Hydrangea arborescens

Crataegus oxycantha                Common name: Hawthorne Family: Rosaceae Parts used:  Flora, leaves, and berries Constituents: Oligomeric procyanidins (procyanidin B-2, epicatechin, catechin), flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin, apigenin, luteolin, rutin), amines (phenylethylamine, tyramine, choline), anthocyanidins Medical actions:  CNS sedative, antioxidant, adaptogen, cardiac trophorestorative, cardiotonic, hypotension, coronary vasodilator, peripheral vasodilator, anti-arrhythmic, diuretic, collagen stabilizing, reduces myocardial oxygen demand, protects against myocardial damage. Medical Indications: One…

Borago officinalis               Common name:  Borage Family: Boraginaceae Parts used: Leaves, flowers & seeds (oil) Constituents:  Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (lycopsamine, intermedine, amabiline, supinine), choline, mucilage, potassium and calcium salts, tannins, saponins. Fatty acids including omega-6-fatty acids (gamma-linoleic acid) Medicinal actions: Leaf: Diuretic, demulcent, emollient, refrigerant, adrenal restorative, galactagogue, expectorant. Oil: inflammatory modulating, anti-atheroslcerotic, anti-platelet, hypolipidemic. Medicinal use:  Borage acts as a diuretic…

Latin Name: Lentinus edodes Common name: Shitake  Family: Marasmiaceae Parts used: Fruiting bodies Constituents: Nutrients, polysaccharides, alkaloids Medicinal actions: Immune stimulation/modulation, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, anti-hypertensive antioxidant, adaptogen. Medicinal use: Chronic immune dysfunction/disease, altered adrenal function, cancer, chronic fatigue immunodeficiency syndrome, HIV infection and AIDS, cancer, Lyme disease, high cholesterol, hyperglycemia and diabetes. Pharmacology: Polysaccharides are…

Piper methysticum                              Common name: Kava-kava Family: Piperaceae Parts used:  Rhizome Constituents:  Resinous kava lactones (alpha-pyrones) mainly consisting of kavain, dihydrokavain, and methysticin. Chaclones, Nutrients, Flavonoids, Piperidine alkaloid. Medicinal actions:  Sedative, nervous system & muscle relaxant, anticonvulsant, local anesthetic, analgesic, anti-fungal, anti-spasmodic, anti-depressant, stimulant, mild euphoric, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, rubefacient, bitter, carminative, diuretic Medicinal use:  Reduces anxiety and…

Aconitum napellus               Common name: Monkshood, Wolfsbane Family: Ranunculaceae Parts used:  root, but alkaloid is present in all parts of the plant. Constituents: Terpenoid alkaloids (1.2%): aconitine, aconine, hypaconitine, neopelline, picraconitine, napelline, benzoylaconine, traces of ephedrine and sparteine; Acids:  aconitic, itaconic; Sugars; Starch Medicinal  actions:  Sedative, anodyne, febrifuge, anti-neuralgic. Medicinal use: Aconite is considered to be a poweful poison not now used…

Artemisia vulgaris                                 Common name:  Mugwort, Wild Wormwood Family: Asteraceae Part used: Dried herb (whole plant) Constituents: Volatile oil (thujone, borneol, cineole, pinene), sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids, coumarins, bitter principl e, tannins Actions: Nervous system tonic, diaphoretic, anthelmintic, bitter, digestive, choleretic, emmenagogue, diuretic Medical uses: As…