Herb Library

Platanthera ciliaris

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, antidiarrheal, snake bite remedy. Documented among Cherokee, Seminole.

Agastache nepetoides

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid. Documented among Iroquois.

Hedychium flavum

A medicinal plant (Hedychium flavum) from the Zingiberaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Hieracium fendleri

Native American medicinal plant used as diuretic, hunting medicine. 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.

Evernia sp.

Native American medicinal plant used as poison. Documented among Modesse.

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.

Caesalpinia bonduc

Native American medicinal plant used as blood medicine, laxative, pediatric aid, pulmonary aid. Documented among Hawaiian.

Thevetia neriifolia

A medicinal plant (Thevetia neriifolia) from the Apocynaceae family used in traditional medicine.

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.

Nuphar lutea

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, anticonvulsive, blood medicine, febrifuge, gastrointestinal aid, heart medicine. Documented among Iroquois, Menominee, Micmac.

Nuphar sp.

Native American medicinal plant used as love medicine, psychological aid, analgesic. Documented among Abnaki, Iroquois.

Xanthorhiza simplicissima

Traditional medicinal plant used for ache(stomach), cold, dyspepsia, jaundice, medicine, parturition, stomach, stomatitis, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Cleome lutea

Native American medicinal plant used as ceremonial medicine, dermatological aid. Documented among Navajo, Kayenta.

Cirsium ochrocentrum

Native American medicinal plant used as burn dressing, dermatological aid, contraceptive, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic. Documented among Kiowa, Zuni.

Draba incerta

Native American medicinal plant used as abortifacient, nose medicine. Documented among Blackfoot.

Cirsium horridulum

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, expectorant, throat aid. Documented among Houma.

Tripterygium wilfordiim

A medicinal plant (Tripterygium wilfordiim) from the Celastraceae family used in traditional medicine.

Ranunculus flabellaris

Native American medicinal plant used as cold remedy, respiratory aid. Documented among Meskwaki.

Liparis loeselii

Native American medicinal plant used as urinary aid. Documented among Cherokee.

Forsythia viridissima

Korean species of forsythia used for respiratory infections, fever, and skin eruptions. Similar uses to F. suspensa but locally preferred in Korean traditional medicine.

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.

Lactobacillus bulgaricus + Streptococcus thermophilus

Traditional fermented milk — the original probiotic food. Contains L. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus. Some brands add additional strains. Look for "live active cultures."

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.

Paullinia yoko

A medicinal plant (Paullinia yoko) from the Sapindaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Tolmiea menziesii

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid. Documented among Cowlitz.

Satureja subspicata subsp. liburnica

A medicinal plant (Satureja subspicata) from the Lamiaceae family used in traditional medicine.

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.

Curcuma zedoaria

TCM blood-mover — E Zhu breaks blood stasis and dissolves masses. For uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, and abdominal pain from stagnation. Related to turmeric but different actions. Contains curcumenol and curdione (anti-tumor research).

Clinoptilolite (mineral)

Volcanic mineral with cage-like structure that traps heavy metals and toxins. For heavy metal detox, gut health, and alkalizing. Microporous structure acts like a molecular sieve. Quality varies enormously — only use purified clinoptilolite.

Solidago flexicaulis

Native American medicinal plant used as throat aid, gastrointestinal aid, analgesic, hemostat, febrifuge. Documented among Chippewa, Iroquois, Menominee.

Zinc L-carnosine complex

A chelated zinc-carnosine complex — studied for gastric mucosal protection, H. pylori, and gut barrier integrity. Not an herb but commonly used with herbs.

Zinc acetate/gluconate (lozenge)

Zinc lozenges for cold — dissolve in mouth every 2-3 hours. Studies show 33% reduction in cold duration. Zinc acetate form is most studied. Start within 24 hours.

Zinc picolinate

One of the most bioavailable forms of zinc. Essential for immune function, wound healing, taste/smell, testosterone, and skin health. Often deficient.

Ziziphora clinopodioides

Iranian and Central Asian highland herb used in traditional Persian medicine for digestive spasms, diarrhea, fever, and as carminative. Rich in pulegone and menthone. Important in Kurdish and Afghan folk medicine. Often used as wild thyme substitute.

Zornia latifolia

Brazilian herb called 'maconha brava' (wild marijuana) though unrelated to cannabis. Used in Brazilian folk medicine for urinary infections, kidney stones, and bronchitis. Contains zornoside flavonoids. Mild sedative properties reported.