Latin name: Mahonia aquifolium Family: Berberidaceae family (Barberry family) Folk Names: Mountain Grape, Holly mahonia. DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERISTICS Part of the Plant Used Root and rhizome. Attractive green ornamental originally planted as a hardy shrub in the western United States. Has a yellowish inner bark, yellowish flowers, and purple, grape-shaped edible fruit. This fruit, which is…
Latin name: Schisandra chinensis Family: Schisandraceae Folk Names: Magnolia berry, Five flavor fruit. Sometimes spelled Schizandra. DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERISTICS Part of the Plant Used Berries/Fruit Traditional Chinese physicians recommend schisandra much the same way they recommend ginseng, as a general tonic and adaptogen. Lignans in the plant encourage the revival of liver cells damaged by alcohol,…
Latin name: Sambucus Nigra Family: Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family) Folk Names: Tree of Music, Tree of Medicine, Black Alder, Common Elder, American Elder, Antelope brush, Blue elderberry, Danewort or Dwarf Elder, Red-fruited Elder, European Elder, Boor tree, Old Lady, Old Gal, Lady Elder, Sweet Elder, Tree of Doom. DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERISTICS Part of the Plant Used Flower,…
Latin name: Gentiana lutea Family: Gentianaceae (Gentian family) DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERISTICS Part of the Plant Used Root and dried rhizome – Harvest late summer/autumn Ornamental herb with large clusters of big, orange yellow flowers and stiff, pointy, yellow green leaves that resemble those on Lady Slipper. The root has been used since the first century as…
Latin name: Inula helenium Family: Asteraceae (Aster family) DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERISTICS Part of the Plant Used Root and rhizome – harvest in Autumn, wash and chop into small pieces before drying CONSTITUENTS Inulin 40% (immunostimulating – stimulates expectoration) Sesquiterpene lactones Triterpenoid saponins (expectorant) Volatile oil – helenin (Anthelmintic), loosens phlegm & debris, also antiseptic Polyacetylenes (antibacterial) Mucilage Alantoin – also high in…