Energy

Corn salad, mache, lamb’s lettuce, field salad and field lettuce are all names for a salad green of the valerian family. The plant grows in a rosette of long spoon shaped leaves which may also be clustered in loose head. The lamb’s lettuce name possibly comes from its resemblance to the size and shape of a lamb’s tongue, or the fact that it is one of their favourite grazing plants - reputed to give them their friskiness during spring. It has been used for thousands of years.

Medicinal Properties of White pot herb

The leaves of this herb are very nutritious as they contain high amounts of vitamin B1 and vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, carbohydrate, protein and dietary fibre. It has other lesser known compounds and is said to be depurative (purifying agent), nervine (mildly soothing to nerves), refrigerant (gives a feeling of coolness) and anti-scurvy.

Tags: Anxiety, Depression, Energy, Skin

Shiitake or Hua gu is a type of mushroom and has been used as a food and medicine in China and Japan for thousands of years. It is now cultivated all over the world. The mushroom head is used in herbalism and is combined with another mushroom, known as reishi.

Medicinal Properties of Shiitake

Shiitake contains triterpenoids and glucans (polysaccharides), namely lentinan which has potent immune stimulating and regulating properties. It is also antiviral, anti-cancer, cholesterol lowering and adaptogenic.

Shiitake Herbal Remedies

Historically Shiitake has been used to treat a number of conditions including:

Tags: Cancer, Cholesterol, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Cold, Energy, Hepatitis, HIV, Immune System, Infections, Lactation, Stress, Worms

Reishi or Ling chih/zhi is a type of mushroom that is native to the coastal provinces of China and has been used in Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years. The red variety is most commonly cultivated for this purpose, but there are 5 other colours that exist. The mushroom head is used in herbalism and is often used in combination with another mushroom called shiitake..

Medicinal Properties of Reishi

It contains sterols, coumarin, mannitol, glucans (polysaccharides) and triterpenoids called ganoderic acids. Ganoderic acids are thought to reduce the stickiness of blood platelets and have lowering action on both LDL cholesterol and high blood pressure. It also contains germanium, which helps to oxygenate cells. It is said to have antiviral, anti-tumour, antibacterial, immuno-stimulant, antihistamine, adaptogenic, expectorant and tonic-like actions.

Tags: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Cancer, Cholesterol, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Diabetes, Energy, Hepatitis, High Blood Pressure, HIV, Immune System, Infections, Lactation, Stomach, Stress, Throat

Mate or yerba mate tea is the national drink of Paraguay and Brazil. The leaves are used in herbal medicine.

Medicinal Properties of Mate

The leaves contain less tannins than ordinary black tea, but still has good levels of caffeine, which is a stimulant to the brain and nervous system. It is also a general tonic, anti-rheumatic, mildly antispasmodic, diuretic and helps to rid the body of uric acid.

Mate Herbal Remedies

Historically Ilex paraguariensis has been used to treat a number of conditions including:

Exhaustion from stress
Gout
Headache -nervous
Lack of energy
Obesity
Rheumatism

Tags: Energy, Gout, Lactation, Nervous, Rheumatic, Rheumatism, Stress, Weight Loss

Maitake or dancing mushroom is a type of large medicinal mushroom that grows in the mountainous regions of Japan. In addition it is found in some parts of Europe and North America. Most commercial maitake is cultivated in Japan and is produced organically. The mushroom head is used in herbalism and for culinary purposes due to its delicious flavour.

Medicinal Properties of Maitake

It contains glucans (polysaccharides), namely beta-D-glucan, which is known to have immune regulating and cholesterol lowering properties. This mushroom is also adaptogenic, anti-tumour, anti-cancer and tonic in action.

Maitake Herbal Remedies

Historically Maitake has been used to treat a number of conditions including:

High blood pressure
High cholesterol
HIV
Infections
Lack of energy
Weak immune system

Tags: Cancer, Cholesterol, Energy, High Blood Pressure, HIV, Immune System, Infections, Lactation

NOTE: Yohimbe herbal supplements are not legally available for over the counter sale in the UK and Ireland, but they may be prescribed by a qualified medical herbalist.The yohimbe tree is a tall evergreen that is native to Africa, mainly growing in the forests of south-western Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon and the Congo. The bark is used in herbal medicine.

Medicinal Properties of Yohimbe

Yohimbe contains an alkaloid called yohimbine, which has various properties:

Firstly, it blocks alpha-2 adrenergic receptors in the nervous system, which increases levels of catecholamines, such as adrenaline (epinephrine). This directly stimulates, blood flow and metabolic rate, which mobilises fats out of their storage areas so they can be burned for fuel.

Tags: Anxiety, Circulation, Cough, Depression, Diabetes, Energy, Fever, Flu, Heart, Impotence, Kidney, Lactation, Liver, Nausea, Nervous, Panic, Sleep, Stress, Ulcers

Siberian Ginseng is a shrub with erect spiny shoots and is native to the Soviet Far East, Korea, China and Japan north of latitude 38. Its distribution is actually much greater than its more popular distant relative, panax or Korean Ginseng. Siberian Ginseng was used by the ancient Chinese as far back as 2000 BC. The roots are used in herbal medicine.

Medicinal Properties of Siberian Ginseng

Siberian Ginseng contains eleutherosides which have powerful adaptogenic properties and immune boosting action. This herb also enhances mental function, increases physical energy levels, and helps the body eliminate toxins by boosting liver function.

Siberian Ginseng is supportive to the adrenal glands and is often used to help with stress and fatigue.

Tags: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Energy, Flu, High Blood Pressure, Influenza, Lactation, Liver, Sleep, Stress, Tired All The Time

Schisandra, or Wu-wei-zi, is a traditional Chinese herb that is found in Korea, Russia and China. It is a vine-like plant with bright red berries that many flavours and medicinal properties.

Medicinal Properties of Schisandra

Schisandra contains a variety of active compounds, these include: organic acids, volatile oils and lignans. The lignans in schisandra appear to regenerate liver tissue and control inflammation. Schisandra also demonstrates mild adaptogenic action.

Schisandra Herbal Remedies

Immune support – Helping overcome illness such as coughs, colds and infection.

Stress and fatigue – Energy boosting and adaptogenic.

Liver support – repair from damage, especially from alcohol and Hepatitis.

Schisandra is available as tablets, capsules or tincture.

Tags: Cold, Cough, Energy, Hepatitis, Inflammation, Liver, Stress

Guarana, an evergreen vine, is native to the Brazilian rain forest and has been used for thousands of years by the local Indian tribes. The seeds are used in herbal medicine.

Medicinal Properties of Guarana

Guarana contains xanthines (caffeine, theobromine and theophylline), saponins, tannins and choline. It has stimulant, tonic, adaptogenic and nerve soothing properties. Its actions are very different to tea, coffee and cola drinks, as the saponins in Guarana slow down the absorption and release of caffeine into body. Guarana contains around 22% caffeine, which is a mild appetite suppressant and is known to raise body temperature which is thought to encourage the release of energy from stored body fat.

Guarana Herbal Remedies

Our herbalists recommend Guarana for the following disorders:

Tags: Anxiety, Appetite, Depression, Energy, High Blood Pressure, Insomnia, Sleep, Stress

Citrus aurantium is also known as bitter orange, green orange or sour orange. In traditional Chinese Medicine it is known as zhi shi and in Aromatherapy the essential oil is called neroli. The fruit of Citrus aurantium contains the active compounds used in herbal medicine.

Medicinal Properties of Bitter orange

Citrus aurantium contains an alkaloid called synephrine, which is chemically very similar to caffeine and the ephedrine and pseudo-ephedrine found in many OTC cold/allergy medications. In the US, the herb ephedra (Ma Huang) is available which also contains ephedrine.

Synephrine is a stimulant, it is thought to have similar effects to caffeine and ephedrine in terms of providing an energy boost, suppressing appetite and increasing metabolic rate and caloric expenditure. Citrus aurantium also contains tyramine and octopamine. Octopamine is thought to be involved in appetite control.

Tags: Anxiety, Appetite, Cold, Depression, Diabetes, Energy, Flu, Heart, High Blood Pressure, Nervous, PMS, Skin, Sleep, Weight Loss

Betony or wood betony is an attractive plant that is native to Europe and grows freely throughout the UK, but is also cultivated in temperate regions of the world. The whole plant can be used in herbal medicine, but the leaves and flower are most often used. Other related species are S. sieboldii (kan lu or Chinese artichoke) and S. atherocalyx (hedge nettle).

Action of Betony

This herb contains a variety of compounds including alkaloids, glycosides and volatile oils, but its properties are poorly understood. Historically it is said to be a tonic for the liver and nervous system. In addition it improves circulation to the brain and has digestive bitter effects as well as mild sedative action.

Tags: Anxiety, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Circulation, Cystitis, Diarrhoea, Digestion, Energy, Gastritis, Headaches, Heart, Heartburn, Hernia, Indigestion, Lactation, Liver, Memory, Nervous, Neuralgia, Parasites, Sciatica, Sinus, Stress, Varicose Veins

Korean Ginseng is also referred to as Asian ginseng or Chinese ginseng. It is a small perennial plant that originally grew in the damp woodlands of northern China, Manchuria and Korea. It has been used for thousands of years and is now widely cultivated and is the most popular ginseng available. The mature root is used in herbal medicine.

Action of Korean Ginseng

Korean Ginseng contains many compounds including polysaccharides, panaxans, vitamins, gums, oils and resins, but it is ginsenosides that have the most potent and understood actions in the body. Korean Ginseng has numerous actions and is said to be both sedative and stimulant and therefore an excellent balancing or adaptogenic herb. It has balancing effects on blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, energy, stress, mood immune function and libido.

Tags: Cholesterol, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Energy, Flu, High Blood Pressure, Infertility, Sleep, Stress, Tired All The Time