Ashwagandha
Tonic, adaptogen, nervine, sedative, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory.
Historic use: used as a tonic to improve overall health. It has also been used for inflammation associated with arthritic and rheumatic conditions.
Astragalus
Immune enhancement, tonic, cardiotonic, diuretic, hypotensive.
Historic use: to increase endurance and build resistance to colds, flu, and disease.
Black Cohosh
Antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, relaxing nervine, antitussive.
Historic use: Native Americans used this herb for rheumatism, coughs, childbirth, and gynecological issues.
Boswellia
Anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, diaphoretic, analgesic, antibacterial, immune suppressant, antidiarrheal, emmenagogue.
Historic use: Known as guggul in India, the resin was used for diarrhea, arthritis and pulmonary disorders. It has also been used to enhance memory and for conditions such as colic, bone problems, urinary disorders, and skin conditions.
Burdock
Depurative, mild laxative, antioxidant, anticancer, mild antiseptic, alterative.
Historic use: used for skin conditions, arthritis, digestion, ulcers, and blood purification.
Calendula
Antiseptic, lymphatic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, vulnery, cholagogue, spasmolytic.
Historic use: Used externally for dry skin, cuts and wounds. Internally used for gastrointestinal ulcers, fever, rheumatism and vomiting.
Chamomile
Anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, carminative, emmenagogue, cholagogue, nervine, sedative, relaxant, and analgesic.
Historic use: inhibits formation of ulcers, used for muscle spasms, gas, insomnia, burns, stings, bruises, and stomach disorders. Grounding herb to soothe nerves.
Chaste Tree
Hormonal regulation.
Historic use: used to treat menstrual disorders, regulate hormones, promote breast milk flow, digestive aid, and sedative.
Cleavers
Lymphatic, mild diuretic, anti-inflammatory, aperient, astringent.
Historic use: used for urinary tract inflammation, swollen lymph tissue, ulcers and tumors, and external skin disorders.
Cramp Bark
Antispasmodic, sedative, astringent.
Historic use: used to provide relief from menstrual cramps, intestinal cramps, and other spasms such as seizures and convulsions.
Coltsfoot
Anti-spasmodic, demulcent, expectorant, astringent antitussive, anticatarrhal, diuretic, emollient, tonic.
Historic use: dry cough, asthma, irritated sore throat, bronchitis.
Dandelion
Diuretic, cholagogue, laxative, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial.
Historic use: dermatologic and gastrointestinal, blood cleanser, and general tonic.
Devil’s Claw
Anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, analgesic.
Historic use: used to relieve arthritis, rheumatism, headaches, digestive problems, lack of appetite, liver congestion, and gallbladder issues.
Echinacea
Alterative, immune stimulant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, local anesthetic, carminative, vulnerary.
Historic uses: as a blood cleanser, to enhance the immune system, to stimulate white blood cells, and to aid with upper respiratory infections. Native Americans used the herb to treat snake bites, septicemia, and fevers. Used also to treat viral or bacterial conditions.
Elecampane
Expectorant, emmenagogue, diuretic, carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic.
Historic uses: treatment of bronchitis, asthma, and diarrhea.
Eleuthero
Adaptogen, immune modulating, antioxidant.
Historic use: to nourish immune system, reduce adrenal stress, and relieve symptoms of anemia, exhaustion, and nervous disorders.
Fennel
Antispasmodic, carminative, expectorant, antimicrobial, galactagogue.
Historic uses: Antibacterial, tonic, to improve milk supply, strengthen digestion, and reduce flatulence.
Fenugreek
Alterative, carminative, demulcent, laxative, expectorant, galactagogue, hypoglycemic.
Historic uses: Treatment of bronchitis, arthritis, diabetes, gastritis, and enteritis. For promoting mild production, and to increase appetite for weight gain.
Garlic
Antiplatelet, antiseptic, antioxidant, vasodilator, expectorant, fly repellent.
Historic uses: treatment of bronchitis, pneumonia, digestive disorders, tuberculosis, poor circulation, and as a blood thinner.
Ginger
Carminative, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, diaphoretic.
Historic uses: stimulate circulatory and digestive systems, blood thinner, treatment of nausea, rheumatism, and colds.
Hawthorn
Cardiotonic, diuretic, astringent.
Historic use: heart tonic and circulation.
Kava Kava
Anxiolytic, sedative, antispasmodic, antimicrobial.
Historic use: anxiety, insomnia, nervous tension, cystitis.
Licorice
Anti-inflammatory, adapatogen, antiviral, antispasmodic, laxative, expectorant, demulcent, antiulcerogenic, flavor enhancer.
Historic use: treatment of sore throats, cough, gastric ulcers, dyspepsia, allergic reactions, rheumatism, and arthritis. Balances endocrine, nervous, and immune systems.
Marshmallow
Nutritive, demulcent, vulnerary, diuretic.
Historic use: coughs, kidney and bladder conditions, inflammation of gastric mucosa, ulcers, prebiotic. Topically used for abscesses, ulcers and open wounds.
Meadowsweet
Antacid, antiulcerogenic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, mild urinary antiseptic.
Historic use: to soothe mucus membranes, reduce acid, treat nausea, treat rheumatic complaints with joints and muscles, soothe colic pain, and relieve diarrhea.
Milk Thistle
Hepatoprotective, demulcent cholagogue, galactagogic, antioxidant.
Historic use: used as a tonic for the liver.
Mullein
Demulcent, emollient, expectorant, mild sedative and diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial.
Historic use: respiratory tract irritations, coughs with mucus
Nettle
Anti-inflammatory, diuretic, nutritive, antidiarrheal, hemostatic, antioxidant.
Historic use: to strengthen the body, used as a spring tonic. Used to build bone, improve nails, hair, and teeth, to cleanse body of toxins, and stimulate circulation.
Oats
General tonic, nerine tonic, stimulant, and antidepressant.
Historic use: to restore the nervous system, assist with convalescence.
Oregon Grape
Cholagogue, liver tonic, alterative, mild laxative, antimicrobial.
Historic use: Native Americans used the root to treat patients with fever and dysentery. Also used to stimulate bile and kidney secretions, improve digestion, cleanse blood, skin and internal infections, and as a liver tonic.
Parsley
Antidyscratic, carminative, aperient, gastroprotective, nutritive anti-inflammatory, vulnerary.
Historic use: building and restoring blood in relation to anemia, as a diuretic, to treat gas, nausea, and constipation, and as a breath freshener.
Passion Flower
Antispasmodic, antitussive, anxiolytic, sedative, hypnotic, nervine.
Historic uses: used for general nervous agitation, insomnia, hysteria, and nervous gastrointestinal complaints. Used as a muscle relaxant, for tension headaches, and central nervous system circulation.
Pau D’Arco
Antibacterial, antifungal, immune modulator, astringent, anti-inflammatory.
Historic use: used for rheumatism, bronchitis, gastrointestinal disorders, fungal infections, eczema, and skin cancer.
Plantain
Anti-inflammatory, astringent, emollient, demulcent, vulnerary.
Historic use: used for gastrointestinal and gynecological disorders, skin problems, upper respiration inflammation, insect bites.
Red Clover
Alterative, expectorant, antispasmodic, demulcent, lymphatic tonic, nutritive.
Historic use: blood purifier, dry coughs, lymphatic congestion, osteoporosis, and gout.
Rose Hips
Astringent, aperient, nutritive, ant-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial.
Historic use: as a source of Vitamin C, for relief from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, to reduce urinary frequency, to fight infection, and to strengthen and heal hooves.
Turmeric
Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiplatelet, anticancer, hepatoprotective.
Historic use: treatment of asthma, hemorrhage, insect bites, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer, and as a general tonic and blood purifier.
Valerian
Sedative, antispasmodic, anticonvulsant, stimulant tonic, hypnotic.
Historic use: to relieve anxiety, control seizures, and promote sleep.
Willow Bark
Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, astringent, antiseptic, febrifuge, antirheumatic, antipyretic.
Historic use: Pain reliever and anti-diarrheal.
Yarrow
Anti-inflammatory, astringent, antispasmodic, cholagogues, vulnery, antibacterial, antiviral, decongestant, diuretic hepatoprotective, prokinetic, choleretic, styptic.
Historic use: bleeding gums, nose bleeds, irritable bowel disease, and improving blood supply to peripheral blood vessels.
Yucca
Anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, alterative, laxative.
Historic use: treatment of joint inflammation, arthritis, rheumatism, gout, and urethritis.