Skin

Oregano or wild Marjoram is an aromatic herb that is commonly used in cooking, especially in tomato-based sauces and on pizza. It is a perennial plant native to Asia and Europe, but is now cultivated world-wide for its culinary use. The leaves of the dried herb and the volatile oil are used in herbal medicine and Aromatherapy.

Medicinal Properties of Oregano

Oregano contains up to 3% volatile oils, which are made up of borneol, carvacrol and thymol menthol as well as flavonoids, rosmarinic acid, triterpenoids, sterols and the Vitamins A and C. The volatile oils in Oregano exhibit antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Oregano Herbal Remedies

Our herbalists recommend Oregano for:

Tags: Candidiasis, Digestion, Indigestion, Infections, Skin, Sleep, Thrush

Is a plant native to Europe and classed as a weed. It is the root that is of value in herbal medicine.

Medicinal Properties of Yellow Dock

It contains anthraquinone glycosides, tannins, oxalates and rumicin. It is a bitter digestive tonic, cholagogue (increase bile flow) and laxative. It is also mineral rich in iron and sulphur.

Yellow Dock Herbal Remedies

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

Constipation
Food poisoning
Irritable bowel syndrome
Jaundice and liver problems
Mouth ulcers (mouth wash)
Poor digestion
Skin disorders - boils, rashes, shingles
Sluggish liver function

Other Yellow Dock Information

It is normally available as a herbal tea for internal use, although a qualified herbalist will be able to make other preparations including tinctures.

Tags: Boils, Constipation, Diarrhoea, Digestion, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Lactation, Liver, Poisoning, Rash, Skin, Ulcers

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

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

Also known as wild pansy, this is a flowering plant native to Europe. The flowers are used in herbal medicine and offer valuable benefits to the skin. The other well known species of viola is sweet violet (V. odarata), which is sometimes used in herbal medicine for respiratory problems such as coughs, colds, catarrh and bronchitis.

Medicinal Properties of Viola

This herb contains compounds called saponins which help to clear toxins through the kidneys and out of the body. Saponins applied topically are soothing to the skin. This herb also contains high levels of flavanoids, which are anti-inflammatory, especially to the skin. It is also said to be blood cleansing (depurative).

Viola Herbal Remedies

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

Tags: Acne, Bronchitis, Catarrh, Cold, Cough, Eczema, Kidney, Lactation, Psoriasis, Rash, Skin

Vetiver or vetivert is a tall, tufted perennial scented grass. It is native to Sri Lanka, Indonesia and southern India. It is cultivated all over the world for its volatile oil, which is mainly used in aromatherapy. The essential oil is extracted from the roots and rootlets, and often known as the ‘oil of tranquillity’. It is related to lemongrass and citronella.

Medicinal Properties of Vetiver

The oil contains vetiverol, vitivone and various terpenes including vetivenes. Used topically in aromatherapy it has many actions, including antiseptic, antispasmodic, depurative (purifying agent) rubefacient, sedative, circulatory stimulant, tonic and vermifuge (helps to expel worms).

Vetiver Herbal Remedies

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

Tags: Acne, Anxiety, Arthritis, Depression, Insomnia, Lactation, Pain, Rheumatism, Skin, Stress, Worms, Wound

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 hemisphere and has been used for centuries.

Medicinal Properties of Nettle

Nettle leaf is nutritive as it contains high levels of chloropyll and minerals such as Iron, Calcium and silica.

Nettle also provides flavonoids, vitamin C, lectins and polysaccharides.

Nettle has anti-inflammatory, diuretic and haemostatic properties.

Nettle leaves are highly valued in country medicine for their tonic and blood purifying powers.

Tags: Anaemia, Arthritis, Fever, Gout, Haemorrhage, Hayfever, Osteoporosis, Pain, Rash, Rheumatic, Skin, Water Retention

Tormentil or bloodroot is a creeping perennial plant which is a member of the rose family. It grows throughout Europe on moors and in grassy places. The herb and root are used in herbal medicine, and commonly used for irritable bowel syndrome.

Medicinal Properties of Tormentil

This herb contains high levels of tannins (10% to 30%) and other phenols, which gives it a potent astringent action, especially in the digestive tract. Tannins also bind to proteins in the mucous membranes and therefore protects tissues from irritation, pathogenic bacteria and toxins. Tormentil also contains a red compound called phlobaphene or tormentil red. It is said to be haemostatic (controls or stops bleeding) and may have mild positive actions on the immune system.

Tags: Bleeding, Colitis, Diarrhoea, Diverticulitis, Immune System, Infections, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Lactation, Skin, Sore, Ulcers, Vaginal

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

Chinese or Asian skullcap is a plant native to China and Russia, and is a member of the mint family. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine and should not be confused with American skullcap (S. latiflora) or European/Greater skullcap (S. galericulata), which have very different action and uses. The root of Chinese skullcap is used medicinally.

Medicinal Properties of Chinese Scullcap

It contains various flavanoids including baicalin, which has antioxidant protective effects on the liver. It also contains tannins and volatile oil. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-microbial.

Chinese Scullcap Herbal Remedies

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

Allergies
Bronchitis
Epilepsy
Hayfever
Hepatitis
High cholesterol
HIV
Infections of lung, liver and digestive tract
Skin inflammation

Tags: Allergies, Bronchitis, Cholesterol, Epilepsy, Fever, Hayfever, Hepatitis, HIV, Infections, Inflammation, Lactation, Liver, Skin

Several types of savory (a small shrubby plant) exist. The main ones are summer savory (S. hortensis), a herbaceous annual, and winter savory (S. Montana), a perennial woody shrub. Both species are native to Southern Europe and N Africa, but now grow world-wide. The whole herb is used in cooking and herbal medicine. In Germany it is known as the ‘bean-herb’ as it is reputed to reduce wind and gas.

Medicinal Properties of Savory

The main active compound in savory is the volatile oil, which contains a variety of different compounds. It is said to be carminative (wind relieving), expectorant, astringent, aphrodisiac, emmenagogue (stimulates menstruation), antifungal and vermifuge (expels worms). Summer savory is also antimicrobial and antispasmodic.

Tags: Asthma, Catarrh, Colic, Digestion, Flatulence, Indigestion, Lactation, Menstrual, Nausea, Parasites, Skin, Sore, Throat, Worms

Is a bog-plant that is native to Britain and Europe, but is now naturalised in the United States. Used in Europe for over 2000 years as a medicine, especially for soothing digestive and respiratory tracts. The Marshmallow roots and leaves are used medicinally. The root extract is sometimes used to make confectionery.

Medicinal Properties of Marshmallow

The root contains a substance called mucilage which has demulcent (soothing) properties, up to 11% of this active constituent exists, and it protects, lubricates and heals inflamed or irritated tissue and mucous membranes. It also contains flavanoids, tannins, phenolic acids and 37% starch,11% pectin, 10% sucrose, 1.7% fat and up to 2% asparagine. It is thought that the mucilage in this herb may also have immune stimulating and blood sugar-lowering properties. Topically it acts as an emollient (skin softening and soothing).

Tags: Asthma, Boils, Chilblains, Cold, Colitis, Cough, Crohn’s Disease, Cystitis, Diarrhoea, Digestion, Dyspepsia, Eczema, Gastritis, Gastroenteritis, Hernia, Indigestion, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Skin, Sore, Stomach, Throat, Ulcers, Wound