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...
Betonica officinalis Labiatae Names: Bishopswort, Betony, Stachys betonica. Habitat: Europe including Britain, in open woods, hedge banks, grasslands and heaths. Collection: The aerial parts should be dried carefully in the sun. Part Used: Dried...
Drosera rotundifolia Droseraceae Habitat: Grows throughout Europe on wet heaths, moors and sphagnum bogs, especially in Wales. Collection: The whole of the plant is gathered during the flowering period in July or August. Part Used: Entire plant...
Viola odorata Violaceae Names: Violet. Habitat: Widely found in Europe and Asia. Collection: The leaves and flowers are gathered in the spring, in March and April. Dry with care. Part Used: Leaves and flowers. Constituents: Phenolic glycosides...
Tanacetum vulgare Compositae Names: Batchelor’s Buttons Habitat: A common European wild plant. Collection: The leaves and flowers are collected during the flowering time between June and September. Part Used: Aerial parts. Constituents:...
Salvia officinalis var. rubia Labiateae Names: Garden Sage Habitat: Native to Mediterranean region, cultivated worldwide. Collection: The leaves should be gathered shortly before or just atthe beginning of flowering in dry sunny weather in May or...
Thymus vulgaris Labiatae Names: Common Thyme, Garden Thyme Habitat: Thyme is indigenous to the Mediterranean region, and cultivated widely.. Collection: The flowering branches should be collected between June and August on a dry sunny day. The...
Rheum palmatum Part Used: Rhizome of Rheum palmatum and other species, not the garden rhubarb. Constituents: Anthraquinone derivatives such as chrysophanic acid (=chrysophanol),emodin, aloe-emodin, rhein & physcion, with their O-glycosides such...
Melaleuca alternifolia Myrtaceae Names: Tea tree Habitat: Swampy, low lying wetlands in New South Wales, Australia. Collection: Part Used: Essential oil. Constituents: Essential oil containing a range of terpenes and sesquiterpenes. Actions: Anti...
David L. Hoffmann BSc Hons MNIMH