Materia Medica

Actaea racemosa (Black Cohosh), realistic botanical photo
Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) — Black Snake Root, Bugbane
Black Cohosh Actaea racemosa Materia Medica retaining original research and safety text with Bacopa-order sections, rhizome identification, historical preparations, European standardized-extract studies, interactions, liver reports, cultivation, conservation and folklore. 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...
Ocimum basilicum (Sweet Basil), realistic botanical photo
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) — Sweet Basil, Common Basil
Sweet Basil Ocimum basilicum Materia Medica: botanical identification and tulsi distinctions, six precise culinary/herbal recipes, tincture extraction method, constituent chemotypes and estragole context, cultivation, harvest and detailed Greek, Italian and... Read more...
Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) — original labeled botanical image of a living full potted bay tree
Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) — Bay Leaf, Sweet Bay, True Laurel
Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) Materia Medica: true culinary bay identification and toxic laurel look-alikes, six household recipes, tincture method, aromatic constituents, research, protected cold-climate cultivation, harvesting, Apollo and Daphne, wreath... Read more...
Juglans nigra (Black Walnut), realistic botanical photo
Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) — American Walnut, Eastern Black Walnut
Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) complete Materia Medica retaining original findings on edible nuts, juglone, green hull and tree-nut allergy; adding five measured nut food, natural dye, ink and historic wash... Read more...
Verbena hastata (Blue Vervain), realistic botanical photo
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) — Swamp Verbena, Wild Hyssop
Blue Vervain Verbena hastata Materia Medica preserving original species-specific folk-herbal research and cautions; adding accurate wetland plant identification, five measured preparations, growing and propagating, ecological value and clarification of European... 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...
Alangium salviifolium flowering branch with cream recurved flowers, simple leaves and short spines
Alangium / Ankol (Alangium salviifolium) — Ankola / Sage-Leaved Alangium
Alangium / Ankol (Alangium salviifolium) materia medica covering botanical identity, traditional part-specific uses, alkaloids including cephaeline, preparations and dose limitations, preclinical anti-inflammatory and other research, reproductive and alkaloid safety, cultivation,... Read more...
Tanacetum balsamita costmary with gray-green crenate leaves and yellow button flower heads
Alecost / Costmary (Tanacetum balsamita) — Bible Leaf / Sweet Mary
Alecost / Costmary (Tanacetum balsamita) materia medica covering botanical identity, Bible Leaf and culinary history, traditional digestive use, polyphenols, variable carvone/camphor/thujone essential-oil chemotypes, research limits, pregnancy and essential-oil safety, cultivation... Read more...
Panax quinquefolius American ginseng with compound leaves and red berries
American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) — Canadian Ginseng, Five-Fingers
A guide to Panax quinquefolius covering American ginseng tradition, glucose and respiratory research, warfarin and diabetes cautions, and conservation. Read more...
Angelica archangelica with large umbels and foliage
Angelica (Angelica archangelica) — Garden Angelica, Holy Ghost
A whole-plant guide to Angelica archangelica covering identification, roots, stems, leaves, flowers and seeds, traditional and culinary uses, modern research, furocoumarin safety, growing, harvesting, folklore, magical correspondences, zodiac and tarot... Read more...
Pimpinella anisum Anise plant with flowers and seeds
Anise (Pimpinella anisum) — Aniseed, Sweet Cumin
A whole-plant guide to true anise (Pimpinella anisum), including identification, leaves, flowers, fruits/aniseed, culinary and traditional uses, modern research, safety, growing, folklore, magical correspondences, zodiac and tarot associations. Read more...