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| Common Name | Botanical Name | Uses | What to Use | How? |
| American Slippery Elm | Ulmus fulva | Demulcent, emollient, expectorant, diuretic,nutritive | The dark bark of the tree. Sold as a dark gray powder. | As a tea. |
| Anise | Pimpinella anisum | Powerful carminative and antiflatulent. It is also a diuretic and diaphoretic. It helps to bring out the congested phlegm in the bronchioles and so functions as an expectorant. | Seeds generally, although leaves and root may be used. | Chew on the seed after a meal. Acts as a mouth freshener and digestive. Make tea by steeping in boiling water. Add to foods where you would use dill. |
| Arnica | Arnica montana | The tincture is used for external application to sprains and bruises. | The dried flowers are available at Mexican stores. The roots are used as well. | Available as ointment and lotion as well. In pill form available as homeopathic medication. |
| Balm, Lemon Balm or Bee Balm | Melissa officinalis | For toothaches,aid digestion, prevents depression, helps wounds heal faster and soothes the skin. Used in potpourri and blended in aromatic spirits and waters. | The leaves fresh or dried. | Use in fresh salads, or as tea. |
| Bergamot, Bee Balm | Monarda didyma | Of the mint family, it has similar properties. It is mildly sedative, and is good for clearing congestion, colds, and sore throats as it contains the antiseptic, thymol. Used in potpourri. | The flower and leaves - dried as tea. Fresh in salads, and in sauces. | Following the Boston Tea Party when tea was boycotted in the country, Bergamot was used as a substitute. Make tea with the dried leaves; steep 2 tsp. in 1 1/4 cup boiling water for about 7 minutes. |
| Cardamom Indian: Elaichi Chinese: Tsaoko Arabic: al Hayl. |
Elettaria cardamomum (Green cardamom) Less commonly used: Amomum subulatum (black cardamom) Amomum villosum (Chinese cardomom) |
Treatment of infections of the gum and teeth, throat troubles, congestion and TB. Digestive; disorders such as constipation and dysentery, snake bites. | Seeds generally, with or without the peel. Often the seed is available in a powdered form | Chew on the seed after a meal. Acts as a mouth freshener and digestive. (Strong flavor!).Middle East ,Turkey, India green cardamom powder is used as a spice forcurries and sweet dishes as well as traditional flavouring in coffee and and tea |
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Uses | What to Use | How? |
| Cinnamon |
Cinnamomum verum | Lowers cholesterol. Cold cure. Used to treat diarrhea and other digestive problems. Essential oil is antioxidant and antimicrobial. Used in treatment of Type II diabetes (Cassia) Toothaches. Insomnia. | The dry bark. True cinnamon is very dark and is brittle, with intense flavor. | Use as tea, chew small pieces, add as seasoning to food and some drinks. |
| Cranberry | Vaccinitium macrocarpon | All urinary tract, kidney, bladder disorders. Gout. | Fresh cranberries. Dried or juice of cranberries. Chinese formula: Old Fashioned Super Compound Herb Tea. Use 'Fancy' for standard formulation. Super 1and Super 2 are extra strength, and Super 1 needs to be followed by Super 2. |
Tea drunk first thing each morning on an empty stomach. If using the Chinese tea, avoid fresh fruit and veggies for 48 hours.) Use fresh/dried in salads. |
| Epazote, Mexican Tea,Wormseed | Chenopodium ambrosioides | Flatulence associated with eating beans. Asthma. Intestinal worms.Amenorrhea or absence of menstrual period, and dysmenorrhea or painful cramping during periods. Abortifacient -the first birth control | Greens,fresh or dried. | Use when cooking beans. Add to eggs, and any dish along with/where parsley or cilantro may be used. Available in South American, Mexican stores. Use as you would fennel, anise -similar to these herbs. |
| Fennel Dill weed, dill seed, Liquorice, are all part of this family of herbs. |
oeniculum vulgare | Diuretic, antimicrobial , carminative (to relax spasms, pain and cramping in the stomach), used for infant cholic. Used to treat chills, and the steam from boiled leaves inhaled to relieve croup, asthma and bronchitis. Calming in effect, and to treat insomnia.Eyewash. | Seeds fresh or dried is chewed as a mouth freshener, and to relieve the feeling of fullness after a heavy meal. The stems and leaves are good in salad as is the root of the Florence Fennel. | Chew on fennel seed or use in cooking. Taste is similar to anise, and somewhat like parsley. Tea from fennel is calming on the nerves at bedtime. Leaves are boiled and inhaled for respiratory problems, and the liquid diluted is used as an eyewash to soothe dryness or redness. |
| Fenugreek Chinese: Hu-lu-pa Indian: Methi | Trigonella foenum-graecum | Allows the body to handle all foods. Diuretic,and calms irritated bladder | Fresh or dried leaves, dried seed. | Cook greens or use seeds as spice or tea 3x daily. |
| Flaxseed or Linseed Indian: Alsi |
Linum usitatissimum Linnaeus. "Most Useful" |
Flaxseeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids similar to that found in fish oils. This makes it anti-iflammatory in effect. Protects bone health along with walnuts, canola oil, and cold water fish such as salmon. Protects against heart disease, by reducing atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease. Defence for Diabetes by producing flexible cells for better functionality absorbing glucose and responding to insulin. Protects against colon cancer. Lowers choesterol-just as good as statin drugs. Provides beneficial fiber. Protects women against breast cancer by reducing early markers (lingam compounds), encourages normal ovulation in women. Magnesium reduces asthmatic strain. Prevents dry eye syndrome. | Try the Omega Golden flaxseed. | Buy seed, and grind and store in refrigerator. Use in cereal, eggs, coffee, smoothies, soups etc. Use 1 ounce each day. |
| Ginger Chinese: Chiang Indian: Adrak |
Zingiber officinale | Indigestion, loss of appetite, hangovers,nausea,bloated feeling. | Use fresh, dried or powdered root. | Add to recipes, tea, pickled or crystallized. |
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Uses | What to Use | How? |
| Ginseng | Panax schinseng | Male sexual health defense. | Dried root, powder, capsules, elixir. | Chew on root, use capsule to add to drinks. Use in cooking. |
| Horseradish | Cruciferae | Its sharp pungency has a dramatic effect in clearing the sinuses. The root contains a pungent volatile oil, which dissipates when cooked.Stimulates digestion, eliminates mucus and fluid wastes. Reduces stiffness in muscles, sciatica and rheumatism. Antibiotic: preserves food and protects the intestinal tract. Excellent for skin clarity and to lighten freckles. Keeps dogs dewormed when added to diet. Use infusion diluted against brown rot on apple trees. | Fresh young leaves in salad. Root grated into a poultice to apply to frostbite, stiff muscles. Take as a syrup for colds, brochitis and coughs. Grated root in diet to improve appetite and stimulate digestion. Caution: Pungent and sharp, can cause irritation to the throat lining. Should be avoided by those with kidney problems. | For skin: Slice the root and infuse in milk for a lotion to improve skin clarity. To reduce the appearance of freckles, squeeze out juice from the root, and mix with white vinegar. To keep dogs dewormed: Mix in very finely chopped leaves into dog food. Very little at a time please. |
| Indian Gooseberry | Phyllanthus emblica | Antiviral and antimicrobial properties. Experimental preparations of leaves, bark or fruit have shown potential efficacy against laboratory models of disease, such as for inflammation, cancer, age-related renal disease, and diabetes. A human pilot study demonstrated reduction of blood cholesterol levels in both normal and hyper cholesterolemic men. Contains large amounts of Vitamin C. (Wikipedia) | The fruit. | Intensely sour. Best used as preserves. Indian stores have a variety of ways it is preserved, both sweet amd savory. |
| Lemon Verbena | Verbenaceae | Mildly sedative. Soothes sore throats; nasal congestion.Reduces indigestoin, gas, stomach cramps, nausea and palpitations.Reduces puffiness around eyes. | Young leaves in drinks, fruits, infusions in hand rinses. Dried leaves as potpourri. Dried leaves as tea. |
The plant is resistant to some frost, plant in protected area, and wait till late summer before throwing out the plant from last year, as new growth is often very slow. |
| Mango |
Anarcardiaceae | It is a powerful, nutritive fruit satisfying most of the body's needs. Green mango cooked with salt is used to treat heat exhaustion. Digestive - corrects both constipation and diarrhea. | Raw or ripe fruit. | Ripe mango is delicious fresh or as a smoothie or sorbet.Raw mango is seasonally available in the Indian stores-cook with water, sweeten and simmer for 10 mins.Chill. |
| Mustard Seed (Black) | Brassica nigra | Anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, stimulant, diuretic. The oil is great for cooking and is high in omega fatty 3 acids. | Very young leaves in salad, maturer washed leaves cooked with garlic, salt, pepper till tender. Mustard oil is an excellent rub for healing, tight sutures from surgery. Massage into seams mixed with vegetable or other oil to dilute-Heals faster,and leaves fewer scars. | se pure mustard oil blended with salt and pepper on roasted or boiled corn on the cob. You'll love it, and it's good for you. |
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Uses | What to Use | How? |
| Neem | Azadirachta indica | Antifungal, prevents diabetes, blood purifier and skin treatment for acne , wrinkles and other problems. Kidney defense and diuretic. Antibacterial, antiviral and pesticide (similar to permethrin without it’s‘irritational’ effects.) Promotes gum and mouth health. Reduces cholesterol and helps break down fats in the body. | All parts of the tree are used- seeds, leaves bark. The twigs are chewed and used as a toothbrush. Leaves eaten, and decoctions, oils and tea from the bark, seed and flowers are used in medicines and cosmetics. | Fresh/dried leaves are roasted or fried and eaten as a mouth cleanser before a meal. Use soaps, toothpaste,oils for overall good skin and gum health. Oils and meds are very effective. Oils diluted and sprayed on plants as organic insecticides. |
| Papaya Indian: Papita Chinese: Shu-Kua |
Carica papaya | Papain(like pepsin) enzyme encourages digestive juices and helps the protein digestion. It is an astringent and shrinks hemorrhoids. Good for skin in summer. | Fresh fruit, dried fruit, juice and tablets or capsules | Enjoy fresh before breakfast. For external hemmorhoids use one papain tablet every 4 hours for two days. Then 3 times a day for a week. As skin astringent, apply directly. |
| Pomegranate | Punica granatum | Antiviral, diuretic,quenches thirst. Cures chronic diarrhea. Free radical scavenger and antioxidant. Reduces heart disease risk factors, including atherosclerosis, and LDL oxidation and other factors responsible for cardiovascular disease. It helps to control the systolic blood pressure. May be effective against prostate cancer, and osteoarthritis. It is being studied for its effect on cancer and tumors, and its potential for regulating the sugar levels of diabetes. It is protective of oral health. | The fruit. | Seeds are eaten fresh or juiced. Dried seeds are used as seasoning in cooking and in chutneys. |
| Rosemary Chinese: Mi-tieh-hsiang |
Rosmarinus officinalis | To restore appetite, nervous sick stomach,strengthen stomach lining. | Use fresh, dried. | Flavoring for meats, and tomato dishes. Use as tea w/ginger.3 to 4 cups daily |
| Turmeric Indian: Haldi |
Curcuma longa | Curcumin is the chemical agent in turmeric is known for its antiseptic, anti-tumor against melanoma, colorectal and pancreatic cancer, antibacterial, and liver-defense, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties. It is anti-amyloid preventing protein cell aggregation such as growth that causes alzheimers. Skin conditions such as boils, rash, irritations that will not heal. For digestive problems such as diverticulitis. Anti-depressant (active ingredient in Avea) | The dried powdered root available as a powder or as a fresh tuber. Also available as curcumin capsules. | WARNING: STRONG DYE. Drink as tea (not tasty). Use in cooking. Sprinkle in vegetable and meat or egg dishes. Has a smoky, slightly bitter flavor, use at the start of the cooking process, and toast with a little oil to prevent odor. (Cover pot with a lid to prevent staining. Use bleach if counter-top becomes stained.) Turmeric made into a thick paste with a little water can be applied directly on swellings, or rashes without broken skin.Grate fresh turmeric into salad, or pickle with vinegar. |
| Wild Amaranth Indian: Rajgira |
Amaranthum blitum | Tiny grain seeds. Leaves of all varieties are edible and may be cooked like spinach. | Seeds and Leaves.Seeds are used as a flour for gluten free bread, tasty and highly nutritious: containing 15% protein, 12% fiber and high in calcium. Available at ethnic stores. | Amaranth seed and leaves have been used as an astringent for stopping diarrhea and excessive menstruation. Owing to its anti-oxidant qualities, it makes an excellent wash for skin problems such as acne, eczema, psoriasis and hives. It may be used as a douche for vaginal discharges; makes an excellent mouthwash for sore mouths, gums, teeth and throat. |
| Wild Purple Violet |
Violaceae | Build immune system defense, reduce effect of colds, prevent cancer, constipation. | Fresh or dried leaves, and flowers | Steep flowers in hot water - tea for colds, powdered leaves with water at bedtime for constipation |