Peppermint as a tea has become very popular and it is thought to have a number of health benefits for variety of ailments such as biliary disorders, dyspepsia, enteritis, flatulence, gastritis, intestinal colic, and spasms of the bile duct, gallbladder and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. When the steam from the tea is inhaled it can ease sinus […]
Herbs - General
What is Greater Celandine used for?
The main active ingredient found in greater celandine is the alkaloid chelidonin, a substance not unlike papaverine found in the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). Chelidonin has an antispasmodic effect and seems to specifically target the bile duct and bronchi. Furthermore, the substance has mild tranquilizing properties. When greater celandine is used internally, its medicinal effect […]
What is Great Mullein used for?
Great mullein contains a demulcent, emollient and astringent properties making it useful to help resolve pectoral complaints and bleeding of the lungs and bowels. Its uses can be traced back to the Greek herbalist, Dioscorides, who was one of the first to recommend it for in curing a variety of lung diseases. Various Native American […]
What is Figwort used for?
Common figwort contains amino acids, flavonoids, phenolic acids (ferulic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, cinnamic acid), saponins, cardiac glycoside, phytosterols, essential fatty acids, and asparagine. The scientific Genus name, Scrophularia, comes from the plant’s traditional use as a remedy for scrofula, a tuberculous infection of the lymph nodes in the neck. This use was due […]
What is Eucalyptus used for?
The primary product from the Eucalyptus globulus is its essential oil, which has a diverse range of therapeutic uses. The oil contains eucalyptol (1,8-cineol). It is also a valuable source of kinos, a plant gum produced by various plants and trees, widely used in medicine and tanning lotions. The essential oil is a popular decongestant […]
What is Bayberry used for?
Bayberry contains triterpenes (such as taraxerol, taraxeron and myrikadiol), flavonoids (myricitrin), tannins, phenols, resins and rubber substances. The European settlers who came to North America learned about the medicinal properties of bayberry from the Native Americans. A description from 1737 states that the plant “removes air and relieves all kinds of pain caused by cold, […]
What is Buchu used for?
Medicinally, buchu has a very long and well-defined history. It has been used for many ailments outside of its prescribed treatments, but there is little or no verification of those added benefits. It is well suited for use with children and for the elderly, owing primarily to its mild effects. It was used in the […]
What is Juniper used for?
Juniper has been used traditionally to treat arthritis, gout and rheumatism. Test tube studies have shown that the berries can inhibit prostaglandin synthesis which indicates that this traditional use has some merit. Juniper has diuretic and antiseptic properties which explain its uses as an herbal remedy for urinary tract infections such as cystitis and urethritis. Modern studies on […]
What is Chicory used for?
In today’s herbal medicine chicory is considered to be of particularly great value as a tonic for the liver and gastrointestinal tract. The medicinal properties of the herb are similar to those found in dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). Chicory is viewed as an excellent bitter agent that increases the secretion of bile which in turn stimulates the appetite […]
What is Devil’s Claw used for?
The traditional use of devil’s claw by tribes in Africa involved the root being chopped and dried in the sun for three days to make medicinal preparations. The bitter preparation was used in folk tradition for its analgesic (numbing) and antipyretic (temperature reducing) properties. European colonists took the plant back to their countries where it […]