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Properties of Herbs
The use of herbs can and will gradually bring the body into balance and harmony, restoring proper functioning and increasing health and well-being. These are also referred to as "blood cleansers."
Examples: burdock, cleavers, echinacea, nettles, red clover
Analgesics or anodynes relieve pain, taken internally or applied to the skin.
Examples: passion flower, red poppy, skullcap, St. John's wort, valerian root
Anthelmintics will either kill worms or expel them from the digestive tract. Because they are strongly purgative, many are illegal. Use with caution; some of these herbs can be dangerous if misused.
Examples: aloe (when used internally), garlic, pomegranate, tansy, wormwood, rue
Anti-bilious herbs help remove excess bile. Also see cholagogues and hepatics.
Examples: balmony, barberry, dandelion, goldenseal, vervain
Anti-catarrhal herbs help decrease congestion and mucus.
Examples: boneset, echinacea, garlic, goldenseal, hyssop, mullein, yarrow
Anti-emetics help to reduce nausea and prevent or stop vomiting.
Examples: bee balm, black horehound, dill, meadowsweet
Anti-inflammatory herbs help to relieve inflammation. Demulcents, emollients and vulneraries will generally act as anti-inflammatories when used externally.
Examples: black willow, chamomile, marigold, meadowsweet, St. John's wort
Anti-lithic herbs prevent the formation of stones in the urinary system and may help to dissolve them.
Examples: bearberry, corn silk, gravel root (Joe Pye weed, queen of the meadow)
Anti-microbial herbs help the body to resist or eliminate pathogens.
Examples: clove, echinacea, elecampane, garlic, marigold, myrrh, rosemary, thyme
Anti-spasmodics can prevent or ease spasms or cramps.
Examples: black haw, chamomile, cramp bark, lobelia, motherwort, skullcap, valerian, vervain
The aromatic herbs have a strong, pleasing scent that helps to stimulate the digestive system. They are also widely used to add flavor and scent to other herbal medicines (some of which taste and smell pretty foul!)
Examples: aniseed, bee balm, chamomile, cinnamon, dill, fennel, hyssop, ginger, peppermint, rosemary
Astringents usually contain tannins. They protect inflames tissues and stop discharges by precipitating proteins to form a protective barrier.
Examples: bayberry, bearberry, eyebright, meadowsweet, pilewort, plantain, raspberry, rosemary, slippery elm, St. John's wort, wild cherry, yarrow
Bitters help stimulate the digestive system when tasted.
Examples: barberry, boneset, goldenseal, hops, white horehound
Carminatives contain volatile oils that relax the stomach, stimulate digestion and help prevent or eliminate gas in the digestive system.
Examples: angelica, aniseed, cinnamon, chamomile, dill, fennel, garlic, ginger, peppermint, thyme, valerian
Cholagogues stimulate the production of bile in the gallbladder and generally have a laxative effect.
Examples: balmony, barberry, goldenseal
Demulcents soothe and protect inflamed or irritated tissue, generally due to their high mucilage content.
Examples: coltsfoot, comfrey, Irish moss, marshmallow, mullein, slippery elm
Diaphoretics promote sweating and help to eliminate toxins and to "sweat out" fevers.
Examples: boneset, cayenne, garlic, peppermint, yarrow
Diuretics increase the production of urine.
Examples: bearberry, cleavers, corn silk, dandelion, gravel root, parsley, yarrow
Emmenagogues help to stimulate and normalize menstruation and/or tonify the female reproductive system.
Examples: black cohosh, chaste tree berry, cramp bark, false unicorn root, ginger, motherwort, red raspberry, squaw vine, true unicorn root
Emollients are used externally to protect, soothe or soften chapped or irritated skin.
Examples: chickweed, comfrey, flax seed, mullein, plantain, slippery elm
Expectorant herbs help remove excess mucus from the respiratory system.
Examples: coltsfoot, hyssop, licorice, lobelia, mullein, white horehound, wild cherry
Febrifuges (anti-pyretics) help to reduce fevers.
Examples: boneset, cayenne, elder flower, peppermint
Galactogogues help increase a nursing mother's supply of breast milk.
Examples: aniseed, fennel, goat's rue
Hepatics are liver tonics.
Examples: balmony, barberry, dandelion, goldenseal
Hypnotics help to bring on sleep.
Examples: chamomile, hops, passion flower, skullcap, valerian
Laxatives help to ease constipation. Herbs such as cascara segrada and senna should not be used for more than a day or two because prolonged use can destroy normal peristalsis permanently, resulting in dependence on laxatives. Psyllium and other bulk-forming substances are preferable and safe.
Examples: barberry, cascara segrada, flax seed, psyllium, senna
Nervines help to strengthen the nervous system. Some are stimulant in nature and others are relaxant.
Examples: bee balm, chamomile, cramp bark, damiana, ginseng, hops, lemon balm, lime blossom, lobelia, oats, passion flower, peppermint, red clover, rosemary, skullcap, valerian, vervain
Oxytocics aid in childbirth by stimulating contraction of the uterus.
Examples: blue cohosh, goldenseal, squaw vine
Pectorals help to heal and strenthen the entire respiratory system.
Examples: coltsfoot, comfrey, garlic, goldenseal, hyssop, Irish moss, licorice, marshmallow, mullein, white horehound
Rubefacients are applied externally. They cause a mild local irritation, resulting increased circulation in the skin, helping to relieve internal pain.
Examples: black mustard, cayenne, ginger, horseradish, nettles, peppermint oil, rosemary oil
Sedatives calm the nervous system and help reduce anxiety and stress.
Examples: chamomile, hops, passion flower, red clover, skullcap, St. John's wort, valerian
Stimulants increase the body's physiological functions.
Examples: bayberry, black mustard, cayenne, cinnamon, garlic, ginseng, horseradish, peppermint
Tonics strengthen and support either a specific organ or system, or the body as a whole.
Examples: milk thistle (liver), hawthorn or garlic (cardiovascular), mullein or coltsfoot (respiratory), bitters (digestive), red raspberry or false unicorn root (reproductive system - women), saw palmetto, sasparilla (reproductive system - men), oats or skullcap (nervous system), alteratives (skin)
Vulneraries help to heal cuts when used externally.
Examples: aloe, chickweed, comfrey, elder, marigold, mullein, myrrh, slippery elm, St. John's wort, thyme
Harvesting | Drying | Recipes 
Sources and References include:
The Complete Holistic Herbal by David Hoffman, Element Books, 1996
The Complete Medicinal Herbal by Penelope Ody, Dorling Kindersley, 1993
Jude's Herbal Home Remedies by Jude C. Williams, MH, Llewellyn Publications, 1995
The Way of Herbs by Michael Tierra, Pocket Books 1990
Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs, Claire Kowalchik & William Hylton, editors, Rodale Press 1997
The Illustrated Herbal: The Complete Guide to Growing and Using Plants by Philippa Back, Reed Intl Books Ltd 1987
