Materia Medica

Jamaican Dogwood (Piscidia piscipula) — Fish Poison Tree, Fishfuddle
A safety-first guide to Jamaican dogwood (Piscidia piscipula), also called fish poison tree, covering its traditional pain and sedative uses, sparse modern human evidence, historical pharmacology, poisonous bark and root bark, interaction concerns, and pregnancy cautions. Read more...
Zedoary (Curcuma zedoaria) — White Turmeric, Kua
A guide to Curcuma zedoaria covering zedoary rhizome, culinary history, traditional digestive and menstrual use, limited research, pregnancy and essential-oil safety. Read more...
Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi) — Himalayan Spikenard, Muskroot
A whole-plant guide to jatamansi or Himalayan spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi), covering Ayurvedic and Unani traditions, emerging human research, essential-oil chemistry, critically endangered conservation status, CITES Appendix-II trade controls, authentication, ethical sourcing, and safety. Read more...
Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) — Chinese Date, Red Date
A guide to Ziziphus jujuba covering jujube fruit as food, medicinal seed traditions, sleep research context, sugar content and safety. Read more...
Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) — Spotted Touch-Me-Not, Orange Balsam
A research-based whole-plant guide to jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), including its traditional use after poison-ivy exposure, small human trials, why fresh mash differs from extracts, why immediate soap-and-water washing remains first-line, identification, growing conditions, and safety. Read more...
Cinnamomum verum (Cinnamon), realistic botanical photo
Ceylon Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) — True Cinnamon, Sweet Cinnamon
A guide to Cinnamomum verum covering Ceylon cinnamon, cassia differences, coumarin, culinary use, glucose research and safety. Read more...
Job's Tears (Coix lacryma-jobi) — Adlay, Yi Yi Ren
A whole-plant and food-medicine guide to Job’s Tears, adlay, or Yi Yi Ren (Coix lacryma-jobi), covering edible and ornamental varieties, traditional Chinese use, human nutrition research, the crucial distinction between whole grain and Kanglaite cancer products, pregnancy cautions for concentrated use, and growing. Read more...
Tussilago farfara (Coltsfoot), realistic botanical photo
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) — Coughwort, Foal's Foot
A careful guide to Tussilago farfara covering coltsfoot's traditional cough use, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, liver risk, smoke exposure and modern safety. Read more...
Kanna (Sceletium tortuosum) — Channa, Kougoed
A whole-plant guide to kanna, widely known as Sceletium tortuosum but currently accepted by Kew as Mesembryanthemum tortuosum, covering Indigenous South African tradition, mesembrine alkaloids, small human studies of stress and cognition, serotonergic medication cautions, taxonomy, sourcing, and safety. Read more...
Gravel Root (Eutrochium purpureum) — Joe-Pye Weed, Queen of the Meadow
A guide to Eutrochium purpureum covering gravel root's traditional urinary use, modern taxonomy, limited research, kidney red flags and safety. Read more...
Kudzu (Pueraria montana) — Japanese Arrowroot, Ge Gen
A whole-plant guide to kudzu, or Ge Gen (Pueraria montana var. lobata), covering traditional root and food use, puerarin and other isoflavones, small human studies on alcohol consumption, phytoestrogen cautions, invasive ecology, and current Illinois exotic-weed permit requirements for plant material. Read more...
Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris) — Lion's Foot, Bear's Foot
A whole-plant guide to lady’s mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris), covering its long European women’s-health tradition, tannin-rich astringent chemistry, preliminary wound-healing research, limited clinical evidence, identification, pregnancy cautions, and safety. Read more...