Materia Medica

Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Cordyceps), realistic photo
Cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) — Caterpillar Fungus, Dong Chong Xia Cao
A guide to Cordyceps that distinguishes wild Ophiocordyceps sinensis from cultivated Cordyceps militaris, with traditional Chinese context, evidence limits, blood-sugar and bleeding cautions and sustainability concerns. Read more...
Symphytum officinale (Comfrey), realistic botanical photo
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) — Knitbone, Boneset
A practical whole-plant guide to comfrey, including identification, traditional external use, topical research, pyrrolizidine-alkaloid safety 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...
Zea mays (Corn Silk), realistic botanical photo
Corn Silk (Zea mays) — Maize Silk, Corn Hair
A clear guide to corn silk from Zea mays, covering plant biology, traditional urinary use, preparation, research limits, interaction cautions and folklore. Read more...
Viburnum opulus (Cramp Bark), realistic botanical photo
Cramp Bark (Viburnum opulus) — Guelder Rose, Snowball Tree
Learn about cramp bark, Viburnum opulus: botanical identity, traditional antispasmodic use, preparation, evidence limits, pregnancy cautions and folklore. Read more...
Vaccinium macrocarpon (Cranberry), realistic botanical photo
Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) — American Cranberry, Bog Cranberry
A whole-plant guide to American Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), including bog ecology, food use, recurrent-UTI prevention research, why cranberry does not treat an active UTI, warfarin caution, cultivation 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...
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...
Echinacea purpurea fibrous root crown, leaves, and flower — original Roosters Peacock botanical visualization
Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) — Purple Coneflower, Black Sampson
A complete species-specific whole-plant guide to Echinacea purpurea (eastern purple coneflower), featuring identification, aerial herb and root preparations with four home recipes, traditional history and folklore, constituents, modern evidence, harvesting,... 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...
Original Roosters Peacock botanical visualization of the European elderberry Sambucus nigra mature fruiting shrub and pinnate serrated leaves
Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) — European Elder, Black Elder
A comprehensive European elderberry (Sambucus nigra) materia medica: botanical identification and look-alikes, cooked berry syrup, old-fashioned elder rob, compote, drinks, natural dye, ingredients, modern research, cultivation, gathering and storage, cyanogenic-glycoside... Read more...