Caution: The information below is purely historical and should not be construed in any way as medical advice. Many plants are poisonous or cause severe allergic reactions. Identification of plants may sometimes be difficult. Always consult a physician before using plant remedies.

Sources for the following information include: Steven Foster and James A. Duke, A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants: Eastern and Central North America (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1990), and Maude Grieve, A Modern Herbal (1931; reprinted by Dover, 1982). A glossary of archaic medical terms may be found at the end of the list.

American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius). Tonic, stimulant. Used by Chinese for thousands of years.

Angelica (Angelica archangelica L.). Stomachache, indigestion, fever, colds, cough, rheumatism. According to legend, an angel revealed in a dream that angelica could cure the plague.

Beebalm, Bergamot, Oswego Tea (Monarda didyma). Oswego Indians make leaf tea for colic, gas, colds, fevers, stomach disorders, nosebleeds, insomnia, heart trouble, and to induce sweating. Physicians once used it to expel worms and gas.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). Emetic, fever, rheumatism. Bachelors of the Ponca tribe would rub the root on their hand and try to shake hands with the woman they wished to marry. Root is used as a dye by Indian, American and French dyers. Toxic: do not ingest.

Blue Flag (Iris versicolor). Root tea used by American Indians as purgative. Physicians once used root to cleanse blood. Used in homeopathy for migraines. Considered poisonous.

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa L.). Stimulant, respiratory ailments. Root paste used by American Indians on sores. Emetic, purgative.

Calamint (Calamintha nuttallii). Diaphoretic, soothes indigestion. Leaves smell like pennyroyal, and used as substitute for pennyroyal.

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis). Debility of lower extremities. American Indians used for "love potions." Potentially toxic; degree of toxicity unknown.

Catnip (Nepeta cataria). Headache, stomachache, colic, insomnia, chronic bronchitis. Before the introduction of Chinese tea, catmint was used to make tea by the English peasantry.

Celandine (Cheldonium majus L.). Cataracts. Medieval remedy for jaundice and liver ailments. Juice to remove warts.

Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis). The ancient Egyptians believed it would cure agues (acute fevers) and dedicated it to their gods. Dried flowers make a tea used for insomnia, indigestion, colic, diarrhea, gout, headache, cold, fever, cramps, and arthritis. May cause a reaction in ragweed sufferers.

Christmas Rose, Black Hellebore (Helleborus niger). Nervous disorders, purgative, hysteria. According to Pliny, Hellebore was used as a purgative in mania by Malampus (a soothsayer and physician) 1,400 years before Christ. Once people blessed their cattle with this plant to keep them from evil spirits. Poisonous.

Clove Pink (Dianthus gratianopolitanus). Various heart ailments, headache.

Comfrey, Boneset (Symphytum officinale). Root and leaf tea used for diarrhea, dysentery; ointment used for sprains, bruises. Sometimes called All-Heal. In the Middle Ages comfrey was a famous remedy for broken bones, hence the name boneset. Roots contain toxic or carcinogenic alkaloids; leaf tea recently banned in Canada; leaves may be confused with those of Foxglove, with fatal results.

Costmary (Chrysanthemum balsamita). Antiseptic, astringent, dysentery.

Culver's Root (Veronicastrum virginicum). Mild laxative. Emetic.

Dittany of Crete (Origanum dictamnus). Stimulant, relieves gas, increases menstrual flow, hastens child birth, toothache, one of the oldest medicinal herbs.

Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria). Cataract of the eye.

Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis L.). Diarrhea, purgative, colic, external ointment and lotion, dry coryza, American Indians used inner bark for tea. Most plant parts are considered toxic.

Elecampane (Inula helenium L.). Coughs, expectorant, tonic. A European plant. Used in China for certain cancers. Well known in ancient Greece and Rome; according to Pliny, "Julia Augustus let no day pass without eating some of the roots of Enula, considered to help digestion and cause mirth." Experiments show the tea is strongly sedative to mice.

Feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium). Indigestion, colic, diarrhea, abortion. "Feverfew" is a corruption of "febrifuge," meaning "to reduce fever." May cause dermatitis or allergic reactions.

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea). Dried leaves contain glycosides used as powerful heart stimulant. Derives its common name from the resemblance of flowers to fingers of a glove; originally "Folks-glove" -- the glove of the "good folk" or fairies. The Latin name Digitalis means thimble. Used medicinally since 1000 A.D.; medical uses first scientifically described by English physician William Withering in his Account of the Foxglove (1785). Warning: lethally toxic; for use by physicians only; leaves are sometimes confused with those of comfrey.

Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginica L.). American Indians used root-bark tea to wash inflammations, sores, cuts, and infections. Late 19th-century physicians used bark tincture to relieve congestion of glandular organs and the venous system. Overdoses cause vomiting, headaches, slow pulse.

Garlic (Allium sativum). Colds, fever, cough, bronchitis, high blood pressure, headache, rheumatism.

Garden Heliotrope, Valerian (Valeriana officinalis). Nervous disorders, neuralgia. Said to have been used to calm nerves of British civilians during World War I air raids. Today, Valerian is a leading over-the-counter tranquilizer in Europe. Root is said to attract cats and rats.

Germander (Teucrium chamaedrys). Stimulant, tonic, wounds, inflammation, respiratory ailments.

Golden Rod (Solidago odora). Stimulant, relieve gas, astringent, dysentery. American Indians valued the root highly as a tonic, stomachic, and application for sore eyes and general ulceration, as well as a yellow dye for their faces, clothing, and weapons. Beginning around 1850, large quantities of the root were being sold and exported. May cause allergic reaction.

Green Santolina (Santolina virens). Aromatic, vermifuge.

Hops (Humulus lupulus L.). Sedative, antispasmodic, diuretic, insomnia, cramps, cough, fever. The bitter flowers of the female are used for flavoring beer and ale. Handling plant often causes dermatitis.

Horehound (Marrubium vulgare). Cough tonic, mild laxative. Bitter leaves used in cough syrups and throat lozenges. Esteemed by the Romans for its medicinal virtues. Some authors derive its name from the Hebrew marrob (bitter juice); may have been one of the bitter herbs which the Jews were ordered to take for the Feast of the Passover. Plant juice may cause dermatitis.

Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis). Chest problems, expectoration of phlegm, wounds. Leaf tea gargled for sore throats. As the Scriptures say, "Purge me with Hyssop, and I shall be clean."

Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum (L.) Schott). American Indians used the dried, aged root for colds and dry coughs, and to build blood. Dried root tea traditionally considered expectorant, diaphoretic, and purgative. Historically used for asthma, bronchitis, colds, cough, laryngitis, and headaches. The Chinese used related species to treat snakebites.

Joe Pye Weed, Gravel Root (Eupatorium purpureum). Induces perspiration, vomiting; used in homeopathy for bladder and urinary ailments. The genus name, Eupatorium, is derived from a king of Pontus, Mithradates Eupator, who was supposed to have first used the plant as a remedy. Common name is derived from a 19th-century Caucasian "Indian theme promoter" who used the root to induce sweating in typhus fever.

Korean Boxwood (Buxus microphylla var. koreana Nakai). Purgative, vermifuge, toothache.

Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris). Astringent for wounds, excessive menstruation. Associated with the Virgin Mary in the Middle Ages, hence it is Lady's Mantle, not Ladies' Mantle (the lobed leaves resembled a scalloped cloak). The generic name, Alchemilla, means alchemy; some believed that the plant contained alchemical virtues which imparted mystic powers to the dewdrops that lay on its leaves.

Lamb's Ears (Stachys byzantina). For wounds.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote'). Headache, aromatic.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis). Intestinal cramps, relieve gas, induce perspiration. Sold commercially in Germany as antiviral agent. Similar in appearance to catnip. Paracelsus believed it would completely revivify a man. Carmelite water, of which Lemon Balm was the chief ingredient, was drunk daily by the Emperor Charles V.

Lemon Thyme (Thymus serphyllum). Aromatic.

Lemon Verbena (Lippia citriodora). Febrifuge, sedative. Uses of this deciduous shrub are similar to those of mint; stomachic, antispasmodic, dyspepsia, indigestion, flatulence, stimulating skin and stomach.

Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis). Cardiac tonic (valvular heart disease, used as digitalis substitute), increase urine flow. Root ointment is folk remedy for burns. Russians used for epilepsy. A European plant that was cultivated as an ornamental in the U.S.; has widely escaped and become naturalized. Apuleius in his Herbal, written in the fourth century, states that it was found by Apollo, who gave it to Aesclepius, the god of healing. English legend has it that Lilies of the Valley sprang up from the blood of St. Leonard, who fought a great dragon near Horsham. Potentially toxic.

Lovage (Levisticum officinale). Stimulant, stomach disorders, headache.

Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis). Coughs, pulmonary problems. The spotted leaves of this plant were thought to resemble tubercular lungs, and thus according to the "doctrine of signatures," Lungwort was employed for lung ailments ("wort" simply means plant).

Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum). Expectorant, cooling, antirheumatic. Stems used by native Americans in hair wash to make their hair shiny. Highly valued by some 19th-century medical practitioners.

May Apple, Hog Apple (Podophyllum peltatum L.). Shawnee Indians used boiled root as strong laxative. The Cherokee used the juice of the root for cure of deafness by putting a few drops in the ear. Several modern drugs are taken from the May Apple, one used to treat cancers. Roots and leaves are poisonous even in small amounts.

Monkshood, Aconite, Wolf's Bane (Aconitum napellus). Toothache, neuralgia, sciatica. Common name comes from resemblance of upper sepal, overhanging the rest of the flower. Much used in homeopathy. In Greek mythology, Aconite is said to have been the poison which Medea prepared for Theseus. Deadly poisonous.

Parsley (Petroselium crispum). Laxative, kidney problems, increase urine flow, jaundice.

Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium). Headache, pneumonia, bronchial ailments. Pliny named it pulegium for its vaunted ability to drive away fleas. Pennyroyal is a corruption of the old herbalists' name "pulioll-royall" (Pulegium regium). The essential oil, a popular insect repellant. May cause dermatitis; can be lethal if ingested.

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.). Indigestion, colic, intestinal ailments, ointment.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench). Plains Indians used this for more medicinal purposes than any other plant group: cancers, toothache, snakebite, burns, flu, sores and colds. Folk remedy for brown recluse spiders. More than 200 pharmaceuticals are made from Echinacea plants in West Germany.

Queen of the Prairie (Filipendula rubra). The Fox Indians in Wisconsin used root for heart problems and in "love potions." Due to high tannin content, root used in folk medicine for astringent properties in diarrhea, dysentery, and to stop bleeding.

Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana L.). Native Americans used fruit tea for colds, worms, rheumatism, coughs, inducing sweating; leaf smoke or steam inhaled for colds, bronchitis, purification rituals. All parts may be toxic.

Rose (Rosa gallica officinalis - Apothecary Rose). Roses of the gallica family have been used since ancient times for many ailments: astringent, carminative, in ointments and lotions, source of vitamin C. According to John Gerald's Herbal, the distilled water of roses is good for the heart and refreshes the spirits.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). Astringent, stimulant, tonic, increase perspiration, headache, hair rinses.

Rue (Ruta graveolens). Stimulant, antispasmodic, coughs, croup, nervous depression.

Sage (Salvia officinalis). Stimulant, tonic, antiseptic on wounds, lotions, dyspepsia.

St. John's Wort (Hypericum kalmianum L.). Soothes stomach disorders; balm for cuts and bruises. The small leaves have tiny perforations thought to be like holes in the body through which blood would flow; this belief was seemingly confirmed by the fact that an infusion of the leaves and flowers in vegetable oil turns the oil red.

Salad Burnet (Poterium sanguisorba). Astringent, wounds, tonic. American soldiers drank tea before battles in Revolutionary War to prevent bleeding; also used in China to stop bleeding.

Snakeroot (Cimicifuga racemosa (L.) Nutt). Rheumatism, kidney trouble, sore throat, snakebites. Warning: do not use if pregnant.

Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis). Relieve pain, rheumatism, dysentery, stimulate menstrual flow.

Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum biflorum). Skin irritations, poison ivy, mild laxative, indigestion, lung ailment, "general debility."

Southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum). Tonic and aromatic.

Spikenard (Aralia racemosa L.). Root tea used by American Indians for menstrual irregularities, lung ailments, and to improve flavor of other medicine.

Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana). American Indians used leaf tea as nerve tonic, bladder and kidney ailments; also jaundice, scurvy, gout.

Sweet Cicely (Myrrhis odorata L.). Carminative, coughs, sore throat, poulticed root on boils, cuts, sores, wounds.

Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus). Aromatic bitter for gas, stomachache, indigestion, heart burn, fever, colds and cough, antispasmodic, anticonvulsant. Used as aphrodisiac in India. Some strains said to contain carcinogens.

Sweet Woodruff (Galium odorata). For wounds. Used to flavor May wine.

Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare). Insect repellant, vermifuge, colds, stomachache, sprains. Studies have shown that Tansy is antispasmodic and antiseptic. European origin, but now naturalized. Oil is lethal.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris). Fumigant, tonic, antiseptic. Thyme is derived from a Greek word meaning "to fumigate." Among the Greeks, "to smell of thyme" was an expression of praise. Oil is toxic and irritating to skin.

Violet (Viola ordorata). Pulmonary problems, pain relief, inflammation, emetic.

Wild Geranium, Cranesbill (Geranium maculatum L.). Wounds, antiseptic, dysentery, sore throat.

Wild Ginger, False Coltsfoot* (Asarum canadense L.). Relieve gas, stimulant, fever, nervous problems. Juice of the roots was used by American Indians to prevent snakes from biting.

Wild Indigo (Baptista tinctoria). Fevers, ulcers, laxative, astringent, antiseptic. German studies have shown extract stimulates immune system.

Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens L.). Toothache, promote milk flow in nursing mothers. The essential oil of the leaves (methyl salicylate) is produced synthetically as a flavoring for Lifesavers and other foods. Highly toxic.

Winter Savory (Satureja montana). Colic.

Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana L.). Astringent, external and internal hemorrhage, used by American Indians in poultices and teas.

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.). Nerve tonic, fevers, to increase appetite, liver and gall bladder ailments, for delayed menses. Formerly used for flavoring absinthe liquors. Relatively small doses may cause nervous disorders, convulsions, etc.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.). Tisane for colds, fever, indigestion, gastric inflammation and internal bleeding; expectorant, diaphoretic. Over 100 biologically active compounds have been identified in Yarrow. Large or frequent doses may be harmful; contains thujone, considered toxic.

Yellow Lady's Slipper, or American Valerian (Cypripedium calceolus var. pubescens Correll). Widely used in 19th-century America for nervous headaches, hysteria, insomnia, mental depression. These orchids were nearly exterminated by commercial collectors; in 1860, one company was selling over 300 pounds of dried Lady's Slipper root per month! May cause dermatitis.

GLOSSARY

Anthelmintic - Killing or ejecting intestinal worms

Astringent - Contracts body tissue and checks secretions

Carminative - Causing gas to be expelled from stomach and intestines

Cathartic - Laxative purge

Coryza - Cold in the head; acute inflammation of nasal mucous membrane

Demulcent - Soothing for mucous membrane inflammation

Diaphoretic - Producing or increasing perspiration

Diuretic - Increasing secretion and flow of urine

Emetic - Produce vomiting

Emmenagogue - To stimulate menstrual flow

Emollient - Soothing ointment

Expectorant - Causing to bring up phlegm or mucous

Febrifuge - Substance for reducing fever

Purgative - Laxative purge

Spasmodic - Produces spasms

Stomachic - Acting as a digestive tonic

Tisane - A decoction, i.e. an extract made by boiling a substance

Vermifuge - For expelling intestinal worms

Vulnerary - For healing wounds

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