Populus

Salix sp.                              Common name: Willow Family: Salicaceae Parts used: Bark (dried from 2-3 year old branches) Constituents: Phenolic glycosides – Salicylates (salicin, salicortin, tremulacin, populin, fragilin, salireposide, trirandrin, vimalin), Aromatic aldehydes and acids (salidroside, vanillin, syringa-aldehyde, syringin, salicylic, vanillic, syringic). Flavonoids (isoquercitrin, naringin), Tannins (8%-20%), catechins, coumaric acid Medicinal actions: Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, febrifuge, bitter, astringent, antiseptic, anti-rheumatic Medicinal use: Salix sp….

Pimpinella anisum                           Common name:  Anise Family: Umbelliferae Parts used:  Dried fruit Constituents:  Volatile oil (1-4%), coumarins, flavonoid glycosides, phenylpropanoids, lipids, fatty acids, sterols, proteins, carbohydrates Medicinal actions:  Expectorant, anti-spasmodic, carminative, anti-microbial, aromatic, galactogogue Medicinal use: It is a reliable carminative and can be administered with cathartics and other bitter tasting herbs to mask the taste. Aniseed is also…

Latin Name: Ruscus Aculeatus Common name: Butcher’s Broom Family: Liliaceae Parts used: Root Constituents: Steroid saponins (4-6%): ruscogenin, ruscine, ruscoside, aglycones neoruscogenin, Benzofuranes: euparone, ruscodibenzofurane, flavonoids, coumarins, sparteine, tyramine, glycolic acid. Medicinal actions: anti-inflammatory, vasoconstrictor, anti-hemorrhagic. Medicinal use: chronic venous insufficiency, edema (lymph), diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, hemorrhoids, premenstrual syndrome, hypertension. Pharmacology: Ruscogenins decrease vascular permeability…

Eupatorium perfoliatum                    Common name:  Boneset Family: Asteraceae Parts used:  Whole herb Constituents: Sesquiterpene lactones, polysaccharides, flavonoids, misc. Medicinal actions:  Febrifuge, diaphoretic, tonic, laxative   Medicinal uses: A stimulating, tonic anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic diaphoretic in conditions of catarrh such as bronchitis. One of the best remedies for the relief of the associated symptoms that accompany influenza (night sweats, aching bones). It…

Latin Name: Asclepius tuberosa Common name: Pleurisy root, Butterfly Weed, Milkweed Family: Asclepiadaceae Parts used: Root Constituents: Cardiac glycosides: cardenolide type (afroside, asclepin, asclepiadin, calactin, calotropin, gomphoside, syriogenin, syrioside, uscharidin, uscharin and uzarigenin). Flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin, rutin and isorhamnetin) Amino acids (choline) Phenolic acids (caffeic & chlorogenic acid) Carbohydrates (glucose, fructose and sucrose) Triterpenes (a-amyrin and…

Atropa belladonna                       Common name: Deadly nightshade Family: Solanaceae Parts used: Herb & root Constituents: Tropane alkaloids (up to 0.5% in leaves and roots):  hyoscyamine, atropine, scopolamine, hyoscine, belladonnine; Volatile pyridine and pyrrolidine bases; Flavonoids: scopoletin, scopolin, kaempferol and quercetin derivatives. Medicinal actions: Narcotic, spasmolytic, anodyne, secretolytic Pharmacology: Primarily block…