Latin name: Silybum marianum Family: Asteraceae or aster family Folk Names: St. Mary’s Thistle, Mary’s Thistle, Holy Thistle DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERISTICS Part of the Plant Used Seeds One of the best kept herbal secrets and highly overlooked! Native to Europe but now grows along both coasts of North America and Canada. Generally considered a noxious weed.…
Latin name: Eucalyptus globulus Family: Myrtaceae Folk Names: Blue Gum, Tasmanian Blue Gum Tree DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERISTICS Part of the Plant Used Leaf, essential oil distilled from leaf. Genus with more than 500 species is one of the tallest trees in the world. It is native to Tasmania and southern Victoria; however, Spain, China and South…
Latin name: Ginkgo biloba Family: Ginkgoaceae or ginkgo family. Folk Names: Maidenhair Tree DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERISTICS Part of the Plant Used Seed kernel is used extensively in TCM, Leaf in western indications. Dating back over 200 million years, the fruits and seeds have traditionally been used as medicine in the east; however, use of the leaves…
Latin name: Astragalus membranaceus Family: Fabaceae or legume family. Folk/Alternative Names: Huang Qi, Milk-vetch Root, Yellow Leader, Young Man’s Ginseng DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERISTICS Part of the Plant Used Root, harvested from 4+ year old plants, sliced. Resembles a tongue depressor. Better quality roots have a yellow color. Native to northeastern China, it’s long fibrous roots are…
Latin name: Calendula officinalis Family: Asteraceae Folk Names: Marigold, pot marigold, orange button DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERISTICS Part of the Plant Used Petals, flower head just prior to opening Native to Northern Africa and southern to central portions of Europe, calendula is often identified as marigold. The plant often gives off a strong, unpleasant aroma (although some…