Herbs & Botanicals

Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense): Identification, Aristolochic Acid Risk, History & Safety
Wild ginger is a native eastern North American woodland groundcover with a long ethnobotanical history, but it is not true culinary ginger. Because Asarum species are associated with aristolochic-acid exposure and serious kidney and cancer risks, this guide focuses on identification, history, ecology and safety rather than internal dosing. Read more...
Wahoo / Eastern Wahoo (Euonymus atropurpureus): Toxicity, Identification, History & Safety
Eastern wahoo is a native North American shrub or small tree with striking pink-red fruit and a place in historical American materia medica. Because all parts can be poisonous if ingested and may cause gastrointestinal and cardiac effects, this article focuses on identification, history, ecology and safety rather than home dosing. Read more...
Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum): Ethnobotany, Nicotine Toxicity, Green Tobacco Sickness & Regulation
Nicotiana tabacum is the principal cultivated tobacco species, a culturally important American plant containing highly addictive and potentially toxic nicotine. This guide covers botany and traditional context, nicotine poisoning, green tobacco sickness from skin exposure, the health effects of tobacco use, and current U.S. tobacco-product regulation without providing smoking, curing or nicotine-extraction instructions. Read more...