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Herbs, Vitamins & Supplements- Herbs
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St. John's Wort
St. John's Wort Botanical name(s): Hypericum Perforatum. Family: Hypericaceae Other name(s): amber, goatweed, hardhay, hyperici herba, klamath weed, tipton weed General description St. John's wort is an herb with a five-petaled yellow flower that grows in much of the world. It is named after St. John the Baptist because it blooms around his celebration day (June 24). The medicinal element of the plant consists of the dried above-ground parts, including the stem, petals, and flowers. Two constituents tha...
Valerian
Valerian Botanical name(s): Valeriana officinalis, Centranthus ruber. Family: Valerianaceae Other name(s): all-heal, amantilla, carpon's tail, heliotrope, setewale, setwall, vandal root General description Valerian is a perennial plant with pink flowers that grows in North America and Europe. The medicinal part is the fresh underground malodorous roots, carefully dried below 40 degrees Celsius. Valerian root contains two categories of compounds that have sedative properties: the sesquiterpenes (valereni...
Saw Palmetto
Saw Palmetto Botanical name(s): Sabal, Sabal serrulata, Serenoa repens Common names: Saw palmetto, shrub palmetto, dwarf palm General description The saw palmetto tree is native to North America. It grows 4–10 feet tall depending on its region. The medicinal part is the ripe, dried berry, also called Sabal fructus. Both the berries and seeds of the saw palmetto plant are used. Saw palmetto is claimed to reduce the signs and symptoms of an enlarged prostate. It is widely used in the treatment of benign p...
Licorice Root
Licorice Root Botanical name(s): Glycyrrhiza glabra l. Family: Fabaceae Other name(s): licorice, sweet root General description Licorice is a herbaceous perennial commonly grown in southeastern Europe and western Asia. It has been used since ancient times as a flavoring agent and as an expectorant. The medicinal parts of the licorice plant are the unpeeled dried roots and runners, and the rhizome (underground stem). Licorice contains the compound glycyrrhizin, which is 50 times sweeter than sugar. Exces...
Milk Thistle
Milk Thistle Botanical name(s): Silybum marianum Other name(s): milk thistle, marian thistle, Mary thistle, silibinin, silicristin, silidianin, silmar, silybin, silybum, silymarin, General description Milk thistle is an annual or biennial plant with reddish-purple flowers that grows up to three feet tall. Sometimes considered a weed, it is native to Europe and grows in dry, rocky soils. Milk thistle seeds (now known as Silybum marianum) have been used for hundreds of years to treat liver and gallbladder...
Nettle
Nettle Botanical name(s): Urtica dioica L. Family: Urticaceae Other name(s): common nettle, greater nettle, stinging nettle General description The stinging nettle is a noxious plant with tiny stinging hairs covering its surface. Contact with the plant produces a stinging or burning sensation in the skin and a wheal and flare at the site of contact. This reaction is thought to be produced by histamine from the plant that is released as the hairs pierce the skin. There are several species of stinging net...
Grape Seed Extract
Grape Seed Extract Botanical name(s): Vitis vinifera Other name(s): oligomeric proanthocyanidins , OPC, pycnogenol General description The grape has a long history of medicinal uses. Ancient Egyptians treated asthma with grapes. More recently, sap from grape branches was used to treat skin irritations and scrapes. Modern medicine may have discovered measurable benefits from compounds in both grape seeds and red wines. Further research suggests that the protective ingredients in wine are resveratrol and ...
Green Tea Extract
Green Tea Extract Botanical name(s): Camellia sinensis. Family: Theaceae Other name(s): green tea, Chinese tea, green sencha tea, Japanese tea, Yame tea General description Green tea is obtained from the plant Camellia sinensis. Black tea, green tea, and Oolong tea are all produced from varieties of the same plant. The different types of tea are created using different processing methods. Green tea extract contains a variety of polyphenols that includes the most active polyphenol, epigallocatechin galla...
Hawthorn
Hawthorn Botanical name(s): Crataegus oxyacantha Other name(s): English hawthorn, haw, May, Mayblossom, Maybush, Mayflower, whitethorn General description The hawthorn is a woody shrub or small tree with thorns and brightly colored fruit. In Europe, hawthorn is used both as a prescription and an over-the-counter heart tonic. Although this herb is not well known in the United States, more Americans, including physicians, are now contemplating various uses for it. Hawthorn contains flavonoids, which may i...
Kava Kava
Kava Kava Botanical name(s): Piper methysticum, Piperis methystici rhizoma. Family: Piperaceae Other name(s): ava, awa, gea gi, kava, kava-kava, kawa kawa, methysticum, yaqona (pronounced yangona) General description The kava plant is native to the South Pacific, where it is still widely used. It is a tall, upright bush with large leaves. The rhizome is the portion of the plant that contains the active ingredient. Some European manufacturers use top cuttings from the kava plant. This material has very l...
Goldenseal
Goldenseal Botanical name(s): Hydrastis canadensis. Family: Ranunculaceae Other name(s): golden seal, yellow root General description Goldenseal is a perennial herb native to North America. The roots and rhizome are the parts of the plant that are used. Goldenseal contains the alkaloids hydrastine and berberine, which possess weak antiseptic properties. These components may help to combat bacteria-induced diarrhea. They should be avoided during pregnancy because of their possible stimulating effect on t...
Garlic
Garlic Botanical name(s): Allium sativum. Family: Liliaceae General description Garlic consists of fresh or dried bulbs of the botanical plant Allium sativum, which is cultivated worldwide. The bulb or clove is the part of the plant most commonly used, but sometimes garlic oil is used. Garlic is best stored hung in plaits in a dry place. Garlic contains alliin, which, when ground, produces the strong-smelling, potent antibacterial agent allicin. In addition to its supposed antibacterial properties, garl...
Ginger
Ginger Botanical name(s): Zingiber officiale Roscoe. Family: Zingiberaceae Other name(s): gingerroot, zingiberis rhizoma General description Ginger is a perennial plant with grasslike leaves. Ginger, the spice, is produced from the root of the ginger plant and has been used for more than 2,500 years. The root contains essential oils and resins that give ginger its characteristic odor and spicy flavor, and are responsible for its medicinal uses. Ginger's medicinal uses are due to a class of active ingred...
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba Botanical name(s): Ginkgo biloba. Family: Ginkgoaceae Other name(s): maidenhair tree General description The herb ginkgo biloba is the extract from the dried leaves and seeds of the tree. Ginkgo biloba has been promoted commercially in the United States with claims of enhancing memory and mental sharpness. Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) contains flavonoids and terpenes (the largest fraction being the known ginkgolides A, B, and C). GBE is widely used for cerebral insufficiency (memory difficu...
Ginseng
Ginseng Botanical name(s): Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng, an endangered species), Panax repens. Family: Araliaceae Other name(s): American ginseng, Chinese ginseng, Korean ginseng, man-root, Schinsent General description Ginseng is a very popular herb. A common name for ginseng, "man-root," because of its humanoid appearance, implies that it has benefits for the whole body. The medicinal part consists of the dried main and lateral root and root hairs. Ginseng commonly refers to Pa...
Glycine
Glycine Other name(s): aminoacetic acid Unsubstantiated claims Please note that this section reports on claims that have NOT yet been substantiated through scientific studies. There is conflicting evidence that taking glycine orally in addition to conventional treatment seems to reduce negative symptoms of schizophrenia in patients who are resistant to monotherapy with conventional antipsychotics. Applying a cream containing glycine, l-cysteine, and dl-threonine seems to reduce pain and slightly improve...
Cranberry
Cranberry Botanical name(s): Vaccinium macrocarpon. Family: Ericaceae Other name(s): bearberry, craneberry General description The cranberry is an evergreen plant native to the northeastern United States. The red berries on the plant are used in foods, beverages, and in herbal products. It has been used traditionally for the prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections. Although it has fallen in and out of favor in medicine, cranberry is currently recognized as an effective agent to help prevent...
Elderberry
Elderberry Botanical name(s): Sambucus canadensis, S. nigra, S. racemosa, S. ebulus. Family: Caprifoliaceae Other name(s): black elder, European elder, elder flower, sambucas General description The juice from the berries of the elder tree is used in the treatment of many ailments, particularly rheumatic pains. Elderberry is also used to treat colds and influenza. Elderberry contains naturally occurring antioxidants , vitamin C , and phenolic compounds such as flavonoids that are believed to be antivira...
Feverfew
Feverfew Botanical name(s): Chrysanthemum parthenium, Tanacetum parthenium. Family: Asteraceae Other name(s): altamisa, bachelor's buttons, featherfew, featherfoil General description Feverfew is related to the common daisy and grows throughout the United States and Europe. It has been used as a pain reliever for centuries. The feathery, aromatic leaves are used primarily for the prevention of migraine headaches. Scientists believe that parthenolide and other ingredients in feverfew inhibit serotonin an...
Alfalfa
Alfalfa Botanical name(s): Medicago sativa. Family: Fabaceae Other name(s): hay, lucerne, purple medic General description Alfalfa is a perennial grown worldwide as a feedstock for cattle. Its appearance is cloverlike, but it grows to a height of 2 to 3 feet. It blooms in the summer with purple or blue flowers. At harvest time alfalfa is mowed, field dried, and baled. The baled hay can be fed directly to cattle or ground to a coarse powder first. It can also be enriched with grain or other supplements. ...
Dong Quai
Dong Quai Botanical name(s): Angelica archangelica. Family: Umbelliferae Other name(s): angelica, Chinese angelica, Japanese angelica General description Dong quai is a fragrant perennial or biennial plant with greenish-white flowers. It is grown in Asia for medicinal purposes, but in the United States, it is more widely used as a food flavoring. The roots and leaves are the parts of the plant that are used medicinally. Dong quai contains coumarins, which act as vasodilators and antispasmodic agents. On...
Echinacea
Echinacea Botanical name(s): Echinacea purpurea, E. angustifolia, E. pallida. Family: Asteraceae Other name(s): black sampson, purple coneflower, rudbeckia, sampson root General description Echinacea, most commonly known as purple coneflower, is a flowering plant native to North America. The plant is harvested at flowering time; all parts are used except the roots. Echinacea usually refers to a mix of two plants that exert pharmacological activity: E. angustifolia and E. purpurea. A broad spectrum of ch...
Aloe
Aloe Botanical name(s): Aloe africana, Aloe barbadensis, Aloe ferox, Aloe perryi, Aloe spicata, Aloe vera. Family: Liliaceae. Over 200 known species of aloe exist. Other name(s): Aloe vera, burn plant, lily of the desert, elephant's gall, laxative, aloin, barbaloin General description Aloe is a plant that probably originated in Africa. More than 200 known species of aloe exist. The term "aloe vera" translates from Arabic and Hebrew to mean a "true shining, bitter substance." The succulent leaves are the...
Bilberry
Bilberry Botanical name(s): Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum. Family: Ericaceae Other name(s): blueberry, bog whortleberry, northern bilberry General description Bilberries are a type of blueberry found in Europe and the Northern United States and are closely related to the U.S. blueberry. Although the entire plant is used, the berries and their juice are the most commonly known. Historically, bilberry was used to improve eye disorders such as retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. Bomber pilots...
Black Cohosh
Black Cohosh Botanical name(s): Cimicifuga racemosa. Family: Ranunculaceae Other name(s): black snake root, bugbane, bugwort, rattleroot, rattleweed, squaw root General description Black cohosh is a tall perennial herb originally found in the northeastern United States. Native Americans boiled the root in water and drank the brewed beverage to treat women's problems, as well as fatigue, snakebite, and arthritis. The medicinal part consists of the dried rhizome and roots. Black cohosh is cultivated in Eu...
Cascara Sagrada
Cascara Sagrada Botanical name(s): Rhamnus purshiana. Family: Rhamnaceae Other name(s): bitter bark, sacred bark General description Cascara sagrada, which means "sacred bark," was first used by Native Americans. It is made from the bark of a tree found in the northwestern United States. The bark contains anthraquinone glycosides, which act as a cathartic or laxative, depending on the dosage. Cascara has laxative effects and may help relieve constipation. However, in 2002, the FDA reclassified laxatives...
Cat's Claw
Cat's Claw Botanical name(s): Uncaria tomentosa. Family: Rubiaceae Other name(s): una de gato General description Cat's claw is a climbing vine that grows in many countries in Central and South America, especially in the Amazon. Two species, Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis, have traditionally been used to treat arthritis, digestive problems, and viral infections. The active ingredients are extracted from the bark and root of the vine. Both types of Uncaria are currently being evaluated by moder...
Cayenne
Cayenne Botanical name(s): Capsicum annuum, C. frutescens. Family: Solanaceae Other name(s): Capsaicin, capsacum, African chili, chili, hot pepper, Louisiana long pepper or sport pepper, paprika, red chili, spur pepper, tabasco pepper General description Cayenne is a hot spice commonly used in cooking. Bell pepper and paprika are the mild varieties of this pepper. Topically, cayenne is an effective pain reliever. It contains capsaicin, which is used in ointment form to relieve pain. Ointments made from ...
Chaste Tree
Chaste Tree (Chasteberry) Botanical name(s): Vitex agnus-castus L. Family: Verbenaceae Other name(s): chasteberry, cloister pepper, hemp tree, monk's pepper, vitex General description Vitex agnus-castus, or chaste tree, is a shrub that bears violet flowers and berries. The medicinal parts are the dried fruit and leaves. The plant is indigenous to the Mediterranean as far as western Asia, and now can be found in southeastern parts of North America. Chaste tree contains iridoids, flavonoids, progestins, a...
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SEARCH HEALTH LIBRARY
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96150
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