Vomiting

This is a blue gum and is a very large evergreen tree that originates from Australia and Tasmania, but is now grown world-wide and mainly used for its essential oil. The leaves contain the oil and this is used in herbal medicine as well as being the main food that koala bears eat. There are [...]

Continue Reading Herb Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globus)

Uva ursi or bearberry is a small evergreen shrub found in northern United States and Europe. The flowers are pink or white, growing in sparse terminal clusters, and the fruit is a bright red or pink. However it is the leaf that is used in herbal medicine. Medicinal Properties of Uva ursi Uva ursi’s most [...]

Continue Reading Herb Uva ursi (Arctostaphylos Uva ursi)

Pau d’arco, lapacho or tahhebo is a tree native to the rain forests of Latin America and was used by the ancient Incas. The shredded bark of the tree has been used by indigenous tribes ever since to make a tea with many medicinal properties. Medicinal Properties of Pau d’arco Pau d’arco contains two main [...]

Continue Reading Herb Pau d’arco (Tabebuia impestiginosa)

This is probably a native to eastern Europe and is thought to be cultivated from the Hungarian plant, Cochlearia macrocarpa. It is now common throughout Russia, Europe and Scandanavia and is cultivated all over the world. The root is used as medicine and a food, particularly as a condiment for roast beef (horseradish sauce). Medicinal [...]

Continue Reading Herb Horseradish (Cochlearia armorica – Armoracia rusticana)

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)

Is native to the Molucca Islands and New Guinea, but is now also found in Sri Lanka and the West Indies. The large oval seed kernel is used as a culinary spice and in herbal medicine. The husk (known as mace) is also used as a spice. Medicinal Properties of Nutmeg It contains around 10% [...]

Continue Reading Herb Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans)

Lobelia is a plant native North America and has been used by the American Indians for hundreds of years. It was often smoked and is also known as Indian tobacco. The leaves are most commonly used in herbal medicine. Medicinal Properties of Lobelia Lobelia contains an alkaloid called lobeline, which acts as a powerful tonic [...]

Continue Reading Herb Lobelia (Lobelia inflata)

Also known as colic root or Chinese ginger, this is a reed-like plant that is native to south east China, especially in the island of Hainan. It is now cultivated in China, Indonesia, Thailand and Japan. It is closely related to ginger (Zingiber officinale) and to the large Galanga (Galanga officinalis). The root and rhizome [...]

Continue Reading Herb Galangal (Alpinia officinarum)

Ivy or common ivy is a well-known evergreen climbing plant that is widely found in the garden. It was a plant held in high esteem by the Ancient Greeks and was used by priests in wedding rituals. Common ivy is native to Europe and should not be confused with its American cousin, ‘poison ivy’, which [...]

Continue Reading Herb Common Ivy (Hedera helix)

Ginger is one of the greatest of all natural medicines, used by Chinese doctors since 1,000 BC and popular with European herbalists from the Middle Ages. It is a perennial plant that grows throughout China and the rest of Asia, and in the tropics and South America. The root is used both as a spice [...]

Continue Reading Herb Ginger (Zingiber officinale)