Name: Capers
Latin: Caparis spinosa
Other Common Names:
Family:
Parts Used: Berries
Vitamins/Minerals: Antioxidants
Used for: These are usually found pickled, and seem to one of those foods you either love or hate. They are antioxidant rich, and contain compounds that decrease histamine response.
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Directions & Warnings:
Name: Stinging Nettle
Latin: Urtica Dioica
Other Common Names:
Family:
Parts Used:
Vitamins/Minerals: Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, Cobalt, Potassium, Copper, B-Vitamins
Used for: Due to the nutritional denseness of this plant, it is one of the best tonic herbs. Eating a bit of this a day, or drinking a cup of infusion daily, will almost insure that you are getting enough of the basics. The nutrients contained make this herb particularly good for the kidneys, adrenals, and thyroid, which allows them to stabilize and increases energy levels. It also contains chromium in enough quantity to help stimulate appetite, under the right circumstances. If utilized regularly, nettle also assists with minimizing the effects of hayfever and other allergies. The sheer amount of calcium and magnesium also strengthens bones, hair, skin, and teeth. An additional side effect of the nutritional denseness is and increase in fertility, making nettle one of the best choice for that particular goal. The array of nutrients also make this a supportive herb for the nervous system.
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Directions & Warnings:
Name: Catnip
Latin: Nepeta Cataria
Other Common Names:
Family: Mint
Parts Used:
Vitamins/Minerals: Calcium
Used for: Can be used for easing menstruation, relieving colic, and to relax you into sleep. Also falls into the category of herbal pain relief, working by soothing and strengthening the nerves and muscles, rather than by deadening nerves. Also acts as a muscle relaxant and antispasmodic, and can assist with cramps and spasms. Good choice for herbal vinegars, due to the amount of calcium it contains. More commonly used for cats, to make them act somewhere between happy and a bit crazy.
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Directions & Warnings:
Name: Licorice
Latin: Glycyrrhiza glabra
Other Common Names:
Family:
Parts Used: Root
Vitamins/Minerals:
Used for: Licorice acts as a stimulant for the immune system. It also decreases inflammation. It can be used for Laryngitis, and will help to clear the throat of mucous. It can be used as a mild laxative. As it is more soluble in water than milk thistle, it is sometimes more useful as a liver aid. Due to its innate sweetness, it can be useful in combination with bitter herbs, as it lends a natural sweetness beyond that of sugar.
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Directions & Warnings: Due to the way in which licorice effects the liver, it should be used with care, or avoided entirely, by dabetics.
Name: Nutmeg
Latin: Myristica fragrans
Other Common Names:
Family:
Parts Used:
Vitamins/Minerals:
Used for: Interestingly enough, this plant actually provides two spices. Nutmeg comes from the interior, mace from the exterior. Nutmeg is useful against digestive upset – particularly diarrhea, gas, and vomiting. It is a potent antimicrobial. There is evidence that it may also be anti-rheumatic. Used sparingly, as an oil, it can assist in the relief of sciatica, neuralgia, and rheumatism. When the scent is inhaled, it can also assist with respiratory infections. One of the tricks with nutmeg is that one can be reused several times before it is exhausted.
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Directions & Warnings: Nutmeg should be used sparingly, both as a spice and a medicinal. Toxic overdose levels can be achieved using 2 whole pods.
Name: Horsetail
Latin: Equsetum arvense
Other Common Names: Shavegrass
Family:
Parts Used:
Vitamins/Minerals: Calcium, Silica
Used for: Healing for stomach and ulcers. Will strengthen hair, fingernails, and teeth. Has a high silica content which assists in the usage of calcium in the body. The silica content will also help to strengthen and heal connective tissue. Horsetail is also mildly diuretic, and will help to clear mucous from the urinary tract, thus decreasing the severity and intensity of infections.
Use in tandem with:
Directions & Warnings:
Name: Parsley
Latin: Petroselinum sativum
Other Common Names:
Family: Umbelliferae (Parsley)
Parts Used: Leaves
Vitamins/Minerals:
Used for: This is a good nutritive tonic. Useful for bringing down fevers, as a breath freshener, and as a diuretic.
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Name: Passionflower
Latin: Passiflora incarnata
Other Common Names:
Family:
Parts Used:
Vitamins/Minerals:
Used for: Is a good herb to use to ease the effects of stress. Can help to calm anxiety and ease nervous tension. Good herb to include in preparations for headaches, if stress is a factor, and can also assist with asthma. Used as an alternative to sedatives for both people and animals. Passionflower is one of the herbal pain-killers, although not in the pharmaceutical drug sense. Rather than deaden nerve endings, it soothes and nourishes the nerves and muscle tissue. Can also be used as an antispasmodic.
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Directions & Warnings: Preparations involving passionflower should be tested for the first time at a point when tiredness will not be an issue. For some people it is a fairly potent sedative.
Name: Lobelia
Latin: Lobelia inflata
Other Common Names:
Family:
Parts Used:
Vitamins/Minerals:
Used for: The tincture of this herb is a wonderful anti-spasmodic. Generally works within 5-15 minutes when a few drops are put under the tongue. Lobelia is also a powerful relaxant. If used regularly during waking hours, you may wish to mix it with a more stimulating herb such as cayenne, peppermint, ginseng, or ginger. Lobelia is also a nerve sedative. It both nourishes and strengthens the nervous system, and through this action can help with pain.
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Directions & Warnings: Smokers may require more Lobelia to get results, as there is a potential cross-tolerance between Lobelia and nicotine. Due to the potent relaxation this herb can provoke, it is also not recommended for regular use by diabetics.
Name: Cranberries
Latin:
Other Common Names:
Family:
Parts Used:
Vitamins/Minerals:
Used for: Good for gastrointestinal health, as they improve blood vessel function, inhibit kidney stones, and can be helpful for kidney and bladder infections. They also have a lot of antioxidants, making them a good addition to an anticancer or heart health diet. They also have tannins that help to keep bacteria from sticking to cells.
Use in tandem with:
Directions & Warnings: They freeze quite well, so get extra to stock up.
Other Uses for:
Growing: