Materia Medica

Petiveria alliacea Anamu plant with leaves and flowers
Anamu (Petiveria alliacea) — Guinea Hen Weed, Apacín
A whole-plant guide to anamu, or Petiveria alliacea, including identification, traditional use across the Caribbean and tropical Americas, plant chemistry, preparation, research context and important safety considerations. Read more...
Andrographis paniculata Kalmegh plant with leaves and flowers
Andrographis (Andrographis paniculata) — King of Bitters, Kalmegh
A whole-plant guide to andrographis, an intensely bitter herb used in Asian traditional medicine, covering identification, plant parts, traditional preparations, research context, cultivation and safety. 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...
Bixa orellana Annatto with pink flowers and red seed pods
Annatto (Bixa orellana) — Achiote, Lipstick Tree
A whole-plant guide to annatto, also called achiote, covering identification, colorful seeds, culinary and traditional uses, plant pigments, research context, growing notes, cultural history and safety. Read more...
Mentha suaveolens Apple Mint with rounded leaves and white flowers
Apple Mint (Mentha suaveolens) — Woolly Mint, Round-Leaved Mint
A whole-plant guide to apple mint, a softly aromatic mint species used in food and traditional herbal practice, including identification, preparation, cultivation, folklore and safety. 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...
Aronia melanocarpa Black Chokeberry with white flowers
Aronia (Aronia melanocarpa) — Black Chokeberry, Chokeberry
A whole-plant guide to black chokeberry, or aronia, covering identification, edible fruit, traditional and culinary uses, anthocyanins and polyphenols, research context, cultivation and safety. Read more...
Maranta arundinacea Arrowroot plant with broad leaves
Arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) — Bermuda Arrowroot, Obedience Plant
A whole-plant guide to true arrowroot, Maranta arundinacea, covering identification, rhizomes, traditional starch production, culinary use, cultivation, historical context and safety. Read more...
Ferula assa-foetida Asafoetida plant in natural habitat
Asafoetida (Ferula assa-foetida) — Devil's Dung, Food of the Gods
A whole-plant guide to asafoetida, the powerful aromatic gum-resin obtained from Ferula plants, including botany, traditional harvesting, culinary use, plant chemistry, herbal history and safety. 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...