Herb by Herb

Anise Hyssop

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BOTANICAL NAME:  Agastache foeniculum

ENERGETICS:  Slightly warming, very drying

MAJOR ACTIONS:  Antiemetic, antiviral, antifungal

EXAMPLES OF USES:

• Summer colds

• Nausea and vomiting

• Edema

PARTS USED:  Leaves and flowers

PREPARATIONS:  

• Eat a fresh leaf for relief from those damp, boggy summer colds that seem to linger forever.  Tea is another tasty way to get relief from or prevention of summer colds.  I wonder how it might also help with the watery eyes due to allergies?

• Tincture of the leaves and flowers.

• Add flowers to honey for a scented and flavored herbal honey.

• Add fresh or dried flowers to ice cream or sorbet recipes, iced tea, sprinkled on salads

• Dry for winter use.

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:  Anise Hyssop is one of my favorite garden plants. It has a lovely scent; consider planting it along a walking path where one can brush against its foliage and be delighted by its fragrance  It makes a delicious tea, too. I often make a summer tea with anise hyssop, lemon balm, and fresh stevia leaf (I don't like the taste and especially aftertaste of powdered stevia).  It is also great as an iced tea and works equally well in a cold decoction or sun tea.  As far as medicinal uses, it is my go-to for summer colds—those colds that linger with full, drippy nasal passages and heaviness and you just feel yucky.  It is a very drying plant—one of the most drying plants in our herbal apothecary—and very efficient at relieving those congested, drippy, heavy kinds of colds.  If you often get summer colds, you could also try drinking anise hyssop tea regularly as a preventative measure. I personally don't use anise hyssop tincture or tea much in the winter when the air can be quite dry, as it is too drying for me then. However, in the humidity of summer, it is particularly useful for most people.

FOR FURTHER STUDY:

• National Library of Medicine

• Herb Federation of New Zealand

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Bee Balm, Sweet Leaf

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BOTANICAL NAME:  Monarda fistulosa  (This is not the vibrant red or purple landscaping Monarda/Bee Balm that you see in flower beds. Look for Monarda fistulosa, a Minnesota wildflower - has light lavender flower, often cloudiness on leaf which is an indication of more intense volatile oils, which is good. Also, a great pollinator for butterflies, bees, hummingbirds.)

ENERGETICS:  Warming, drying

MAJOR ACTIONS:  Diffusive, stimulating, carminative, relaxing nervine

EXAMPLES OF USES:

• Tinnitus

• Meniere's disease

• Poor hearing

• Cool and clammy skin

PARTS USED:  Flowers, just opening or recently opened, and upper leaves

PREPARATIONS:  

• Tincture

• Oil

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:  Monarda fistulosa is great “for things that burn.”  I make a very effective sunburn ointment with Monarda fistulosa, Calendula, and St. John’s Wort oils.  It is also good for a burning sensation in muscles (or any burning sensation).  It is good for ears and kidneys (they are related in Traditional Chinese Medicine).  For instance, tinnitus, ringing in the ears, Meniere's disease, inner ear imbalance, dizziness, mental confusion, fever with ringing ears, ringing ears from loud noises or music.  Frayed nerves and cutting pain—where nerves are burning, tingling, stabbing—indicates nerves are not firing correctly.  Monarda fistulosa tea in a shot glass 2 to 3 times a day can be effective.  As a digestive aid (Monarda fistulosa is a member of mint family), it stimulates slow digestion, moves gas, eases chronic stomach upset, nausea, cramps, sour stomach, heartburn, and indigestion.

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FOR FURTHER STUDY:

• The Forager's Path
   

Black Walnut Hull

 

BOTANICAL NAME:  Juglans nigra

ENERGETICS:  Cooling, neutral

MAJOR ACTIONS:  Antifungal, antibacterial, astringent, tonic

EXAMPLES OF USES:  

• Hypothyroidism

• Parasites

• Fungus

PARTS USED:  Hull, some discussion whether it should be green or black, so I use part green/black

PREPARATIONS:  

• Tincture

• Oil

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:  

• Used often for hypothyroidism, along with chickweed.

• I have used it with both constipation and diarrhea with good success.

• Limited success with toenail fungus, using tincture internally and tincture and oil applied topically.

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Blessed Thistle

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BOTANICAL NAME:  Cnicus benedictus

ENERGETICS: Neutral, drying

MAJOR ACTIONS:  Stomachic, tonic, emmenagogue, galactagogue

EXAMPLES OF USES: 

• Increase lactation

• Treat painful menstruation

• Stimulate and tonify digestion

• Increase appetite

• Digest fat more effectively

PARTS USED:  Flowering tops, leaves, and upper stem

PREPARATIONS:    

• Tincture - my preference as I feel a tincture preserves the properties of its milky sap best

• Tea - dried leaves, especially in regard to increase milk supply for nursing mothers

• Edible - young leaves

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:  I think of Blessed Thistle when the liver needs some support, due to its bitter compounds.  I often consider it when mixing up a bitters blend as it seems a gentle, yet powerful tonic for the liver and digestive system.  It allows the body to digest fat more effectively, possibly in turn reducing cholesterol and helping to prevent gallstones. Historically, blessed thistle was considered a "cure-all," and even credited with healing during the Bubonic Plague.  A common use today is to promote milk production in lactating women.  Studies have shown that taking blessed thistle and fenugreek together were the most effective.

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Boneset​

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BOTANICAL NAME:  Eupatorium perfoliatum

ENERGETICS:  Warming, drying

MAJOR ACTIONS:  Immunostimulant, antiviral, very bitter tonic, expectorant, diaphoretic (especially as a warm infusion), emetic and purgative in large doses, febrifuge especially with intermittent fevers

EXAMPLES OF USES:   Traditionally used to treat fever, influenza, respiratory allergies, asthma, chills, arthritis, broken bones, and hiccups.

PARTS USED:   Flowering tops

PREPARATIONS:  

• Tincture – my preference due to its intense bitterness

• Decoction in hot water. Drink warm to induce sweating to reduce fever.  Drink cold for a liver/gastrointestinal tonic.

WHY BONESET?  

• Go-to herb in 1800s for indigenous and colonial people for influenza with deep-seated, “breakbone” pain, so severe that it feels as if your bones are breaking.

• Used prophylactically during the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918-1920 as it worked so well

• Strong bitter taste helps dry out mucus and stimulate digestion of toxins.

• The name, boneset, was derived from its great value in treating influenza and other diseases, such as malaria, that resulted in deep, intense muscular aching, often feeling as if one’s bones and joints were breaking.  It was once believed that boneset helped to reset those bones those illnesses resolved. 

• it has also been used with great success in healing broken bones. 

• A cold infusion will encourage its emetic (to induce vomiting) and laxative properties

• A hot infusion will encourage its diaphoretic and febrifuge properties

• I’ve heard several herbalists comment that boneset is considered to be 10x stronger than echinacea as an immunostimulant, working best for persons with type O blood.  Echinacea seems to work better with persons with type A blood.

• Its bitterness makes it a good candidate to be add to a bitters blend to improve digestion.  Eclectics felt boneset was especially beneficial for digestion for the elderly.

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:

• Boneset became my go-to in regard to COVID 19, both during active infection as well as prophylactically when I ran out of elderberry.  I used higher doses than I typically have in the past and typically included poke root in the formula. 

• Boneset and calendula together have shown to be effective in cases where someone is experiencing lingering effects of influenza or colds.

• I often add boneset tincture to a bone healing formula of Solomon’s seal, prickly ash, and yarrow tinctures to be used as a topical spray as well as sublingually.

FOR FURTHER STUDY:

• Richard Whelan Medical Herbalist

• DonnieYance.com

• American Herbal Pharmacopoeia

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Burdock Root

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BOTANICAL NAME:  Arctium lappa

ENERGETICS:  The most common opinion is that it is cooling and drying. However, I have also found it to be warming and/or moistening if that is what the body needs. So I guess I would say it is neutral (and a great go-to herb if nothing else is helping).

MAJOR ACTIONS: Alterative, diuretic, blood purifier

EXAMPLES OF USES:   

• Skin issues of all sorts

• Dryness be it internal or external

• Edema

• Carpal tunnel syndrome

PARTS USED:  Root of first year plant (flower stalk forms 2nd year and then root becomes hollow), some herbalists also use the seeded

PREPARATIONS: 

• Tincture

• Vinegar to use in food year round

• Dry for tea

• Eat as root vegetable

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:    

• Burdock is one of my most used roots.

• Provides lubrication due to its oily nature. Just helps everything work more smoothly together.

• My go-to for all skin issues, including eczema, psoriasis, acne, even boils. Skin issues are often related to liver weakness in regard to its toxin clearing duties. Those toxins are then eliminated through one’s skin. Burdock is considered by many herbalists to be “nature’s best blood purifier” as it helps to clear the body of toxins and clear congestion from the lymphatic, circulatory, urinary, and respiratory systems.

• Another common use I have found has been digestive issues such as constipation, indigestion due to overeating of fatty foods (helps with fat assimilation), and even diarrhea at times. It’s a root for many many maladies!

• I have seen the use of burdock root help with boils, calm celiac sprue episodes, and calm an angry disposition (chronic anger is often connected to liver issues, also).

• Japanese herbalists claim it kills streptococcus bacteria. My mentor, Lise Wolff, recently told me that one drop under the tongue, twice a day, seems to help her son if he is showing symptoms of strep throat. Interesting. I’m going to try that one and mention it to my kids!

• There are many, many more uses for burdock root - Google away and be amazed!

FOR FURTHER STUDY:

• Herb Rally

• Botanical.com

• Matthew Wood Institute of Herbalism

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Calendula

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BOTANICAL NAME:  Calendula officinalis

ENERGETICS:  Warming, drying

MAJOR ACTIONS:  Vulnerary (heals wounds), lymphatic, antispasmodic, nervine, hepatic, inflammatory and immune modulating

EXAMPLES OF USES:  

• Include in ointments of all kinds to heal skin issues

• Move lymph congestion

• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

• Help with sluggish digestion or inflammation in digestive tract

PARTS USED:  Flower buds and flowers as coming into bloom. Orange flowered is best. And the stickier, the better. Your hands should be very tacky after picking even just a few blooms.

PREPARATIONS:  

• Tincture - One of my go-to herbs for digestive or lymphatic issues

• Oil - I make several quarts each summer to use in skin salves

• Dry - add to soups in winter time for extra immune system support

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:  Calendula is a go-to herb for many issues. Skin issues - go to calendula. Mild seasonal affective disorder - calendula can add some sunshine to your mood. Stomach issues, such as ulcers, try calendula. Lymph nodes inflamed - calendula can help to get lymph moving and give relief. Sunburn - include with Monarda fistulosa for relief and speed healing. Calendula may even help with some skin cancers. Its bitter flavor makes it a nice addition to bitter blends to stimulate digestion. It is gentle enough for diaper rash and effective with thrush, also. It is a gentle plant that works quite powerfully! 

FOR FURTHER STUDY:

• Herb Rally

• Botanical Revival

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California Poppy

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BOTANICAL NAME:  Eschscholzia californica

ENERGETICS:  Cooling, drying

MAJOR ACTIONS:   Relaxing nervine, analgesic, anti-spasmodic, mild sedative         

EXAMPLES OF USES:  Used historically for: stress and anxiety, insomnia, ADD & ADHD,

PARTS USED:  All aerial parts including leaves, buds, flowers, unripe seed pods, ripe seed pods, add the bright orange roots in the fall!

PREPARATIONS:  

• Tincture – to use on its own or to add to tea to provide those constituents best extracted by alcohol

• Decoction in hot water. 

• Fresh flowers – a regular visitor to the garden puts 2 fresh flowers in her daily tea and says it takes the edge off her anxiety and makes her more pleasant to live with, for others and herself.

WHY CALIFORNIA POPPY?  

• Considered safe for both young children and old people – that means it’s pretty safe for all.

• Easy to grow, self-seeding annual that is also easy to use for making herbal remedies.

• Offers nonnarcotic, nonaddictive, safe, and gentle pain relief, especially in instances where the pain interferes with sleep.

• Maria Noel Groves, author of Body Into Balance, writes to consider it for “swirling thoughts that prevent sleep, pain that keeps you awake, and bratty moments (for kids and adults).

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:

• California Poppy has been a go-to for sleep for several in my family from 1-year-olds to old people (me).  One of my grandsons refers to it as “Cali-Pop.”

• Effective for inducing relaxation, leading to sleep without residual grogginess the next morning.

• Good results with anxiety or nervous tension manifesting as panic or hypervigilance. 

• Pain relief for several persons in regard to chronic, debilitating pain, often in combination with other analgesic herbs.

• Combine with hawthorn for heart palpitations due to stress.

FOR FURTHER STUDY::

• Golden Poppy

• The Enchanters Green

• RxHealthMed

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Chamomile, German

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BOTANICAL NAME:  Matricaria recutita

ENERGETICS:  Neutral — some say it’s cooling and dry, others warming and moistening.  (I say it can go either way, depending on what is needed for homeostasis.)

MAJOR ACTIONS: Nervine, antispasmodic, carminative, gentle sedative

EXAMPLES OF USES:   

• Insomnia

• Irritability

• Indigestion

• Flatulence

• Colic and teething in babies

• Fever

PARTS USED:  Flowering tops

PREPARATIONS:

• Tea

• Tincture

• Oil

• Dry

WHY CHAMOMILE?   Chamomile has a centuries-long history of use in folk herbalism for nervous tension or fever, especially when the digestive tract is involved.  Today, it is one of the top herbs used in tea blends for calming digestion or nervous tension.  Many people report help with insomnia using either the tea or tincture and you’ll find chamomile in many tea blends for sleep.  I suggest adding a few drops of the tincture to your tea to get a full spectrum extraction as the alcohol in the tincture will extract constituents that are not extracted by the hot water.

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:  The word that comes to my mind instantly in connection to chamomile is whining.  This could be a young child who demands your undivided attention.  Always.  And still is not happy.  Or a human of any age who is out of sorts, feeling agitated, perhaps ill, and nothing seems to help.  Try a cup of chamomile tea.  I have even found the tincture to be useful in that situation and it’s faster than waiting for tea to brew!  Interestingly, that same feeling of jitteriness — feeling out of sorts — is how I feel if I drink tea that contains chamomile in any amount.  Proof that not every herb “works” for every person or every similar situation!  Consider making a chamomile infused oil.  I use that in my Eczema Salve blend, which has shown effectiveness for a variety of skin ailments.  It’s also nice combined with catnip infused oil to make a salve for rubbing on a baby’s tummy to help with colic.  

FOR FURTHER STUDY::

• Herbs with Rosalee

• American Botanical Council 

• National Library of Medicine

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Chickweed

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BOTANICAL NAME:  Stellaria media

ENERGETICS:  Cooling, moistening

MAJOR ACTIONS: Alterative, diuretic, febrifuge, lymphagogue, nutritive, vulnerary

EXAMPLES OF USES:   

• Stagnant lymph

• Swollen lymph nodes

• Dry coughs

• Rashes

• Food

PARTS USED:  Aerial parts

PREPARATIONS: 

• Tincture (of fresh plant)

• Oil/ointment for topical use

• Vinegar

• It can be eaten fresh, and the plant can be juiced for adding to beverages or used as a compress.

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:  A combination of chickweed and black walnut are often beneficial with hypothyroidism.  Chickweed contains saponins that help to dissolve body fat, so perhaps it may help with obesity.  I have used chickweed with good success for moisturizing, both internally and externally, although I personally lean toward lady's thumb in that regard.  Chickweed can help with a dry, hot cough due to its moisturizing and cooling properties. I think I would try the vinegar and maybe some tincture added to some honey in this regard.  Those same properties make it useful for hot, eruptive skin conditions.I lean toward calendula for lymph issues, but many other herbalists turn to chickweed for similar issues.  Chickweed has a mild taste that mixes well with salads and makes a great pesto.

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Cleavers

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BOTANICAL NAME:  Galium aparine

ENERGETICS:  Cooling, moistening

MAJOR ACTIONS:  Lymphatic, relaxing, detoxifier

EXAMPLES OF USES:  

• Easing issues with urination

• Kidney and prostate issues

• Lymph mover

• Dryness

PARTS USED:  Aerial parts early in season while still vibrant

PREPARATIONS:  I have only used it as a tincture.  Can also be used as a cold infusion - pour cold water over freshly gathered aerial parts, cap tightly, let sit overnight and sip through next day.

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:   This is a gentle lymphatic cleanser and fantastic spring tonic, helping clean up our system after winter.  It promotes lymphatic flow and helps rid the lymphatic system of metabolic waste.  Great for issues with adenoids and tonsils.  Often useful for leaky bladder, excessive nighttime urination,  prostate and kidney issues.  It breaks up kidney stones, dissolves deposits, and clears tubules.  Cleavers is a folk remedy for canker sores and other mouth sores, using a wash of tea.  As a hair tonic, it is high in silica.  I've had some success with using cleavers for seasonal allergies, also. 

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Creeping Charlie / Ground Ivy

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BOTANICAL NAME:  Glechoma hederacea

ENERGETICS:  Cooling, drying

MAJOR ACTIONS:  Carminative, diuretic, expectorant, circulatory stimulant

EXAMPLES OF USES:  Used historically for kidney and hearing issues, plugged ears, chronic respiratory problems, and so much more!

PARTS USED:  All parts anytime, but perhaps strongest when blooming

PREPARATIONS: 

• Tincture (made from fresh, blooming plant)

• Fresh (tea, add to salads)

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:  Oh, how we struggled to rid our yard of Creeping Charlie prior to my herbal education. Now, knowing it can help with much of what ails us, I realize we should have been eating it instead!  Creeping Charlie is a great example of the "doctrine of signatures." The kidney/bean shaped leaves correspond to its affinity for all sorts of problems involving the kidneys. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the ears are the sensory organs related to the kidneys. Interestingly, Creeping Charlie has also proven effective for age-related hearing loss as well as hearing plugged ears.  It is particularly effective with low motivation, as kidneys are associated with energy levels.  I also think the ears look a bit like lungs, too, and often turn to creeping Charlie for chronic respiratory issues such as chronic bronchitis, which I have found it very useful for.

• Another interesting, historical use of creeping Charlie is for cancer.

• I've heard of its use with chronic candida - worth trying.

• Could aid with environmental allergies where one feels a headache between the eyes.

• Could also help with a dull, congestive, passive headache from a cold or allergies, where one feels "thick in the head", I would attribute this to its circulatory stimulant properties.

• As I am writing this, I am realizing anew how amazing creeping Charlie is - I need to play with it a bit more I think!

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Dandelion Flower

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BOTANICAL NAME:  Taraxacum officinale

ENERGETICS:  Cooling, drying

MAJOR ACTIONS:  Relaxant, nutritive
PARTS USED:  Flowers

PREPARATIONS: 

• Oil

• Food - raw, fried in batter, make into jam or wine

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:   I admit, the only way I've used dandelion flowers to date is in oil form as a massage oil. It is lovely for sore or tired muscles. I think it gives a bit of sunshine to a cloudy, winter day, too. I may try a few recipes using the flowers this year as they are high in lutein, which is known to greatly support eye health. Let me know if you have any good recipes!

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Dandelion Leaf

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BOTANICAL NAME:  Taraxacum offincinale

ENERGETICS:  Cooling, drying

MAJOR ACTIONS:  Diuretic, nutritive, digestion

EXAMPLES OF USES:  Edema

PARTS USED:  Leaves

PREPARATIONS: 

• Tincture

• Dry

• Also, great to use fresh as additions to salads or sautéed with onions and garlic or perhaps in a stir fry. Leaves are most tender and less bitter before flowering.

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:

• I largely use dandelion leaves in the spring, to help the body clean out after a winter of lethargy (and lots of Culver's custard). Rosalee de la Foret best describes dandelion leaves properties: "Dandelion leaves have long been considered a spring tonic. When young and fresh, the leaves have a delicate bitter taste that stimulates digestion. Effects of the bitter taste on the tongue include increased saliva (helps to break down starches and carbohydrates), increased stomach enzymes (further breaks down starches and also proteins), increased bile (aids fat digestion), and stimulated natural peristalsis (to keep bowels moving)".

• I often include dandelion leaf tincture with my dandelion root tincture as my before-eating bitter tonic.

• The inulin in the leaves (as well as the roots) are also a great prebiotic source of food for our gut flora.

• Dandelion leaves are one of the most common diuretics (increases urine) used to address edema and urinary stagnation.

• Can also lower high blood pressure due to its diuretic effects.

• Great for tonifying the kidneys and liver.

 

Dandelion Root

 

BOTANICAL NAME:  Taraxacum officinale

ENERGETICS:  Moistening, warming (this is how I find it, others find it cooling and drying. Perhaps it is simply balancing)

MAJOR ACTIONS:  Alterative, nutritive, liver and gall bladder support, mild laxative,

EXAMPLES OF USES:  

• Sluggish liver

• Fatigue

• Cancer support along with burdock

• Osteoarthritis

PARTS USED:  Roots, preferably after hard freeze in fall, but can be used anytime if needed

PREPARATIONS:  

• Tincture

• Syrup (see my Iron Tonic recipe)

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:  While some herbalists say, "When in doubt, use nettle", I say, "When in doubt, use dandelion!" I find it to be gentler and even more broadly acting than nettle. I use it as a bitter stimulant, spraying the tincture at the back of my tongue before eating to stimulate digestive juices and get my stomach ready to work. Its part of my daily blend of dandelion root, milky oat seed, and Reishi Mushroom. I like to use it when making tea and often add it to kombucha for an extra boost. I have seen great relief from acne, used along with burdock. And there are many tests currently underway for its use with many cancers and results are astounding. It's very safe to use, so why not use it?!  There is a book titled Dandelion Medicine by Brigitte Mars that has great information.  Dandelion will also be listed in pretty much every herbal book out there, for good reason!

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Elderberry

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BOTANICAL NAME:  Sambucus nigra

ENERGETICS:  Cooling, Drying

MAJOR ACTIONS:  Antiviral, antibiotic, antibacterial

EXAMPLES OF USES:

• Immune support

• Lessen duration and severity of viral and bacterial maladies

PARTS USED:  Berries (be sure they are ripe!)

PREPARATIONS:  

• Tincture

• Syrup (see my Elderberry Syrup recipe)

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS: Used for centuries to soothe upper respiratory infections, common cold, and influenza, as well as many other maladies.

Strong antioxidant with significant anti-inflammatory effects.  Best known at this time for its antiviral properties, making it very effective in preventing or reducing the effects of influenza and cold viruses.  However, it has so many more benefits, such as building blood, making it effective in treating anemia. It is great for eye health (I use it regularly in my kombucha second ferments for this reason).  It has also proven its benefit in aiding asthma sufferers.  Elderberry is one of my top 10 herbs—many benefits, very reliable, very easy to use!  You can find more information on my elderberry page.

 

Elderflower

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BOTANICAL NAME:  Sambucus nigra

ENERGETICS:  Cooling, moistening 

MAJOR ACTIONS:  Antipyretic (reduce fever), diaphoretic

EXAMPLES OF USES:  Reduce fever by sweating it out

PARTS USED: Flowers fresh or dried

PREPARATIONS: 

• Tincture

• Honey (I enjoy elderflower steeped in honey because it is tasty and easy to use through the winter), Dried (for tea, maybe with some lemon balm and rosehips added—tasty tea with great immune boost.

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:  I use elderflower largely to reduce fever if it is getting too high or achy. Otherwise, a fever is a good thing for burning off pathogens.  I combine elderflower, peppermint, and yarrow into a tincture for fever. Might cause the fever to rise a bit as it gets pushed to the surface, where the diaphoretic action will also open pores to let it out. That's a very simple answer.

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Japanese Knotweed

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BOTANICAL NAME:  Polygonum cuspidatum

ENERGETICS:  Cold, dry

MAJOR ACTIONS:  antiviral/bacterial/microbial, anti-spirochetal, cardioprotective, astringent

EXAMPLES OF USES:

• Wet, boggy cough

• Stagnant lymph

• High inflammatory loads, chronic infection

• Lyme disease

PART USED:  Root

PREPARATIONS:  

• Tincture

• Dry for winter use

• Castor oil extraction for topical use

• Powder for capsules

• Early spring shoots are edible

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:  Japanese Knotweed is considered to be a go-to by many herbalists for Lyme disease and I have used it in that regard myself with good results.  Since then, I’ve come to appreciate it as a bitter, drying tonic and have found it very effective in drying up a boggy cold in order to sleep.  I also credit Japanese Knotweed with helping me to get over the foggy-headedness of COVID and have started turning to it regularly in instances of lingering crud of any sort.  It also is able to cross the blood brain barrier which is of special interest to me “as I age.”  It is considered to be best used in combination with other herbs for balancing its bitter, drying qualities, which is easy to understand upon tasting.  I find it rather pleasant, so I guess I need it!

FOR FURTHER STUDY::

• Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine

• Practical Self Reliance

NOTE:  Not only is Japanese knotweed very fascinating, but is also a highly invasive plant that no one ever should plant in their garden!  Ever!!  It is one of very few plants that not even I will intentionally plant, but only gather it where it is already growing.  

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Lady's Thumb

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BOTANICAL NAME:  Polygonum persicaria

• Polygonum (many jointed) persicaria (leaf like a peach leaf)

• A member of the smartweed family with the identifying thumbprint on each leaf.

COMMON NAMES: 

• Heartsease, Virgin’s Pinch, Peachwort, Blackheart, Heartweed, Lovers Pride, Red Log, Red Knees

• Related to yellow dock, rhubarb, buckwheat, bistort, french sorrel

ENERGETICS:  Warming, moistening

MAJOR ACTIONS:  Nervine, stomachic, hepatic, antifungal, diuretic, emmenagogue

PARTS USED: Aerial parts while in flower with seed heads

PREPARATIONS:  Tincture, Decoction, Dry 

Note - this tincture is quite mucilaginous and may feel a bit slippery, even slimy compared to other tinctures.  That is a good thing!

TONGUE INDICATIONS:  

• Cool (pale) tongue body with purple “thumbprint” (splotch) in stomach (center) area, indicating stagnation and stress with worry in the stomach. 

• Often a pale purple in the kidney area.  

• Or a dark line down the center crease.

• Appearance of raw meat.

HISTORICALLY USED FOR:

• Native Americans would soak rheumatic joints in strong infusions of lady’s thumb or apply poultices.  

• Crushed leaves were used for poison ivy rashes or to rub on skin and livestock as an insect repellent.  

CONSIDER LADY'S THUMB FOR THE FOLLOWING:

• Dryness of all sorts: joint, vaginal, ocular, perimenopausal, any dry mucous membranes.

• Sinus congestion due to dryness.

• Emotions/tension felt in stomach, i.e. “stomach in knots.”

• Severe stomach cramping, bloating.

• Certain forms of flatulent colic, intermittent, with sharp pain in the stomach.

• Food sensitivity.

• Food poisoning.

• Stagnant digestion.

• Strong diuretic useful for expelling stones and gravel in kidneys and bladder.

• Lyme disease. 

• May move and eliminate stagnant blood.

• Infertility remedy, leading up to, but not during, pregnancy.

• Long labor with fatigue.

• Painful or delayed menstruation.

• Skin: acne, pus filled pustules, oozing, fetid, concave spots, gangrenous wounds.

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS: 

• I reach for Lady’s Thumb tincture often with great results with my food sensitivities to lemon and avocado.  Taking a few drops before and after eating foods containing either has allowed me to continue to enjoy these two favorites occasionally.

• A blend of lady’s thumb and teasel tinctures helped to relieve symptoms of Lyme for me when it acted up in the past.  I no longer seem to have issues with Lyme!

• I have seen dryness of all sorts relieved, including vaginal, joint, ocular, and more.

• In response to a parent looking for help for a child’s digestive issues, without using alcohol/tincture, I tried lady’s thumb infusion and found it to be pleasantly neutral in taste as well as being very effective for my digestive challenges.  Others who tried it have found similar results.

• The plant itself, tea, and tincture are both very mucilaginous, indicating its benefits for dryness and digestive issues.

FOR FURTHER STUDY:

• New Life on a Homestead

• The Homesteading Hippy

• Cabin Fever Soaps and Essentials (video about use in skin care)

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Linden Flower

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BOTANICAL NAME:  Tilia cordata

ENERGETICS:  Cooling, drying

MAJOR ACTIONS:  Nervine, hypotensive

EXAMPLES OF USES:

• Headache caused by tension

• Hypertension

• Fever reducer

PARTS USED:  Flowers and bracts

PREPARATIONS: 

• Tincture. 

• Dry for a tasty tea throughout the year (however, tea made with fresh blossoms tastes far better than with dried).  Used for iced tea in the summer provides cooling both by the temperature of the beverage and the cooling effects of linden flower itself.  

• For a linen flower honey, loosely fill a jar about 3/4 full of fresh (but dry to avoid mold) flowers and then add honey to the top. Cap tightly. Fresh flowers are definitely best for maximum sweet flavor and scent. I use it just on toast, in tea, medicinally as a throat coat if needed for soothing. I usually make a quart of this every year.

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:  I have used it for reducing fever if it is making person miserable and they need some relief. Otherwise, I think a fever is good for burning off a virus.  I have had good results for treating high blood pressure and the headaches it causes. Studies show it helps by slowing down the overactive molecules.

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Lobelia inflata

 

BOTANICAL NAME:  Lobelia inflata

ENERGETICS:  Neutral to slightly warming, slightly moistening

MAJOR ACTIONS:  Antispasmodic, relaxant, emetic, diaphoretic, expectorant

EXAMPLES OF USES:  

• Relax spasms of all sorts

• Dilate and open bronchioles in respiratory system

• Relieve symptoms of asthma

• May help with stopping smoking

PARTS USED:  Aerial parts with seed pods in particular

PREPARATIONS:  

• Tincture, low doses

CAUTION:

• Low dose botanical, use with caution.  Higher doses can cause nausea and vomiting, thus its common name, “pukeweed.” 

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:  

• I often add several drops to a one-ounce bottle blend of herbs for reducing the pain of muscle spasms or back pain, or even muscle strain from shoveling snow, as well as in blends for healing broken bones or sprains.

• Lobeline, a primary constituent in Lobelia inflata, mimics the effect of nicotine on the brain and is reported to help people stop smoking as it fills the nicotine receptors in the brain, causing vomiting if someone inhales nicotine from tobacco.  I have not seen that happen, but several have reported no longer craving cigarettes while taking Lobelia inflata and simply were able to stop smoking thanks to that result .

• I recently used larger doses to deal with a harsh, frequent, almost unbearable cough, following the advice of early 20th century herbalist, Finley Ellingwood, of 5-15 drops “administered according to the demands of the patient from one hour at first to six-hour intervals.”  I was so miserable, I decided I would rather vomit than keep coughing, so took the 15 drops to fall asleep, again if I woke up coughing, and during the day when I needed a break for a couple days.

• Keep in mind that "Pukeweed" is one of its common names for a reason.  If you feel nauseous after using Lobelia inflata, cut back on the amount or cease completely.  Also keep in mind that it is considered a "low dose botanical" and is best to use after chatting with a trained herbalist.  That said, I include Lobelia inflata in many of my blends as it seems to synergize  and deepen the effects of many medicinal herbs.

FOR FURTHER STUDY:

• HerbRally Schoolhouse

• Botanical.com

• Mount Sinai Health Library

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Lyre Leaf Sage

 

BOTANICAL NAME:  Salvia lyrata

ENERGETICS:  Warming and Drying

MAJOR ACTIONS:  Astringent, diaphoretic, carminative, mild expectorant, restorative (recovering from serious illness)

EXAMPLES OF USES:   Used historically as an American folk remedy for cancer, hence its alias, “cancer-weed” and “cancer-root.” Root, leaves, and/or seeds used as a salve for healing wounds and treating abnormal growths.

PARTS USED:  Leaves, flowers, seeds, and roots

PREPARATIONS:  

• Tincture:  to use on its own or to add to tea to provide those constituents best extracted by alcohol.

• Tea:  for easing colds, coughs, and nervous debility; as a gargle for sore throat and mouth infections.

• Oil:  for topical use in treating sores.

• Fresh leaves:  applied to remove warts.

• Dry:  all aerial parts while in bloom for brewing tea all winter long.

• Edible:  fresh, young leaves add a slightly minty flavor to salads, beverages, and pesto or cooked as a pot herb.

WHY LYRE LEAF SAGE? 

• All parts of the plant are useful as a medicinal and edible plant.

• Historical use as an American folk remedy for cancer.  Modern research has disputed and disproven this claim, but there is a long history of this use.

• All parts of the plants have been brewed as tea in the treatment of colds and coughs.

• The only sage native to the United States.

• Great food source for our pollinating insects, including butterflies, bees, hummingbird moths, and hummingbirds.

• An attractive, low maintenance ground cover, hardy enough to be walked on and mowed.  Coexists harmlessly with lawn grass.

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS: 
Lyre leaf sage grows so easily, some consider it invasive.  I consider it attractive.  I haven’t turned to this plant as medicine much, so don’t have personal observations yet.  I hope to change this in 2023! 

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Alabama native Phyllis D. Light, MA, herbalist, and author of Southern Folk Medicine: Healing Traditions from the Appalachian Fields and Forest, has extensive knowledge and experience with lyre leaf sage. “I use a considerable amount of it,” she explains. “I use {the aerial parts} for recovery after serious illness. It helps restore vital energy…and it’s also good to help modulate the effects of stress.”  She also turns to the plant for allergies, coughs, colds, and sore throat. She, too, mentions a salve made from the roots, with a slight variation on the name’s origin; “It was called cancer root because the little root nugget and the rootlets attached look like a tumor.” As she explains, the salve was considered a folk remedy for early skin cancers and part of an all-purpose preparation with other herbs like calendula.

FOR FURTHER STUDY:

• The Garden Lady of GA (what a cool name!)

• Foraging Texas

 

Milky Oats

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BOTANICAL NAME:   Avena sativa

ENERGETICS:  Neutral to warming, moistening

MAJOR ACTIONS:  Relaxing nervine, nutritive

EXAMPLES OF USES:

• “Type A" burnout

• Breaking addiction

• Nervous system tonic

PARTS USED: Unripe seed pods when going from flower to seed.

PREPARATIONS: Tincture, dropping freshly picked, unripe seed pods directly into menstruum

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:  Milky Oats is a great nervous system tonic, not a sedative or stimulating, but it stabilizes, rebuilds, and/or enhances the nervous system.  Great for physical and mental exhaustion from too much work for too long.  Specific indications include nervous systems that are “fried” due to ongoing excess work or play.  “Type A burnout” - emotionally brittle due to stress.  Milky Oats has adaptogen-like qualities - good to take along with adaptogens such as Tulsi and Ashwagandha.