Materia Medica

Herbs are useful in magick, ritual and healing. The following is my Materia Medica, with information on herbs that I’ve gathered over the years. And yes, it’s in table format. I’m nothing if not obsessive about such things. A reading list follows.

Name	Botanical name	Common names	Part used	Constituents	Properties	Uses	Dosage
Angelica	Angelica officinalis	Archangel, masterwort, garden angelica	root	Spicy, warm, bitter, volatile oil, misc sugars, acids, flavonoids, sterols	astringent, tonic, diuretic, vulnerary, cholagogue, anti-inflammatory	Respiratory infections (wet, mucousy), rheumatic complaints, digestive weakness,	Decoct: 1 tsp root per cup - simmer 2 min then let stand 15 min TID
Black Cohosh	Cimicfuga racemosa	Black snake root, rattle root, squaw root, bugbane	Dried root	Triterpene, glycosides, isoferulic acid, salicylic acid, vol oils, tannins, cooling/relaxing	Emmenagogue, anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, alterative, nervine, hypotensive	Repro system normalizer & relaxant, painful or delayed menses, RA, OA, neurological pain, tinnitus, menopause, perimenopause	Tincture: 2-4 ml TID Decoct: 1/2-1tsp to 1 cup water
Blessed Thistle	Cnicua benedictus	Holy thistle	Seeds, aerial parts	Bitter, similar to salicin, cooling, drying	Antiseptic, expectorant, tonic, stimulant, diaphoretic, emetic, emmenagogue	Heals wounds	Tincture: 2-4 ml TID Infusion - 1oz hb to pint boiling water
Blue Cohosh	Caulophyllus thalictroides	Papoose root, squaw root, blueberry root	root	Steroidal saponins, alkaloids, cooling, drying. relaxing	Uterine tonic, emmenagogue, anti-spasmodic, anti-rheumatic	Uterine tonic, miscarriage threat, false labor pains, colic, asthma, cough, rheumatic pain	Decoct: 1/2 - 1 tsp dried root/1 cup, simmer 10-15 min - TID
Borage	Borago officinalis		Dried leaves, flowers	potassium, calicum, mucilage	Diuretic, demulcent, emollient	Eyewash, calcium source, adrenal stress	1 oz dried herb to 1 cup water
Buchu	Agathosma betulina	Oval buchu, short buchu, sap, bookoo	leaves	EO w/barosama camphor, pungent, warm	Diuretic, stimulant, aromatic, carminative, diaphoretic, bladder, stomach, lungs	Cystitis, urinary infections	tincture - 10-30 drops combine with other herbs in tea
Burdock Root	Arctium lappa	Cocklebur, hardock, grass burdock	Roots, seeds, leaves	EO, almost 45% inulin, flavonoid & bitter glycosides, alkaloid, anti-microbial	alterative, depilatory, diuretic, diaphoretic, nutritive	skin diseases, blood purification, urinary problems, blood tonic, arthritis, sciatica	Std decoction
Calendula	Calendula officinalis		flowers	carrotenoids, saponins, bitter, sterols, flavonoids, EO	Vulnerary, diaphoretic, alterative, astringent	Skin conditions not for internal use during pregnancy	Tincture - 10-30 drops salve/oil Std infusion
California Poppy	Escholtzia californiaca	California poppy	whole plant	Opiate, alkaloids, zinc, bitter	sedative, analgesic, hypnotic, antineuralgic	insomnia, pain, neuralgia, psoriasis, depression, agitation	Tincture: 15-30 drops Std Infusion
Chamomile	Anthemis nobilis, matricaria chamomilla, chamomilla recutita	Roman chamomile, German chamomile, ground apple	flowers	Anthemic acid, coumarin, flavonic heterosides, glycoside, azulene	tonic, stomachic. anodyne, antispasmodic, tonic, stomachic. anodyne, antispasmodic	appetite, dyspepsia, pain, menstrual cramping, inflammation, nervous tension	Std infusion
Catnip	Nepeta cataria	Catmint, catnip, nip	Whole plant	EOs, tannins, nepatalic acid, spicy, bitter, cool	stimulant, tonic, alterative, carminative, anodyne, anti-spasmodic, aromatic	insomnia, fevers/colds, diarrhea, pain, spasms, gas pains	Std infusion
Cayenne	Capsicum annuum		fruit	Flavonoids, EO, VC, carotenoids, capsaicin	stimulant, tonic, alterative, carminative, antiseptic	winter colds, congestion, infection, inflammation, regulates blood flow, strengthens the           heart	infusion - 1/2-1 tsp/cup boiling water..steep 10 min,..drink 1 T mixed with hot water
Chaparral Leaf	Larrea tridentata	Creosote bush, chaparral	Leaves, stems	Bitter, acrid, anti-oxidant	alterative, diuretic, tonic, depurative, astringent, anti-arthritic, antirheumatic	arthritis, tones/rebuilds tissue, bladder/kidney, cancer, kidney stones	Std infusion Tincture 10-30 dr TID
Chickweed	Stellaria media	Indian chickweed, starweed	aerial portion	Saponins, mildly bitter	demulcent, emollient, expectorant, antitussive, antipyretic, alterative, vulnerary	internally - weight loss, fluid retention, fever, inflammation external - skin irritation	Std Infusion
Cinnamon	Cinnamomum zeylanicum		inner bark	Tannins, vol oils, gum, coumarins, mucilage, sugars	Carminative, astringent, aromatic, stimulant.antispasmodic, tonic, antiseptic, uterine stimulant	digestion, diarrhea, colic, promote sweating	tincture - up to 5 ml in hot water
Cleavers	Galium aparine	Bedstraw, goosegrass	aerial portions	Bitter, asperuloside, glycoside, iridoids	diuretic, alterative, aperient, mild astringent/lungs, stomach	diuretic, reproductive organ inflammations, hepatitis, venereal disease, scalds, burns, fevers	Std infusion
Cloves	Syzygium aromanticum		EO, flower buds	Vol oils	antiseptic, anodyne, antispasmodic, carminative, stimulant, anti-nausea	prevents vomiting	infusion tincture on a sugar cube
Coltsfoot	Tussilago farfara	Horsehoof, coughwort	leaves, flowers	Mucilage, glucose, fructose, flavonoids, tannin, bitter	antitussive, expectorant, antiinflammatory, astringent, demulcent, respiratory nervine, antibacterial	cough remedy, asthma, bronchitis	Infusion - 1 oz/pt water 2 T/adult; 2-3 tsp kids
Comfrey	Symphytum officinale	Knitbone, boneset, bruisewort	leaves, roots	Mucilage, allantoin, alkaloids, vol oil, resin, tannin, gum	demulcent, expectorant (T) vulnerary, astringent	regulates blood sugar, dryness and irritation, wound healing, respiratory problems	infusion - leaf decoction - root for poultices Tincture - 10-30 drps salve
Cornsilk	Zea mays		silk	Saponins, sterols, allantoin	diuretic, lithotriptic, demulcent, cholagogue	fluid retention and urinary infections	Std Infusion Tincture 10-30 drps TID
Cramp bark	Viburnum opulus	Guelder rose, snowball tree	bark	Bitter, arbutin, tannins, coumarins, catechins, hydroquinones	Antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, nervine, hypotensive, astringent, emmenagogue	muscle spasms, uterine cramps, dysmenorrhea	Decoct - 2tsp - 1 cup water Tincture - 4-8ml TID
Daminana	Turnera aphrodisiaca		dried leaves/stems	Volatile oil, bitter, resin, tannin	Nerve tonic, anti-depressant, urinary antiseptic, laxative	strengthens male repro system, nervous system, antidepressant	Std Infusion Tincture 1-2ml TID
Dandelion	Taraxacum officinale	Lion’s tooth, pirest’s crown, puffball	whole plant	Glycosides choline, potassium, lactones, terpenes, sterols, flavonoids, polysaccharides, inulin, bitter	diuretic, cholagogue, anti-rheumatic, laxative, tonic	Fluid retention, major source of potassium, promotes bile formation	Std infusion - leaf Decoct - root
Dong Quai	Angelica sinensis		root	Bitter, acrid, warm	uterus, blood and muscles; uterine tonic, antispasmodic, alterative	use with other herbs instead of alone Insomnia, hypertension, cramps, blood purifier	Infusion - 1 tsp/cup TID
Echinacea Root	Echinacea augustfolia, purpurea	Purple coneflower, echinacea, snakeroot	cone flower, root	Glycosides, phenolics, EO, echinacoside, Vol oil, echinaceine, saccharides	anti-microbial, alterative, anti-septic, tonic, stimulant	Don't use daily Respiratory complaints, asthma, boils	Powder - 1-2 gr Tincture 1-4ml TID
Elderberry	Sambucus nigra	Black elder, common elder	bark, flowers, berries, leaves	acrid, bitter, cool, flavonoids, EO, sugar, fruit acids	bark - purgative, emetic, diuretic Leaves - externally - emollient, vulnerary; internally - purgative, expectorant, diuretic, diaphoretic Flowers - diaphoretic, anti-catarrhal Berries - diaphoretic, diuretic, laxative	bruises (leaves), colds, flu (flowers), rheumatic (berries)	Tincture - 10-30 drops TID Decoct the berries and bark
Elecampane	Inula helenium	Scabwort, horseheal, nurseheal	rhyzome	Inulin, EO, triterpenes, mucilage, sweet, acrid, bitter, warm	carminative, diuretic, vermifuge, expectorant, stimulant, relaxant, astringent, and tonic	coughs, bronchitis, chronic lung ailments	Std decoction Tincture - 10-20 dr TID
Fenugreek	Trigonella fornumgraecum	Bird’s foot, Greek clover	seeds	Mucilage, bitter, vol & fixed oil, steroidal saponins	warming, stimulant, demulcent, expectorant, tonic, galactogogue	stimulates breast milk production, bronchitis, wounds	poultice decoction = 1 1/2 tsp/cup water - steep 10 min Tincture - 1-2 ml TID
Feverfew	Tahaietum parthenium		leaves	bitter	anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory, relaxant, digestive bitter, uterine stimulant	Do not use in pregnancy migraine headaches, arthritis, dizziness, tinnitus, painful periods	1 fresh leaf 1-3 times/day fresh or frozen
Garlic	Allium sativum		bulb	volatile oil, mucilage	antiseptic, anti-viral, diaphoretic, hypotensive, anti-spasmodic	bacteria, viruses, parasites, respiratory infection, blood pressure, cholesterol, ringworm (ext)	1 clove TID
Ginger	Zingiberis officinalis	African ginger	Root	Volatile oils, starch, mucilage, resin	rubefacient, carminative, stimulant, aromatic	promotes perspiration, circulation, digestion, relieves congestion	Std infusion - steep 5 min decoct 1 1/2 tsp/cup simmer 5-10 min
Gingko Biloba	Gingko biloba	Gingko nut, maidenhair tree	Leaf, nut	Flavonoids, terpenes, Vits ABC, lignans, Essential oils, tannins	expectorant, antitussive, antiasthmatic, sedative, mildly astringent, vasoactive	enhances brain function and memory, peripheral circulation	Standardized Extract
Ginseng	Panax ginseng		root	Steroidal glycosided, sterols, Vit D, adaptogen	Stimulant, cardiac tonic, alterative	Normalize BP, lower cholesterol, blood tonic, regulates blood sugar	powder - 5-10 grams decoct - 1/2 tsp pwdr rt/1 cup water, simmer 10 min
Goldenseal Root	Hydrastis canadensis	Eye balm, ground raspberry, tumeric root	root	Alkaloids, berberine, canadine, trace Essential oil, resin, bitter	tonic, astringent, laxative, bitter	indigestion, gastritis, colitis, ulcer, female repro tonic, skin disorders	decoct - 1 tsp root to 1 C water
Gotu Kola	Centella asiatica		aerial parts	pungent, sweet, cooling	diuretic, nervine, tonic, astringent	nerve tonic, memory loss, nervous stress, mental fatigue	Tincture - 2-4 ml TID
Gravel Root	Eupatorium purpureum	Joe-pye weed, Queen of the Meadow	root	Bitter, pungent, volatile oil, flavonoids	diuretic, lithotripic, nervine, tonic, antirheumatic, carminative	diarrhea, cancer prevention, urinary problems, gravel, stones, frequent urination	Std decoction Tincture - drps
Hawthorn berry	Crataegus oxyacanthoides		berry	Saponins, flavonoids, acids, tannins, glycosides	cardiac tonic	Tones and balances the heart and circulatory system	Std infusion Tincture - 2-4 ml TID
Horehound	Marrubium vulgare	Hoarhound, bull’s blood, Even of the Star, Soldier’s tea	Leaves, flowering tops	Sesquiterpine bitters, Essential oils, mucilage, tannins	pectoral, aromatic, tonic, expectorant, vulnerary	Respiratory conditions, digestion, indigestion, sore throats	Infusion - 1/2-1 tsp/cup water TID Tincture 1-2ml TID
Horseradish	Armoracia rusticana	Great railfort, mountain radish	fresh/dried root	Essential oils, sinigrin	stimulant, aperient, rubefacient, diaphoretic, diuretic	digestive complaints, kidney, skin, respiratory issues, low blood pressure, flu, fever
Hops	Humulus lupulus	Beer flower, flores de cerveza	flower	Lupulin, resin, tannin, bitters, volatile oil, estrogenic	sedative, antiseptic, astringent, nervine, tonic, diuretic, anodyne	insomnia, tension and anxiety, headache, indigestion	Std Infusion Tincture - 10-30 drps
Hyssop	Hyssopus officinalis	Hyssop herb, Isopo	leaves	Volatile oils, flavoinoids, tannin	Aromatic, expectorant, pectoral, tonic, carminative, sedative	Respiratory complaints, flu	Std Infusion Tincture 10-30 drps TID
Irish Moss	Chondrus crispus	Carrageenin, pearl moss	seaweed	Polysaccharides, mucins, iodine, salts, bromine, proteins, amino acids, manganese	demulcent, nutrient, emollient, expectorant, anti-inflammatory	lung diseases, gastric conditions, ulcers	Tincture - 10-30 drops TID Std Infusion
Juniper Berry	Juniper comunis	Gin berry, gin plant	berries	Sugars, Vit C, resin, volatile oils	carminative, antiseptic, diuretic, stimulant, anti-inflammatory	urinary complaints, gout, rheumatic conditions, flatulence	Std Infusion
Lemon Balm	Melissa officinalis	Lemon balm, melissa, balm	leaves	Essential oils, bitter, tannin, acids, spicy, cool	diaphoretic, calmative, antispasmodic, carminative, emmenaogue, stomachic	digestion, fever, tension, depression	Infusion - 1 oz to pint of boiling water
Licorce	Glycyrrhiza glabra	Licorice root, sweet wood	Root	Glycosides, flavonoids, Volatile oils, courmarins, estrogenic, asparagine, saponins, bitter	Demulcent, emollient, stomachic, anti-inflammatory, expectorant	Respiratory complaints, digestion liver tonic	Tincture - 10-20 drops Decoction - 1/2 to 1 tsp root/cup water TID
Lobelia	Lobelia inflata	Bladder pod, wild tobacco, vomit root	flowering herb and seed	Lobeline, lobelic acid, resin, fixed oil, potassium, gum, bitter glycosides	diuretic, antispasmodic, emetic, nervine, expectorant	respiratory, inflammation, externally for bruises, strains, skin diseases	Tincture - 10-30 drp
Ma Huang (ephedra)	Epedra sinica	Ma Huang, ephedra, sea grape	stems/branches	Alkaloids	vasodilator, stimulant, expectorant, anti-allergic	respiratory conditions	Decoct - 1-2 tsp/1C water, simmer 15 min, TID Tincture - 10-30 drp TID
Marshmallow Root	Althaea officinalis	Cheeses, marshmallow root, high mallow, cheese flower, common mallow	root, leaf, flowers	cool, sweet, bland, Mucilage, starch, Vit A, anthocyanidins	Expectorant, emollient, demulcent	ulcers, sores, urinary issues	Infusion - 2 oz/qt water
Motherwort	Leoncrus cardiaea	motherwort	aerial parts	Iridoids, labdane, flavonoids, alkaloids, volatile oils, tannins, diterpenes, caffeic acid	Antispasmodic, nervine, emmenagogue, cardiotonic	menopause, heart tonic, anxiety, uterine issues	Std Infusion Tincture - 10-30 drp TID
Mugwort	Artemis vulgaris	Felon herb, moxa, St. John’s plant	leaves	Bitter,acrid, essential oils, bitter	Cholagogue, vermifuge, emmenagogue, hemostatic, anti-spasmodic, diaphoretic, mild narcotic	Liver, stomach and intestinal problems, worms, promote menstruation, nervousness, for ritual purification	Std Infusion Tincture - 5-20 drops
Mullein	Verbascum thapsus	Blanket leaf, hag’s taper	leaves, flowers, root	Mucilage, saponins, volatile oils, glycosides, flavoinoids, gum	Demulcent, expectorant, antispasmodic, anodyne, vulnerary	respiratory complaints, earaches	Infusion - 1/2 tsp/cup water TID Tincture - 10-30 drp
Myrrh	Commiphora myrrha	Guggul, myrrh tree,	resin	Volatile oils, bitter	expectorant, antiseptic, stimulant	used w/goldenseal for cold/flu, respiratory, arthritis, infection	Infusion - pwdr - 1-2 tsp/cup water TID Tincture - 10-30 drp TID
Nettles	Urtica dioica	Stinging nettle	aerial parts	Histamin, formic acid, iron. Vit C, serotonin, glycosides, protein, bitter	hemostatic, astringent, tonic, expectorant, nutritive	Regulates blood sugar, liver tonic, rheumatic conditions, urinary issues, asthma	Std infusion Tincture - 10-30 drps TID
Oat/Oatstraw	Avena sativa		seed/straw	proteins, glycosides, starch	antidepressant, tonic	debility, nutrient, depression	Std Infusion Tincture 10-30 Drp
Oregon Grape Root	Berberis aquifolium	Mountain grape,holly mahonia, barberry	root	Alkaloids - berberine, bitter, cool	liver alterative, tonic, anti-inflammatory, anti-catarrhal	liver/kidney issues, rheumatic complaints, blood purifier, chronic skin conditions	Tincture - 10-30 drops TID or 1-4 ml TID Decoct - 1-2 tsp root/cup water TID
Parsley Root	Petroselinum crispum	Devil’s oatmeal, persil, rock parsley	leaves, seeds, fruit, root	Root - Mucilage, sugar	diuretic, carminative, expectorant, antirheumatic, emmenagogue	urinary inflammations	Std Infusion Tincture - 10-30 drps
Passion flower	Passiflora incarnata		Leaves	alkaloids, flavonoids, sterols, sugars, gums	antispasmodic, anodyne, mild sedative, hypotensive	insomnia, nervous tension	Tincture - 1-2 ml TID std Infusion
Pennyroyal	Mentha pulegium	Mock pennyroyal, mosquito plant, squaw balm, tickweed	leaves	spicy, bitter, warm	emmenagogue, mild sedative, antispasmodic, diaphoretic	promote perspiration, menstration, calm gas and nervous tension	Std Infusion
Peppermint	Mentha piperata	peppermint	leaf	bitter	Carminative, antispasmodic, stimulant, aromatic	insomnia, cramps, digestion, cough, nervous tension, headache	Std Infusion
Pippsissewa	Chimaphilla umballata	False wintergreen, ground holly	leaves	Essential oils, Vit B/C, potassium, tannins, flavonoids	diuretic, astringent, alterative, aperient, bitter tonic	rheumatic, urinary conditions	Include in tea blend - std infusion
Plantain	Plantago major	Plantain, ribwort,	whole plant	glycosides, iridoids, flavonoids, tannins, plant acids, bitter, cool	expectorant, astringent, demulcent, vulnerary, diuretic,	respiratory, diarrhea, cystitis, poultice for skin irritation/insect bites, blood poisoning	Infusion - 2 fl oz 3-4 x per day
Pleurisy Root	Asclepias tuberosa	pleurisy	root	Glycosides, EO	Stimulant, carminative, anodyne, antispasmodic,	pleurisy	Std infusion Tincture 1-2 ml TID
Prickly Ash	Zanthoxylum americanum	Northern prickly ash, toothache bark	berries, bark	alkaloids, coumarins, tannins, resin. vol oil	astringent, cardiac stimulant, bitter tonic, alterative	poor circulation; rheumatic conditions; asthma, respiratory issues
Psyllium seeds	Plantago psyllium	Branching plantain, fleaseed	seeds		demulcent, purgative, detergent, laxative	Colon-related issues
Raspberry leaf	Rubus idaeus		Dried, flowering herb	dry, astringent, generaly cooling; fragarine (uterine tonic), tannins, polypeptides	astringent, childbirth preparative, digestive remedy, tonic, diuretic, laxative	uterine stimulant, diarrhea, diuretic, rheumatic conditions	Std infusion (use in last 6-8 weeks of pregnancy only)
Red Clover	Trifolium pratense	Honey stalks, shamrock, trefoil, wild clover	flowers	glycosides, flavonoids, volatile oils, resins, minerals, vitamins, sweet, salty, cool	alterative, expectorant, anti-spasmodic, anti-tumor	cancer, tumors, skin diseases, fevers, colds, coughs	Tincture - 10-30 drops Std Infusion
Sage	Slavia officinalis	Garden sage, red sage, white sage, salvia	leaves	pungent, warm, oily, astringent	astringent, expectorant, tonic, aromatic, antispasmodic, nervine	chronic illness, congestion, sore, inflamed throats, gargle, dries up milk, joint pain, diabetes	Infusion - pinch of fresh/dried leaf/cup water.. Don't take longer than 3 weeks of if continuing breast feeding
Sarsaparilla	Smilax officinalis		root	mild, bitter, sweet	alterative, diuretic	strengthens the liver, purifies the blood, relieves arthritic and skin conditions	Std decoction Tincture - 10-30 drops
Sassafras	Sassafras albidum	Ague tree, saxifrax, cinnamon wood	Root bark	safrole, tannins, sesamin, resin, spicy, warm	Alterative, diaphoretic, diuretic, carminative, anti-rheumatic	eczema, psoriasis, gout, infection and fever, cold/flu, rheumatic complaints	Std Infusion - do not boil
Saw Palmetto	Serenoa repens	Sabal, serona	fruit	Essential oils, sesamin, resin, tannins, sweet, moist, warm	diuretic, expectorant, sedative, endocrine	wasting conditions, prostate, urinary infection	Standard decoction
Skullcap	Skutellaria lateriflora	Blue skullcap, helmet flower, hoodwort	aerial parts	flavonoid, scutellarin, vol oil, bitter	diuretic, sedative, antispasmodic, tonic	nervous tension	Tincture - 10-30 drops TID Std Infusion
Siberian Ginseng	Eleutherococcus senticosus	Siberian ginseng	root	eleutherosides A-E, glycosides	adaptogen	general stress tonic, chronic illness support, trauma, surgery	Tincture - 50-100 drps TID
Slippery Elm	Ulmus rubra	Red elm, slippery elm, American elm	inner bark	proteins, mucins, amino acids, iodine, bromine, and manganese salts	Nutritive tonic, expectorant, demulcent, emollient, astringent, vulnerary	respiratory, digestive, ulcers, wounds	Decoction 1 pt pwdr to 8 pts water..simmer 10-15 min 1/2 cup TID
Spearmint	Mentha spicata	Spearmint, lady’s mint, lamb mint	Leaves	cooling, EOs, V-B&C, flavonoids, potassium, tannins	Antispasmodic, sedative, antispasmodic, carminative, aromatic	goes where needed, calms, energizes, stimulates blood flow	Std Infusion Tincture - 10-30 drops
Squaw vine	Mitchella repens	Partridge berry, checkerberry	aerial parts	alkaloids, saponins, tannins, mucilage, glycosides	emmenagogue, diuretic, astringent	uterine complaints, diarrhea	Std Infusion
St. John’s Wort	Hypericum perforatum	Goatweed, amber, Klamath weed, Johnswort	tops, flowers	Cool, bitter, essential oil, hypericin, flavonoids	aromatic, nervine,diuretic, astringent, expectorant, vulnerary	Skin conditions,rheumatic conditions, chronic pain	Tincture 1-2 ml TID Salve/oil
Strawberry leaf	Fragria vesca	Mountain strawberry	leaf	cool, moist, sweet, sour, citric acids, mucilage, sugar	astringent, diuretic, tonic	Diarrhea, digestive upset, rheumatism, gout, arthritis	Std Infusion
Uva Ursi	Archtolstaphylos uva-ursi	Barberry, bearberry, kinnickinnick	leaves	bitter, cool, astringent, arbutin, flavonoids, iridoids, tannins, acids, vol oils	diuretic, antiseptic, astringent	urinary disorders, blood in urine	Standard infusion TID do not boil
Valerian Root	Valeriana officianlis	All-heal,setwall, garden heliotrope, valerian	root	yellowish green to brownish yellow oil containing valerianic, formic and acetic acids, borneol, pinene	Aromatic, stimulant, anodyne, nervine	Nervous tension, promotes menses, reduces pain, hysteria, sleep	Std infusion - do not boil
vitex	Vitex agnus	Chaste tree, chasteberry	berry	cool, bitter, acrid, flavonoids, glycosides, vol oil	Astingent, tonic, diuretic	emmenagogue, tonic	Tincture - 10-30 drps
Wild Cherry Bark	Prunus serotina	Black cherry	bark	warm, acrid, tannin, acids, glycoside	sedative, astringent, carminative, antitussive	Respiratory conditions, stomach issues	Standard infusion
Wild Yam Root	Dioscorea villosa	Wild yam, colic root, rheumatism root	rhysome	alkaloids, tannins, starch, phytosterols, saponins	diaphoretic, expectorant, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory	menopause symptoms, urinary conditions, asthma	Std Decoction Tincture - 10-30 drps TID
Wood Betony	Betonica officinalis	Wood betony, herb Christopher, beefsteak plant, lousewort	Leaves	Alkaloids, tannins, choline, bitter, cool	astringent, anthelmintic, diuretic, carminative, expectorant, vulnerary	hysteria, neuralgia, rheumatic issues	Std Infusion
Wormwood	Artemisia absinthium		aerial parts	absinthol, EO's, thujone	anthelmintic, cholagogue, anti-inflammatory	expels worms and parasites	consult a clinical herbalist
Yarrow	achillea millefolium	milfoil, bloodwort, Soldier's wouldwort	herb whole plant in flower	bitter, essential oils	diaphoretic, antipyretic, hemostatic, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, carminative, astringent	fevers, respiratory conditions, rash	std infusion
Yellow Dock Root	rumex crispus	yellow dock, curly dock	root	glycosides, rumicin, tannins, oxalates	astringent, alterative, chologogue, mucilaginous, purgative	skin disorders, cancer, liver disorders, fever, respiratory	std decoction tincture - 1/2-1 tsp
Yerba Santa	eriodyction glutinosum	holy herb, mountain balm, gum plant	leaves	bitter	expectorant, stimulant, sialogogue, carminative, alterative,tonic, astringent,	respiratory conditions, digestive conditions, rheumatic conditions	std infusion TID Tincture - 10-30 drops poultice

 

References

The Herb Book (THB) John Lust
Back To Eden (BTE) Jethro Kloss
Holistic Herbal (HH) David Hoffman (kindle)
The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to New World Medicinal Plants (EWH) by Matthew Wood (kindle)
The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants (EHO) by Matthew Wood (kindle)
A Modern Herbal, Vols 1&2 (MH) by Mrs. Grieve
The Way of Herbs (TWH) by Michael Tierra
Essential Herbal Wisdom: A Complete Exploration of 50 Remarkable Herbs (EHW) by Nancy Arrowsmith
School of Natural Healing, 15th ed. (SNH) by Dr. John R. Christopher