Materia Medica

Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) — German Mustard, Red Cole
A whole-plant guide to horseradish (Armoracia rusticana), covering its culinary history, glucosinolate and isothiocyanate chemistry, traditional uses, the limits of combination-product clinical evidence, growing habits, and safety. Read more...
Wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum) with fresh blades and wheatgrass powder
Wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum) — Common Wheatgrass, Wheat Grass
A whole-plant guide to wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum), including the young grass stage, mature wheat plant, leaves and grain, cut-and-sifted and powdered forms, nutrition, everyday use, growing, storage and gluten considerations. Read more...
Houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum) — Hens and Chicks, Jupiter's Beard
A whole-plant guide to houseleek or hens and chicks (Sempervivum tectorum), covering traditional skin and earache use, phytochemical and laboratory research, crucial ear-safety cautions, folklore, propagation, and drought-tolerant growing. Read more...
White Willow (Salix alba) — European Willow, Common Willow
A guide to Salix alba and related willow bark covering salicin, pain research, aspirin differences, bleeding cautions and folklore. Read more...
Hoodia (Hoodia gordonii) — Kalahari Cactus, Bushman's Hat
A safety-first whole-plant guide to Hoodia gordonii, including San traditional knowledge, P57 and appetite-suppression claims, the very limited human evidence, adverse effects, product adulteration, CITES-regulated trade, and conservation. Read more...
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) — Spotted Alder, Winterbloom
A guide to Hamamelis virginiana covering witch-hazel bark and leaf, topical distillates, tannins, alcohol-containing products, research and safety. Read more...
Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) — Conker, Buckeye
A whole-plant guide to horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), separating evidence-supported standardized seed extracts for chronic venous insufficiency from unsafe raw seeds and other plant parts, with escin research, liver and medication cautions, identification, and safety. Read more...
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) — Milfoil, Soldier's Woundwort, Nosebleed
A guide to Achillea millefolium covering yarrow identification, traditional wound and digestive use, Asteraceae allergy, pregnancy cautions and folklore. 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...
Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus) — Curly Dock, Sour Dock
A guide to Rumex crispus covering yellow-dock root, anthraquinones, traditional bitter use, leaf oxalates, kidney-stone cautions and safety. Read more...
Jaborandi (Pilocarpus microphyllus) — Pilocarpus, Maranham Jaborandi
A whole-plant guide to jaborandi (Pilocarpus microphyllus), the Brazilian source of pilocarpine, covering traditional history, modern glaucoma and dry-mouth medicines, cholinergic safety, why raw herb is not equivalent to prescription pilocarpine, and conservation concerns. Read more...
Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) — Mate, Paraguayan Tea
A guide to Ilex paraguariensis covering yerba mate culture, caffeine, very-hot beverage safety, smoke-drying and PAHs, research and precautions. Read more...