Materia Medica

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...
Poppy Seed (Papaver somniferum) — Opium Poppy, Breadseed Poppy
A safety-focused guide to poppy seed (Papaver somniferum), separating ordinary culinary seeds from opium latex and unwashed residue-laden products while covering alkaloid contamination, drug testing, legal context, pregnancy, allergy and overdose risks. Read more...
Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum americanum) — Northern Prickly Ash, Toothache Tree
A research-grounded guide to northern prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum), covering toothache-tree history, bark and berry use, pungent alkylamide chemistry, evidence limits, pregnancy cautions, species confusion and responsible sourcing. Read more...
Pumpkin Seed (Cucurbita pepo) — Pepitas, Field Pumpkin
A research-grounded guide to pumpkin seed / pepitas (Cucurbita pepo), separating food seeds from oil and concentrated extracts while covering nutrition, lower urinary tract and prostate research, evidence limits, allergy, pregnancy and safety. Read more...
Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) — Pigweed, Little Hogweed, Verdolaga
A research-grounded guide to purslane (Portulaca oleracea), covering food use, ALA omega-3s, oxalates, emerging metabolic research, safe wild identification, spurge look-alikes, pregnancy and harvest safety. Read more...
Psyllium (Plantago ovata) — Ispaghula, Blonde Psyllium
Psyllium, also called ispaghula or blond psyllium, comes from Plantago ovata. Its husk is a highly water-absorbing, gel-forming soluble fiber widely used for bowel regularity. This guide separates seed from husk, reviews evidence for constipation, cholesterol and blood-sugar support, and explains crucial fluid, swallowing, allergy and medication precautions. Read more...