The Naturopathic Herbalist
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Rumex Crispus
Rumex Crispus Common name: Yellow dock Family: Polygonaceae Parts used: Root Constituents: Anthraquinone glycosides (emodin), tannins, oxalates (oxalic acid high in leaf), VO, Iron and other minerals Medicinal actions: Tonic, lymphatic, astringent, cooling, alterative, … Continue reading
Achillea millefolium
Achillea millefolium Common name: Yarrow Family: Asteraceae Part used: Aerial Constituents: Volatile oil (borneol, camphor, thujone, chamazulene, azulene, linalool, limonene, cineole, sesquiterpene lactones), tannins (condensed and hydrolyzable), flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, rutin), alkaloids (achilletin, betonicine, stachydrine, trigonelline), acids (caffeic, salicylic, succinic), amino acids, nutrients (ascorbic acid, folic acid), cyanogenetic compounds, sugars, coumarins, furanocoumarins, bitter (achillein), stigma/sito/erythrosterin, alkamides … Continue reading
Salix sp.
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. … Continue reading
Valeriana officinalis
Valeriana officinalis Common name: Valerian Family: Valerianaceae Parts used: Root Constituents: Volatile oil (camp hene, borneol), sesquiterpene alkaloids (valerenic acid), Iridoid esters (valepotriates), alkaloids (actinidine, valerine, valerianine, chatinine) Medicinal actions: Nervous system relaxant, hypnotic, hypotensive, anxiolytic, analgesic, antibiotic, expectorant, bitter, carminative, sedative (paradoxical stimulant), antispasmodic, … Continue reading
Curcuma longa
Curcuma longa Common name: Turmeric Family: Zingiberaceae Parts used: Rhizome Constituents: Volatile oil (zingiberene, tumerone), Curcuminoids (Curcumin), bitter principle, resins, CHO, proteins, nutrients, flavonoids Medicinal actions: Anti-inflam matory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-microbial, antibiotic, astringent, circulatory stimulant, choleretic, anthelmintic, hypolipidemic, anti-platelet aggregating, carminative, alterative, liver … Continue reading
Hypericum perforatum
Common name: St. John’s wort Family: Hypericaceae Parts used: Flowering tops Constituents: Volatile oils (pinene & cineole) Flavonoids & proanthocyanidins (hyperoside, hyperiforin, quercetin, rutin) Naphthodianthrones (hypericin, pseudohypericin, isohypericin, protohypericin) Carotenoids Phloroglucins (hyperforin) Tannins Medicinal actions: Anti-depressant Anti-inflammatory Antimicrobial Astringent Nervine tonic Vulnerary Medicinal uses: Most useful in mild to moderate depression, seasonal affective disorder, anxiety and various somatoform disorders (neuralgia … Continue reading
Ulmus fulva
Ulmus fulva Common name: Slippery elm Family: Ulmaceae Parts used: Inner bark Constituents: Mucilage Medicinal actions: Demulcent, emollient, expectorant, diuretic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, nutritive. Medicinal use: Ulmus is useful in gastritis, PUD, enteritis, colitis, diarrhea. Through reflex action, it is … Continue reading
Scutellaria laterifolia
Scutellaria laterifolia Common name: Skullcap Family: Lamiaceae Parts used: Aerial Constituents: Flavonoid glycosides (apigenin, scutellarin, scutellarien, luteolin), Iridoids (catalpol), volatile oil (limonene, terpineol, humulene), waxes, tannins, minerals, lignin, resin Medicinal actions: Sedative, nervous system relaxant & tonic, antispasmodic, anticonvulsant, hypotensive, mild bitter Medicinal use: Scutellaria can be used long-term for nervous tension with an underlying condition of nervous exhaustion. It … Continue reading
Cassia angustifolia
Cassia angustifolia (Senna alexandria) Common name: Senna Family: Leguminosae Parts used: Leaves, pod Constituents: Anthraquinone glycosides (sennosides and their aglycones), naphthalene glycosides, misc. mucilage, flavonoids, volatile oil, sugars, resins. Medicinal actions: Stimulant laxative, cathartic (direct stimulation of a bowel movement) Medicinal use: The anthraquinones are absorbed into the blood, re-secreted into the colon as active anthraquinones … Continue reading
Schisandra chinensis
Schisandra chinensis Common name: Schisandra, Wu Wei Zi Family: Schisandraceae Part used: Fruit (berries) Constituents: Lignans (schizadrin, gomisin, deoxyschizandrin and pregomisin), phytosterols (beta-sitosterols, stigmasterol), volatile oils, nutrients (Vit C, E) Medicinal actions: General tonic/stimulant/restorative, nervous system tonic, mild anti-depressant, anti-stress, adaptogen, adrenal tonic, regulator of blood … Continue reading
The 2nd Edition of my herbal reference is here!
The Naturopathic Herbalist 