Botanical Name: Rhodiola rosea. The genus Rhodiola contains numerous species, probably around 90. Other Common Names Roseroot Arctic root Golden root Siberian golden root King’s crown Blodrót (Icelandic) Rosenrot (Norwegian) Pohjanruusujuuri (Finnish) Rosenwurz (German) Rhodiola (French) Hong jian tian (Chinese Rosenrod (Danish). Habitat Species belonging to the genus Rhodiola grow in high-altitude (up to 2280 […]
Medicinal Herb Profiles
Horse Chestnut – Herb Uses and Benefits
Botanical Name of Horse Chestnut: Aesculus hippocastanum. Other Common Names Conker Buckeye Spanish chestnut Yleinen hevoskastanja (Finnish) Almindelig hestekastanie (Danish) Hästkastanj (Swedish) Hrossakastanía (Icelandic) Hestekastanje (Norwegian) Rosskastanie (German) Marronnier (French) Castaño de India (Spanish). Habitat Horse chestnut is native to the Balkans, West Asia, and the Himalayas. Today, the tree is grown for ornamental purposes […]
Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris) – Herb Uses
Botanical Name of Butterwort: Pinguicula vulgaris. Butterwort is an insectivorous/carnivorous plant that belongs to the bladderwort family (Lentibulariaceae.) The genus name Pinguicula is derived from the Latin word “pinguis,” meaning fat referring to the thick, greasy appearance of the leaves. The English common name butterwort probably comes from the plant’s ability to curdle milk, but […]
Khella (Ammi visnaga) – Uses and Benefits
Botanical Name of Khella: Ammi visnaga. The genus name “Ammi” derives from the Greek term “ammos” meaning “sand” and refers to the plant’s habitat. Khella is a member of the celery, carrot or parsley family (Apiaceae) and it has been used as a medicinal herb since ancient times for a variety of ailments. It is […]
Chervil – Herb Uses as Spice and Benefits
Botanical Name of Chervil: Anthriscus cerefolium. Chervil is one of the first garden herbs that can be harvest in spring and traditionally viewed as a symbol of new life. The plant has a long history of use, and it was highly regarded as a spice and medicinal herb by the ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans. […]
Black Horehound Benefits and Uses
Botanical Name: Ballota nigra. In ancient Greece, the plant was known by the name “ballote” deriving from the Greek word “ballo” meaning to reject or repel. Probably because of the plant’s rather unpleasant taste and smell. The plant’s species name “nigra” derives from the Latin word niger meaning black, referring to the blackish appearance of […]
White Mulberry – Benefits and Medicinal Uses
Botanical Name: Morus alba. Today there are two subspecies or varieties of white mulberry that are recogized, Morus alba var. alba and Morus alba var. multicaulis. Other Common Names: Chinese white mulberry, Indian mulberry, morera (Spanish), Weisse Maulbeere (German), mûrier blanc (French), hvitmorbær (Norwegian), vitt mullbär (Swedish), sang ye (Chinese), valkomulperi (Finnish), hvid morbær (Danish). […]
Toothache Plant – Medicinal Properties and Herbal Uses
Botanical Name: Spilanthes acmella, Spilanthes oleracea, Acmella oleracea. It was Nicolaus Joseph von Jacquin, an Austrian scientist, who in 1793 constructed and named the genus Spilanthes. The name Spilanthes is formed from the Greek words “spilos” meaning spot and “anthos” meaning flowers, due to the reddish spot on the top of the plant’s inflorescence. There […]
Silverweed Medicinal Uses and Health Benefits
Botanical Name: Potentilla anserina, Argentina anserina. The genus name Potentilla derives from the Latin word “Potentia” which means power. The other genus name Argentina is drawn from the Latin word “argentum” meaning silver. The species’ scientific name anserina means “of the goose”, either because the plant was used as food for geese or because the […]
Tormentil Benefits and Uses
Botanical Name: Potentilla erecta. Potentilla, the scientific name of the genus tormentil belongs to, derives from the Latin word “Potentia” which means power. Other Common Names: Septfoil Bloodroot Erect cinquefoil Shepherd’s knot Tormentilla (Spanish) Aufrechtes Fingerkraut (German) Potentille dressée (French) Tepperot (Norwegian) Blodrot (Swedish) Blóðmura (Icelandic) Rätvänä (Finnish) Blodrød (Danish). N.B. One of tormentil’s common […]
