Achillea millefolium Compositae Names: Milfoil Habitat: Native to Eurasia and naturalized in North America, found intemperate zones. Collection: The whole of the plant above ground should be gathered when in flower between June and September. Part...
Rumex crispus Polygonaceae Names: Curled or Curly Dock. Habitat: A common European weed. Collection: The roots should be unearthed in late summer and autumn, between August and October. Clean well and split length ways before drying. Part Used: Root...
Euonymus atropurpureus Part Used: Root bark. Constituents: Cardenolides based on digitoxigenin Alkaloids such as asparagine & atropurpurine Sterols; euonysterol, atropurpurol, homoeuonysterol Actions: Cholagogue, hepatic, laxative, diuretic...
Populus tremuloides Salicaceae Names: Quaking Aspen, American Poplar. Habitat: N. American. Collection: The bark should be collected in the spring, taking care notto ring-bark the tree and thus kill it. Part Used: The bark. Constituents: * Phenolic...
Thuja occidentalis Cupressaceae Names: Thuja Collection: The twigs of this evergreen conifer can be gathered all year round, but are best during the summer. Part Used: Young twigs Constituents: l% Volatile oil including thujone; flavonoid glycoside;...
Daucus carrota Umbelliferae Names: Queen Anne’s Lace, Bird’s Nest Weed, Devil’s Plague (!) Habitat: Europe, Asia, North America and N. Africa. Collection: The aerial parts of the herb should be collected betweenJune and August when...
Prunus serotina Rosaceae Names: Virginia Prune Bark. Habitat: Widely distributed throughout Canada and the USA. Collection: The bark is gathered from young plants in the autumn, when it is most active. The outer bark is stripped off and the inner...
Baptisia tinctoria Leguminosae Names: Indigoweed Habitat: Indigenous to Canada and the USA Collection: The root is unearthed in the autumn after flowering has stopped. Clean the root and cut, dry well. Part Used: Root. Constituents: Isoflavones;...
Lactuca virosa Compositae Names: Lettuce Opium Habitat: Indigenous to Central and Southern Europe and Northern Asia, cultivated elsewhere. Collection: The leaves should be gathered in June and July. Part Used: Dried leaves. Constituents: Lactucin, a...
Hamamelis virginiana Hamameliadaceae Habitat: Indigenous to N. America and Canada. Collection: The leaves can be gathered throughout the summer and driedquickly to ensure that they do not become discoloured. The bark is gathered inthe spring after...
David L. Hoffmann BSc Hons MNIMH