Materia Medica

Daisy (Bellis perennis) — Common Daisy, English Daisy, Bruisewort
Daisy (Bellis perennis) — Common Daisy, English Daisy, BruisewortMateria MedicaDaisy is a low perennial of the Asteraceae family native to Europe and naturalized widely in temperate regions. The flowering plant has a long folk tradition in European herbalism as a vulnerary for bruises, swellings, and minor wounds. Historical sources including Gerard, Culpeper, and Parkinson describe its use for trauma, pain, and as a gentle tonic. Modern research remains limited to preclinical studies of antioxidant, antimicrobial, and wound-healing activity; clinical evidence is sparse.Actions & EnergeticsCooling and mildly astringent. Traditional actions include... Read more...
Dandelion leaf (Taraxacum officinale)
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) — Lion's Tooth, Blowball, Pissenlit
A whole-plant guide to dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), covering wild identification, leaves, flowers and roots, cut-and-sifted and powdered forms, food uses, traditional herbal preparations, research, safety and folklore. Read more...
Dill (Anethum graveolens) — Dill Weed, Dill Seed
A whole-plant guide to dill, including dill leaf and seed, culinary history, traditional digestive use, research limits, Apiaceae allergy cautions and folklore. Read more...
Damiana (Turnera diffusa) — Mexican Holly, Old Woman's Broom
A whole-plant guide to Damiana (Turnera diffusa), including identification, Mexican and Central American traditional use, aphrodisiac claims, limited human research, safety, cultivation and spiritual folklore. Read more...
Devil's Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) — Grapple Plant, Wood Spider
A guide to Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens), covering Kalahari ecology, secondary-root use, traditional digestive and joint applications, evidence limits, gastrointestinal and medication cautions, and sustainability. Read more...
Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) — Chinese Angelica, Female Ginseng
A whole-plant guide to Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis), covering root identity, Chinese herbal context, women's-health claims, research limits, bleeding, pregnancy and hormone-sensitive cautions, and cultural history. Read more...
Daisy (Bellis perennis) — English Daisy, Common Daisy, Bruisewort
A species-specific guide to common or English daisy (Bellis perennis) covering identification, European food and folk-herbal traditions, modern phytochemical research, conflicting edible-use and safety guidance, allergy cautions, and growing value. Read more...
Datura (Datura stramonium) — Jimsonweed, Devil's Trumpet, Thornapple
A safety-first guide to highly poisonous Datura stramonium (jimsonweed), covering identification, tropane alkaloids, historical context, poisoning symptoms, emergency response, child/livestock risk, and why it is inappropriate for home medicinal use. Read more...
Deer's Tongue (Trilisa odoratissima) — Vanilla Plant, Wild Vanilla
A species-specific guide to Deer's Tongue, now accepted as Trilisa odoratissima (syn. Carphephorus odoratissimus), covering identification, aromatic history, coumarin chemistry, U.S. added-coumarin regulation, safety, and native-garden value. Read more...
Dittany of Crete (Origanum dictamnus) — Cretan Dittany, Hop Marjoram
A whole-plant guide to Dittany of Crete (Origanum dictamnus) covering endemic Cretan botany, traditional and EMA-recognized uses, modern research, essential-oil safety, current 2026 conservation status, legal protection, and sustainable cultivation. Read more...
Dragon's Blood (Calamus draco) — Dragon's Blood Resin, Sangre de Drago
A species-focused guide to Southeast Asian Dragon's Blood, preserving the familiar name Daemonorops draco while noting the current accepted name Calamus draco, and covering resin sources, traditional use, phytochemistry, research, safety, product identity, and sourcing. Read more...
Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus) — Curly Dock, Sour Dock
A guide to Rumex crispus covering yellow-dock root, anthraquinones, traditional bitter use, leaf oxalates, kidney-stone cautions and safety. Read more...