Peppermint / Mentha x piperita

A mint hybrid first grown in England in the 17th century, peppermint is known around the world for its cool and flavorful taste. Commonly taken after a meal to aid digestion, the infusion is a useful remedy for flatulence and bloating as well as headaches and migraines linked to digestive weakness.

Meadowsweet / Filipendula ulmaria

Aspirin-like substances were first isolated in the 19th century from meadowsweet. The herb has some of the characteristic properties of aspirin, notably a mild anti-inflammatory activity, but unlike aspirin, meadowsweet is a key remedy for healing acid-related problems such as heartburn and gastric ulcer.

Eucalyptus / Eucalyptus globulus

A key aboriginal remedy of Australia, eucalyptus can be used to treat everything from colds and chest infection to skin conditions and fever.

Eyebright / Euphrasia officinalis

Eyebright may have gained its name from its flowers, thought to resemble the human eye. More probably, experience taught that the herb was good for the eyes, hence the name. Although little researched, it contains constituents known to have a tonic effect on mucous membranes, including those of the eyes.

Californian poppy / Eschscholzia californica

Although a close relative of the opium poppy, Californian poppy is safe and non-addictive, and

makes a gentle and effective sedative for children.

Siberian ginseng / Eleutherococcus senticosus

First brought into prominence in the West by Soviet research, Siberian ginseng has been

routinely given to Russian cosmonauts to aid endurance in space. Similar to Korean ginseng, Siberian ginseng improves the ability to adapt to all kinds of stress, physical and mental.

Clove

Eugenia caryophylatta syn. Syzygium aromaticum Originally from the Spice Islands of Indonesia, cloves hold a revered place in oriental herbal medicine and cuisine. A potent antiseptic, cloves added to food help prevent foodborne infection and food poisoning. The essential oil is an excellent first aid remedy for mouth ulcers, toothache, and nerve pain in general.

Echinacea

Echinacea angustifolia, E. purpurea, E. pallida A plant from the plains of North America, echinacea is thought to powerfully stimulate the body’s ability to resist infection and counter toxicity. Taken mainly as a treatment or preventative for common cold, flu, and viral infections, the herb also helps heal skin disorders such as eczema and acne.

Wild yam / Dioscorea villosa

Increasingly taken as a remedy to relieve menopausal symptoms, wild yam has traditionally been used to ease cramps and muscle pain, especially menstrual pain and colic, throughout the body. A further key use has been in the treatment of inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis.

Globe artichoke / Cynara scolymus

The flower heads of globe artichoke make a tasty vegetable dish and, like the leaves, have a tonic action on the liver and digestion, stimulating appetite and detoxification. However, the leaves alone are used in medicine, with substantial evidence to prove that they lower cholesterol levels.

Turmeric / Curcuma longa

A key component of curry mixtures, turmeric’s golden-yellow color is familiar to all who eat Indian food. Turmeric root has traditionally been taken to heal allergic and inflammatory conditions and research has established that it has extensive health benefits, due in particular to its strong antioxidant activity.

Hawthorn / Crataegus spp.

Regarded by herbalists as a “food for the heart,” hawthorn is one of the most scientifically validated of all herbal medicines, exerting specific benefit on the heart. Both berries and flowering tops improve blood flow through the coronary arteries to the heart.

Pumpkin seed / Cucurbita pepo

While pumpkins are best known for pie and Halloween, its seeds offer well-established nutritional benefits. Full of high-grade essential fatty acids and trace elements, notably zinc, the seeds make an excellent food supplement.

Crataeva, Varuna / Crataeva nurvala

A key remedy for kidney, bladder, and urinary tract problems, crataeva can prove effective in conditions such as cystitis, enlarged prostate, and kidney stones.

Lily of the valley / Convallaria majalis

A slender plant with fragrant white flowers, lily of the valley acts on a weak heart to improve its functioning. A potent medicinal herb, it can have toxic effects.

Myrrh / Commiphora molmol

A bitter-tasting resin with an ancient provenance, myrrh has been esteemed as a cleansing and antiseptic remedy for many thousands of years. Used in making perfumes, it powerfully disinfects tissue with which it comes into contact.

Coleus / Coleus forskohlii

In its native India, coleus is used more as a condiment than as a medicine. Its value in health problems such as asthma and high blood pressure has resulted from recent research into the herb’s key active constituent, a potent muscle relaxant.

Coffee / Coffea arabica

It is hard to imagine life without coffee culture, but coffee drinking only took off in the West in the 18th century. Coffee’s ability to sharpen wit and mental focus, and its effectiveness as a stimulant, has guaranteed its popularity since then.

Caraway / Carum carvi

Used in food and medicine for at least 5,000 years, caraway is one of Europe’s most popular herbs. The volatile oil in the seeds gives caraway its distinctive aroma.

Gotu kola / Centella asiatica syn.

Hydrocotyle asiatica An ancient medicine, gotu kola has been in continuous use in India for at least 2,000 years. Traditionally thought to strengthen memory and concentration, in the West it is mostly used to treat chronic skin disorders and support wound healing.

Papaya, Paw paw / Carica papaya

A sweet-tasting fruit and native to tropical America, papaya while unripe contains digestive enzymes that complement the body’s own digestive juices.

Chili, Cayenne pepper / Capsicum spp.

Familiar the world over, chili comes from the Americas, and its strongly pungent flavor spices up countless dishes. The constituents responsible for the hot, sometimes fiercely hot, impact of chili when eaten are also those most involved in its many medicinal applications.

Tea / Camellia sinensis

Grown almost exclusively for use as a beverage, tea is perhaps the world’s most undervalued medicinal plant. Numerous studies point to the health-giving properties of the tea leaf, especially unfermented green or white tea. These teas contain high levels of polyphenols, which have potent antioxidant activity.

Ginseng / Panax ginseng

Ginseng has a mystique of its own, its documented use in the Far East extending back to pre-history. Taken over the centuries by kings, emperors, and popes, it has an unrivaled reputation for improving overall vitality and acting as a male tonic.