A Dictionary of Some Herbs & Their Uses to use in Medicines

[WhiteFeather]

Please Note :- This will be ongoing as this dictionary continues to acquire information.. 

Please make sure you familiarize yourself with these terminologies first to understand better what the dictionary of herbs means in its referral to the herb itself.

Click Here for a Glossary of Medical Terms Used in this... http://rednation.org/index.php/topic,226.0.html

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ALOE: (Aloe barbadensis)
USES: Cleanser, antiseptic, moisturizer, and anti-inflammatory;soothes tissues and encourages regeneration, the best healing ointment for burns, blisters and scrapes.
PARTS USED: Juice squeezed from the leaves.
PREPARATION: Fresh Juice applied externally.
REMARKS: Safe and effective for external use; not recommended for internal use.

ARNICA: (arnica spp.)
USES: Anti-inflammatory analgesic; for sore muscles and sprains.
PARTS USES: The flower heads.
PREPARATION: Dilute to a tincture (no more than 2 Tablespoons in 1 cup of water) to use with a compress.
Oil or ointment as a liniment.
REMARKS: Safe and effective for external use; not recommended for internal.

BARBERRY: (berberis spp.)
USES: Anti-bacterial, astringent, laxative, and anti-pyretic; for lowering fevers, strengthening the bowels, and stimulating the liver.
PARTS USED: Rhizome or the roots.
PREPARATION: Infusion is prepared from 1/2 ounce to 1 pint of water. Take 1 to 4 cups daily, before meals. Because barberry tea is so bitter, it should be taken in small doses, a mouthful at a time. 1 Tablespoon at a time is recommended.
REMARKS: Very Effective in many ways and safe.

BEAR ROOT / OSHA ROOT (Ligusticum)
USES: A binder and accelerator. One of the main ingredients in all of the medicines. Especially used in respiratory and bacterial infections. A good all rounder...
PARTS USED: The Root
PREPARATION: Use a thumb sized piece of the root in a medium sauce pan of water and bring to a full boil. Turn off heat and let steep for about 5-10 minutes. Remove the root and set aside on a paper towel or cloth to dry.
It is reusable for another couple of times before it loses its strength.
Sweeten tea with clover honey NOT raw honey about 1 Teaspoon. It does taste like a spicy licorice.
It is excellent for poultices, to relive colds and chest congestion...Use 3-4 big pieces of root crushed as fine as possible along with 5-6 leaves of mint, then add into 3 ounces of petroleum jelly and mix well together. Use a double boiler to heat to warm not hot..spread on a large piece of cheesecloth to cover the chest area. Then have the patient wear a cotton singlet/t-shirt over the cloth to hold it in place for 4-5 hours and do the process again. Until the congestion is gone and normal breathing is restored.
REMARKS: Very Safe and Very Effiecent

BETONY: (Stacbys officinalis)
USES: Astringent; for sore throats, coughs, and diarrhea.
PARTS USED: Leaves and Tops
PREPARATION: Infusion taken a mouthful at a time throughout the day; no more than 2 cups a day total.
REMARKS: DO NOT use long term only 2-3 day total

BONESET: (eupatorium perfoliatum)
USES: Aperient, cathartic, diahoretic, emetic, febrifuge,and tonic; to break up colds and flu and to induce sweating.
PARTS USED: Leaves and tops.
PREPARATION: Infusion taken 3 ounces at time, three times daily. To encourage sweating, drink 4 or 5 cups of the hot infusion while under covers in the bed.
REMARKS: Safe and effective.

BURDOCK: (Arctium Lappa)
USES: Tonic and diuretic; for sluggishness, psoriasis, and acne.
PARTS USED: Roots, seeds, and leaves
PREPARATION: 1 Cup of Infusion of the leaves is taken 4-5 times daily as a tonic. Also a decoction..1 ounce of roots, and/or seeds to 1 1/2 pints of water, boiled down to 1 pint. Take 3 ounces at a time 3-4 times daily.
For rashes, pimples, eczema, and other skin ailments.
Use also a decoction of equal parts of burdock root, & yellow root as a wash, and at the same time a tea to drink internally.
REMARKS: Safe and Secure for the purposes mentioned.

CALENDULA: (calendula officinalis)
USES: Anti-Bacterial; for cuts, scrapes and burns
PARTS USED: Flowers.
PREPARATION:  A Compress or Ointment for stings, ulcers or wounds. Wash wounds with an infusion.
A strong tea can be used as a sitz bath for Hemorrhoids.
REMARKS: Safe

CATNIP: (Nepeta Cataria)
USES: Sedative, diaphoretic, and carminative; for insomnia, colds, colic, upset stomachs, nervous headaches, and fevers.
PARTS USED: Tops only
PREPARATION: Infusion- be sure NOT to boil the herb! Taken in doses up to 1 cup, as needed.
In excessive doses can produce Nausea!
An excellent combination for relieving colds, headaches, and indigestion.. Catnip 1 teaspoon, 1 teaspoon Chamomile and 1 teaspoon of peppermint made into a tea and can be sweetened with clover honey.
REMARKS: Despite what this herb does to your cat, catnip is safe and effective for human consumption.

CAYENNE PEPPER: (Capsicum annuum Longum Group)
USES: Carminative, stimulate and tonic; for stomach upset, toothaches, rheumatism, inflammation, sores, wounds, symptoms of a cold, and muscle aches.
PARTS USED: Pod/ Fruit
PREPARATION: Infusion- 1 teaspoon to 1 cup of water-can be taken in 1/2 ounce doses. For a sore throat, the infusion can be used as a gargle.
As a tonic, to benefit the heart and circulation, use 1/4 teaspoon of the dried pod/fruit. powdered fruit/pod throughly crushed can be taken in water or juice 3 times daily, four days a week.
Eternally, a compress is effective for rheumatism, inflammation, sores and wounds. A liniment made by boiling 1 Tablespoon of cayenne pepper in 1 pint of Cider Vinegar; bottle the unstrained liquid while it is hot.
To make a muscle rub..mix a little crushed cayenne pepper about 3-4 pods/fruit with 1-2 Tablespoons of rubbing alcohol.
For a toothache: Place cotton soaked in the oil on the sore tooth cavity; use very sparingly as the oil is potent and dangerous if handled without care.
REMARKS: WARNING! If using Cayenne in oil form..use rubber gloves when handling, as it can and will cause burns. AND NEVER get around eyes or exposed skin without protection! CAN CAUSE BLINDNESS!
ALWAYS wash hands and clothes throughly that has been in contact with the oil.
Prolonged application of liniments and rubs to the skin can cause irritations, even burns or blisters.
Excessive consumption can cause stomach upset.

CHAMOMILE: (matricaria recutita or chamaemeium nobile)
USES: Anodyne, antispasmodic, calmative, carminative, diaphoretic, and tonic; for colds, headaches, and nerveousness.
PARTS USED: Flowers.
PREPARATION: Take as an Infusion 1 cup at a time, 2-3 times daily, for cramps, dizziness, gas, indigestion, and nervous stomach. Taken before mealtime, it stimulates the appetite; taken at bedtime, it calms nervousness and helps defeat insomnia.
Small amounts are good for colicky babies.
Mixed with peppermint in a tea, it is a soothing to the entire body whenever to relax or to ease body aches.
REMARKS: Safe and very beneficial for the body.

COMFREY: (symphytum officinale)
USES: Vulnerary, antiseptic, demulcent, and tonic; for healing wounds and burns, for reducing the swelling of boils, bruises, and sprains.
PARTS USED: Leaves and Roots
PREPARATION: A strong decoction is used with a compress for bad bruises, swellings, and boils.
Make a poultice by mixing fresh chopped leaves with boiling water; then after cooling them, sandwich the leaves between layers of cheesecloth.
Apply the poultice to the area of soreness, or boil or wounds or ulcers and burns.
For minor burns or wounds use the same formula but add honey or vitamin E or wheat germ.

DANDELION: (taraxacum officinale)
USES: Diuretic, laxative, carminative, tonic and antiseptic, for digestive disorders, arthritis, circulatory problems, and healing wounds.
PARTS USED: Leaves and Roots
PREPARATION: Use only Fresh Leaves..can be eaten raw in salads.
Tea hot or cold, a cup at a time, 3-4 times daily.
The root can also be taken and used to make a tea in 6 ounces cups daily 3-4 times daily.
REMARKS: Besides the 60's with hippies eating dandelions for natural foods, and old timers making wine from fermenting this little flower, it was used as a medicine long before it was used for other things specially by Native indigenous.

[Raven]

ECHINACEA: (echinacea angustifolia)
USES: Tonic, antiseptic, alterative, and febrifuge; for headaches, rheumatism, bladder infections, dizziness, fevers, wounds, sores and hemorrhoids.
PARTS USED: Rhizome and Roots
PREPARATION: 1 Teaspoon of a decoction is taken 3-6 times daily for bladder infections, headaches, dizziness and fevers. It can be used with a compress on wounds and painful swellings.
REMARKS: Safe and Effective


EUCALYPTYUS: (eucalyptus spp.)
USES: Decongestant, astringent, antiseptic, and stimulant; for cold symptoms and respiratory congestions.
PARTS USED: Leaves and Oil
PREPARATION: An infusion of the leaves can be added to bath water as a stimulating astringent.
The classic eucalyptus remedy for congestion is to inhale the vapors of the infusion of leaves. The leaves themselves are the best home air fresher! ALWAYS dilute the tea also as it is very potent.
The oil about 2 Tablespoons added to 1 bottle of rubbing alcohol makes one of the best astringent lotion.
REMARKS: In its oil form, make sure you NEVER get it around your eyes! NEVER put directly on the skin in its pure form as it will cause burns and blisters. ALWAYS dilute the oil with vegetable cooking oil, water, or alcohol.


FENNEL: (Foeniculum vulgare)
USES: Carminative, aromatic, calmative, and decongestant, cure for flatulence, coughs, colds, sore throats and bad breath.
PARTS USED: Seeds and Roots
Preparation: Seeds taken fresh or dried; seeds or leaves as a tea.
An infusion of seeds is taken 1 cup at a time, 3 times a day to soothe the stomach and intestines and to relieve flatulence. The infusion can be gargled to remedy a sore throat or hoarseness. A syrup, made by combining up to 3 drops of the oil with 1 Tablespoon of honey, is a natural cough remedy.
REMARKS: One of the absolute best all around remedies besides Osha Root itself.


FENUGREEK: (trigonella foenum-graecum
USES: Demulcent, emollient, expectorant, stomachic, restorative,and flavoring; for asthma, fever, boils, cold symptons, heart-burn, and to strengthen the body following an illness.
PARTS USED: Seeds
PREPARATION: A decoction is taken a cup at a time, 3 times a day, for asthma, bronchitis, coughs, fever and heartburn. It can be gargled to remedy a sore throat. A syrup is used for hoarseness. A poultice of seeds is used for boils and other sores.

FEVERFEW: (chrysanthemum parthenium)
USES: carminative, stimulant, and tonic; for migraine headaches.
PARTS USED: Leaves
PREPARATION: Eat 3-4 of the little leaves each day to ward off or forestall migraines. The leaves are bitter; the taste can be masked by mixing the leaves into foods (specially flavored fruit yogurt). An infusion can be drunk 1-2 cups a day in Tablespoon doses.
REMARKS: One of the oldest and most effective remedies for migraines.


GARLIC: (allium sativum)
USES: alterative, antibiotic, and antiseptic; for infections, respiratory problems, sore throats, atherosclerosis, and high blood preassure, and gastrointestinal ailments.
PARTS USED: Bulb
PREPARATION: Press small amounts of juice from a clove into hot water to make an infusion, into honey about 1-2 Tablespoons to make a syrup.
Mash the clove and apply directly to insect stings.
Commercially prepared garlic perles can be taken as a nutritional supplement.
To get the most strength/potency, eat raw garlic cloves; cooking diminishes it and you only get a flavoring.
REMARKS: garlic reduces the tendency of blood platelets to clot, lessening the risk of heart attack or stroke.

GENTIAN: (gentiana lutea)
USES: cholagogue, stomachic, and tonic; to stimulate appetite aide digestion, and improve circulation.
PARTS USED: rhizome and roots.
PREPARATION: as a bitter tonic, take a decoction; dosages range from 1/4 to 1 teaspoon 3 times daily to 1/2 to 1 cup daily. Because of the bitterness, it is often combined with aromatic herbs.
REMARKS: Safe and Effective

GINGER: (zingiber officinale)
USES: aromatic, carminative, diaphoretic, stimulate, decongestant, and antispasmodic; for flu, bronchitis, sinus congestion, intestinal ailments, morning sickness, and motion sickness.
PARTS USED: Root
PREPARATION: A tea made by simmering 3 or 4 thin slices of the root in a pint of water for 15-20 minutes becomes an bracing and stimulating wintertime drink. For indigestion, gas, nausea, or morning sickeness, as well as for colds, coughs, and sinus congestion, take an infusion, sipping about 1 ounce at a time throughout the day.
The powered rootstock, taken in capsule form- is effective for motion sickness. Chemist/Drugstores do carry the empty capsules to fill with the powder.
A tea, made of 5 ounces of rootstock in 2 quarts of water, is good as a stimulating footbath and pain-relieving compresses.
Compresses on the forehead relieve sinus congestion; on the chest they relieve chest congestion.


 


 

[WhiteFeather]

HAWTHORN: (crataegus laevigata)
USES: antispasmodic, cardiac, and vasodilator; to dilate blood vessels and to lower blood pressure.
PARTS USED: fruit (haw), leaves, and flowers.
PREPARATION: a tea-taken 1 cup at a time, 2-3 times daily. Is good for nervous conditions and insomnia.
Extended use can lower blood pressure.
REMARKS: Safe and Effective.


HOPS: (humulus lupulus)
USES: nervine, stomachic, and sedative; as sleep aid.
PARTS USED: fruit (strobiles)
PREPARATION: drinking 1 cup of an infusion 3 times daily can and does calm nerves and settle a nervous stomach.
If you use a pillow stuffed with hops, it will relax you at bedtime and bring on sleep.
REMARKS: hops are best used fresh, they lose their potency rapidly in storage.

HOREHOUND: (marrubium vulgare)
USES: diaphoretic, expectorant, decongestant, diuretic, stimulant, and antiseptic for coughs and colds and for fevers.
PARTS USED: leaves and tops.
PREPARATION: for fevers, drink a hot infusion frequently, taking a cup at a time. The Infusion and the syrup are good for all symptoms of a cold-coughs, lung congestion, sore throats.
REMARKS: use of the syrup is excellent for children and adults. Also if you soak "Rock Candy" in the syrup for 24 hours, it can be a good cough drop for kids and adults.


HORSERADISH: (armoracia rusticana)
USES: diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, and stomachic, for colds, coughs, neuralgia, stiffness, hoarseness, and to stimulate circulation and appetite.
PARTS USED: fresh root
PREPARATION: combine 1 ounce of chopped fresh horseradish root and 1/2 ounce of bruised mustard seed in 1 pint of boiling water, steeping the herbs for four hours after turning the heat off after the water comes to a hard boil. After the four hours, take 3 Tablespoons 3 times a day.
To make a syrup, grate 2 cups of fresh horseradish and soak in enough honey to slightly cover the horseradish for 4-8 hours. Strain, then add a little water to the strained out horseradish, and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain again and add this liquid to the honey mixture. Take 1 teaspoon 3 times a day.
To use externally for a pain-relieving compress for neuralgia and stiffness, chop or grate fresh horseradish mixed with a little water and applied as a heat producing compress.
REMARKS: Do not be excessive, a little goes a lot...

HYSSOP: (hyssopus officinalis)
USES: stimulant, diaphoretic, expectorant, and vulnerary; for coughs, rheumatism, fevers, and sore throats.
PARTS USED: leaves or tops.
PREPARATION: a warm infusion of the leaves and tops, taken by the mouthful, up to 2 cups a day, is recommended for colds, fevers and coughs and sore throats. Hyssop with horehound in a infusion for the same ailments.
REMARKS: Safe and Effective

[WhiteFeather]

LICORICE: (glycyrrbiza glabra)
USES: expectorant, demulcent, and laxative; for congestion, all kinds of intestinal and stomach ulcers, and constipation.
PARTS USED: rhizome and roots.
PREPARATION: often the root is chewed; a piece up to 3 inches long can be taken, as needed.
The decoction can be taken in 1 Tablespoons doses, as needed.
As a sweet herb, licorice root is added to bitter tonics to make them more palatable.
As a sweetener, demulcent, and expectorant, it is added to cough syrup.
REMARKS: licorice is a mild laxative, especially effective for elderly people and children.
Too much licorice can cause edema. People with high blood pressure and people on steroid drugs should avoid licorice altogether.

[WhiteFeather]

MARSH MELLOW: (althaea officinalis")
USES: demulcent, diuretic, emollient, alterative, and vulerary.
For coughs, hoarseness, sore throats, and skin conditions.
PARTS USED: roots, flowers and leaves
PREPARATIONS: an infusion of the leaves and flowers can be taken frequently, 1 cup at a time.
More commonly recommended is a decoction of the root taken 1 cup at a time, three times a day.
Use the decoction or syrup for coughs, hoarseness, and sore throats; use the infusion or decoction for all sorts of lung ailments.
A poultice of the root or the infusion or decoction with a compressis used for skin inflammations.
REMARKS: marsh mellow is high in mucilage and derives in healing value from that.

MUSTARD SEED:
USES: A VERY gentle laxative, creates intestinal mucous to help in easier bowel movement, and intestinal functions.
For people who have trouble swallowing, it creates more moisture within the throat and coats the throat.
It does help as an energy booster, as it does increase the body metabolism.
PREPARATION: Every 2nd to 3rd day, take 1 teaspoon of whole seeds with juice or water.
REMARKS: There is no taste as long as you swallow the seeds with liquid and do not crush or chew the seeds.
 
MYRRH: (commiphora spp)
USES: astringent, antiseptic, emmenagogue, carminative, expectorant, and stimulant, for spongy gums, pyorrhea, and all throat diseases.
PARTS USED: resin.
PREPARATION: take an infusion in 1/2 cup doses, 3-4 times a day.
Use a tincture in water as a gargle for bad breath, sore gums, mouth ulcers, and thrush.
REMARKS: Very safe and Effective

ONION: (allium cepa)
USES: anthelmintic, calmative, expectorant, diuretic, and antiseptic; for indigestion, nervous disorders, kidney problems, high blood pressure, asthma, and headaches.
PARTS USED: bulb
PREPARATION: to make a cold extract, soak a chopped onion in 1 cup water for 24 hours. Drink 1/2 cup daily.
a decoction, made by chopping an onion and simmering it gently in 1 cup of water. This can be taken in 1 Tablespoon doses, 3-4 times a day.
The juice from an onion added with honey to make a syrup can be taken 3-4 times a day is good for all throat conditions specially coughs due to colds.
Lightly fried onions can be eaten for combating a head cold.
Slices of raw onion can be eaten for their nutritive and medicinal values.
Slices of raw onion is excellent for a bee sting. Put straight on the sting to automatically take the swelling down. and put on bruises and sprains.
For chest congestion, consume clear soup made with lots of onions.
or) the strained liquid poured off a mixture of about 2-3 Tablespoons of honey mixed into the liquid. Then
heated but not boiled on the stove for several hours.
REMARKS: Like garlic, the onion reduces the tendency of blood platelets to clot, which may lessen the risk of a heart attack or stroke should a clot block an already narrowed artery.

PARSLEY: (petroselinum crispum)
USES: diuretic, carminative, expectorant, nervine, and tonic; to remedy water retention, kidney problems, bad breath, and digestive problems.
PARTS USED: leaves, stems, and seeds.
PREPARATION: for kidney problems and water retention, an infusionof the leaves or a decooction of the seeds can be taken, 1 cup at a time, 2-3 times daily.
fresh parsley juice can be drunk, 2 ounces at a time, 2 times daily.
Eaten raw, parsley is good for bad breath.
REMARKS: Safe and Effective.


PASSIONFLOWER: (passiflora incarnata)
USEs: sedative, calminative, for insomnia, restlessness, and nervous headaches.
PARTS USED: flowers and fruiting top.
PREPARATION: use ian infusion-1 cup taken during the day-for back,eye, and general nervous tension, headaches, spasms and muscular twitching, and insommia.
REMARKS: safe and effective


PEPPERMINT: (mentha xpiperita)
USES: aromatic, carminative, stomachic, diaphoretic, and stimulate, for chills, upset stomach syndrome, and headaches.
PARTS USED: leaves
PREPARATION: an infusion should be taken in 1 cup doses, 3 times a day.
To open the sinuses, drop 5 to 10 drops of peppermint oil into 2 quarts of hot water, then breathe the vapors in through the mouth and nostrils.
REMARKS: one of the oldest remedies for respiratory reliefs.   

[WhiteFeather]

ROSE: (rosa spp.)
USES: stomachic, aperient, astringent, and antiscorbutic; for cold and flu symptoms.
PARTS USED: fruit (hips).
PREPARATION: use the infusion-taken frequently, 1 cup at a time-for cold and flu.
The syrup is good for sore throats.
REMARKS: the vitamin c content of the rosehip makes it a good natural remedy for colds and flu.


ROSEMARY: (rosmarinus officinalis)
USES: tonic, diaphoretic, antiseptic, astringent, stomachic, and carminative; for headaches, insomnia, nervous disorders, and digestive ailments.
PARTS USED: leaves and flowers.
PREPARATION: an infusion, taken 2 ounces at a time, 3 times a day, is good for gas, colic, indigestion, and fevers. No more than 3 cups a day.
REMARKS: The volatile oil of rosemary is irritating to the stomach in excessive amounts.


SAGE: (salvia officinalis)
USES: antispasmodic, astringent, tonic, and vulnerary ; for cold symptoms and digestive upsets.
PARTS USED: leaves
PREPARATION: use an infusion, taking 1 Tablespoon at a time, hot or cold, as needed, up to 2 cups a day, for all cold symtoms, as well as dizziness, nausea, headaches, gas, and weak digestion.
Use tea as a gargle for some sore throat and laryngitis.
As a tonic add 1/2 ounce of fresh sage leaves to the juice of 1 lemon or lime; sweeten the honey and infuse in a quart of boiling water removed from the heat; strain and serve either hot or ice cold.

[WhiteFeather]

THYME: (thymus vulgaris)
USES: antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, carminative, and antispasmodic; for infections, and inflammation, mastitis, fever, digestive ailments, headaches, and nervousness.
PARTS USED: tops
PREPARATION: an infusion, taken frequently, a mouthful at a time up to 2 cups a day, is good for all throat and bronchial problems, as well as stomach and intestinal problems.
REMARKS: This herb is very safe and also is good in cooking and flavoring foods.


UVA-URSI: (arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
USES: diuretic, uninary antiseptic, and astringent; for nephritis, cystitis, urethritis, and kidney and bladder stones.
PARTS USED: Leaves
PREPARATION: an infusion is taken in 1/2 cup doses as needed, up to 3 cups a day. It is recommended adding marsh mellow root or some other mucilaginous diuretic.
REMARKS: Although safe and an excellent diuretic, it should NEVER be used during pregnancy.


VALERIAN (valerian officinalis)
USES: anti-spasmodic, nervine, and calmative, for calming of the nerves.
PARTS USED: rhizome and roots
PREPARATION: an infusion can be made using about 1/4 teaspoon of the root in 1 cup of water. Recommended doses are 1/2 cup 3 times a day.
REMARKS: Valerian is a natural tranquilizer that will not interact with alcohol. Large doses can bring on depression.

WITCH HAZEL: (hamamelis virginiana)
USES: astringent, hemostatic, and tonic; for bruises, muscle aches, burns, sores, and oozing skin conditions.
The tincture, diluted in water, is a good gargle or mouthwash for minor infections.
REMARKS: Very safe and Effective


YARROW: (achillea millefolium)
USES: astrigent, anesthetic, carminative, diaphoretic, hemostatic, and tonic; for wounds, toothaches, diarrhea, gas and intestinal ailments.
PARTS USED: Tops and Leaves
PREPARATION: The infusion is taken 1 cup at a time, 3-4 times a day.
The decoction is a good wash for wounds and sores, even chapped hands.
REMARKS: Yarrow is safe and very effective.