Materia Medica

Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens) — Twinberry, Squaw Vine, Checkerberry
A research-grounded guide to partridgeberry or twinberry (Mitchella repens), covering woodland identification, Indigenous and folk women’s-use traditions, floral chemistry, major modern research gaps and pregnancy safety concerns. Read more...
Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) — Guang Huo Xiang, Patchouly
A research-grounded guide to patchouli (Pogostemon cablin), also known as Guang Huo Xiang, covering perfumery, traditional Chinese herbal use, patchouli alcohol and other constituents, evidence limits, flavoring status and fragrance-allergy safety. Read more...
Pau d'Arco (Handroanthus impetiginosus) — Taheebo, Lapacho
A research-grounded guide to pau d’arco, taheebo or lapacho (Handroanthus impetiginosus; formerly Tabebuia impetiginosa), covering traditional inner-bark use, lapachol and beta-lapachone research, cancer-claim evidence limits, bleeding concerns and pregnancy safety. Read more...
Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) — European Pennyroyal, Pudding Grass
A safety-first guide to pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium), covering traditional use, pulegone and menthofuran toxicology, severe essential-oil poisoning, pregnancy danger, liver injury and emergency safety considerations. Read more...
Lesser Periwinkle (Vinca minor) — Common Periwinkle, Running Myrtle
A safety-focused guide to lesser or common periwinkle (Vinca minor), covering vincamine and other indole alkaloids, traditional use, older clinical evidence, the distinction from synthetic vinpocetine and Madagascar periwinkle, and internal-use cautions. Read more...
Peruvian Bark (Cinchona spp.) — Cinchona, Jesuit's Bark, Quinine Bark
A safety-focused guide to Peruvian bark and Cinchona species, covering Indigenous and colonial history, quinine’s antimalarial legacy, cinchonism, blood and kidney reactions, cardiac risks, drug interactions and why bark is not equivalent to prescription quinine. Read more...
Pine (Pinus spp.) — Scots Pine, White Pine, Pine Needles
A research-grounded guide to true pine (Pinus spp.), focusing on Scots pine and Eastern white pine, traditional uses, chemistry, food context, essential-oil distinctions, yew look-alike danger and safety. Read more...
Pineapple (Ananas comosus) — Bromelain, Ananas
A research-grounded guide to pineapple (Ananas comosus) and bromelain, separating ordinary food use from concentrated enzyme supplements while covering postoperative evidence, allergy and latex/pollen cross-reactivity, GI effects, bleeding-interaction cautions and pregnancy evidence limits. Read more...
Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata) — Prince's Pine, Wintergreen
A research-grounded guide to pipsissewa / prince’s pine (Chimaphila umbellata), covering traditional urinary and diuretic use, chimaphilin and arbutin-related chemistry, modern evidence limits, skin sensitivity, pregnancy and kidney cautions, and responsible sourcing. Read more...
Pleurisy Root (Asclepias tuberosa) — Butterfly Weed, Orange Milkweed
A safety-first guide to pleurisy root / butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), covering historic respiratory use, variable milkweed cardenolide chemistry, evidence limits, poisoning and heart-medication cautions, pregnancy safety, identification, and responsible sourcing. Read more...
Poke Root (Phytolacca americana) — Pokeweed, Pokeberry, Inkberry
A safety-first guide to poke root / American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana), covering traditional use, identification, toxic saponins and ribosome-inactivating proteins, poisoning symptoms, pregnancy concerns, evidence limits, and why the root should not be used as a DIY medicinal preparation. Read more...
Pomegranate (Punica granatum) — Granate, Punic Apple
A research-grounded guide to pomegranate (Punica granatum), separating fruit and juice from concentrated extracts and root/stem bark while covering polyphenols, cardiovascular and metabolic research, medication interactions, pregnancy cautions and safety. Read more...