Materia Medica

Ageratum houstonianum flossflower with blue-purple clustered flower heads and toothed leaves
Ageratum / Flossflower (Ageratum houstonianum) — Blue Mink / Mexican Ageratum
Ageratum / Flossflower (Ageratum houstonianum) covering botanical identity, species confusion with A. conyzoides, precocene I and II, documented pyrrolizidine alkaloids, insecticidal research, livestock toxicosis, internal-use limitations, cultivation, propagation and safety. Read more...
Borago officinalis (Borage), realistic botanical photo
Borage (Borago officinalis) — Starflower, Bee Bread
Borage (Borago officinalis) Materia Medica: retained original culinary and toxicology research, precise identity, PA-containing herb versus certified PA-free GLA seed oil, five household seed-oil and botanical craft recipes, cultivation, conservation... Read more...
Petasites hybridus (Butterbur), realistic botanical photo
Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) — Sweet Coltsfoot, Pestilence Wort
Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) Materia Medica retains earlier detailed research and references while reorganizing into 18 Bacopa-standard sections, adding five safe botanical recipes, native range, cultivation, propagation, poison-alkaloid context and medieval... Read more...
Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis) — Jerusalem Cowslip, Mary's Tears
A careful Pulmonaria officinalis guide covering lungwort, the Doctrine of Signatures, traditional respiratory use, limited evidence and pyrrolizidine-alkaloid safety concerns. 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...
Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) — Tansy Ragwort, Stinking Willie, Benweed
Tansy ragwort, also called common ragwort, is Jacobaea vulgaris (formerly widely known as Senecio jacobaea). This is a toxicity and identification article: the plant contains unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids associated with serious liver injury in people and livestock. No medicinal dosing or preparation instructions are provided. Read more...