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Yarrow, milfoil or nosebleed is a plant native to Europe and Asia. It is now naturalised in North America and there are several hybrids of yarrow. A. millefolium is the plant most known and has been used since the times of the ancient Chinese. It was once referred to as Englishman’s quinine. In herbal medicine the flowering tops are freshly collected and used.

Medicinal Properties of Yarrow

It contains a wide variety of compounds including volatile oil, sesquiterpene lactones, flavanoids, alkaloids, polyacetylenes, triterpenes, sterols, phenolic acids, coumarins and 3% to 4% tannins. The volatile oil contains chemicals called chamazeulines which are thought to be anti-inflammatory. The flavanoids, namely apigenin, appear to be antispasmodic in action. The alkaloids and sesquiterpene lactones give the herb digestive bitter properties, and the haemostatic effect (stops bleeding) is attributed to the alkaloid, achilleine, though the tannins may also be responsible. It is diaphoretic (reduces sweating), hypotensive, analgesic and an emmenagogue (stimulates menstruation).

Tags: Amenorrhoea, Appetite, Bleeding, Cold, Colic, Colitis, Diarrhoea, Digestion, Fever, Flu, Heart, Heartburn, High Blood Pressure, Indigestion, Inflammation, Influenza, Lactation, PMS, Rash, Skin, Ulcers, Vaginal, Varicose Veins, Wound

Thyme or common thyme is a perennial, evergreen shrub and is native to Spain and the Mediterranean region, although it is now found throughout the world. It originates from wild thyme (T. serpyllum), which is native to Britain and Europe, and has been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians. The leaves and flowers are used in herbal medicine and aromatherapy, whilst the leaves are used in cooking as a preservative and to add flavour.

Medicinal Properties of Thyme

Thyme contains volatile oils, flavanoids, gums and labiatic and caffeic acids. The volatile oil consists mainly of thymol, the main active constituent. Other compounds include phenols (tannins) and carvacol. It is antibacterial, antiviral, antispasmodic, antitussive (cough preventative), expectorant, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic, antioxidant, carminative (wind relieving), and antiseptic. Wild thyme is also sedative and diaphoretic (promotes perspiration).

Tags: Bed Wetting, Bronchitis, Candidiasis, Cold, Cough, Cystitis, Diarrhoea, Digestion, Flu, Gastritis, Heart, Heartburn, Indigestion, Infections, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Lactation, Laryngitis, Pain, Poisoning, Sore, Throat, Worms, Wound

Little dragon or Russion tarragon is a tall perennial plant with smooth narrow leaves, and it is popular as a culinary herb. It is native to Europe, southern Russia and western Asia, but is now cultivated world-wide. A hybrid called French tarragon or sativa, is also available and has been cultivated as a garden herb. This is a smaller plant with sharper flavour. In all cases the leaves are used in cooking, herbal medicine and aromatherapy.

Medicinal Properties of Tarragon

The leaves contain volatile oil amongst other compounds. Historically it is said to be antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative (wind relieving), diuretic, anthelmintic (kills and removes worms), emmenagogue (stimulates menstruation), aperitif and a digestive tonic.

Tags: Appetite, Digestion, Heart, Heartburn, Hernia, High Blood Pressure, Indigestion, Lactation, Menstrual, Parasites, Worms

Slippery elm is a tree, which naturally grows in North America and has been used by native Americans for a variety of conditions for centuries. The bark of the tree is commonly used in herbal medicine.

Medicinal Properties of Slippery elm

Slippery elm bark contains very high levels of mucilage, which is rich in polysaccharides. It also contains starch, a small amount of tannin and minerals. The mucilage has demulcent, emollient, soothing and healing properties particularly to the mucous membranes of the digestive system and the skin.

Slippery elm Herbal Remedies

Our herbalists recommend slippery elm for the following disorders:

Candidiasis (systemic)
Constipation
Crohn’s disease
Diarrhoea
E.coli
Gastritis
Gastroenteritis
Heartburn
IBS
Indigestion
Sore throat
Stomach ulcers

Tags: Candidiasis, Constipation, Cough, Crohn’s Disease, Diarrhoea, Digestion, Gastritis, Gastroenteritis, Heart, Heartburn, Indigestion, Lactation, Skin, Sore, Stomach, Throat, Ulcers, Wound

This small, aromatic, evergreen shrubby plant is native to the Mediterranean region and now cultivated world-wide. It has been used for thousands of years to improve memory and aid digestion, and as a preservative for meats. The leaves and terminal twigs are used in cooking and herbal medicine, the extracted oil is also commonly used in aromatherapy.

Medicinal Properties of Rosemary

It contains a wide variety of compounds, including flavanoids, diterpenes, volatile oil and phenolic acids, in particular rosmarinic acid, which is antioxidant in action. The volatile oil consists of a variety of active constituents that have potent anti-microbial and antispasmodic properties. Historically it is said to be antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, anticancer, circulatory stimulant tonic, diuretic, sedative, mild astringent, analgesic and a brain tonic.

Tags: Anxiety, Cancer, Candidiasis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Circulation, Depression, Digestion, Flatulence, Headaches, Heart, Heartburn, High Blood Pressure, Indigestion, Infections, Lactation, Lice, Liver, Memory, Migraine

It comes from the olive tree, is evergreen and originates from the Mediterranean. It is best known for its green or black fruits (olives), these can be eaten or pressed to yield olive oil. The oil is used widely in cooking and has some medicinal uses. It is thought to be one of the major health preserving parts of the Mediterranean diet, although the leaves have other properties which are important in herbal medicine.

Medicinal Properties of Olive leaf

Olive leaf contains oleuropein and various flavanoids including rutin, apigenin and luteolin. Oleuropein appears to be the active that accounts for the leafs ability to lower blood pressure and dilate blood vessels. It also has antioxidant properties and may protect against hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) caused by oxidation of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol. It is thought to be diuretic, astringent, febrifuge (reduces fever) hypoglycaemic, mildly antispasmodic, antibacterial, vulnerary (wound healing) and a liver tonic.

Tags: Boils, Cholesterol, Circulation, Cystitis, Diabetes, Fever, Gallstones, Heart, High Blood Pressure, Infections, Kidney, Lactation, Liver, Stomach, Wound

Neroli or orange blossom is the flowers of the plant, bitter orange (Citrus aurantium). Neroli is the name of the essential oil that is mainly used for aromatherapy, rather than in herbal medicine. It was named after the princess of Nerola in Italy, who loved to wear it as a perfume. The flowers were used in bridal bouquets and wreaths to calm nervous tension before the honeymoon night. A distillation can also be made from the flowers and is called orange flower water.

Medicinal Properties of Neroli

This herb contains approximately 34% linalol, 6%-17% linalyl acetate, 15% limonene and various volatile compounds. The oil is antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, carminative (wind relieving), deodorant, nervous stimulant, heart and circulatory tonic, digestive tonic and a mild hypnotic.

Tags: Anxiety, Circulation, Colic, Depression, Diarrhoea, Digestion, Flatulence, Heart, Indigestion, Lactation, Nervous, PMS, Stress, Tension, Wrinkles

Peppermint is a natural hybrid of garden spearmint (Mentha spicata) and water mint (Mentha aquatica) and was first cultivated in England in the middle ages. It now grows everywhere in Europe and is also cultivated in the USA. The two most popular varieties are white peppermint (green stems, light green leaves) and black peppermint (deep red stems, purple tinged dark green leaves). Both varieties produce purple flowers, but it is the leaves that are used medicinally.

Medicinal Properties of Peppermint

Peppermint contains up to 1% volatile oils, mostly menthol and menthone, as well as the flavonoid menthocide. These compounds are carminative, antispasmodic and choleretic (stimulate bile). They also act as an external analgesic and nasal decongestant.

Tags: Appetite, Cold, Colic, Cramp, Digestion, Fever, Flatulence, Headaches, Heart, Heartburn, Indigestion, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Liver, Nasal, Tension

Is common wild plant in Britain, throughout Europe and parts of Asia. It is also found in North America. The flowers, leaves and finer stems are used in herbal medicine. It is often called the herbalists ‘bicarbonate of soda’ due to its antacid action.

Medicinal Properties of Meadowsweet

This herb contains a variety of compounds including flavanol glycosides (quercitin in particular), phenolic glycosides, 0.2% volatile oil and polyphenols (tannins). The volatile oil contains a range of salicylates which are broken down in the body to form salicylic acid, a compound very similar to the pain killer - aspirin. It has mild analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as antacid, diuretic, astringent and stomich (relieves stomach pain) benefits.

Tags: Arthritis, Cold, Cystitis, Digestion, Dyspepsia, Flatulence, Flu, Gastritis, Heart, Heartburn, Indigestion, Influenza, Pain, Rheumatism, Stomach, Ulcers, Water Retention

Lavender, or common/true lavender is an evergreen woody shrub, with beautiful purple-blue flowers. It is native to the Mediterranean region, but is now cultivated world-wide, for its use as a garden herb and for its distinctive fragrant aromatherapy oil.

The flowers are used in herbal medicine and to make essential oil. Several variations exist: French lavender (L. stooechas), Spike lavender (L. latifolia), Lavandin (L. x intermedia).

Medicinal Properties of Lavender

It contains a volatile oil which comprises of over 100 different constituents, including around 40% linalyl acetate, linalool, lavandulol, lavandulyl acetate, terpinol, cineol and limonene, among many others.
The flowers also contain coumarins, flavanoids and other triterpenes.
Lavender is best known as a very calming and relaxing plant.
Lavender is also antibacterial, analgesic, antispasmodic, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, carminative (wind relieving), emmenagogue (stimulates menstruation) and an insecticide (especially spike lavender).

Tags: Anxiety, Burns, Chilblains, Circulation, Colic, Depression, Digestion, Headaches, Heart, Heartburn, High Blood Pressure, Indigestion, Infections, Insomnia, Migraine, Nervous, Neuralgia, Pain, Rheumatism, Stress, Toothache

This is a herb not commonly used today, but has a history of use as far back as ancient Egypt and was also used in Arabian medicine. The seeds contain the key medicinal components.

Medicinal Properties of Khella

It contains a compound called khellin which appears to be able to stimulate repigmentation of the skin, by increasing sensitivity of melanocyte cells to sunlight - a unique property. It is therefore very useful in the treatment of vitiligo. Another compound called sodium cromoglycate, acts as a potent vasodilator. Khella is antispasmodic to the respiratory and cardiovascular system.

Khella Herbal Remedies

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

Tags: Allergies, Asthma, Cough, Heart, Kidney, Lactation, Psoriasis, Skin

This evergreen conifer is native to the northern hemisphere growing mainly in Scandinavia, Siberia, Canada, northern Europe and northern Asia. The berries are used to make the alcoholic spirit - Gin.

Juniper is of course also used in herbal medicine, especially for urinary problems.

Medicinal Properties of Juniper

Juniper contain volatile oil, tannins, resin, grape sugar, diterpene acids and vitamin C. The main active is the volatile oil - terpinol, which acts as a diuretic on the kidneys and a urinary antiseptic. It is also a digestive tonic, emmenagogue (stimulates menstruation), carminative (wind relieving) and external parasitic.

Juniper Herbal Remedies

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

Tags: Amenorrhoea, Cystitis, Digestion, Flatulence, Gout, Heart, High Blood Pressure, Indigestion, Kidney, Periods, Rheumatism, Urinary, Water Retention