Materia Medica

Ocimum basilicum (Sweet Basil), realistic botanical photo
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) — Sweet Basil, Common Basil
Sweet Basil Ocimum basilicum Materia Medica: botanical identification and tulsi distinctions, six precise culinary/herbal recipes, tincture extraction method, constituent chemotypes and estragole context, cultivation, harvest and detailed Greek, Italian and... Read more...
Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) — original labeled botanical image of a living full potted bay tree
Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) — Bay Leaf, Sweet Bay, True Laurel
Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) Materia Medica: true culinary bay identification and toxic laurel look-alikes, six household recipes, tincture method, aromatic constituents, research, protected cold-climate cultivation, harvesting, Apollo and Daphne, wreath... Read more...
Agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria with yellow flower spikes, hairy stems and compound toothed foliage
Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) — Common Agrimony, Church Steeples
Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) materia medica covering botanical identity, flowering aerial herb, traditional European uses, EMA preparation amounts, constituents, human and preclinical research, safety, pregnancy, cultivation, harvesting and folklore. Read more...
Angelica archangelica with large umbels and foliage
Angelica (Angelica archangelica) — Garden Angelica, Holy Ghost
A whole-plant guide to Angelica archangelica covering identification, roots, stems, leaves, flowers and seeds, traditional and culinary uses, modern research, furocoumarin safety, growing, harvesting, folklore, magical correspondences, zodiac and tarot... Read more...
Pimpinella anisum Anise plant with flowers and seeds
Anise (Pimpinella anisum) — Aniseed, Sweet Cumin
A whole-plant guide to true anise (Pimpinella anisum), including identification, leaves, flowers, fruits/aniseed, culinary and traditional uses, modern research, safety, growing, folklore, magical correspondences, zodiac and tarot associations. Read more...
Original Roosters Peacock botanical visualization of Acorus calamus, distinctive green lateral spadix, not cattail
Calamus (Acorus calamus) — Sweet Flag, Sweet Rush
A safety-forward guide to Calamus (Acorus calamus), covering wetland identification, aromatic rhizome history, chemotype differences, beta-asarone concerns, U.S. food prohibition, cultivation and folklore. Read more...
Frangula purshiana (Cascara Sagrada), realistic botanical photo
Cascara Sagrada (Frangula purshiana) — Sacred Bark, California Buckthorn
A safety-forward guide to Cascara Sagrada (Frangula purshiana), including bark identification, traditional stimulant-laxative use, FDA OTC status, anthranoid risks, cultivation and folklore. Read more...
Nepeta cataria (Catnip), realistic botanical photo
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) — Catmint, Catwort
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) materia medica: botanical identification, traditional actions and preparations, detailed infusion and extraction methods, nepetalactone research, animal response, documented safety, Midwest cultivation, harvesting and folklore. Read more...
Matricaria chamomilla (Chamomile), realistic botanical photo
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) — German Chamomile, Wild Chamomile
A whole-plant guide to German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), distinguishing it from Roman chamomile, with tea tradition, anxiety and sleep research, Asteraceae allergy and medication cautions, cultivation and folklore. Read more...
Coriandrum sativum (Coriander), realistic botanical photo
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) — Cilantro, Chinese Parsley
Explore coriander as a whole plant: cilantro leaf, coriander seed, culinary history, traditional digestive use, research limits, allergy cautions and folklore. 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...