Materia Medica

Bacopa / Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) growing in a wetland setting
Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri) — Brahmi, Water Hyssop
Bacopa / Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) covering botanical identity, Ayurvedic actions and energetics, practical powder, fresh-juice, tincture, liquid-extract, decoction and tea preparation methods, the official Brahmi Ghrita formula, adult and clearly... Read more...
Abies balsamea (Balsam Fir) trees, realistic botanical photo
Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) — Canada Balsam, Balm of Gilead Fir
Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) Materia Medica: species-specific conifer identification, traditional Canada balsam resin history, five measured household preparations, compounds, research limits, safety, cultivation, propagation, winter harvest and folklore. Read more...
Barberry — Berberis vulgaris; original Roosters Peacock visual of full thorny fruiting shrub with red berries
Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) — European Barberry, Common Barberry
European barberry (Berberis vulgaris) Materia Medica covering precise botanical identification, distinctly separate fruit and bark history, preparation ratios and measured recipes, isolated berberine research and interactions, cultivation and wheat-rust restrictions,... Read more...
Morella cerifera (Bayberry / Wax Myrtle), realistic botanical photo
Bayberry (Morella cerifera) — Wax Myrtle, Candleberry
Southern bayberry (Morella cerifera), also wax myrtle and candleberry: precise identification, distinct root bark and wax-bearing berries, historical root bark preparations, four measured household recipes, original candlemaking history, folklore, cultivation,... Read more...
Bee Balm — Monarda didyma; original flowering whole-plant image labeled with common and scientific names
Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) — Oswego Tea, Bergamot
Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) Materia Medica: accurate scarlet bee balm identification, Oswego tea history, measured infusion, floral vinegar, syrup, tincture and bath recipes, volatile-oil chemotypes, research, safety, USDA Zone 4–9... Read more...
Styrax benzoin (Benzoin / Sumatra benzoin resin), realistic photo
Benzoin (Styrax benzoin) — Gum Benzoin, Benjamin
Styrax benzoin Sumatra benzoin Materia Medica: botanical resin identification, differentiation from Siam benzoin, documented historical compound tinctures, five aromatic and craft methods, resin chemistry, clinical evidence limits, cultivation, harvest, global... Read more...
Vaccinium myrtillus (Bilberry), realistic botanical photo
Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) — European Blueberry, Whortleberry
Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) Materia Medica with species identification, European dried-fruit decoction and oral-rinse traditional monograph amounts, five measured fruit recipes, anthocyanin research, night-vision legend, acidic woodland growing, safety and regional... Read more...
Persicaria bistorta (Bistort), realistic botanical photo
Bistort (Persicaria bistorta) — Snakeweed, Patience Dock
Bistort (Persicaria bistorta): precise identification and look-alikes, historically astringent rhizome, measured rhizome decoction, mouth rinse, food and Easter Ledger pudding recipes, polyphenol research, cultivation and original snake-related folklore. Read more...
Acalypha indica / Indian Copperleaf with serrated ovate leaves and slender green axillary flower spikes
Acalypha (Acalypha indica) — Indian Copperleaf, Kuppaimeni
Acalypha / Indian Copperleaf (Acalypha indica) materia medica covering Ayurvedic and Siddha energetics, traditional respiratory and skin uses, pharmacopoeial and historical doses, the 2024 human pilot study, documented hemolysis and... Read more...
Actaea racemosa (Black Cohosh), realistic botanical photo
Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) — Black Snake Root, Bugbane
Black Cohosh Actaea racemosa Materia Medica retaining original research and safety text with Bacopa-order sections, rhizome identification, historical preparations, European standardized-extract studies, interactions, liver reports, cultivation, conservation and folklore. Read more...
Acerola / Barbados Cherry (Malpighia emarginata) with pink five-petaled flowers, glossy opposite leaves and three-lobed red fruits
Acerola (Malpighia emarginata) — Barbados Cherry, West Indian Cherry
Acerola (Malpighia emarginata) materia medica covering botanical identity, traditional fruit and leaf uses, documented human vitamin-C study amounts, constituents, modern research, cultivation, propagation, harvesting, food uses, and historical Caribbean and... Read more...
Açaí / Acai Berry (Euterpe oleracea) clustering palm with ringed stems, pinnate fronds and hanging purple-black fruit clusters
Açaí / Acai Berry (Euterpe oleracea) — Açaí Palm / Assai Palm / Naidí
Açaí / Acai Berry (Euterpe oleracea) materia medica covering botanical identity, Amazonian food and ethnomedicinal traditions, documented human study amounts, fruit constituents, modern research, food handling, cultivation, seed propagation, harvesting,... Read more...