Betula pendula/alba

Juglans nigra                      Common name: Black Walnut, Butternut Family: Juglandaceae Parts used:  Green hulls/husks, bark/leaf Constituents:  Bark/leaf: naphthaquinones (juglone), volatile oil, fatty acids, tannins, ellagic acid, gallic acids, flavonoids, EFA, silica, nutrients Medicinal actions:  Alterative, laxative, cathartic, antiseptic, antimicrobial, anthelmintic, astringent, hepatic Medicinal use: The antiseptic properties (antifungal, antimicrobial) and…

Berberis (Mahonia) aquifolium/vulgaris                                 Common name:  Oregon Grape, Barberry Family: Berberidaceae Part used: Bark of root or stem Constituents: Isoquinoline alkaloids (berberine, berbamine, palmatine), flavonoids, resins, tannin, chelidonic acid Actions: Bitter digestive stimulant, mild sedative, spleen tonic, antiseptic, inflammatory-modulating, antimicrobial, immuno-modulating, alterative, astringent, hepatoprotective, cholagogue,…

Gelsemium semperivrens                                 Common name: Yellow Jasmine Family: Loganiaceae Constituents: Indole Alkaloids (gelsemine, gelsemoidine, sempervirine & gelsemicine) Iridoids Coumarins Tannins  Medicinal actions:  Analgesic Antispasmodic Febrifuge Hypnotic Nervine Sedative Medicinal uses:  Has a potent and analgesic action towards pain associated with nervous tension or irritability. Of specific use for managing the pain of migraines and in trigeminal neuralgia, as well as…

Sambucus nigra/canadensis                         Common name: Black Elderberry  Family: Caprifoliaceae Parts used:  Flowers, berries, bark, leaves (toxic), root (toxic) Constituents: Flowers & Berries:  Flavonoids, triterpenes, volatile oil, sterols, tannins, mucilage, Minerals, vitamin A & C, iron, sambucin, anthocyanocides, pectin, sugar, fixed oils (linoleic, linolenic) Leaves:  Cyanogenic glycosides Bark: Lectins, tannins, baldrianic acid Medicinal actions:  Flowers:  mild diaphoretic, mild laxative, diuretic, alterative,…

Rhamnus purshiana/frangula                     Common name: Cascara sagrada, Buckthorn  Family: Rhamnaceae Parts used:  Bark, collected in the spring and early summer when it is easily peeled from the wood.  The bark is stored for at least one year (up to 3) in order to allow for the consitituents that would otherwise cause griping to decompose.  The collected bark…

Capsella bursa-pastoris                             Common name:  Shepherd’s Purse Family: Cruciferae Parts Used:  Aerial parts Constituents:  Flavonoids, polypeptides, fumaric and bursic acids, choline, acetylcholine, histamine, quercitin, tyramine bases. Medicinal actions:  Astringent, styptic, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, urinary antiseptic, antipyretic, uterine stimulant. Medicinal use: Capsella is most indicated in mild cases of uterine…