Botanical Name: Anethum graveolens. Other Common Names Anethum dilla anise shubit eneldo (Spanish) shih lo (Chinese) dild (Danish) aneth (French). Habitat Dill is probably endemic to the southwestern parts of Asia, where the plant has been known since ancient times. Plant Description Dill is a plant belonging to the celery family (Apiaceae) that can grow […]
Medicinal Herb Profiles
Devil’s Claw – A Medicinal Herb
Botanical Name of Devil’s Claw: Harpagophytum procumbens (Burchell). Other Common Names: Grapple plant, harpagon, wood spider. Habitat: The herb devil’s claw is native to southern Africa particularly the Kalahari Desert, Namibia, and Madagascar. Description: Devil’s claw is a perennial plant with tubers and many, round to oval-shaped stems. The leaves have white, hairy undersides. Solitary, […]
Devil’s Bit Scabious Uses in Herbal Medicine
Botanical Name: Succisa pratensis. Other Common Names: Devil’s bit, premorse scabious, scabious, ofbit, Teufelsabbiss (German), succise des prés (French), sscabiosa mordida (Spanish), stúfa (Icelandic), djævelsbid (Dansih). Habitat: The plant grows wild in Europe, North Africa, and western Siberia. It was early on introduced to northeastern North America where it has strayed and become part of […]
Dandelion – Benefits and Side Effects
Botanical Name: Taraxacum officinale, Taraxacum mongolicum, Taraxacum palustre, Taraxacum vulgar. Dandelion was first mentioned for its medicinal qualities in the works of Arabian physicians of the tenth and eleventh centuries. These writers speak of it as a form of wild endive, under the name of Taraxacon. The genus name, Taraxacum, is derived from the Greek […]
Damiana – A Medicinal Herb
Botanical Name: Turnera diffusa. Other Common Names Damiane, Oreganillo The bourrique Mexican damiana Mexican holly Damiana de Guerrero Damina. Habitat Damiana is a small shrub with aromatic leaves that grows in Mexico, Central and South America, and the West Indies. Although it is still found in the wild in certain areas, most of the damiana […]
Cranesbill – Health Benefits and Side Effects
Botanical Name: Geranium maculatum. Other Common Names: American cranesbill, spotted cranesbill, spotted geranium, alumroot, alum bloom, wild geranium, storksbill, chocolate flower, crowfoot, flekkstorkenebb (Norwegian), Amerikansk storkenæb (Danish). Habitat: Cranesbill is indigenous to the eastern and central North America. It is mostly found growing wild in woods and forests. Plant Description: Cranesbill is a perennial plant […]
Cranberry – Health Benefits and Side Effects
Botanical Name: Vaccinium macrocarpon. Other Common Names: American cranberry, bog cranberry, atoca, bearberry, bounceberry, craneberry, Amerikanische Moosbeere (German), canneberge à gros fruits (French), arándano Americano (Spanish), Amerikanskt tranbär (Swedish), amerikankarpalo (Finnish). Habitat: American cranberry is native to eastern and northwestern North America. It is also naturalized in some parts of Europe with suitable climate. Description; […]
Cowslip – Health Benefits and Side Effects
Botanical Name: Primula veris, Primula officinalis. Other Common Names Cowslip primrose Key flower Key of heaven Palsywort Fairy cups Primrose. Habitat ‘Cowslip is common throughout temperate Europe and Asia. It is tolerant to frost but is less common in northern latitudes. It grows well in shady areas and places with full direct sunlight, as long […]
Coriander – Health Benefits and Side Effects
Botanical Name: Coriandrum sativum. Other Common Names: Cilantro, culantrillo, dhania, Chinese parsley. The seeds are usually known as coriander while the leaves are called cilantro. Habitat: Coriander is indigenous to the Mediterranean countries and today most of the commercial supply of the herb comes from Morocco, Romania, and Egypt. Plant Description: Coriander is aromatic annual […]
Common Mallow – Health Benefits and Side Effects
Botanical Name: Malva sylvestris L, Malva vulgaris. The botanical name Malva comes from the Greek word “malaxos”, meaning slimy, or to soften. Other Common Names: Mallow, zebrina mallow, blue mallow, cheese-cake, high mallow, marsh mallow, cheese flower, malva (Spanish), malve (German), rödmalva (Swedish), mauve (French), almindelig katost (Danish). Habitat: The species is native to the […]