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Medicinal Herbs & Teas: Botanical Profiles and Uses
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Sumatra Benzoin (Styrax benzoin): Properties and Benefits
Sumatra benzoin (Styrax benzoin): aromatic resin, traditional uses, phytochemistry, external recipes and cautions on contact allergy, inhalation and smoke.
Figwort (Scrophularia nodosa): Properties and Benefits
Figwort (Scrophularia nodosa): traditional external uses, iridoids under study, topical recipes and warnings about the heart, digoxin and pregnancy.
Vijayasar (Pterocarpus marsupium): Properties and Benefits
Vijayasar (Pterocarpus marsupium): Ayurvedic uses, blood sugar under study, phytochemistry, recipes and cautions on insulin, tannins, pregnancy, conservation.
Notoginseng (Panax notoginseng): Properties and Benefits
Notoginseng (Panax notoginseng): uses in Chinese medicine, saponins, recipes and warnings on anticoagulants, surgery, pregnancy and confusion with tu san qi.
Knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare): Properties and Benefits
Knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare): traditional use recognized by the EMA, phytochemistry, recipes and cautions on edema, tannins and look-alike species.
Houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum): Properties and Benefits
Houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum): traditional topical leaf use, phytochemistry, external recipes, history and why it should never go in the ear or be swallowed.
Davana (Artemisia pallens): Properties and Benefits
Davana (Artemisia pallens): essential oil used in perfumes and diffusers, traditional Indian uses, phytochemistry, recipes and cautions on allergy, pregnancy.
Persian Cumin (Elwendia persica): Properties and Benefits
Persian cumin (Elwendia persica): culinary and traditional uses, essential oil, phytochemistry, how it differs from nigella, and pregnancy/drug cautions.
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus): Benefits and Uses
New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus): traditional uses of the root bark, phytochemistry, recipes and cautions on anticoagulants, tannins, pregnancy, surgery.
Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa): Properties and Benefits
Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa): traditional uses, pod flour, phytochemistry, how it differs from algaroba, pollen and aflatoxin cautions and interactions.
Hemp Seed Oil: Composition, Skin Uses and Precautions
A guide to hemp seed oil: its omega-6 and omega-3 profile, what science has shown, skin and hair uses, how to choose a good oil and key safety precautions.
Apricot Kernel Oil: Uses, Composition and Safety Guide
A guide to apricot kernel oil: origin, composition, skin and hair uses, how to choose it and the risks of raw kernels, which contain amygdalin.
Camellia Oil: Origin, Composition, Uses and Precautions
A guide to camellia oil: the Chinese plant, its composition, what studies show for skin and hair, how to use and choose it, and safety precautions.
Macadamia Oil: A Complete Guide for Skin and Hair
A guide to macadamia oil: its Australian origin, palmitoleic acid-rich composition, uses for skin and hair, how to choose a good one and safety precautions.
Sweet Almond Oil: A Complete Guide to Uses and Care
Guide to sweet almond oil: origin, composition, what science shows for skin and hair, how to use and choose it, and how it differs from bitter almond.
Jojoba Oil: A Guide to the Liquid Wax for Skin and Hair
Jojoba oil guide: why it is really a liquid wax, its composition, what studies show, how to use it on skin and hair, how to choose it and safety tips.
Shea Butter: A Guide to Skin and Hair Uses and Safety
A guide to shea butter: composition, extraction, use on skin and hair, what the science shows, allergies and how to choose a pure product.
Castor Oil: A Guide to Uses, Composition and Safety
Castor oil guide: a composition rich in ricinoleic acid, uses for skin and hair, how to choose a good oil and the precautions around the toxic seed.
Argan Oil: A Complete Guide for Skin, Hair and Cooking
A guide to argan oil: Moroccan origins, composition, what the science shows for skin and hair, how to use and choose it, and safety precautions.
American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius): Properties and Benefits
American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius): traditional uses, ginsenosides, preparation, warfarin interactions and why cultivated root is the safer choice.
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa): Properties and Benefits
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa): names, parts used, phytochemicals, traditional uses, recipes, and precautions with sprouts, lupus, and warfarin.
Acerola (Malpighia emarginata): Properties and Benefits
Acerola (Malpighia emarginata): names, vitamin C-rich phytochemistry, traditional uses, recipes, synergy with green tea and safety precautions for consumption.
Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica): Properties and Benefits
Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica): uses in Chinese medicine, active compounds, preparation forms, safety precautions and toxic look-alike species.
Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus): Properties and Benefits
Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus): traditional uses, phytochemistry, preparation, digoxin interaction and safety precautions to know before use.
Bai Zhu (Atractylodes macrocephala): Properties and Benefits
Bai Zhu (Atractylodes macrocephala): uses in Chinese medicine, phytochemistry, traditional recipes, how it differs from Cang Zhu and safety notes.
Sweet Wormwood (Artemisia annua): Properties and Benefits
Sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua): traditional uses, artemisinin, Tu Youyou's discovery, the WHO position on the tea and essential safety precautions.
Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria): Properties and Benefits
Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria): traditional uses, compounds, preparation forms, recipes, contraindications and interactions of agrimony, an astringent herb.
Bael (Aegle marmelos): Properties and Benefits
Bael (Aegle marmelos): traditional uses, phytochemistry, recipes, the difference between unripe and ripe fruit, and key safety precautions.
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus): Properties and Benefits
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus): popular names, phytochemistry, traditional uses, recipes, history and precautions with metformin, warfarin and oxalates.
Hops (Humulus lupulus): Properties and Benefits
Hops (Humulus lupulus): traditional uses for sleep, phytochemistry, tea recipes, synergy with valerian, contraindications and safety precautions.
Long Pepper (Piper longum): Properties and Benefits
Long pepper (Piper longum): traditional uses in Ayurveda, piperine, preparation methods and precautions on drug interactions, pregnancy and gastritis.
Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin): Properties and Benefits
Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin): popular names, traditional uses, phytochemistry, recipes, essential oil safety and how it differs from Java patchouli.
Sweet Orange (Citrus Ă— sinensis): Properties and Benefits
Sweet orange (Citrus Ă— sinensis): traditional uses of the peel and flowers, phytochemistry, home recipes, juice and drug interactions, and safety notes.
Soybean (Glycine max): Properties and Benefits
Soybean (Glycine max): names, nutrients, isoflavones under study, homemade recipes, allergy, levothyroxine interaction and care when eating soybean.
Kudzu (Pueraria montana): Properties and Benefits
Kudzu (Pueraria montana): traditional uses, isoflavones, preparation methods, research on alcohol intake, drug interactions and key safety precautions.
Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster): Properties and Benefits
Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster): traditional uses, phytochemistry, research on pine bark extract, safety precautions and drug interactions explained.
White Mulberry (Morus alba): Properties and Benefits
White mulberry (Morus alba): traditional uses of the mulberry tree, leaf DNJ, preparation methods, recipes and key precautions for blood sugar levels.
Southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum): Properties and Benefits
Southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum): traditional uses, chemical compounds, external-use recipes and thujone precautions to know before using southernwood.
Frankincense (Boswellia sacra): Properties and Benefits
Frankincense (Boswellia sacra): explore its common names, traditional uses, phytochemistry, preparation, safety and how it differs from Boswellia serrata.
Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia divaricata): Properties and Benefits
Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia divaricata): Chinese medicine root with traditional uses, phytochemical profile, preparation methods, interactions and safety notes.
Myrtle (Myrtus communis): Properties and Benefits
Myrtle (Myrtus communis): traditional uses, phytochemistry, preparation methods and essential oil safety in children and pregnancy for Mediterranean myrtle.
Chuanxiong (Ligusticum striatum): Properties and Benefits
Chuanxiong (Ligusticum striatum): learn about this Chinese medicine rhizome, its compounds, traditional uses, preparation forms and key contraindications.
Persian Silk Tree (Albizia julibrissin): Properties and Benefits
Persian silk tree (Albizia julibrissin): traditional uses in Chinese medicine, phytochemistry, preparation methods, contraindications and safety precautions.
Indian Sarsaparilla (Hemidesmus indicus): Properties and Benefits
Indian sarsaparilla (Hemidesmus indicus): traditional Ayurvedic uses, root compounds, preparation methods, precautions and how to avoid adulterated roots.
Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza): Properties and Benefits
Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza): discover the red root of Chinese medicine, its tanshinones, traditional uses, preparation and its interaction with warfarin.
Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium): Properties and Benefits
Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium): traditional uses, phytochemistry, preparations, safety notes and what the EMA recognizes about fireweed and urinary health.
Grapefruit (Citrus Ă— paradisi): Properties and Benefits
Grapefruit (Citrus Ă— paradisi): traditional uses, phytochemistry, recipes and the drug interactions that call for caution before eating the fruit.
Pineapple (Ananas comosus): Properties and Benefits
Pineapple (Ananas comosus): popular names, bromelain, traditional uses, fresh juice and peel tea recipes, contraindications and drug interactions.
Common Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris): Properties and Benefits
Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris): learn about the traditional uses, phytochemistry, preparation forms, recipes and contraindications of this European plant.
Agave (Agave americana): Properties and Benefits
Agave (Agave americana): common names, traditional uses, phytochemical profile, food preparation and care with the sap, which causes contact dermatitis.
Simarouba amara: Properties, Benefits and Uses
Simarouba amara: popular names, traditional uses, quassinoids, preparation methods and the safety precautions needed with its bitter simarouba bark.
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa): Properties and Benefits
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa): traditional uses of the flowers and fruits, phytochemical profile, preparation methods and safety advice on the toxic stones.
Juniper (Juniperus communis): Properties and Benefits
Juniper (Juniperus communis): traditional uses of the berries, active compounds, preparation methods, safe-use limits and how to tell it apart from savin.
Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium): Properties and Benefits
Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium): learn about the traditional uses, essential oil, medical-grade honey, phytochemistry and safety precautions of this plant.
Rose Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens): Benefits and Uses
Rose geranium (Pelargonium graveolens): traditional uses, essential oil, phytochemistry, recipes, contraindications and safety precautions.
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea): Properties and Benefits
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea): nutrients, traditional uses, oxalate and warfarin precautions, and how it differs from New Zealand spinach.
Tamarind (Tamarindus indica): Properties and Benefits
Tamarind (Tamarindus indica): traditional uses of the pulp, active compounds, home recipes, interactions with ibuprofen and aspirin, and safe-use tips.
Gum Rockrose (Cistus ladanifer): Properties and Benefits
Gum rockrose (Cistus ladanifer): traditional uses, labdanum, active compounds, preparations, allergy precautions and how it differs from Cistus incanus.
Gumweed (Grindelia robusta): Properties and Benefits
Gumweed (Grindelia robusta): traditional respiratory uses, phytochemistry, preparation, synergies and cautions for kidneys, blood pressure and allergy.
Allspice (Pimenta dioica): Properties and Benefits
Allspice (Pimenta dioica): traditional uses, phytochemistry, recipes and essential oil safety for this Caribbean spice from the myrtle family.
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