Herbal
Bearberry Leaves
Bearberry leaves (Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi)
Parts Used
Leaves
Components
| Arbutin | Methylarbutin |
| Flavonoids | Tannins |
| Gallic acids | Egallic acids |
Activities
Diuretic
Anticeptic
Prevents kidney and bladder infections
Helps reduce accumulations of uric acid
Blue Vervain
Blue vervain - Verbena officinalis
Parts Used
Leaves
Flowering heads
Components
Tannin
Activities
Astringent
Diaphoretic
Antispasmodic
Improves circulation of the blood
Improves functioning of the joints
Capsicum Fruit
Capsicum fruit - Capsicum annuum
Parts Used
Fruit, ripe and dried
Components
Capsaicin, a red coloring matter
Oleic
Palmitic acid
Stearic acid
Activities
Weak digestion and loss of appetite
Non-narcotic local stimulant
Cornsilk
Cornsilk (Zea mays)
Parts Used
Flower Pistils
Components
| Maizenic acid | Fixed oil |
| Resin | Chlorophyll |
| Cellulose | Sugar-gum extractive albuminoids |
| Phlobaphine salt | Water |
Activities
Demulcent
Diuretic
Helpful in urinary problems such as cystitis; pyelitis, oliguria
Helpful in edemous conditions
Couch Grass Leaves
Couch Grass leaves (Agropyron repens)
Parts Used
Dried rhizome
Leaves
Components
| Triticin | Sugar |
| Inositol | Salts of potassium |
| Mucilage | Acidmalates |
| A volatile oil with antibiotic properties |
Activities
Diuretic
Supports the urinary system
Damiana
Damiana - Turnera diffusa
Parts Used
Leaves
Components
A greenish volatile oil, smelling like chamomile
Amorphous bitter principle Damianin
Resins
Tannin
Activities
Stimulant
Tonic
Acts directly on the reproductive organs
Dandelion
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Parts used
Leaves
Roots
Flowers - powdered
Components
| Inulin | Taraxacin, a bitter principle | |
| Taraxerol | Taraxerin, a acrid resin | |
| Flavoxanthin | 3,4 dioxycinnamic acid | |
| Citric acid | Phenyloxyacetic acid | |
| Riboflavin | Sitosterol | |
| Sitosterin | Stigmasterol | |
| Coumesterol | Vitamin B | |
| Vitamin C | Provitamin A |
Activities
Mild laxative
Promotes the formation of bile
Removes excess water from the body
Fenugreek Seed
Fenugreek seed - Trigonella Foenum-graecum
Parts Used
Seeds
Components
| Mucilage | Bitter fixed oil |
| Trigonelline | Choline |
| Phosphates | Lecithin |
| Necleoalbumin | Iron |
| Trimethylamine | Neruine |
| Betain |
Activities
Strong mucilage Mild stimulant
Supports liver and pancreas metabolism
Flax Seed
Flax seed (Linum usitatissiumum)
Parts used
| Seeds | Seed-oil |
| Stem | Powdered oil-exhausted seed |
Components
Fixed oil (30-40%) comprising the glycerides of linoleic, linolenic and other fatty acids, stearic and palmitic acids, mucilage (6%)
A cyanogenic glycoside, linamarine
Pectin
Other nitrogenous substances
Activities
| Laxative | Anti-inflammatory | |
| Demulcent | Soothes mucous membranes |
Fleece Flower Root
Fleece flower root - Polygonum multiflorum
Parts Used
Tuberous root
Components
| Anthraquinones | Chrysophanol |
| Rhein | Chrysophanic acid |
| Tannins | Lecithin |
Activities
Anemia
Constipation
Hypercholesterolemia
Ginkgo
Ginkgo - Ginkgo biloba
Parts Used
Seed
Components
| Starch | Fat |
| Protein | Cytokinin-like substances |
| Gibberellin | Hydroginkgolinic acid |
| Ginkgolic acid | Bilobol |
| Ginnol |
Activities
Improves functions of the respiratory system
Improves resistance
Greater Burdock Root
Greater Burdock root (Arctium lappa)
Parts used
Roots - powdered
Components
| Inulin | Bitter principle |
| Volatile oil | Resin |
| Several antibiotic substances |
Activities
| Rheumatism | Increases resistance to infection |
| Gout | Lung disease |
| Mild laxative | Perspiration inducer |
Horsetail
Horsetail - Equisetum arvense
Parts Used
Herb
Components
| Thymine | Ferulic acid |
| Caffeic acid | Vanillin |
| Tannin | Resin |
| Bioavailable silicon |
Activities
Diuretic
Astringent
Hydrangea
Hydrangea root (Hydrangea arborescens)
Parts Used
Dried rhizome
Roots
Components
| Resins | Gum | Sugar |
| Starch | Albumen | Soda |
| Lime | Potassium | Magnesium |
| Sulphuric acid | Phosphoric acid | Protosalt of iron |
| Hydrangin |
Activities
Diuretic
Tonic
Supports kidney function
Licorice Root
Licorice root - Glycyrrhiza glabra
Parts used
Dried root-stock
Extract
Components
| Protein | Starch (30%) |
| Resin | Asparagine |
| Volatile oil | Saponins |
| Fat Sucrose and dextrose (5-10%) | Flavonoid glycosides, liquiritoside |
| Glycrrrhizin (5-10%), calcium & potassium salts of glycyrrhizic acid |
Activities
| Demulcent | Expectorant | Mild laxative |
| Spasmolytic | Anti-inflammatory |
Marshmallow Root
Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis)
Parts Used
Roots
Leaves
Flowers - powdered
Components
| Sucrose | Lecithin |
| Phytosterol | Asparagin |
| 30% mucilage comprising glucosan and xylan |
Activities
| Demulcent | Emollient |
| Supports gastrointestinal tract |
Milk Thistle Fruit
Milk Thistle fruit (Silybum marianum)
Parts used
| Fruit | Powedered seed |
| Shoots | Whole & dried flowering plant |
| Root | Fresh and dried leaves |
| Stems |
Components
| Essential oil | Tyramine |
| Histamin | Bitter principles |
| A flavonoid, silymarine |
Activities
| Choleretic | Liver poisoning |
| Hepatitis | Liver regeneration |
| Cirrhosis |
Oat
Oat - Avena sativa
Parts Used
Seeds
Components
| Starch | Gluten |
| Albumen | Sugar |
| Gum oil | Salts |
Activities
| Mild nutritious aliment | Easy digestion |
| Nervine stimulant | Antispasmodic |
Psyllium Husk
Psyllium husk (Plantago psyllium)
Parts used
Husk
Components
| Plantagonin | Indicain |
| Indicamin | Mucus containing polysaccharides |
| Cellulose | Mucus containing polyuronides |
| Beta-sitosterol | Stigmasterol |
| Campesterol |
Activities
Intestinal lubricant
Mild laxative
Increases threshold for stress of the gastrointestinal system
Red Clover Flower
Red clover flower (Trifolium pratense)
Parts Used
Flower - powdered/extract
Components
| Salicylic acid | Sugars, including rhamnose |
| Isorhamnetin | A phytosterol glucoside |
| Trifolianol | Quercitin glucoside |
| Essential oil | Phenolic glycoside, trifolin |
| Coumaric acid | Hydroxymethyloxyflavone, pratol |
| A plant oestrogen, coumestrol |
Activities
| Diuretic | Expectorant |
| Anti-spasmodic | Liver stimulant |
| Gallbladder stimulant |
Sarsaparilla
Sarsaparilla root - Smilax officinalis
Parts Used
Root - powdered
Components
| Salseparin | Starch |
| Coloring matter | Essential oil |
| Chloride of potassium | Bassorin |
| Albumen | Pectic acid |
| Ascitic acid | Salts of lime |
| Potassium | Magnesium |
Activities
Support of joints and connective tissue
Support of respiratory function
Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto - Serenoa serrulata
Parts Used
Partially-dried ripe fruit
Components
| Volatile oil | Fixed oil |
| Glucose | Free acids |
| Ethly esters of acids |
Activities
Tissue builder (anabolic)
Siberian Ginseng
Siberian ginseng - Eleutherococcus senticosus
Parts Used
Roots
Components
| Eleutherosides | Alkaloid aralin |
| Lipoids | Does not contain saponins |
Activities
Improvement of general immune resistance and alertness
Teasel Root
Teasel root - Dipsacus asper
Parts Used
Root
Components
Alkaloid
Essential oil
Vitamin E
Activities
Anti-rheumatic
Strengthens the liver and kidney
Wild Yam Root
Wild yam root - Dioscorea villosa
Parts Used
Dried rhizome
Components
Saponin
Dioscorein
Activities
Preventing involuntary contraction of muscle (spasm)
Wood Betony
Wood betony - Betonica officinalis
Parts Used
Herb
Components
| Tannin | Bitter principle |
| Stachydrin | Resins |
| Betaine | Cholin |
Activities
Astringent
Stimulant
Improves blood circulation and liver function
Yerba Mate
Yerba mate - Ilex paraguaiensis
Parts Used
Leaves
Components
| Caffeine | Tannin |
| Ash | Insoluble matter |
Activities
| Tonic | Diaphoretic |
| Stimulant | Improves alertness |
Yohimbe
Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe or Corynanthe Yohimbe K. Schum)
Parts of plant used
Reddish-brown bark pieces
Egg-shaped leaves
(Both sources contain from 0.3 to 1.5% (w/w) yohimbine) The formation of the precursors of alkaloids and finally of alkaloids occurs in Corynanthe Yohimbe K. Schum in the leaves. Accumulation of alkaloids in the rind takes place afterwards. The presence of yohimbine and other alkaloids in the leaves of this plant have been discovered by Thoms in 1897.
Components
| Ajmalicin | Alloyohimibine Corynanthein |
| Pseudoyohimbine | Dihydrocoynanthein Corynanthin |
| Yohimbine (or corynine) |
Yohimbine is the most active compound of the plant.
Activities
Sympathicolytic (alpha-adrenolytic)
Vasodilating
Hypotonic (lowering blood pressure)
References
Chrubasik, S.U.J., Kompendium der Phytotherapie. Hippokrates Verlag GmbH, Stuttgart, 1983.
Grieve, M., A Modern Herbal. Dover Publications, Inc., New York, 1971.
Magic and Medicine of Plants. The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. Pleasantville, New York; Montreal. 1986.
Steinmetz, E.F., Codex Vegetabilis. Amsterdam. 1957.
Yeung, Him-che., Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Los Angeles. January 1985.
Friedrich Czapek, Biochemie der Pflanzen, Vol. 3, p.313. Gustav Fischer, Jena 1921.
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