David L. Hoffmann BSc Hons MNIMHSilybum marianum Part Used: The seeds. Constituents: Flavolignans; the mixture of these is known as “silymarin” and composed mainly of silybin (=silibinin), with isosilybin, dihydrosilybin, silydianin, silychristin, and in some varieties...
Cetraria islandica Parmeliaceae Habitat: Grows in most Northern Countries. Part used: The entire plant. It is a lichen. Collection: The lichen may be gathered throughout the year, though between May and September is perhaps best. It should be freed...
Leonurus cardiaca Labiatae Names: Lion’s Tail. Habitat: Throughout Europe and occasionally in Britain. Collection: The stalks should be gathered at the time of flowering, which is between June and September. Part Used: Aerial parts...
Cephaëlis ipecacuanha Rubiaceae Folk names: Ipecac, Rio, Matto Grosso. Habitat: Native to tropical South America, including Brazil, and cultivatedin southern Asia. Part used: Root and rhizome. Collection: The root of this small South American shrub...
Pilosella officinarum Compositae Common name: Hawkweed Habitat: A common British and European plant growing in sandy soil. Part used: Aerial parts. Collection: Mouse Ear should be collected when in flower between May andJune. Constituents:...
Chondrus crispus Rhodophyta Common name: Carragheen, Carrageenan. Habitat: The Atlantic coast of Europe and North America. Part used: The dried thallus. It is a seaweed. Collection: It is collected from rocky coastlines around the North Atlantic...
Artemisia vulgaris Compositae Collection: The leaves and flowering stalks should be gathered just at blossoming time, which is between July and September. Part Used: Leaves or root. Constituents: Volatile oil, containing linlool, l, 8-cineole...
Piscidia erythrina Leguminosae Names: Fish Poison Tree. Habitat: W. Indies and S. America. Collection: The bark is collected in vertical strips from trees growing in the Caribbean, Mexica and Texas. Part Used: Stem bark. Constituents: Isoflavones;...
Verbascum thapsus Scrophulariaceae Names: Aarons Rod, Great Mullein. Habitat: Native to Britain, Europe and parts of Asia. Collection: The leaves are collected in mid-summer before they turn brown, dry in the shade. The flowers are gathered between...
Juniperus communis Cupressaceae Names: Habitat: Widely distributed throughout the world, particularly Europe. Collection: The ripe, unshrivelled berries should be collected in the autumn and dried slowly in the shade, to avoid losing the oil present...
