Materia Medica

Figwort (Scrophularia nodosa) — Throatwort, Carpenter's Square
A whole-plant guide to common figwort covering identification, historical skin and glandular uses, iridoid chemistry, modern preclinical research, ecological value, and safety limitations. Read more...
Plantain (Plantago major & Plantago lanceolata) — Common Plantain, Ribwort, White Man's Foot
A guide to Plantago major and P. lanceolata covering plantain leaf identification, traditional poultice and tea use, psyllium differences and safety. Read more...
Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) — Willowherb, Rosebay
A whole-plant guide to fireweed covering current taxonomy, post-fire ecology, edible shoots and leaves, Indigenous traditions, Ivan-tea history, modern research, cultivation, and safety. Read more...
Quassia (Quassia amara) — Bitterwood, Surinam Quassia
A guide to Quassia amara covering bitter wood and bark, traditional digestive use, quassinoid research, pregnancy caution and safety. Read more...
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) — Fairy Caps, Dead Man's Bells
A poison-first guide to foxglove covering identification, cardiac glycosides, its role in the history of digitalis medicines, garden context, poisoning symptoms, and strict safety precautions. Read more...
Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) — Red Raspberry, Wild Raspberry
A guide to Rubus idaeus covering raspberry fruit, traditional raspberry-leaf tea, limited pregnancy and labor research, and safety. Read more...
Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus) — Old Man's Beard, Grancy Graybeard
A whole-plant guide to the native eastern North American fringe tree covering identification, bark traditions, ecology, wildlife value, cultivation, limited modern evidence, and safety. Read more...
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) — Purple Clover, Meadow Clover
Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is a traditional flowering-top tea herb and nitrogen-fixing meadow legume now widely studied for isoflavones such as formononetin and biochanin A. This full guide covers traditional preparations, menopause and bone research, hormone-sensitive conditions, harvesting, growing, folklore and practical safety. Read more...
Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis) — Earth Smoke, Fumewort
A whole-plant guide to common fumitory covering identification, aerial-part use, European digestive and biliary traditions, isoquinoline alkaloids, research limitations, and safety. Read more...
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) — Compass Plant, Dew of the Sea
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus; syn. Rosmarinus officinalis) is a Mediterranean culinary and traditional herbal shrub associated with digestion, remembrance, aromatic baths, scalp care and household use. This full guide covers tea and culinary preparations, rosmarinic and carnosic acids, human memory and hair research, essential-oil safety, growing, harvesting, storage and folklore. Read more...
Lesser Galangal (Alpinia officinarum) — Galangal, Chinese Ginger
A whole-plant guide to lesser galangal covering identification, rhizome spice use, Chinese herbal tradition, phytochemistry, preclinical research, name confusion with other galangals, and safety. Read more...
Rose Hips (Rosa canina) — Dog Rose, Wild Rose
Rose hips—especially dog rose fruit (Rosa canina)—are traditional wild foods used in tea, syrup, jam, soup and powders. This full guide covers vitamin C variability, carotenoids, joint research, irritating seed hairs, seed oil, harvesting, drying, growing, folklore and practical safety. Read more...