Materia Medica

Smyrnium olusatrum Alexanders with glossy divided leaves and yellow-green compound umbels
Alexanders / Alisander (Smyrnium olusatrum) — Black Lovage / Wild Celery
Alexanders / Alisander (Smyrnium olusatrum) materia medica covering its historic vegetable use, botanical identity, Apiaceae foraging safety, roots/leaves/shoots/fruits, isofuranodiene-rich furanosesquiterpenes, heat conversion to curzerene, modern research limits, cultivation and food... Read more...
Medicago sativa alfalfa with trifoliate leaves, violet-purple pea flowers and coiled pods
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) — Lucerne, Purple Medic
Alfalfa / Lucerne (Medicago sativa) materia medica covering botanical identity, leaf/seed/sprout differences, traditional nutritive use, saponins and coumestans, the 1987 heat-treated-seed cholesterol study, vitamin K and warfarin, L-canavanine and lupus,... Read more...
Pimenta dioica allspice branch with glossy leaves, white flowers and green unripe fruits
Allspice (Pimenta dioica) — Pimento, Jamaica Pepper
Allspice / Pimento (Pimenta dioica) materia medica covering botanical identity, dried berry and leaf use, Caribbean culinary traditions, eugenol-rich chemistry, essential-oil safety, modern research limits, cultivation, harvesting and folklore. Read more...
Aloe vera plant with thick fleshy leaves
Aloe Vera (Aloe vera) — Aloe, Barbados Aloe, Burn Plant
Aloe Vera (Aloe vera) materia medica clearly separating clear inner gel, yellow latex, and whole-leaf products; covering topical research, acemannan and aloin chemistry, FDA laxative history, oral safety, pregnancy cautions,... 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...
Agastache foeniculum anise hyssop with upright lavender flower spikes and opposite toothed leaves
Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) — Blue Giant Hyssop, Fragrant Giant Hyssop
Anise Hyssop / Blue Giant Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) materia medica covering botanical identity, North American traditional use, culinary tea use, estragole-rich chemotypes, modern research limits, essential-oil safety, cultivation, pollinator value,... Read more...
Arnica montana with yellow daisy-like flowers
Arnica (Arnica montana) — Mountain Tobacco, Leopard's Bane
A whole-plant guide to Arnica montana covering identification, flower heads and other plant parts, traditional topical use, modern research, safety, cultivation, conservation, folklore, magical correspondences and carefully labeled modern zodiac/Tarot... Read more...
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) bush growing in Nepal, realistic botanical photo
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) — Indian Ginseng, Winter Cherry
A whole-plant guide to Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) covering identification, roots, leaves, berries, seeds, powders and extracts, Ayurvedic tradition, modern stress and sleep research, thyroid and liver safety, growing, folklore, magical... Read more...
Astragalus mongholicus / membranaceus (Huang Qi) plant growing in botanical garden, realistic photo
Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) — Huang Qi, Milk Vetch
A whole-plant guide to Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), including Huang Qi tradition, root identification and preparations, modern evidence limits, autoimmune and medication cautions, cultivation and spiritual context. Read more...
Beta vulgaris (Beetroot / Red Beet), realistic photo
Beetroot / Red Beet (Beta vulgaris): Dietary Nitrates, Betalains, Blood Pressure, Exercise Research & Safety
Beetroot / Red Beet (Beta vulgaris) Materia Medica: the full retained research on nitrates, nitric oxide, betalains and cardiovascular/exercise evidence, detailed identification, six measured food recipes, safety, growing and propagation,... Read more...
Alnus glutinosa black alder leaves
Alder, Black (European) — Alnus glutinosa
Black alder or European alder (Alnus glutinosa) is a Eurasian wetland tree introduced into Illinois and other parts of North America. Its bark has a traditional astringent, fever and wound-use... Read more...