Materia Medica

Persicaria bistorta (Bistort), realistic botanical photo
Bistort (Persicaria bistorta) — Snakeweed, Patience Dock
A whole-plant guide to bistort covering identification, tannin-rich rhizome, traditional astringent use, regional food history, preparation, and safety. Read more...
Acacia Catechu / Khadira (Senegalia catechu) with cream-white flower spikes, bipinnate leaves, hooked prickles and straight brown pods
Acacia Catechu (Senegalia catechu) — Khadira, Cutch Tree, Black Catechu
Acacia Catechu / Khadira (Senegalia catechu) materia medica covering Ayurvedic actions and energetics, heartwood and bark preparations, documented dosage ranges, catechu/cutch processing, classical formulations, constituents, oral-health research, cultivation, propagation, harvesting,... Read more...
Momordica charantia (Bitter Melon / Bitter Gourd), realistic plant photo
Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia) — Bitter Gourd, Karela, Balsam Pear
A comprehensive guide to bitter melon, bitter gourd, karela and cerasee (Momordica charantia), covering culinary tradition, regional herbal use, preparation forms, diabetes research, studied amounts, G6PD concerns, pregnancy, medication interactions... Read more...
Acalypha indica / Indian Copperleaf with serrated ovate leaves and slender green axillary flower spikes
Acalypha (Acalypha indica) — Indian Copperleaf, Kuppaimeni
Acalypha / Indian Copperleaf (Acalypha indica) materia medica covering Ayurvedic and Siddha energetics, traditional respiratory and skin uses, pharmacopoeial and historical doses, the 2024 human pilot study, documented hemolysis and... Read more...
Actaea racemosa (Black Cohosh), realistic botanical photo
Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) — Black Snake Root, Bugbane
A whole-plant guide to Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa), including identification, root and rhizome use, historical context, menopause research, liver cautions, pregnancy and hormone-sensitive safety considerations. Read more...
Acerola / Barbados Cherry (Malpighia emarginata) with pink five-petaled flowers, glossy opposite leaves and three-lobed red fruits
Acerola (Malpighia emarginata) — Barbados Cherry, West Indian Cherry
Acerola (Malpighia emarginata) materia medica covering botanical identity, traditional fruit and leaf uses, documented human vitamin-C study amounts, constituents, modern research, cultivation, propagation, harvesting, food uses, and historical Caribbean and... Read more...
Viburnum prunifolium (Black Haw) in flower, realistic botanical photo
Black Haw (Viburnum prunifolium) — Stagbush, Sweet Viburnum
A whole-plant guide to black haw covering tree identification, bark tradition, historical women’s herbalism, research context, preparation, and safety. Read more...
Açaí / Acai Berry (Euterpe oleracea) clustering palm with ringed stems, pinnate fronds and hanging purple-black fruit clusters
Açaí / Acai Berry (Euterpe oleracea) — Açaí Palm / Assai Palm / Naidí
Açaí / Acai Berry (Euterpe oleracea) materia medica covering botanical identity, Amazonian food and ethnomedicinal traditions, documented human study amounts, fruit constituents, modern research, food handling, cultivation, seed propagation, harvesting,... Read more...
Hyoscyamus niger (Black Henbane), realistic botanical photo
Black Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) — Henbane, Stinking Nightshade
A safety-first guide to black henbane (Hyoscyamus niger), its history, tropane alkaloids, anticholinergic poisoning, identification, modern pharmaceutical context, and why the raw plant is not a home remedy. Read more...
Acanthus mollis / Bear’s Breeches flower spike showing white flowers and purple bracts
Acanthus (Acanthus mollis) — Bear's Breeches, Brank Ursine
Acanthus / Bear’s Breeches (Acanthus mollis) materia medica covering botanical identification, look-alikes, traditional poultices and washes, constituents, modern research, safety, cultivation, harvesting, and its classical architectural history. Read more...
Justicia adhatoda Vasaka shrub with white purple-marked flowers and opposite lanceolate leaves
Adhatoda / Vasaka / Malabar Nut (Justicia adhatoda) — Vasa / Adulsa
Adhatoda / Vasaka / Malabar Nut (Justicia adhatoda; syn. Adhatoda vasica) materia medica covering Ayurvedic energetics, respiratory uses, classical and historical preparations and doses, vasicine and related alkaloids, human research,... Read more...
Piper nigrum (Black Pepper) plant, realistic botanical photo
Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) — Peppercorn, Kali Mirch
A whole-plant guide to black pepper covering the climbing vine, peppercorn processing, culinary history, piperine research, traditional use, interactions, and safety. Read more...