient content of grapes is similar
to that of blood plasma, grape fasts are recommended for detoxification.

Grapes have a long list of beneficial constituents:
Flavonoids, tannins, tartrates, choline, sugars, carotenes,
malic acids, pectin, glycosides, vitamins A, B, C, and minerals.

Hops

Humulus lupulus ( Cannabaceae )

Part used – Strobiles (female flowers), fresh and dried.

Native to Europe and Asia.
Even though their grown commercially throughout northern Europe, when left wild,
they grow on dumps and along roadsides. Picked in early autumn, and dried at a
low temperature.

A tall, climbing perennial growing to 22 ft. Hop plants are either male or female.

Hops have been cultivated for brewing beer since at least the 11th century,
and are directly related to Marijuana (cannabis sativa), but does not contain
the active key constituent THC (delta 9 – tetrahydrocannabinol).

Actions – Sedative, soporific, antispasmodic, aromatic bitter.
The bitter taste largely accounts for the herb’s ability to strengthen and stimulate
the digestion, increasing stomach secretions, and relaxing spasms and colic.
Hops make a valuable remedy for sleeplessness and excitability, and are
believed to have an estrogenic effect.

Hyssop

Hyssopus officinalis ( Labiatae )

Part used – Flowering tops, essential oil

Native to southern Europe, it grows freely in the Mediterranean countries,
especially the Balkans and Turkey. Preferring sunny, dry sites, the flowering
tops are harvested in the summer when the plant is in flower.

Hyssop is used to flavor some liqueurs, including Chartreuse.
In the past, this herb was highly esteemed and regarded as a virtual cure-all.

Actions – Medicinally, it is a strong expectorant, as it has a positive effect
on bronchitis and respiratory infections. As a sedative, it is a useful remedy
against asthma in children and adults, which leads itself to have a calming
tonic effect on the body.

Due to the volatile oil’s certain level of toxicity, the essential oil should only
be used under professional supervision, as it can cause epileptic seizures.

Java Tea

Orthosiphon aristata ( Labiatae )

Part used – Leaves

Native to Southeast Asia and Australia.
Cultivated as a medicinal plant, it is picked as required throughout the year.

Shrub growing to 3 ft, with pointed leaves, lilac-colored flowers, and long stamens.

“Cat’s Whiskers” is the Dutch Indonesian name, derived from its long whiskery stamens.

Java tea contains largs amounts of potassium.
Written up in several European pharmacopoeias, it is often used as a diuretic,
and a treatment for kidney infections, stones, and poor renal function.

Infusion Water-based preparation in which flowers, leaves,
or stems are brewed in a similar way to tea
Latex Milky fluid found in various plants and trees
Narcotic Causes drowsiness or stupor and relieves pain
Nervine Restores the nerves; relaxes the nervous system

Juniper

Juniperus communis ( Cupressaceae )

Part used – Fruit, essential oil

Native to Europe, southwestern Asia, the Himalayas, and North America,
usually growing in coastal sites and mountainous regions.

Coniferous shrub growing to 50 ft, it has slender twigs with needlelike leaves,
yellow male and blue female flowers on separate plants, with blue-black fruit.

Actions – Tonic, diuretic, and a highly effective antiseptic in the urinary tract.
Juniper is also warming and settling to the digestive system, supporting the
function of the stomach. As an essential oil, it has an effect on the skin thought
to promote the removal of waste products from underlying tissues.

Lavender

Lavandula officinalis ( Laviatae )

Part used – Flowers (fresh and dried)

Native to France, and the western Mediterranean, it is now cultivated worldwide
for its volatile oil. Positioned in the sun, the flowers are picked in mid summer
mornings, and are dried and distilled to produce essential oil, and used for perfume.

A perennial shrub growing to 3 ft,
with spikes of violet-blue flowers extending above the foilage.

Known as a relaxing herb, it is better known for its sweet-scented aroma than its
medicinal properties. In 1620, it was brought to the new world by the pilgrims.

Actions – Carminative, antidepressant, antiseptic, antibacterial,
relieves muscle spasms, and stimulates blood flow. It reduces pain,
and has a calming effect on the nervous system.

Parasympathetic Nervous System Part of the nervous
system involved in vegetative functions, especially digestion
Perennial Plant that lives for at least three seasons
Poultice Herbal preparations usually applied hot to
affected area to alleviate and reduce swelling

Lemon

Citrus limon ( Rutaceae )

Part used – Fruit, pith, and peel

First grown in Europe in the 2nd Century AD, they are now cultivated in
Mediterranean and subtropical climates worldwide. The fruit is best harvested
in winter when the vitamin C content is at its highest.

The lemon tree is a small evergreen growing to about 22 ft, with light-green
toothed leaves and yellow fruit.

Highly effective against colds and flu, it is also taken to prevent conditions
such as stomach infections, circulatory problems, and arteriosclerosis.

Actions – Antiseptic, antirheumatic, antibacterial, antioxident, and reduces fever.

Preparations – Juice, essential oil

Lemon Grass

Cymbopogon citratus ( Graminaeae )

Part used – Leaves, essential oil

Native to southern India and Sri Lanka,
it is now cultivated in tropical regions around the world.

Sweet-scented grass growing large clumps up to 5 ft,
with narrow leaf blades and branched stalks of flowers.

Lemon grass contains a volatile oil with citral (about 70%) and citronellal
as its main constituents. Both have noticeable traits as sedatives.

Cultivated for its oil, for use as a culinary flavoring, as a scent, and as a
medicine. In the Caribbean, it is regarded as a fever-reducing herb. It also
makes a soothing tea, relaxing the muscles of the stomach and gut,
relieves cramps, and is safe for children.

Purgative A very strong laxative
Qi Vital energy force in Chinese philosophy
Rhizome Underground storage stem
Rubefacient Stimulates blood flow to skin, causing reddening and warming

Licorice

Glycyrrhiza glabra ( Leguminosae )

Part used – Root (fresh and dried)

Licorice grows wild in southeastern Europe, and southwestern Asia,
and is now extensively cultivated.

A woody-stemmed perennial growing to about 6 ft,
with dark leaves,. and cream to mauve flowers.

Taken medicinally for several thousand years, it is among the most used
herbs in European medicine. A powerful anti-inflammatory, it is effective in
conditions as various as arthritis and canker sores.

One of the constituents, glycyrrhizic acid, is 50 times sweeter than sugar.

Actions – Expectorant, demulcent, adrenal agent, anti-inflammatory,
and as a mild laxative.

Preparations – Tincture, dried juice stick, and powder.

New Jersey Tea

Ceanothus americanus ( Rhamnaceae )

Part used – Root, root bark, leaves

Native to eastern North America.
The root is harvested in spring, the leaves in summer.

Deciduous shrub growing to 5 ft,
with oval pale-green leaves and clusters of white flowers.

The root and root bark were used extensively by Native Americans
to treat fevers and problems of the mucous membranes. The leaves
were brewed as a substitute for tea during the revolutionary war.

Constituents – Tannins, alkaloids, resin, and a coagulant.

Actions – Astringent, expectorant, antispasmodic.
Used for sore throats, asthma, bronchitis, and coughs.
It is also thought to be a sedative and to lower blood pressure.

Spasmolytic Relaxes muscles

Nutmeg and Mace

Myristica fragrans ( Myristicaceae )   –   Rou Dou Kou (Chinese)

Part used – Aril, dried seed kernel

Native to the Molucca Islands (Indonesia), the nutmeg trees
(of which nutmeg and mace come from) are now widely cultivated.
It yields fruit after 8 years, and can continue to fruit for over 60 years.

When fresh, the aril (mace) is scarlet colored, and turns yellow as it dries,
separated from the seed casing it surrounds, which contains the kernal (nutmeg).

Evergreen tree growing to 40 ft, w/ aromatic leaves and small clusters of flowers.

The volatile oil myristicin, more highly concentrated in the mace,
is known to be a hallucinogenic when over-consumed.

Actions – The principal medicinal benefits stimulate the digestion and treat
infections of the digestive tract. Secondarily, nutmeg haslong been valued as
an aphrodisiac, and as a remedy for eczema and rheumatism.

Preparations – Ointment, essential oil, infusion (add a pinch to a peppermint
infusion to treat gastroenteritis), grated nutmeg, and powdered mace.

Olive

Olea europaea ( Oleaceae )

Part used – Leaves, oil

They grow wild in the Mediterranean region,
and are also cultivated in regions with a similar climate in the Americas.
Leaves can be gathered throughout the year, the fruit in late summer.

Evergreen tree growing to 30 ft, with a deep-grooved gray trunk,
small leathery leaves, clusters of small greenish-white flowers,
and a green fruit ripening to black.

The leaves have been used for thousands of years as a means to clean
wounds. Today, they have been shown to lower blood pressure,
and blood sugar for those suffering from diabetes.

Oilve oil contains about 75% oleic acid. The leaves of wild trees
are believed to contain a higher concentration of active principles.

Action – The oil improves the balance of fats within the blood,
it has a protective action on the digestive tract, and is useful for dry skin.

Onion

Allium cepa ( Lilaceae )

Part used – Bulb

Native to the northern hemisphere, and cultiveted in the Middle East
for thousands of years, it is now grown worldwide as a vegetable.

Bulbous perennial growing to 3 ft, with hollow stems and leaves,
and white or purple flowers.

Wild onion was used extensively by Native North American people
to treat stings and relieve colds. Like garlic, onion offsets tendencies
to angina, heart attack, arteriosclerosis, and its benefit to circulation.
It also has a longstanding reputation as an aphrodisiac,
and is used cosmetically to stimulate hair growth.

Actions – Diuretic, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, expectorant, and
antirheumatic. Onion juice mixed with honey is also used as a remedy for colds.

Papaya

Carica papaya ( Caricaceae )

Part used – Fruit, latex, leaves, flowers, seeds

Native to tropical America, and cultivated in tropical regions throughout the world.

Herbaceous tree growing very rapidly to 25 ft, with segmented leaves, yellow
flowers, and large black-seeded yellow to orange fruits weighing to 11 lbs.

The juice, shoots, and latex were used in Mayan herbal medicine.
The leaves are used as a meat tenderizer in tropical Latin America.

One of the constituents is a proteolytic enzyme called papain,
found in the milky white latex that flows from incisions in the unripe fruit,
is a protein-dissolving enzyme that aids digestion.

Actions – It’s main use is a supporter of sound digestion (the unripe fruit is known
to be even more effective). The latex from the tree trunk is applied externally
to speed the healing of wounds, ulcers, boils, warts, and cancerous tumors.
The leaves are also used to dress wounds.

Pepper

Piper nigrum ( Piperaceae )

Part used – Fruit, essential oil

Native to southwestern India, it is now cultivated in tropical areas
around the world. Harvested from plants at least 3 years old.

Perennial woody climber growing to about 15 ft, with large oval leaves,
spikes of small white flowers and clusters of small round fruits,
which ripen from green to red.

The peppercorns are in four colors:
Green – Picked unripe and pickled
Black – Picked unripe and dried
Red – Picked ripe and dried
White – Picked ripe and soaked in water for 8 days before drying.

Cultivated as a spice and medicine since ancient times, pepper was a vital
commodity in world trade. Pepper contains a volatile oil, up to 9% alkoloids,
about 11% proteins, and small amounts of minerals.

Actions – The sharp taste of pepper reflect the stimulant effect it has on the
digestive tract and the circulatory system. It is also antiseptic, antibacterial,
and reduces fever. The essential oil eases rheumatic pain and toothache.

Peppermint

Mentha x piperita ( Labiatae )

Part used – Aerial parts (dried and fresh), essential oil

Even though peppermint has been in existence for a long time
(as far back as 1000 BC), its origin is still unknown.
It is grown commercially and in gardens throughout Europe, Asia,
and North America. Harvested just before it flowers in summer,
in dry, sunny weather.

A strongly aromatic, square-stemmed annual,
growing to 32 in, with serrated leaves.
Peppermint is a hybrid of watermint and spearmint.

It’s key constituents are volatile oil, including menthol (35-55%),
and menthone (10-40%), flavonoids, phenolic acids, and triterpenes.
The volatile oil is strongly antibacterial, and menthol is anesthetic,
antifungal, and cooling tio the skin.

Actions – Carminative, antispasmodic, antiseptic,
increases sweating, stimulates secretion of bile.
Peppermint is known to be excellent for the digestive system.

Pineapple

Ananas comosus ( Bromeliaceae )

Part used – Fruit, juice, leaves

Native to South America, it is also cultivated throughout
the tropics for its fruit and leaf fiber.

Herbaceous perennial growing to 3 ft, with a short, sturdy stem, spiny
lance-shaped leaves, and thick, juicy reddish-yellow fruit.

With high levels of vitamins A and C, the fruit also contains a
protein-splitting enzyme called bromelain, which acts as an aid to digestion.

Action – The juice of the ripe fruit is both a digestive tonic and a diuretic,
and in Indian herbal medicine, it is thought to act as a uterine tonic.
The sour unripe fruit also increases appetitie and relieves dyspepsia.

Pomegranate

Punica granatum ( Lythraceae )

Part used – Rind, bark, fruit pulp

Native to southwestern Asia, it has become naturalized in Europe, and is
widely cultivated. The fruit is gathered in autumn when ripe, as is the bark.

Deciduous shrub or tree growing to 20 ft, with spine-tipped branches,
lance-shaped leaves, scarlet flowers, and leathery-rinded round fruit
containing many pulp-covered seeds, that look like iridescent red-tinted jewels.

An excellent herb for the cure of tapeworms. The alkaloids present in the
rind and bark cause the worm to release its grip on the intestinal wall.
The juice of the fruit pulp is taken to comfort upset stomach, and
relieves gas and flatulence. It is also a strong astringent

If the rind and bark is taken in excess, it is highly toxic.
Do not use unless under professional supervision.

Stamen Male fertilizing organ of a flowering plant

Potato

Solanum tuberosum ( Solanaceae )

Part used – Tuber

Native to Chile, Bolivia, and Peru.
The many varieties of the potato plant are cultivated around the world.
The tuber is normally unearthed from autumn to early spring.

Perennial growing to 3 ft, has branching stems with compound leaves,
white or purple flowers, green berries, and swollen tubers (potatoes).

All parts of the plant except the tuber (potato) are poisonous.
Even excessive doses of potato juice have a toxic effect.

Potato contains starch, large amounts of vitamins A, B, C, and
especially K (potassium), and minerals.

Actions – Juice taken in moderation can be helpful in treatment of
peptic ulcers. The mashed pulp may be used externally for headache,
skin rashes, and painful joints. In India, potato skins are used to
heal burns and treat swollen gums.

Prickly Pear

Opuntia ficus-indica (Cactaceae )

Part used – Flowers, fruit, stems

Native to Mexico, and naturalized in semi-tropical regions around the world.
The fruit is harvested when ripe. The stems as required.

Perennial cactus growing to 10 ft, with large spatula-shaped stems covered
in clusters of spines, bright yellow flowers, and round purple fruit.

This fruit is used to make an alcoholic drink in Mexico. The nutritious fruit
contains mucilage, sugars, vitamin C, and other fruit acids.
The flowers contain a flavonoid.

Action – The flowers are an astringent and reduce bleeding,
along with helping problems of the gastrointestinal tract.
They are also take to treat an enlarged prostate gland.

Pumpkin

Cucurbita pepo ( Cucurbitaceae )

Part used – Seeds, pulp

Native to North America, it is now grown worldwide. Harvested in autumn.

Annual plant with twining stems, lobed leaves,
yellow flowers, and large orange fruit.

The seeds contain 30% unsaturated fixed oil (including linoleic and oleic
fatty acids). The seeds also contain vitamins and minerals, notably zinc.

Actions – Much used as a medicine in Central and North America.
The sap of the plant was used for burns.
Europeans settlers ground up and mixed the seeds with water
as a remedy to treat worms, even in children and pregnant women.

Preparations – The pulp is used as a decoction to relieve intestinal
inflammation, and can also be used as a poultice for burns.

Radish

Raphanus sativus ( Cruciferae )

Part used – Root

Native to southern Asia.
Different varieties are grown around the world as vegetables and for
medicinal use. The root is unearthed in autumn.

Bristly annual growing close to 3 ft, with swollen tap root, deeply cut
compound leaves, pale violet to lilac flowers, and cylindrical seed pods.

Radish has been used since at least the 7th century, to aid digestion.
In Egypt, it was used as a vegetable, medicine, and a barter for work,
along with onions and garlic. In Rome, radish oil was applied to treat
skin diseases. In China, it was listed in the Tang Materia Medica (AD 659)
as a digestive stimulant.

Actions – One of its key constituents, raphanin, has antibiotic properties.
The juice of the black radish has a tonic and laxative effect on the intestines,
and generally improves digestion. The common red radish is used today as
a salad vegetable. Due to its acridity and robust action. Some people
may feel it sensitive to the system. Therefore, limit consumption.

Raspberry

Rubus idaeus ( Rosaceae )

Part used – Leaves, fruit

Native to Europe and Asia. Raspberry grows wild and is cultivated in many
temperate regions. The fruit is collected in summer when ripe, leaves in
early summer.

Deciduous shrub growing to 6 ft. It has woody stems with prickles, pale
green leaves with 3-7 leaflets, white flowers, and red berries.

The leaves contain polypeptides, flavonoids, and tannins.
The fruit contains pectin, fruit sugars, fruit acids, and vitamins A, B, and C.

Actions – The fruit is good for the heart and diseases of the mouth.
The leaves are taken, in the form of tea, to help speed childbirth, as it
encourages an easier labor, and thought to strengthen the longitudinal
muscles of the uterus, increasing a more natural force of contractions.

NOTE – Do not take leaves medicinally during early stages of pregnancy.
The leaves are also astringent, and in a mild way the fruit is also.

Rose

Rosa gallica ( Rosaceae )

Part used – Flowers, essential oil

Native to the Middle East, originally from Iran.
Cultivated for at least 3,000 years, the flowers are gathered in summer.

Deciduous shrub growing close to 5 ft, with a smooth stem, sharp thorns,
serrated leaves with 2-3 pairs of leaflets, semidouble deep pink or red flowers,
and scarlet hips.

In Rome, the flower was used in festivals, and the petals were consumed as food.
Rosewater (essence) was prepared by Arab physician Avicenna (AD 980–1037).
During the middle ages, the rose was esteemed as a remedy for depression.

Actions – The essential oil, called “Attar of Rose” is used in aromatherapy
as a mild sedative, antidepressant, and anti-inflammatory remedy.

Stigma Female organ of a flower
Sympathetic Nervous System Part of the nervous system
involved in maintaining arousal, alertness, and muscle tone

Rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis ( Labiatiae )

Part used – Leaves (fresh and dried), essential oil

Native to the Mediterranean, it grows freely in many parts of southern Europe,
and cultivated throughout the world. Preferring a warm, sheltered site, after
summer flowering. The branches are gathered and dried in the shade.

An aromatic evergreen shrubgrowing to 7 ft, with narrow dark-green pinelike leaves.

Today, it is still burned in the homes of students in Greece who are about
to take exams, as it is used to improve and strengthen the memory.

Constituents – Volatile oil, flavonoids, tannins, rosmarinic acid,
diterpenes, and rosmaricine

An invigorating herb, known to raise the spirits and improve the thriving
of one’s life from long term stress and chronic illness.

Actions – Tonic, stimulant, astringent, restorative, nervine,
anti-inflammatory, and carminative.

Sage

Salvia officinalis ( Labiatae )

Part used – Leaves (fresh and dried)

Native to the Mediterranean, it is now cultivated all around the world.
The leaves are picked in summer.

There are close to 500 species of sage. Spanish is the most used for
culinary purposes, and does not contain thujone. Purple sage is the
preferred medicinal variety. Clary sage is used as an essential oil.

In Latin, sage’s botanical name means “to cure”.
Today, it is an excellent remedy for sore throats, poor digestion,
and irregular menstruation. It is only taken as a gentle stimulating tonic.

Actions – Astringent, antiseptic, aromatic, carminative,
estrogenic, tonic, and sweat reducer.

Preparations – Infusion, for sore throat.
Tincture, as a digestive tonic.
Fresh leaves, can be rubbed over stings and bites.

Sarsparilla

Smilax spp. ( Liliaceae )

Part used – Root

Native to tropical rainforests and in temperate regions in Asia and Australia.
The root is gathered throughout the year.

Perennial woody climber growing to 15 ft, with broadly ovate leaves,
tendrils, and small greenish flowers.

In Mexico, the herb has been traditionally used to treat a variety of skin problems.
Sarsparilla root was the original flavoring for root beer before it was replaced by
artificial agents. The soda beverage sarsparilla does contain the original flavoring.

Actions – Anti-inflammatory, tonic, testosterogenic, progesterogenic, aphrodisiac.

Native Amazonian peoples take it to improve virility, as it leads to increased
muscle bulk. In China, the root in combination with 5 other herbs, was tested as a
treatment for syphilis, and a reported 90% of the acute cases subsequently cleared.

Sesame

Sesamum indicum ( Pedaliaceae )

Part used – Seeds, seed oil, root

Native to Africa, it is also cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas
around the world. The root is unearthed in summer, and the seeds
collected after the seed capsules have turned brown-black.

Erect annual growing to 6 ft, with lance-shaped to oval leaves, white,
pink, or mauve flowers, and oblong capsules holding many small gray seeds.

In ancient Egypt, the seeds were eaten and also pressed to yield oil, used to
make ointments and burning in lamps. India and China have eaten sesame for
thousands of years, used as a food and a flavoring agent.

Highly nutritious, the seeds contain 55% oil, mainly unsaturated fats,
26% protein, vitamins B and E, folic acid, and minerals (especially calcium).

Actions – The seeds can be prescribed for problems such as dizziness,
tinnitus, and blurred vision (due to anemia). Sesame has a lubricating effect
within the digestive tract. The oil benefits the skin, and is a cosmetic base.

Star Anise

Illicium verum ( Illiciaceae )   –   Ba Jiao Hui Xian (Chinese)

Part used – Fruit

Native to China, India, and Vietnam.
It grows in tropical and subtropical regions, including parts of North America.

Evergreen tree growing to 60 ft, with tapering leaves, pale greenish-yellow
flowers, and star-shaped segmented fruit (seed pods).

Like anise, star anise is similar in taste and is mainly used as a spice.
The herb’s Chinese name means “8-horned fennel”.

Actions – Having stimulant, diuretic, and digestive properties, an extract
of the herb’s volatile oil constituents has antibacterial properties. Used in
Chinese medicine as a remedy for rheumatism, back pain, and hernias
of the intestine or bladder. When mixed with fennel, it helps to relax the
organs, muscles, and relieve spasm.

Dried star anise can also be used as an attractive garnish in some
straight cocktails or cordials.

Strawberry Tree

Arbutus unedo ( Ericaceae )

Part used – Leaves, fruit

Native to Mediterranean coasts, it also grows in western Ireland,
Australia, and Africa. Leaves are gathered in late summer, the fruit in autumn.

Evergreen shrub growing to 20 ft, having an upright stem with reddish bark,
leathery serrated leaves, white or pink bell-shaped flowers, and warty red
fruit resembling strawberries.

Unpalatable when fresh, the fruit is made into liqueurs and preserves.

Actions – Due to the strawberry tree’s key constituents, it is very useful
as an astringent for diarrhea and dysentary. It’s antiseptic action makes it
a useful remedy within the urinary tract for treating cystitis and urethritis.
It also makes a gargle for sore and irritated throats.

Terpenes Molecules that form the base of most constituents of volatile oils

Sweet Basil

Ocimum basilicum ( Labiatae )   –   Basil

Part used – Leaves, flowering tops, essential oil

Over 150 varieties are now grown around the world for their distinctive
flavors and essential oil. It is guessed that basil is probably native to India.

Strongly aromatic annual growing to 20 in, with shiny oval leaves,
a square stem, and small white flowers in whorls.

Ancient Romans used the herb to relieve gas, as a diuretic to counteract
poisoning, and to stimulate breast-milk production. An african belief is
that eating sweet basil checks the pain of a scorpion’s sting.

Actions – Used as a digestive, stimulant, and has an established antibacterial
action. As a sedative, it is useful in treating nervous irritability, tiredness,
depression, anxiety, and insomnia. It is also taken for epilepsy, migraine,
and whooping cough. The juice from the leaves brings relief to insect bites.

Sweet Cherry

Prunus avium ( Rosaceae )

Part used – Stems, fruit

Native to southwestern Asia, it is naturalized in Europe and cultivated in temperate
regions around the world. The stems and ripe fruit are collected in summer.

Deciduous shrub or tree growing to 25 ft, with reddish-brown bark,
oval to elliptical leaves, clusters of 2-6 white flowers, and spherical red fruit.

The stems contain phenols and tannins. The fruit contains vitamins
A, B, and C, and small amounts of salicylates and cyanogenic glycosides.

Actions – In European herbal medicine, cherry stems have long been
used for their diuretic and astringent properties. The cherry fruit can be
a helpful participant in treating arthritic problems. The high sugar content
also makes cherries a mild laxative. The seeds are toxic, and not to be consumed.

Tincture Plant medicine prepared by macerating herb in water and alcohol
Tonic Exerts a restorative or nourishing action on the body
Tonify Strengthens and restores body systems

Sweet Chestnut

Castanea sativa ( Fagaceae )

Part used – Leaves, bark

Native to the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, and the Caucasus.
It also grows freely across Europe, including Britain.

Deciduous tree growing to a height of 100 ft, with smooth silver-gray bark,
lance-shaped dark-green leaves, male and female catkins, and spiny
yellow-green seed cases holding 2 or 3 gloss brown nuts.

Sweet chestnut contains tannins, plastoquinones, and mucilage.
The Mohicans in North America used an infusion of American
chestnut leaves to treat whooping cough.

The nuts are a nutritious food that can be roasted, candied, or made into a flour.
The flowers are sometimes added to blends of aromatic tobaccos.

Actions – An infusion of the leaves treats bronchial congestion and whooping
cough, as the preparation tightens the mucous membranes and inhibits wailing
coughs. The leaves also treat rheumatic conditions, lower back pain, and stiff
muscles. A decoction of the leaves or bark works well for sore throats.

Sweet Marjoram

Origanum majorana syn. Majorana hortensis ( Labiatae )

Part used – Aerial Parts, essential oil

Native to countries bordering the Meditteranean.

Woody perennial herb growing to 20 in, with aromatic oval leaves
and pinkish white flowers emerging from the upper leaf exils.

Sweet Marjoram contains flavonoids, caffeic and rosmarinic acid,
triterpenoids, and about 3% volatile oil.

Highly cultivated as a culinary herb and for its essential oil, it is
also medicinally valuable for its stimulant and antispasmodic properties.
Sweet Marjoram is a good general tonic, and it also helps to relieve anxiety,
headaches, and insomnia. It has a stronger beneficial effect on the
nervous system than its cousin, oregano.

Tamarind

Tamarindus indica ( Leguminosae )

Part used – Fruit

Native to Madagascar, the tamarind tree is now cultivated in many tropical
regions, including the Caribbean, India, Southeast Asia, and China.

Evergreen tree growing to 80 ft, with fine compound leaves, clusters
of orange-yellow flowers, and brittle gray-brown seed pods (fruit)
containing up to 12 round seeds.

Tamarind is a major ingredient in many chutneys and condiments,
notably Worcestershire sauce.

Tamarind contains plant acids, a volatile oil, sugars, pectin, potassium, and fats.

Actions – A wholesome and cleansing fruit, tamarind improves digestion,
soothes sore throats, and acts as a mild laxative.
Tamarind soup is consumed in India to treat the production of excessive
mucus due to colds and other ailments. In China, it is considered a cooling herb.

Tea

Camellia sinensis syn. Thea sinensis ( Theaceae )

Part used – Leaves and buds

Cultivated principally in India, Sri Lanka, and China,
tea has been grown since the earliest times.

Evergreen shrub clipped to 5 ft in cultivation,. with leathery dark-green
leaves and fragrant white flowers. The tea leaves are picked throughout
the year and used both as a beverage and a medicine.

Tea contains xanthines, caffeine (1-5%), theobromine,
tannins, flavonoids, fats, and vitamin C.

In Ayurveda, tea is considered astringent, sweat-inducing,
a nerve tonic, and is used for eye problems, tiredness, and fever.

Tuber Thickened part of underground stem
Umbel Umbrella-like arrangement of flowers with all
flower stems arising from the same point
Volatile Oil Plant constituent distilled to produce essential oil

Thyme

Thymus vulgaris ( Labiatae )   –   Garden Thyme

Part used – Fresh leaves, aerial parts (fresh and dried)

Native to southern Europe, it is related to mother of thyme, also known
as wild thyme. There are many thyme species, each with a different volatile
oil content. Thyme is now cultivated worldwide, grown from seed or by root
division in spring, and the aerial parts are harvested in mid-to-late summer.

An aromatic shrub growing to 16 in,
with woody stems, small leaves, and pink flowers.

The tonic effect of its volatile oil support the body’s
normal function, and counters the effects of aging.

Actions – Thyme is an excellent antiseptic (due to its strong content of
volatile oil), and tonic for the immune system. It’s expectorant action is
the reason for it still being used today as a respiratory remedy, such as
bronchitis, whooping cough, and pleurisy. It also relieves muscle spasms.

Preparations – Infusion (for minor throat and chest infections),
essential oil, syrup (cough remedy), and tincture.

Turmeric

Curcuma longa ( Zingiberaceae )   –   Haldi (Hindi), Jiang Huang (Chinese)

Part used – Dried rhizome

Native to India and southern Asia. Propogated by cuttings from the root, it needs
well-drained soil and a humid climate. The rhizome is unearthed in winter.

A perennial reaching 3 ft, with a short stem, lance-shaped leaves, and a knobbly rhizome.

Indian food lovers are familiar with the spicy taste of turmeric, but its ancient
use as a medicinal for treatment digestive and liver problems has
confirmation by scientific research.

Actions – Anti-inflammatory, antioxident, antibacterial, and eases stomach pain.
In the last two decades, research shows it helps to lower cholesterol levels, and
inhibits blood-clotting. Turmeric bitter principles reflect its use for digestion.
Curcumen is a key constituent responsible for its strong antibacterial action,
and also has a stronger antioxident effect than vitamin E.
Resin is the other of Turmeric’s key constituents.

Watermelon

Citrullus vulgaris ( Cucurbitaceae )

Part used – Fruit, seeds

Native to tropical Africa, it is grown throughout warm temperate
to tropical regions. The fruit is gathered when ripe.

Annual vine with hairy 3-5 lobed leaves, yellow flowers, and green fruit
typically growing to 10 inches across.

Species of watermelon have been used in Egypt for more than 4,000 years. This
thirst-quenching fruit comes into season when temperatures are at their hottest.

Actions – It’s use in Chinese medicine is to counter “summer heat” patterns –
excessive sweating, thirst, raised temperature, and irritability or anger.
The fruit and juice soothe these symptoms, increasing urine flow and
cleansing the kidneys. It is also helpful in hot weather to those suffering
from bronchitis or asthma. The seeds can be mashed and used a worm expeller.

Wild Strawberry

Fragaria vesca ( Rosaceae )

Part used – Leaves, fruit

Native to Europe and temperate regions of Asia.
The leaves and fruit are gathered in early summer.

Low-growing perennial herb spread by runners, with 3-lobed leaves,
white flowers, and small red berries.

The leaves contain flavonoids, tannins, and a volatile oil. The fruit contains
fruit acids and a volatile oil with methyl salicylate and borneol.

Wild strawberry was said to “comfort fainting spirits”.

The leaves are mildly astringent and diuretic. In Europe, the fruit is
considered to have cooling and diuretic properties.

Whorl Ring of leaves or flowers radiating out horizontally from a central point
Wildcrafting Harvesting herbs from the wild

Wormwood

Artemisia absinthium ( Compositae )

Part used – Fresh leaves, aerial parts (fresh and dried)

Native to Europe, it now grows wild in central Asia and in eastern parts
of the U.S. It is also cultivated in temperate regions worldwide.

A perennial reaching 3 ft, with gray-green stems and feathery leaves,
both covered in fine hairs. The aerial parts are harvested in late summer.

There are 7 other species of artemisia with a medicinal use.

In the past, wormwood was one of the main flavorings of vermouth (whose
name is German for wormwood). Wormwood is also the source of absinthe,
a highly popular liqueur in 19th century France, where it was banned for
close to 80 years for its addictive and toxic effects, due to the essential oil
of wormwood containing the constituent thujone, a known hallucinogen
and stimulant to the brain, when excessive doses or drinks are consumed.

Other herbs containing thujone are sage, tansy, and arbor vitae.

Actions – Due to its aromatic bitter actions, it has a strong tonic effect
on the digestive system, increasing stomach acid and bile production,
therefore improving the absorption of nutrients. This makes it beneficial
for those who suffer from anemia. If a tincture is taken regularly, it slowly
strengthens the body to return to full vitality after a prolonged illness.
It also acts as an anti-inflammatory and as a mild antidepressant.

Springtime Martini