Materia Medica

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...
Maca (Lepidium meyenii) — Peruvian Maca, Peruvian Ginseng
A guide to Lepidium meyenii covering maca's Andean food history, powder and gelatinized forms, limited human research, thyroid context and safety. Read more...
Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) — Queen of the Meadow, Meadwort
A guide to Filipendula ulmaria covering meadowsweet's traditional use, salicylate chemistry, aspirin-allergy and anticoagulant cautions, and folklore. Read more...
Datura (Datura stramonium) — Jimsonweed, Devil's Trumpet, Thornapple
A safety-first guide to highly poisonous Datura stramonium (jimsonweed), covering identification, tropane alkaloids, historical context, poisoning symptoms, emergency response, child/livestock risk, and why it is inappropriate for home medicinal use. Read more...
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) — Lion's Tail, Throw-Wort
A guide to Leonurus cardiaca covering motherwort's traditional heart and menstrual use, limited research, pregnancy contraindication and medication cautions. Read more...
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) — Common Wormwood, St. John's Plant
A guide to Artemisia vulgaris covering mugwort's traditional uses, dream folklore, Asteraceae allergy, thujone, essential-oil safety and pregnancy cautions. Read more...
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) — Maypop, Apricot Vine
A guide to Passiflora incarnata covering passionflower's traditional calming use, anxiety and sleep research, sedation interactions, pregnancy caution and folklore. Read more...
Quassia (Quassia amara) — Bitterwood, Surinam Quassia
A guide to Quassia amara covering bitter wood and bark, traditional digestive use, quassinoid research, pregnancy caution and safety. Read more...
Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) — Red Raspberry, Wild Raspberry
A guide to Rubus idaeus covering raspberry fruit, traditional raspberry-leaf tea, limited pregnancy and labor research, and safety. Read more...
Rose Hips (Rosa canina) — Dog Rose, Wild Rose
Rose hips—especially dog rose fruit (Rosa canina)—are traditional wild foods used in tea, syrup, jam, soup and powders. This full guide covers vitamin C variability, carotenoids, joint research, irritating seed hairs, seed oil, harvesting, drying, growing, folklore and practical safety. Read more...
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) — Sabal, American Dwarf Palm
A guide to Serenoa repens covering saw palmetto berry tradition, large BPH trials, urinary red flags, product variability and safety. Read more...
Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis) — Five-Flavor Berry, Wu Wei Zi
A guide to Schisandra chinensis covering five-flavor berry tradition, lignan research, CYP3A/P-glycoprotein interactions, pregnancy caution and safety. Read more...