Specific Herbs and Their Uses - Part 1

Agar Agar
An algae from seaweed, it is a gelatinous natural thickener and is a natural laxative.

Agrimony
A valuable remedy for the digestive system it stimulates the digestive and liver secretions.  It is also the herb of choice for appendicitis.  Also treats incontinence, sore throats and laryngitis.  As a salve it will aid in healing wounds and bruises.

Alder Tree
Use leaves for swelling.  Especially helpful in easing pain of swollen breast or burning and aching feet.  Should be avoided if pregnant.

Alfalfa
A highly nutritive herb, good for the pituitary gland, it alkalizes the body rapidly and detoxifies the liver.  Essential in rebuilding decayed teeth and helps with arthritic and rheumatic pain.

Aloes
Such as Aloe Vera, are good for burns.  While this is a well known treatments, what you may not know is that aloes are also helpful in treating cancer and stomach ailments.

Angelica
Use both the root and seed.  Roots and leaves are used medicinally, the stems and seeds are used in confectionery.  This herb is a useful expectorant for coughs, bronchitis and pleurisy, especially when they are accompanied by fever, colds or influenza. 

Aniseed
Use the dried fruit.  The strong oil in Aniseed provides the basis for its internal use to ease griping, intestinal colic and flatulence. It also has an expectorant and anti-spasmodic action and may be used in bronchitis, in tracheitis where there is persistent irritable coughing, and in whooping cough.   The oil itself can be the base for an ointment to help control lice and the oil can be used directly in the control of lice.  

Apple Tree
Use the bark to create a tonic that will treat gravel in the bladder and also aid in reducing fever.

Arnica
Not to be taken internally, this is an excellent treatment for bruises and sprains.  Will also help relieve rheumatic pain as well as pain and inflammation of phlebitis.

Arrowroot
Use as a demulcent and nutritive food for urinary and bowel affections in infants and invalids in convalescence.

Astragalus
Widely used in Chinese Medicine, it boosts the immune system.  Use for anything from the common cold to cancer.

Balm
Also known as Lemon Balm, Sweet Balm or Melissa.  Using the green leaves and flowers, balm is a natural deterrent to perspiration, will also bring boils to a head, is useful for stings and toothache as well as flatulence and digestion.

Balm of Gilead
Also known as  Poplar buds and Balsam Poplar.  Bark and leaves are used to alleviate discomfort of cough colds, lung trouble and kidneys.  Secondary, the buds can be used as a tea for gargling making it an excellent remedy for sore throats, coughs and laryngitis.

Balmony
Also known as Bitter Herb, Snake Head, Turtle Head or Turtle Broom.  Good for the liver, stomach and used in the treatment of eczema.  Also used in treatment of gall stones, inflammation of the gall-bladder and in jaundice. It stimulates the appetite, eases colic, dyspepsia and biliousness and is helpful in debility.

Barberry
Use to correct liver function and promote the flow of bile.  Also effective for the inflammation of the gall bladder due to gall stones. 

Basil
Yes this is the same basil that you use in cooking.  Create a tea from the dried herb to treat nausea.

Bay
Create a tonic from the leaves for strength.  Also aids in digestion and cramps.

Bayberry
Also known as Candleberry, Waxberry and Wax Myrtle.  Use bark, leaves and flowers. For treatment of sore throat, piles, bleeding of the stomach, lungs, bowels and very effective as a douche.

Bee Pollen
Good for allergies.  Excellent as an energy food.  Aids in radiation sickness, the kind people get when they undergo radiation therapy for cancer.

Beet Root (Red)
A liver and spleen cleanser.  It reactivates a sluggish liver.  Should be taken in small amounts.

Bergamot
Useful for soothing the stomach and flatulence.

Betony
Useful as a blood purifier, also effective for epilepsy, jaundice and colic.

Birch
Leaves are an effective treatment for cystitis and other urinary infections.  Also good for gout, arthritic pain and rheumatism.

Bitter Root
Use the root for fever, liver problems, bowels, gallstones diabetes and ailments involving mucous membranes.

Bitter Sweet
Use root and twig for purifying blood, treating ailments of the liver, pancreas, spleen, glandular organs, piles, jaundice, burns skin and fever.

Blackberry
Use the bark of the root and rhizome.  A safe, gentle remedy that can be used for diarrhea, dysentery and externally for skin eruptions and burns.

Black Catechu
Effective treatment for diarrhea, dysentery and as a local application for sore mouths and gums.

Black Cohosh
Also known as Black Snakeroot, Bugbane, Rattleroot, Rattleweed, Squawroot.  The dried root is the part used.   This is a powerful relaxant as well as being extremely effective with easing painful menstrual cramps.  Ovarian cramps will be relieved as well as bringing on a delayed menstrual cycle.  It is also effective in the treatment of arthritis, osteo-arthritis, rheumatic pain and neurological pan.  In small doses, appetite and digestion are greatly improved and is very beneficial for the nervous system in general.

Black Haw
Used the dried root.  A powerful relaxant for the uterus, is used to assist in threatened miscarriage as well as false labor pains.  Also good for reducing blood pressure

Black Root
Relieves liver congestion, jaundice and for an inflamed gall-bladder.. 

Black Walnut Hulls
Expels parasites and tape worms.  Rich in manganese which is important for nerves, brain and cartilage.  Also used for many kind so skin diseases.

Blessed Thistle
Excellent for hormone balance.  Helps in all types of female disorders.   Good for migraine headaches by improving on taking oxygen to the brain.

Blood Root
Also known as Red Root, Red Indian Paint and Tetterwort.  The part of the plant that is used is the dried rhizome (root).  It is effective for the treatment of bronchitis easing the bronchial muscles.  Also proven effective for the treatment of asthma, croup and laryngitis.

Blue Cohosh
Also known as Papoose Root or Squawroot.   Use the root and rhizome.  Interesting that the secondary names pertain to women and children.  This is an excellent tonic for the uterus and may be used wherever there may be a weakness.  Because it has a anti-spasmodic action, it will ease false labor pains.  When labor does ensue, using Blue Cohosh shortly before birth will help in an easy delivery. 

Blue Flag
The part of this plant to use is the root.  It is active for cancer, rheumatism, blood impurities, skin, liver and a good laxative.

Bogbean
Useful for treatment of rheumatism, osteo-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.   Also has a stimulating effect on the walls of the colon and digestive juices.

Boneset
Boneset is one of the best remedies for the relief of symptoms that come with the flue.  It will quickly relieve the aches and pains as well as help to reduce fever.

Borage
Effective treatment for kidneys, ringworm, mouth sores and the blood.  It is highly recommended after any treatment with cortisone or steroids as it will revive and renew the adrenal glands over time.

Buchu
Use the leaves to treat urinary ailments as well as kidney, bladder, perspiration and prostate illness.

Bugleweed
Bugleweed is specific for over-active thyroid glands where there is tightness of breath, palpitations and shaking.  Good for the central nervous system.

Buckthorn Bark
Acts as a mild, yet reliable and effective laxative.  It also works again gout and dropsy.

Burdock
Also known as Lappa and Beggars Buttons.  The part of the plant that is used is the rhizome.  This is a bitter herb, but very effective for the treatment of skin diseases such as dry and scaly skin and when used over a long period of time can be helpful in the treatment of psoriasis.

Butternut
Also known as Butternut, White Walnut, Lemon Walnut, Oilnut.  It influences, with great energy, the liver, small intestines, colon and rectum, causing and increased manufacture and elimination of bile, as well as increased activity of the glands of the intestinal tract.

Calamus
Use the root to treat fever, stomach ailments, sores, burns, ulcers.  Also known to destroy a taste for tobacco!

Calendula
You probably know this as Marigold.  Use the whole flower tops or just the petals.  One of the best herbs for treating local skin problems and may be used wherever there is an inflammation on the skin.

California Poppy
Use dried aerial parts.  A non-addictive alternative to the Opium Poppy.  Used as a sedative for children where there is over-excitability and sleeplessness. 

Caraway
The part of this to use is the seeds.  A calming herb that will help to ease flatulence.  This use is particularly helpful in children.  It also stimulates the appetite and because it is also an astringent it will help laryngitis, bronchitis and bronchial asthma. 

Cascara Sagrada
Also known as  Sacred Bark, Chittem Bark,  and Cascara.  The part to use is the bark after aging.   Best use is for chronic constipation.

Catnip
Also known as Catmint and Catnep.  This is a traditional cold and flu treatment.  Can also use it to drive your cat crazy!

Cayenne
Also known as Capsicum, Chili or Chili Pepper, Hot Pepper and Tabasco Pepper.  This is an effective treatment for pleurisy, kidney problems, skin and colds.

Celery Seeds
Use dried ripe fruits to use as an anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, diuretic or anti-spasmodic.  Great for treating rheumatism, arthritis and gout.

Chamomile
The total list of benefit and treatments for Camomile is huge.  Just a few come to mind, insomnia, anxiety, menopausal depression, loss of appetite, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, colic, aches and pains of 'flu, migraine, neuralgia, teething, vertigo, motion sickness, conjunctivitis, inflamed skin. This may seem too good to be true, but it reflects the wide range of actions in the body.

Chapparal
Very useful in cases of acne, arthritis, chronic backache, skin conditions of warts and blotches.  Also one of the best cancer herbs.

Cherry
Use the bark to treat phlegm in the throat, tuberculosis, coughs, bronchitis, heart and blood pressure.

Chestnut
Use inner bark and leaves to treat colds and liver ailments.

Cinnamon
Makes a great antiseptic and use to treat colds.

Coltsfoot
Also known as Coughwort, Horsehoof and Foals Foot.  Use the dried flowers and leaves.  There are useful levels of zinc in the leaves of this herb, which has been known to have anti-inflammatory results.  Use for coughs, bronchitis, whooping cough and asthma.

Comfrey
Also known as Knitbone.   Comfrey has high levels of allantoin which is a healing chemical that stimulates cell growth.  This makes it wonderful for internal and external use.  Works well for gastric ailments including duodenal ulcers and colitis.  Is also beneficial for bronchitis.

Coriander
Excellent for stomach trouble, prostrate and any urinary ailments.

Corn Silk
Use the stigmas from the female flowers to use as a diuretic, anti-inflammatory or tonic.  Corn Silk will help in any irritation of the urinary system.

Damiana
Excellent strengthening energy to nerves and limbs, Damiana has a reputation as a great sexual rejuvenator, particularly in lethargy of the sexual organs.  Whether that old wives tale is true or not, it does have a definite positive effect on the central nervous system and the hormonal system as well as a being useful as an anti-depressant.

Dandelion
User either the root or leaf.  Useful as a powerful diuretic, it is a good source for potassium.  Help in fighting anemia, also used for fever, liver, skin and urinary ailments.

Devils Claw
Very effective in arthritis as well as liver and kidney problems.

Dill
It is the seeds that are used for treatments.  An excellent remedy for flatulence and colic, it also helps to sooth the nerves.

Echinacea
Also known as Purple Coneflower, this is probably one of the most widely recognized herbal treatments available today.  While most people know it's usefulness for fighting colds flue and infections, it is an excellent blood cleanser.  It also clears up carbuncles, boils and blood poisoning.

Elecampane
Treatment for coughs, asthma, bronchitis, tuberculosis, mucous, kidney and bladder stones.

Eucalyptus
Also known as Blue Gum.  The leaves and bark are used.  Excellent treatment for fever, bronchitis and asthma.

Eyebright
This is the main herb for protecting and maintaining the health of the eye.  Acts as an internal medicine for the constitutional tendency to eye weakness.  Will also remove cysts that have been caused by chronic conjunctivitis.

Fennel
Use the seeds.  Excellent for obesity because it helps take away the appetite.  Aids indigestion when uric acid is the problem.  Is also good for gas acid stomach, gout and colic in infants.

Fenugreek
Use the seed.  Excellent treatment for swellings, fever, blood poison prevention and as a tea for sore throat.

Feverfew
Use the leaves to treat migraine headaches, arthritis, dizziness and tinnitus.

Flaxseed
For treatment of sore throat and mucous membranes.

Fo-Ti
Excellent for mental depression.  Has been used to help memory.

On the next page we will talk about Specific Herbs and Their Uses, covering herbs beginning with G to Y.