It’s Not Just For Wise Men Anymore: the Modern Health Benefits of Frankincense If you’re at all familiar with the Nativity story, then you’ve undoubtedly heard of the three wise men bringing gifts of frankincense and myrrh to the Christ child’s manger. But chances are, you’re not entirely sure what frankincense and myrrh even are. […]
Medicinal Herb Profiles
Black Seed (Nigella Sativa) Benefits & Uses
Botanical Name: Nigella sativa Other Common Names: fennel flower, black cumin, black onion seed, black caraway and kalonji Habitat: Nigella sativa is native to Southern Europe, North Africa and Southwest Asia and it is cultivated in many countries in the world such as the Middle Eastern Mediterranean region, South Europe, India, Pakistan, Syria, Turkey, Saudi […]
Olive Leaf Extract & Oleuropein Benefits & Uses
Botanical Name: Olea Europaea Other Common Names: african olive, brown olive, common olive, European olive, olive tree, small-fruited olive, wild olive Habitat: Olea Europaea is native to southern Europe, northern Africa and western Asia. African olive (subspecies) is native to Africa, Madagascar, western Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Description: Olive leaves are from the common […]
Rhodiola Rosea – Herb Uses and Health Benefits
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 […]
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). […]
