Rheumatic

Blackcurrants or quinsy berries are a common summer fruit, grown in the UK. They are nutritious and do have various medicinal properties. In addition, the leaves and seeds are sometimes used in herbalism. Action of Blackcurrant They contain approximately 4 times as much ascorbic acid as the equivalent weight of oranges, and so they provide [...]

Continue Reading Herb Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum)

Arnica is a flowering plant found widely in Europe and Britain. It is no longer readily available in the UK for internal use, as a herbal medicine, but it is often used in various topical applications. For internal use the homoeopathic remedy Arnica is preferred and has many important uses. The dried flowers and leaves [...]

Continue Reading Herb Arnica (Arnica Montana)

Parsley is a herb commonly known for its culinary use. Used by the Greek physician, Galen for disorders of the womb and bladder. Parsley tea was also used in the trenches of World War I for soldiers suffering kidney complications following dysentery. The root, leaves and seeds have medicinal properties in herbal medicine, but today [...]

Continue Reading Herb Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)

Also known as toothache tree, it is native to Canada and America. northern prickly ash is Z. americanum and southern prickly ash is Z. clava-herculis. In both cases the bark is used in herbal medicine and berries are also of some use. Another species growing in Asia is called Chinese prickly ash, Z. bungeanum. Medicinal [...]

Continue Reading Herb Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum clava-herculis, Zanthoxylum americanum)

Bay or sweet bay is a plant that has been used for thousands of years and held in high esteem by the ancient Greeks. The young stems and older leaves are used culinary and medicinally. Action of Bay leaves This herb contains an oil which has antiseptic properties, demonstrating anti-microbial action against bacteria and fungi. [...]

Continue Reading Herb Bay leaves (Laurus nobilis)

Feverfew is an attractive member of the chrysanthemum family and was native to parts of southern Europe. Today it is spread all over Europe, the UK and North America. It has masses of white and yellow flowers which resemble daisies, however it is the leaves that are used in herbal medicine. Medicinal Properties of Feverfew [...]

Continue Reading Herb Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)

Stinging nettle or Urtica, which comes from the Latin uro, meaning “I burn” is indicative of the painful stings caused by the tiny hairs on the nettle leaves. Ironically the leaves are also the main medicinal parts of the plant. The nettle root is also sometimes used by herbalists. Nettle grows everywhere in the northern [...]

Continue Reading Herb Nettle (Urtica dioica)

Comfrey is native to Europe and western Asia. It is often called boneset or knitbone because of its traditional use, of helping to mend broken bones. The root and leaves are used in herbal medicine. Medicinal Properties of Comfrey Comfrey contains many compounds including allantoin, mucilage and pyrrolizidine alkaloids. It has anti-inflammatory, soothing and potent [...]

Continue Reading Herb Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)

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)

This is a strongly aromatic annual herb that grows about a metre in height. It is native to Europe and Western Asia, but is now naturalised in North America and cultivated all around the world. The Persians grew this herb over 3,000 years ago and used it to add fragrance to the Hanging Gardens of [...]

Continue Reading Herb Coriander (Coriandrum sativa)