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...
Cola vera Part Used: Seed kernel. Constituents: Caffeine, with traces of theobromine Tannins and phenolics; d-catechin, l-epicatechin, kolatin, kolatein, kolanin and in the fresh nut, catechol and (-) epicatechol Miscellaneous; phlobaphene, an...
Lavandula officinalis Part Used: Flowers. Constituents: Volatile oil, containing linalyl acetate, with linalool, lavandulyl acetate, borneol, camphor, limonene, cadinene, caryophyllene, 4-butanolide, 5-pentyl-5-pentanolide. Coumarins; Umbelliferone...
Senecio aureus Compositae Names: Squaw Weed, Golden Senecio. Habitat: Europe and N. America. Collection: The herb should be collected just before the small flowersopen in the summer. Part Used: Dried aerial parts. Never use the fresh plant...
Tilia europea Tiliaceae Names: Lime Blossoms, Linden flowers, Tilia. Habitat: Europe, including Britain. Collection: The flowers should be gathered immediately after flowering in the midsummer. They should be collected on a dry day and dried...
Glycyrrhiza glabra Leguminosae Habitat: Native to the Mediterranean region and parts of Asia, cultivated worldwide. Collection: The roots are unearthed in the late autumn. Clean thoroughly and dry. Part Used: Dried root. Constituents: Triterpenes of...
Lobelia inflata Campanulaceae Common name: Pukeweed, Indian tobacco. Habitat: Eastern USA, cultivated elsewhere. Part used: Aerial parts. Collection: The entire plant above ground should be collected at the end of the flowering time, between August...
Pulmonaria officinalis Boraginaceae Habitat: Shady places throughout Europe including Britain, cultivated in gardens. Part used: Leaves. Collection: The leavres should be gathered during and after flowering, between March and September...
Ephedra sinica Ephedraceae Names: Ephedra Habitat: China Collection: Gather the young branches in the autumn before the first frost, as the alkaloid content is then highest. They may be dried in the sun. Part Used: Aerial stems. Constituents:...
David L. Hoffmann BSc Hons MNIMH