Materia Medica

Iceland Moss (Cetraria islandica) — Iceland Lichen, Icelandic Lichen
A guide to Cetraria islandica explaining why Iceland moss is a lichen, its food and throat-soothing traditions, preparation, evidence and source-quality safety. Read more...
Chondrus crispus (Irish Moss), realistic photo
Irish Moss (Chondrus crispus) — Carrageen, Carrageen Moss
A guide to Chondrus crispus covering Irish moss as red algae, traditional food use, carrageenan, variable iodine, thyroid caution and source quality. Read more...
English Ivy (Hedera helix) — Common Ivy, European Ivy
A careful whole-plant guide to English ivy (Hedera helix), including standardized medicinal ivy-leaf extracts for productive cough, the limits of current evidence, ornamental-plant toxicity, pet safety, and growing concerns. Read more...
Ipecac (Carapichea ipecacuanha) — Ipecacuanha, Brazilian Root
A safety-first guide to ipecac or ipecacuanha (Carapichea ipecacuanha), covering its emetine and cephaeline alkaloids, historic use as an emetic, why routine ipecac-induced vomiting is no longer recommended, and the risks of cardiac and muscular toxicity. Read more...
Wild Indigo (Baptisia tinctoria) — Yellow Wild Indigo, Horsefly Weed
Wild indigo, Baptisia tinctoria, is a yellow-flowered eastern North American perennial with dye, ethnobotanical and historic Eclectic-medicine uses. This guide separates that history from modern evidence, explains quinolizidine-alkaloid safety, and clarifies why common-cold research on multi-herb combinations does not prove Baptisia works alone. Read more...