Herbs A to Z

Open a specimen for its uses, preparations, cautions, pregnancy and breastfeeding notes, folklore, and how it grows. Or start from a condition. The edge of each plate marks temperature: warming cooling.

AgrimonyAgrimonia eupatoriaThomé · 1885

Tightens leaky tissue from the throat to the bladder.warm · dry · tonifying

AngelicaAngelica archangelicaKöhler · 1887

Warms a cold, stuck body from the gut outward.warm · dry · tonifying

Artist's conkGanoderma applanatumPilze der Heimat · 1913

Reishi's wild cousin on old logs and stumps, for immunity and frayed nerves.neutral · dry · tonifying

AshwagandhaWithania somniferaFlora Graeca · 1819

Rebuilds a body run down by long stress.warm · dry · relaxant

AstragalusAstragalus membranaceusHonzō Zufu · 1830

Builds steady resistance ahead of the cold season.warm · moist · tonifying

BetonyStachys officinalisCurtis · 1820

The old remedy for an aching head.cool · dry · relaxant

Black pepperPiper nigrumKöhler · 1887

The table spice that warms a cold gut and helps other herbs absorb.warm · dry · tonifying

BlackberryRubus fruticosus, R. villosusBigelow · 1817

A bramble astringent for loose bowels, with berries for the larder.cool · dry · tonifying

BladderwrackFucus vesiculosus, F. distichusFlora Batava

An iodine-rich seaweed for a thyroid short of iodine.cool · moist · relaxant

Blue vervainVerbena hastataReed · 1910

For the driven, overworked mind that can't switch off.cool · dry · relaxant

BonesetEupatorium perfoliatumBigelow · 1817

Breaks a flu fever and eases the deep ache in the bones.warm · dry · relaxant

BorageBorago officinalisThomé · 1885

A cucumber-scented herb of courage and comfort, with a healing seed oil.cool · moist · relaxant

BurdockArctium lappaMillspaugh · 1887

A slow, deep cleanser for skin and liver.cool · dry · relaxant

Butcher's broomRuscus aculeatusThomé · 1885

Tightens slack veins and eases heavy, swollen legs.cool · dry · tonifying

CacaoTheobroma cacaoKöhler · 1887

The food of the gods, for a warm heart and a lifted mood.warm · dry · tonifying

CalamusAcorus americanus, A. calamusKöhler · 1887

A warming bitter root for cold digestion, a strained voice, and a scattered mind.warm · dry · relaxant

CalendulaCalendula officinalisKöhler · 1887

Sunny, resinous flowers that heal skin inside and out.warm · dry · tonifying

California poppyEschscholzia californicaCurtis · 1836

For the pain and spasm that keep you up at night.cool · dry · relaxant

CardamomElettaria cardamomumKöhler · 1887

The warm heart of chai, for gas, bloating, and a damp chest.warm · dry · tonifying

Cat's clawUncaria tomentosaKarsten · 1866

An Amazonian vine bark that cools inflamed joints and steadies immunity.cool · dry · tonifying

CatnipNepeta catariaFlora Batava

Settles a nervous stomach in children and grown-ups alike.warm/cool · dry · relaxant

CayenneCapsicum annuumKöhler · 1887

Drives heat and blood from the center out to the edges.warm · dry · tonifying

CentauryCentaurium erythraeaKöhler · 1887

A pink-flowered gentian cousin for a poor appetite and slow digestion.cool · dry · tonifying

ChamomileMatricaria chamomillaKöhler · 1887

Settles the belly and the nerves in one cup.warm · neutral · relaxant

Chanca piedraPhyllanthus niruriHortus Malabaricus · 1690

The stonebreaker of the American tropics, for kidney stones and gravel.cool · dry · relaxant

ChickweedStellaria mediaFlora Batava

Cools itching skin and feeds the body through winter.cool · moist · relaxant

CinnamonCinnamomum verumKöhler · 1887

Warms cold hands and steadies blood sugar.warm · moist · tonifying

CloveSyzygium aromaticumKöhler · 1887

Numbs a sore tooth and warms a crampy, gassy gut.warm · dry · tonifying

CodonopsisCodonopsis pilosulaWu Qijun · 1848

A gentle, sweet tonic for a worn-out body and a weak appetite.neutral · moist · tonifying

CoffeeCoffea arabica, C. canephoraKöhler · 1887

A bitter stimulant that sharpens the mind, moves the liver, and steadies blood sugar.warm · dry · tonifying

ComfreySymphytum officinaleThomé · 1885

Knits sprains, strains, and bruised tissue, applied from the outside.cool · moist · tonifying

CranberryVaccinium macrocarponFlora Batava

Keeps bacteria from taking hold in the bladder.cool · dry · tonifying

DamianaTurnera diffusaFlora Brasiliensis · 1883

Warms the pelvis, moves blood, and lifts a heavy mood.warm · dry · tonifying

DandelionTaraxacum officinaleKöhler · 1887

A bitter spring tonic for the liver, the gut, and the kidneys.cool · dry · tonifying

EchinaceaEchinacea purpureaCurtis · 1787

Rallies the immune response at the first sign of infection.cool · dry · tonifying

ElderSambucus nigraKöhler · 1887

Berries for the flu, flowers for the fever.cool · dry · relaxant

ElecampaneInula heleniumMillspaugh · 1887

Clears thick, stuck mucus from deep in the lungs.warm · dry · tonifying

FennelFoeniculum vulgareKöhler · 1887

The after-dinner seed that settles gas and cramping.warm · moist · relaxant

FeverfewTanacetum partheniumKöhler · 1887

Taken daily, it cuts how often migraines come.cool · dry · tonifying

FireweedChamerion angustifoliumThomé · 1888

The first green after a fire, for an irritated gut and inflamed skin.cool · neutral · tonifying

GarlicAllium sativumBentley & Trimen · 1880

A hot, antimicrobial kitchen medicine for lungs and heart.warm · dry · tonifying

Ghost pipeMonotropa unifloraMillspaugh · 1887

A ghostly forest flower, given in drops for pain that overwhelms.cool · neutral · relaxant

GingerZingiber officinaleKöhler · 1887

Kindles a cold, sluggish gut and stops nausea in its tracks.warm · dry · relaxant

GinkgoGinkgo bilobaFlora Japonica · 1870

Sends blood to the brain and out to the far edges of the body.cool · neutral · relaxant

GinsengPanax quinquefolius, P. ginsengBigelow · 1817

The classic tonic root for stamina, focus, and blood sugar, now precious in the wild.warm/cool · moist · tonifying

GoldenrodSolidago canadensisThomé · 1885

Dries a drippy nose and keeps the urine flowing clean.warm · dry · tonifying

GoldensealHydrastis canadensisMillspaugh · 1887

Clears infection from swollen, weepy mucous membranes.cool · dry · tonifying

Ground ivyGlechoma hederaceaThomé · 1885

Drains stuffy ears and sinuses.cool · dry · tonifying

HawthornCrataegus monogynaSturm · 1796

A heart tonic for the muscle and the emotions.cool · dry · tonifying

HopsHumulus lupulusKöhler · 1887

A strong, bitter sleep herb for hot, wound-up nights.cool · dry · relaxant

Hydrangea rootHydrangea arborescensCurtis · 1799

An old remedy for gravel and kidney stones.cool · moist · relaxant

JuniperJuniperus communisBigelow · 1817

A resinous berry that disinfects the bladder and warms a cold gut.warm · dry · tonifying

KavaPiper methysticumPritchett · 1890

Unwinds muscles and nerves while the mind stays clear.warm · dry · relaxant

KelpAlaria esculentaYendo · 1919

A mineral-rich sea vegetable that moistens and nourishes.cool · moist · relaxant

Labrador teaRhododendron groenlandicumThomé · 1885

A resinous bog-shrub tea for colds and congestion, taken weak and seldom.warm · dry · tonifying

Lady's mantleAlchemilla vulgarisThomé · 1905

Firms the uterus and slows heavy bleeding.cool · dry · tonifying

LavenderLavandula angustifoliaKöhler · 1887

Releases tension and lifts a heavy, anxious mood.warm · dry · relaxant

Lemon balmMelissa officinalisKöhler · 1887

A cooling mint for heat in the nerves and a heavy heart.cool · dry · relaxant

LicoriceGlycyrrhiza glabraKöhler · 1887

Moistens dry tissue and sweetens every formula it joins.warm · moist · relaxant

LindenTilia cordataKöhler · 1887

Steadies the heart and soothes the nerves, gently enough for children.cool · moist · relaxant

LobeliaLobelia inflataBigelow · 1817

A powerful relaxant for spasm, given in drops.warm · dry · relaxant

LomatiumLomatium dissectum, L. nudicauleWeaver · 1919

A resinous antiviral root and seed for flu and lingering chest infections.warm · dry · tonifying

MāmakiPipturus albidusRock · 1913

A Hawaiian cousin of nettle, brewed into a smooth daily tea.cool · neutral · tonifying

MarshmallowAlthaea officinalisKöhler · 1887

A slippery root that brings moisture back to dry, burning tissue.cool · moist · relaxant

MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmariaThomé · 1885

The stomach's gentle aspirin.cool · dry · tonifying

Milk thistleSilybum marianumThomé · 1885

Protects and rebuilds a hardworking liver.cool · moist · relaxant

Milky oatsAvena sativaThomé · 1885

Slow, deep nourishment for frayed and exhausted nerves.neutral · moist · nourishing

MotherwortLeonurus cardiacaThomé · 1885

For a racing heart and a mind that won't settle.cool · dry · relaxant

MugwortArtemisia vulgarisKöhler · 1887

Moves a slow gut and a stuck cycle.cool · dry · relaxant

Muira puamaPtychopetalum olacoidesFlora Brasiliensis · 1872

A Brazilian tonic wood for desire, stamina, and a tired mind.warm · neutral · tonifying

MulleinVerbascum thapsusFlora Batava

A velvet-leaved lung herb for dry, stuck coughs.cool · dry · tonifying

MyrrhCommiphora myrrhaKöhler · 1887

A bitter resin that tightens and disinfects mouths, throats, and skin.warm · dry · tonifying

NettleUrtica dioicaThomé · 1885

A mineral-rich green that stings first and feeds you after.cool · dry · tonifying

Orange peelCitrus × aurantium, C. × sinensisKöhler · 1887

Aromatic peel for a slow, queasy stomach, and the blossom for nerves.cool · dry · tonifying

Oregon grapeMahonia aquifoliumPaxton · 1842

A bright yellow bitter for the liver, gut, and skin.cool · dry · tonifying

PartridgeberryMitchella repensMillspaugh · 1887

A tiny woodland vine that tones the uterus and bladder.cool · dry · tonifying

PassionflowerPassiflora incarnataCurtis · 1839

Quiets the thoughts that keep circling at bedtime.cool · dry · relaxant

PeppermintMentha × piperitaKöhler · 1887

Cool on the tongue, warm in the belly, loosening everywhere.warm · dry · relaxant

PlantainPlantago majorThomé · 1885

The first-aid weed underfoot.cool · moist · tonifying

Pleurisy rootAsclepias tuberosaBigelow · 1817

Moistens and relaxes a dry, painful chest so a cough can do its work.cool · moist · relaxant

Poke rootPhytolacca americanaBigelow · 1817

A powerful lymph mover in drop doses, and a poison in larger ones.cool · dry · tonifying

Prickly ashZanthoxylum americanum, Z. clava-herculisMillspaugh · 1887

A tingling bark that sends blood to cold hands, feet, and nerves.warm · dry · tonifying

PropolisPropolis (bee glue)Saunders · 1896

The resin bees use to seal and disinfect the hive, for mouths, throats, and sores.warm · dry · tonifying

Purple loosestrifeLythrum salicariaThomé · 1885

A wetland astringent for loose bowels, bleeding gums, and sore throats.cool · dry · tonifying

Red cloverTrifolium pratenseThomé · 1905

A mineral-rich lymph mover for skin and lungs.cool · dry · relaxant

Red raspberry leafRubus idaeusKöhler · 1887

A toning leaf for the womb, the gut, and the throat.cool · dry · tonifying

ReishiGanoderma lucidumFlora Batava

A slow mushroom tonic for immunity, sleep, and a tired heart.warm · dry · tonifying

RoseRosa caninaThomé · 1885

Cooling, tightening, and comforting, from petal to hip.cool · dry · tonifying

RosemarySalvia rosmarinusKöhler · 1887

Sends warmth and blood to a cold head and cold hands.warm · dry · tonifying

SageSalvia officinalisKöhler · 1887

Warms, dries, and tightens: throats, sweats, and wandering minds.warm · dry · tonifying

SarsaparillaSmilax ornataKöhler · 1887

A warming root for the liver, the skin, and stiff, dry joints.warm · moist · tonifying

Saw palmettoSerenoa repensLounsberry · 1901

Tones the prostate and bladder and nourishes depleted pelvic tissue.warm · moist · tonifying

Self-healPrunella vulgarisThomé · 1885

Closes wounds inside and out and keeps lymph moving.cool · dry · tonifying

Shepherd's purseCapsella bursa-pastorisFlora Batava

Slows bleeding from the uterus and the nose.cool · dry · tonifying

Shiitake & maitakeLentinula edodes, Grifola frondosaFlora Batava

Medicinal mushrooms that feed both the cook and the immune system.warm · moist · tonifying

SkullcapScutellaria laterifloraMillspaugh · 1887

Unknots the neck, the jaw, and the thoughts that won't stop.cool · dry · relaxant

Slippery elmUlmus rubraMichaux · 1819

A nourishing, slippery bark that coats and soothes from throat to gut.cool · moist · relaxant

Solomon's sealPolygonatum biflorumThomé · 1885

Moistens dry joints and brings tendons and ligaments back to a healthy tension.cool · moist · relaxant

SpearmintMentha spicataKöhler · 1887

The gentle mint for after meals and upset stomachs.warm · dry · relaxant

St John's wortHypericum perforatumFlora Batava

Midsummer sunshine for nerves, gut, and grey moods.warm · dry · relaxant

Staghorn sumacRhus typhinaRedouté · 1804

Sour red berries that cool, tighten, and fortify.cool · dry · tonifying

TeaCamellia sinensisKöhler · 1887

Calm, alert focus in a cup, with a long record for heart health.warm · dry · tonifying

ThymeThymus vulgarisKöhler · 1887

A hot, antiseptic kitchen herb for wet coughs and cold guts.warm · dry · tonifying

TulsiOcimum tenuiflorumBlanco · 1880

A sacred basil that lifts the mood and steadies stress.warm · dry · relaxant

Turkey tailTrametes versicolorFlora Batava

A common bracket fungus with a long record in immune support.neutral · neutral · nourishing

TurmericCurcuma longaKöhler · 1887

The golden root for inflamed joints and a slow liver.warm · dry · tonifying

UsneaUsnea spp.Schubert

A lichen that fights stubborn bacterial infections.cool · dry · tonifying

Uva ursiArctostaphylos uva-ursiMillspaugh · 1887

A short, strong course for a bladder infection.cool · dry · tonifying

ValerianValeriana officinalisKöhler · 1887

A strong-smelling root that releases tension into sleep.warm · dry · relaxant

VanillaVanilla planifoliaKöhler · 1887

An orchid's scent that calms fear and softens a racing heart.warm · neutral · relaxant

VioletViola odorataFlora Batava

Moves lymph without drying, and calms a dry, fluttering heart.cool · moist · relaxant

White pinePinus strobusMichaux · 1819

Clears a phlegmy chest and seals small wounds with its resin.warm · dry · tonifying

White willowSalix albaThomé · 1885

The bark behind aspirin, for aches, fevers, and hot, sore joints.cool · dry · tonifying

Wild cherryPrunus serotinaCarson · 1847

Quiets a dry, racking cough without shutting it down.cool · moist · relaxant

Wild lettuceLactuca virosaKöhler · 1887

For the pain that won't let you sleep.cool · dry · relaxant

Witch hazelHamamelis virginianaMillspaugh · 1887

Tightens swollen veins and cools weeping, inflamed skin.cool · dry · tonifying

WormwoodArtemisia absinthiumKöhler · 1887

One of the bitterest herbs, in drop doses, for a stalled appetite and stomach.cool · dry · tonifying

YarrowAchillea millefoliumKöhler · 1887

Master of the blood: stops it outside, moves it inside.warm/cool · dry · tonifying

Yellow dockRumex crispusMillspaugh · 1887

Moves the bowels and builds the blood.cool · dry · tonifying

Yerba mate & yauponIlex paraguariensis, I. vomitoria, I. guayusaKöhler · 1887

The caffeine hollies, for steady energy and blood sugar.warm · dry · tonifying

YohimbePausinystalia johimbePressed specimen · 1904

A powerful West African bark for erections, for practitioner use only.warm · dry · tonifying