The Naturopathic Herbalist
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Brassica alba/nigra
Brassica alba/nigra Common name: Black mustard, mustard Family: Cruciferae Parts used: Seed Constituents: Fixed oil (30%) , Sinapine , Sinapic acid, Fixed oil, Protein, Mucilage. Medicinal actions: Rubefacient, counter-irritant, stimulant, diuretic, emetic Medicinal use: Mustard seed powder has been used historically as a topical application to create a counter-irritant effect. … Continue reading
Viscum album
Viscum album Common name: Mistletoe Family: Loranthaceae Part used: Whole herb (leaves & branches) Constituents: Lectins (viscotoxins), Flavonoids, Acetylcholine & choline derivatives, alkaloids, polypeptide, polysaccharides, phenolic compounds: caffeic acid, syringin, eleutherosides, sterols: triterpenes, amines: histamine, tyramine Actions: Antihypertensive, Sedative, Antitumour, Diuretic, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Anti-inflammatory, Immune enhancer Medical uses: Primary hypertension – Used as an alternative … Continue reading
Podophyllum peltatum
Podophyllum peltatum Common name: May Apple, Devil’s Apple Family: Berberidaceae Part used: Rhizome Constituents: Resin, lignans (podophyllotoxin and podophyllin), flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin and their glycosides) Actions: Cathartic, Purgative, Antineoplastic, Antiviral, Cholagogue, Alterative, Hepatic tonic, Cytotoxic. Medical uses: Traditionally used as a … Continue reading
Lobelia inflata
Lobelia inflata Common name: Indian tobacco Family: Campanulaceae Part used: Aerial parts Constituents: Piperidine alkaloids (lobeline, isolobeline and others), Chelidonic acid, Resins, Gums, Fats Medicinal actions: Respiratory stimulant, expectorant, emetic, diaphoretic, anti-spasmodic, nervine. Medicinal use: Lobelia is used primarily for its relaxant effects in the … Continue reading
Tilia europea
Tilia europea Common name: Lime flower, Linden tree Family: Tiliaceae Parts used: Flowers & leaves Constituents: Flavonoids (hespiridin, kaempferol, quercetin), phenolic acids (chlorogenic, caffeic and coumaric), volatile oils (farnesol, eugenol, citral, citronellal, citronellol, limonene, pinene)), mucilage (arabino-galactans), tannin. … Continue reading
Convallaria majalis
Convallaria majalis Common name: Lily of the Valley Family: Liliaceae Part Used: Leaf, flower (whole plant when flowering) Constituents: Cardioactive glycosides, over 30 different types (inc.: convallatoxin, convallatoxol, convallamarin, convallarin, and convallaric acid), saponins, flavonoids, asparagin. Medicinal actions: Cardioactive-tonic & stimulant, bitter, mild gastric tonic, anti-arrhythmic, hypertensive, diuretic, antispasmodic Medicinal … Continue reading
Piper methysticum
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 … Continue reading
Juniperus communis
Juniperus communis Common name: Juniper Family: Cupressaceae Parts used: Berries Constituents: Volatile oil (pinene, camphor, cineole, limonene, thujone, borneol, terpinen), condensed tannins, diterpenes, resin, flavonoids (amentoflavone, quercitin, apigenin), glucuronic acid Medicinal actions: Stimulating diuretic, antiseptic, carminative, anti-inflammatory, bitter, digestive tonic, emmenagogue, anti-rheumatic, aborifacient Medicinal use: Juniper is used in arthritis and rheumatism because of its anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties … Continue reading
Datura stramonium
Datura stramonium Common name: Jimson weed, Devil’s apple Family: Solanaceae Parts used: Leaves, flowering tops, seeds Constituents: Tropane alkaloids (0.2%-0.45%): scopolamine (hyoscine), atropine, hyoscyamine, mandragorine, and others. Medicinal actions: Spasmolytic, antiasthmatic, anticholinergic, hallucinogenic Medicinal use: Datura is a highly toxic botanical is rarely used internally. Datura is has historical use as a hallucinogenic herb. Pharmacy: Rarely used internally. Toxicity: Anticholinergic. Acute: nausea, thirst, … Continue reading
Piscidia erythrina
Piscidia erythrina Common name: Jamaican Dogwood Family: Leguminosae Part Used: Root bark Constituents: Isoflavonoids (ichthynone, jamiacin, piscidone, rotenone, sumatrol, lisetin), glycosides (piscidin), calcium oxalate, acids (piscidic, malic, succinic, tartaric), alkaloids (only in stem), resin, volatile oils, tannins, saponin Medicinal actions: Nervous system relaxant, sedative, hypnotic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, bitter, antispasmodic … Continue reading
The 2nd Edition of my herbal reference is here!
The Naturopathic Herbalist 