Herbs and Their Properties

Herbs and Their  Properties

Herbs are known for their properties and that is how we decide what the herb can be used for.  Following is a list I have come up with of various herbs and their medicinal properties.   The next list I will post is one that will share the nutritional value of various herbs.  Enjoy

Ashwaghanda root - tonic, sedative, antiflammatory, nervine, immune booster, aphrodisiac -

general tonic or capsule

Astragalus root - stimulant, immune booster, antioxidant, anti tumor, hepatic - capsule or tea

Balm of Gilead resinous leaf bud - expectorant for upper respiratory, salve aches, salve for skin - cough syrup or salve

Bilberry leaf and berry - astringent, hepatic, diuretic, good for eyes, helps reduce macular degeneration - pill form

Burdock root, seeds, leaves - alterative, good for kidneys, diuretic, nutritive - teas and tonics

Calendula flower heads - vulnerary, emollient, antibacterial, diaphoretic, alterative, astringent - oil or salve, poultice for skin, tea, great to use for varicose veins.

Cayenne fruit - diaphoretic, expectorant, stimulant, rubefacient, anodyne, vasodilator, hypotensive, antimicrobial - food, capsule, salve

Chamomile flower heads - nervine, tonic, sedative, antispasmodic, carminative, anti-inflammatory - tea, pill, salves

Charcoal - activated - absorbent for toxins and poisons - pill, salves, or alone

Comfrey leaf and root - tonic, fast healing, bone knit, demulcent, vulnerary, astringent, expectorant - tea, capsule, or salve, used to heal deep wounds / bones - not open wounds, assists with blood clotting,

Dandelion whole plant - alterative, cholagogue, diuretic, stomachic, aperient, tonic, glactagogue, hepatic, tea for liver and organ problems and cleansing

Echinacea root and leaves - antibacterial, febrifuge, immune stimulant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, tonic, adaptogen, anticatarrhal - tea, tincture, capsule for respiratory infections and other infections also

Elderberries, berry and flowers - stimulant, anticatarrhal, antirheumatic, alterative, diaphoretic, immune stimulant - teas or tinctures for colds, flu, fevers

Eyebright, aerial portions - astringent, anti-inflammatory, expectorant - eyewash, tea for eyes and sinus

Feverfew, whole herb - analgesic, anti-inflammatory, emmenagogue, purgative, carminative - capsule or tincture daily

Garlic cloves - immune system builder, antioxidant, anti inflammatory, antifungal - capsule, tincture, cooking

Ginger, rhizome - antiviral, sedative, analgesic - tea, capsule, tincture, or cooking

Gingko Biloba leaves - vasoactive properties, cerebral, nervine, antioxidant, improves peripherial blood circulation, good for renyalds syndrome, adhd, alzheimers, etc - capsule

Ginseng Siberian - Bark of root - Eleuthero - adaptogenic energy tonic, nervine, antirheumatic, antispasmodic, mild aphrodisiac - capsule, tincture, tea used for low energy as an energy boost

Hawthorn berries, leaves, and flowers - cardiotonic, tonic, hypotensive, vasodilator, antioxidant - tea, capsule, or tincture

Kava Kava root - antispasmodic, stimulant, intoxicant, diuretic, antifungal, muscle relaxant - tincture for mild tranquilizer, not long term use

Lavender flowers - aromatic, nervine, sedative, carminative, antispasmodic, antidepressant, antispetic, vulnerary - tincture, salves, oil, lotion

Lemon Balm leaves - nervine, vulnerary, antiviral, cerebral, vasodilator, hypotensive, antispasmodic, carminative - tea, tincture for fevers, depression, nerves, digestion

Marshmallow root, leaf - emollient, demulcent, vulnerary, antibacterial - tea, poultice, capsule, tincture

Milk Thistle leaf, flower - hepatic, bitter tonic, demulcent, antidepressant - tincture, protect and regenerate liver

Mullein leaf, flower - expectorant, demulcent, antibacterial, antispasmodic, antitussive, astringent - tincture, smoke, tea, opens the bronchial tubes

Nettle leaf, stem, root - tonic, diuretic, nutrient, histamine, rubefacient, hemostatic, laxative, hypotensive, galactagogue - nutritive, tea, capsule, tincture overall health, promotes healthy

adrenal glands and kidneys, expels toxins, joint pain treatment

Passionflower leaves - sedative, hypnotic, antispasmodic, anodyne, hypotensive - tincture, capsule, tea, for nerves or insomnia

Peppermint leaves - carminative to nerves, stimulant to circulation, antispasmodic, stomachic, rubefacient - tea, essential oils

Plantain leaves and seeds - diuretic, alterative, anti-inflammatory, aperient - tea for urinary, poultice for external wounds

Raspberry leaf - hemostatic, astringent, mild alterative, parturient - tea for pregnancy and delivery, and menstrual problems

Skullcap aerial portions - sedative, nervine, antispasmodic – tincture, tea, or capsule for nerves, insomnia, and with drawl symptoms from drugs or alcohol

St. John's Wort herb - sedative, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, astringent - tea, capsule, tincture for nerves, depression, insomnia

Stevia leaves - sweetener, reduce blood glucose levels - use as a sweetener

Usnea whole plant - antibiotic, antifungal, tuberculostatic – tincture, used as an atibiotic for fungal, viral, and bacterial infections

Uva Ursi leaves - diuretic, urinary antiseptic, astringent - tea for urinary tract infections and problems

Valerian rhizome - sedative, hypnotic, nervine, antispasmodic, carminative - tea, tincture or capsule for insomnia, stress, pain relief

Yarrow herb - diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, antipyreic, carminative, hemostatic, astringent - tea, tincture, or capsule for colds, fevers, bleeding and hemorrhoids