Hydrangea arborescens Saxifragaceae Names: Seven Barks, Wild Hydrangea Habitat: USA. Collection: The roots should be unearthed in the autumn. Clean and slice whilst still fresh as they become very hard on drying. Part Used: Dried roots and rhizome...
Hyssopus officinalis Labiatae Habitat: A common garden plant. Part Used: Dried aerial parts. Collection: The flowering tops of Hyssop should be collected in August and dried in the sun. Constituents: Terpenoids; including marrubiin, oleanolic and...
Sambucus nigra Caprifoliaceae Names: Black Elder, European Elder. Habitat: Europe and the British Isles, commonly growing in hedges. Collection: The flowers are collected in spring and early summer and dried as rapidly as possible in the shade. The...
Inula helenium Compositae Names: Yellow Starwort Habitat: Indigenous to Europe and temperate Asia, naturalized in the USA, and cultivated widely in Europe and also China. Collection: The rhizome should be unearthed between September and October. The...
Eucalyptus globulus Myrtaceae Names: Blue Gum. Habitat: Victoria and Tasmania in Australia, cultivated in USA and Southern Europe etc. Collection: Part Used: Leaves, and the oil distilled from them. Constituents: Volatile oil, the major component of...
Gentiana lutea Part Used: The dried rhizome and root. Constituents: The whole complex of primary plant constituents and a characteristic array of secondary plant constituents are present. Pharmacologically important constituents include iridoids...
Alchemilla vulgaris Part Used: The leaves and flowering shoots. Constituents: Tannins, consisting mainly of glycosides of ellagic acid. Salicylic acid, a trace. Actions: Astringent, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, emmenagogue, vulnerary. Indications:...
Euphrasia officinalis Scrophulariaceae Names: Habitat: Meadows and grassy places in Britain and Europe. Collection: Gather the whole plant whilst in bloom in late summer and dry it in an airy place. Part Used: Dried aerial parts. Constituents:...
Trigonella foenum-graecum Papilionaceae Names: Foenugreek Habitat: North Africa, India, cultivated worldwide. Part Used: Seeds. Constituents: Volatile oil, containing3-hydroxy-4, 5-dimethyl-2-furanone, dihydrobenzofuran, dihydroactinidiolide...
Chamaelirium luteum Liliaceae Names: Starwort, Helonias Root. Habitat: USA Collection: The underground parts are unearthed in the autumn. Part Used: Dried rhizome and root. Constituents: Saponins; the glycosides chamaelirin and helonin, basedon...
David L. Hoffmann BSc Hons MNIMH