Latin: Solidago canadensis, S. odora, S. virgaurea, S. altissima, S. gigantea, S. rigida, S. serotina (and many others) Family: Asteraceae, Compositae Folk names: Blue Mountain tea, liberty tea, Aaron’s rod, goldruthe, wundgraut (PA Dutch for “wound herb”), Barrick Tee (PA Dutch) Energetics: warm, dry Properties: antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, vulnerary Taste: bitter, pungent Parts used: usually just aerial parts, … [Read more...]
Hawthorn: by its own pricking
Latin: Crataegus spp. (C. oxyacantha, C. oxyacanthoides, C. monogyna, C. pinnatifida, C. laevigata Family: Rosaceae (belonging to the apple group of the almond subfamily) Folk names: May tree, May bush, Mayblossom, hazels, haw, whitethorn, hawberry, thornapple (not to be confused with datura), tree of chastity, cockspur, cockspur thorn, washington thorn, English hawthorn, one-seed hawthorn (C. monogyna), Ladies’ meat, sgitheach (modern Scots Gaelic), huath (old Gaelic), sceach gheal (Irish … [Read more...]
Hyssop: for health and hearth
Latin: Hyssopus officinalis Family: Lamiaceae or Labiatae Folk names: Isop (Gaelic), Ysopo, Yssop, Ysope, Hinojo (Spanish), Eisop (PA Dutch) Energetics: warm, neutral Properties: antiviral, antibacterial, carminative, decongestant, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, emmenagogue, hypertensive, nervine, sedative, anthelmintic, vulnerary, antioxidant Taste: pungent, slightly bitter, diffusive, slightly warming, dry Parts used: aerial parts of flowering herb Degree: 2nd, … [Read more...]
Calendula: Stick it where the sun don’t shine!
Latin: Calendula officinalis Family: Asteraceae Common names: pot marigold, Mary’s Gold, death flower, butterwort, cowbloom, water dragon, Scotch marigold, summer’s bride Energetics: slightly warming, neutral (drying or moistening depending on the situation) Properties: antiseptic, anti inflammatory, astringent, lymphatic Taste: bitter, salty, slightly pungent Degree: 2nd, 3rd Tissue state: depression Key uses: Internally: a lymphatic stimulator (drains internal lymph), soothing to … [Read more...]
Elder: The Mother of Herbs, a sacred panacea
Latin: Sambucus canadensis, S. nigra (NOT S. racemosa- poisonous!) Family: Adoxaceae Common names: elder, elderberry, black elder Energetics: berry- cool, dry flower- hot (secondary-cool), dry Properties: berry- nutritive, antiviral, immunomodulator flower- stimulating diaphoretic, antiviral Taste: berry- sweet, sour. flower- sweet, sour, slightly acrid. Degree of action: 2nd & 3rd Tissue states: berry- irritation, constriction, atrophy. flower- irritation, … [Read more...]
