Menstrual

Petasites or butterbur is a woodland plant that is a member of the daisy family. It grows freely in damp conditions throughout Europe and the British Isles. Petasites means ‘large brimmed hat’, which is the best way to describe the large, round leaves. The root and leaves are used in herbal medicine. Action of Petasites [...]

Continue Reading Herb Petasites/Butterbur (Petasites hybridus)

Dong Quai, or Chinese angelica, has been used for over 5,000 years in China and is often referred to as ‘female ginseng’. The plant is a member of the Celery family and has white flowers between May and August. The root is used medicinally. Medicinal Properties of Dong Quai Donq quai contains the volatile oil, [...]

Continue Reading Herb Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis)

Raspberry or red Raspberry is a plant native to North America, but it is now widely cultivated in most temperate parts of the world. It is a well-known plant because of the delicious berries that it yields, however it is the leaves of the plant that are used in herbal medicine. Medicinal Properties of Raspberry [...]

Continue Reading Herb Raspberry leaf (Rubus idaeus)

Black horehound originates from rocky wasteland regions of the Mediterranean, Europe and Western Asia. It is a member of the mint family and is now found growing on many continents around the world. It is a completely different species to White horehound (Marrubium vulgare) and has different medicinal properties. The flower and leaf are used [...]

Continue Reading Herb Black horehound (Ballota nigra)

Huperzia is a type of moss that was traditionally used in Chinese medicine and drunk as a tea for various conditions including fever, urinary health and menstrual problems. In modern herbal medicine the alkaloid huperzine A is isolated and used medicinally. Medicinal Properties of Huperzia The moss contains huperzine A, which is the main active [...]

Continue Reading Herb Huperzia (Lycopodium serratum)

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. [...]

Continue Reading Herb Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)

Also known as lions foot, it is a common wild plant that readily grows in Britain and Europe. The whole aerial parts are used orally as a medicine, and the root is used in topical preparations. It gets its name from a Middle Ages dedication to the Virgin Mary as it was seen as a [...]

Continue Reading Herb Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris)

Known also as squaw root, it is a native of North America and is a flowering plant used for centuries by the women of Indian tribes to help with hormonal problems. Black cohosh is also used for these types of situations, but is a completely different species. The flowers were often used by American Indians, [...]

Continue Reading Herb Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)

Fennel is native to Europe, but is now grown all over the world as a food, spice and a medicinal plant. It has a long history of use dating back to ancient Greeks and Romans. The seeds are used in herbal medicine and Aromatherapy and they have an aniseed smell and taste. Medicinal Properties of [...]

Continue Reading Herb Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Flaxseed, Flax or linseed is well known for its use as an oil for preserving cricket bats. Flax is one of the most ancient of all cultivated plants, and is known to have been used by man since 5,000 BC. Both the seeds and seed oil are used medicinally. Medicinal Properties of Linseed Flax seeds [...]

Continue Reading Herb Flaxseed – Linseed (Linum usitatissimum)