Herb Library

Xanthosoma sagittifolium

Caribbean and West African food plant with medicinal leaf preparations. Heated leaf applied as poultice for boils and abscesses in Caribbean folk medicine. Rhizome (corm) eaten as staple food after cooking. Contains calcium oxalate — must be cooked.

Ximenia americana

Pan-tropical tree used in southern African and West African medicine for wound healing, skin conditions, and infections. Seed oil (ximenynic acid) for skin and hair. Bark for malaria and STIs. Contains cyanogenic glycosides in seeds — process before use.

Perideridia gairdneri

Native American medicinal plant used as antidiarrheal, antiemetic, breast treatment, cough medicine, dermatological aid, diuretic. Documented among Blackfoot.

Glycyrrhiza glabra

The Ayurvedic preparation of licorice root, used for voice quality, respiratory support, digestive ulcers, and as a harmonizer in formulas.

Oenothera flava

Native American medicinal plant used as burn dressing, panacea, throat aid. Documented among Navajo, Ramah.

Gelsemium sempervirens

TOXIC — homeopathic use only. Contains gelsemine (strychnine-like alkaloid). Homeopathic Gelsemium for flu with weakness, trembling, and heavy eyelids. Herbal form is LETHAL. South Carolina state flower. Children have died from sucking nectar.

Caltha palustris

Native American medicinal plant used as poison, cold remedy, dermatological aid, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic. Documented among Abnaki, Alaska Native, Chippewa.

Polygala rugelii

Native American medicinal plant used as antirheumatic (external), blood medicine, heart medicine, respiratory aid, snake bite remedy. Documented among Seminole.

Penstemon confertus

Native American medicinal plant used as cathartic, dermatological aid, gastrointestinal aid. Documented among Thompson.

Taenidia integerrima

Native American medicinal plant used as adjuvant, pulmonary aid, respiratory aid, hunting medicine. Documented among Menominee, Meskwaki, Ojibwa.

Anemopsis californica

Traditional Hispanic Southwest remedy — "herb of the taming." For infections of mucous membranes: sinusitis, sore throats, gum disease, and yeast infections. Also anti-inflammatory for joints. Important curanderismo (folk healing) herb.

Baccharis pteronioides

Native American medicinal plant used as antirheumatic (external), venereal aid. Documented among Yavapai.

Sauvagesia erecta

Traditional medicinal plant used for tumor.

Anemopsis californica

A Southwestern herb used by many Native American tribes for mucous membrane support, sore throat, urinary infections, and skin conditions.

Ilex paraguariensis

A South American caffeinated herb traditionally consumed as a social tea, providing energy support and antioxidants.

Cimicifuga simplex

Traditional medicinal plant used for anodyne, bronchitis, febrifuge, rheumatism, sedative, throat, uteritis.

Pausinystalia yohimbe

African aphrodisiac — yohimbine is an alpha-2 antagonist (increases norepinephrine). Prescription drug for erectile dysfunction. OTC supplements have inconsistent yohimbine content. DANGEROUS side effects possible. Not for casual use.

Zanthoxylum chalybeum

East African tree used by Maasai and other pastoralist communities for malaria, cough, and toothache. Bark chewed for dental pain (numbing effect from alkylamides). Contains pellitorine and chelerythrine. Important Maasai traditional medicine.

Desmodium incanum

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, febrifuge, gastrointestinal aid. Documented among Seminole.

Anemarrhena asphodeloides

TCM heat-clearing and yin-nourishing herb — for high fever, night sweats, diabetes, and dry cough. Contains mangiferin (anti-diabetic) and timosaponins (anti-inflammatory). Often paired with Huang Bai (Phellodendron) in Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan.

Ziziphus mauritiana

Pan-tropical jujube relative used in Ayurveda, Unani, and African medicine. Bark decoction for diarrhea and wounds. Leaf paste for boils and abscesses. Root for fever. Different species from Chinese jujube (Z. jujuba). Fruit is popular snack across tropics.