Umckaloabo (Pelargonium sidoides)

Usnea (Usnea barbata)  It has been shown to contain a strong tuberculostatic antibiotic, usnic acid, which, together with mucilage, is also found in some other lichens.  It is affective against most streptococcus and staphylococcus infections, and for trichomonas in women (take in tincture form every two hours for a week).  It is also good applied full strength to infected cuts, fungus infections, impetigo, gastrointestinal tract and urinary tract and streptococcus infections. 
           Usnea kills microbes by disrupting cellular metabolism, unlike other antibiotics which disrupt structural components of bacterial cells. Human cells are not affected. Usnea does not kill all bacteria, such as "gram-negative" microbes found in the gut. These naturally occurring bacteria are beneficial to our health. Unlike taking prescription antibiotics which kill the disease-causing bacteria as well as the natural flora in the vagina and gut, the use of Usnea does not adversely affect our natural body ecology.
            Generally, Usnea can be used for infections externally and internally caused by fungi (like ringworm or athlete's foot), yeast, gram-positive bacteria (as in strep throat, pneumonia), tuberculosis, or vaginal infections caused by trichomonas. An extract (tincture) is a convenient way to take Usnea. It can be diluted in a small amount of water for external application on the skin or for a vaginal douche.  Usnea is especially effective for acute bacterial infections when taken in extract form every two hours. Many have also had great success using Usnea for sinusitis, bronchitis, abcesses, pneumonia and colds when nothing else has worked.

Uva Ursi   (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)  Uva-ursi is one of the best natural urinary antiseptics.  It has been used extensively in herbal medicine to disinfect and astringe the urinary tract in cases of acute and chronic cystitis and urethritis.  However, it is not a suitable remedy if there is a simultaneous infection of the kidneys.  Experiments have shown that uva-ursi extracts have an antibacterial effect.  This action is thought to be stronger in alkaline urine-thus the efficacy of uva-ursi is likely to increase if it is taken in combination with a vegetable-based diet.  Sodium bicarbonate is often administered with uva ursi to help increase the alkalinity of the urine.  In the urinary tract, the arbutin in uva ursi is chemically transformed into an antiseptic chemical, hydroquinone.  Beta-carotene, present in generous quantities in uva ursi, is known to stimulate the production of epithelial cells.  Ursolic acid has antiseptic properties and the flavonoids have spasmolytic properties on the smooth muscles which help reduce reactions to pain stimulus in urinary tract infections and increase renal volume in inflamed renal tubules.    Uva Ursi’s allantoin may help spur wound healing.  Allantoin is the active ingredient in several over-the-counter skin creams for relief of oral herpes and for irritation associated with vaginal infections.  It’s the diuretic most often used in herbal weight-loss formulas as a diuretic.  Uva Ursi is among the herbs useful in diabetes for excessive sugar. 

V HERBS

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)  Valerian root is a general tranquilizer used for relieving nervous tension, insomnia, and headaches.  Widely studied, it has been shown to sedate the central nervous system due to the valepotriates and other components found in the essential oil. Valerian decreases muscle spasms, so is useful for cases of nervous digestion, irritable bowel syndrome, and stomach or menstrual cramps.  It contains many types of valeopotriates that have opposing effects, indicating that it has the ability to regulate many conditions.  In one study, it sedated agitated patients, but stimulated those suffering from fatigue.  Valerian improved the quality of sleep in subjects in another study, as observed in their brain-wave patterns.  It also reduced the time it took them to fall asleep, especially the elderly and the habitually poor sleepers, but did not affect their dream recall or ability to wake up in the morning.  In Germany, hyperactive children have been treated with valerian since the 1970s.  After taking valerian for only a few weeks, 120 children diagnosed as hyperactive, anxious, or learning disabled had better muscle coordination and reaction time, and showed less aggression, restlessness, anxiety, and fear.  Valerian may also lower blood pressure and strengthen the optic nerve in the eye, although thus far, only animal studies have been done.

Vanilla (Vanilla planiforlia)  In the 16^th and 17^th centuries vanilla was believed to have various medicinal properties and was used as a stomach herb, a stimulant and aphrodisiac and an antidote to poisons.  It was first included in European pharmacopoeias in the 18^th century and was listed in the British and American ones for many years.  It acts on the nervous system and used to be used to treat hysteria and high fevers.

Velvet Bean (Mucuna pruriens)  a source of the dopa that's converted by the brain to the neurotransmitter dopamine. Reductions in dopamine have been associated with Parkinson's disease, which occurs when brain cells that produce dopamine are destroyed.  Velvet beans have actually been used in clinical trials to treat Parkinson’s.  The researchers at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine used a velvet bean preparation called HP-0 which is derived from the inner part of the bean.  The HP-0 was standardized so that each gram of the preparation contained 33.33 milligrams of L-dopa.   Velvet bean also contains bufotenine (a cholinesterase inhibitor) and serotonin (a brain neurotransmitter that may be involved in learning, sleep, and control of moods).  Bufotenine treats parasitic intestinal worms; pesticide. In Ayurvedic medicine it’s considered a  tonic and aphrodisiac to the reproductive system, rejuvenative, excellent for Vata.  An herbal source of levadopa.  1 tablespoon = 25/100 Sinemet but without the carbidopa.  
              It may help with improving sexual dysfunction, loss of libido, stimulating arousal, and increasing intensity and frequency of orgasms for both men and women.  L-Dopa is an effective inhibitor of pituitary prolactin release.  Excess prolactin is thought to cause erection failures.

Velvetweed (Gaura parviflora)   a poultice made of the crushed plant has been used to treat muscular pains and arthritis

Vervain (Verbena officinalis)  Vervain achieved a reputation as a virtual panacea.  Colds, fevers, so-called nervous complaints, skin infections, and gout were among the disorders it was supposed to cure.  Herbalists still recommend vervain tea occasionally as a tonic, astringent, diuretic, diaphoretic, sedative, antispasmodic, and aphrodisiac.    In previous centuries, vervain leaves were used to treat autumn fevers.  They were found in formulas for liver and gall bladder problems and chronic skin conditions.  Vervain leaves were a traditional remedy for uterine cramping, and the glycosides they contain do show evidence of promoting menstruation and increasing mother’s milk.   They can also be taken during labor to stimulate contractions.  Vervain is made into a mouthwash for infected gums and a poultice for hemorrhoids or wounds.  A tea has been used  to treat insomnia, and as a digestive because of its bitter properties.  Vervain is prized as a restorative for the nervous system and is especially helpful for nervous tension.  It is thought to have a mild antidepressant action, and is used specifically to treat anxiety and the nervous exhaustion that follow long-term stress.   Vervain is also used in home-made liqueurs.  South American, Mexican and Chinese folk medicines suggest vervain tea for treating various growths and cancers, particularly of the neck, spleen and scrotum.  Avoid during pregnancy.
            Chemically, vervain is quite different from aspirin, but German and Japanese studies suggest it has similar effects, combining mild pain relief with some ability to reduce inflammation. These findings support its traditional use in treating headache, toothache and wounds. 
            Extracts have been shown to suppress thyroid hormone production by influencing levels of TSH in the body.

Vervain, Blue (Verbena hastata)  It treats fevers, colds, flu, hysteria, throat and lung congestion, liver disorders, and irregular menses and cramps.  This herb is more detoxifying and exerts its action both on the surface and internally as an alterative.  A natural tranquilizer and is helpful with colds and fevers, especially when the upper respiratory tract is involved. It will eliminate intestinal worms and is used externally for wounds.  When the circulation of the blood is weak and languid, it will increase and restore it to its proper operation.  The infusion, taken cold, forms a good tonic in cases of constitutional debility and during convalescence from acute diseases.   

Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides)  Vetiver roots are occasionally taken as a stimulating tonic drink in India.  They are used to improve digestion, encourage menstruation, and kill parasites.  It is said to have a “cooling” effect on the body and to increase sweating.  East Indians treat fevers, flus, and rheumatism with it. 

Vietnamese Balm (Elsholtzia ciliata)  Its use is said to relieve the effects of excess alcohol. It is used in the treatment of common colds, edema and oliguria. The plant has a broad-spectrum antibacterial action.

Violet (Viola odorata)  Violets were known for their medicinal and antiseptic properties and were commonly used in antiseptics.  Violet tea is a sedative.  The leaves are useful for poultices to soothe and heal wounds.  The liquid extracts from the flowers and roots have expectorant and emollient properties.  It serves as an emetic in quantity, and has been used to treat respiratory disorders, as a gargle, in cough mixtures, and as a diuretic.  
            Violet flowers contain generous amounts of rutin, which helps maintain the strength and integrity of capillary walls.  A few tablespoons would get you the 100 milligram daily dosage that research recommends is the most beneficial.  
            Traditional Chinese medicine places violet leaf and root poultices on  hot swelling, inflammation, and mumps, while in the west, they traditionally have been used on swollen or tumorous breasts.

Violet Woodsorrel (Oxalis violacea)   In New Mexico, a teaspoonful of fresh or dried powdered leaves is boiled in a cup of water and taken in the morning to help expel intestinal worms.  The raw greens have been eaten in the early spring as a blood tonic, after a winter without greens.  The plant has been used to create a feeling of coolness in a person with fever, and to increase urine flow.  A cold infusion is used to stop a person vomiting. An infusion can be used as a blood purifier, it is said to be a treatment in the early stages of cancer. An infusion of the plant is drunk and also used as a wash in treating children with hookworm. An infusion of the leaves, mixed with oil, can be used as a salve on sores.  

Virginia Skullcap (Scutellaria laterifolia)  Traditionally, the skullcaps have provided remedies for a whole range of nervous disorders, including nervousness, agitations, insomnia, hysteria, epilepsy, convulsions and St. Vitus dance.  Virginian skullcap earned a reputation as a cure for hydrophobia or rabies which gave it the name mad-dog skullcap.  Skullcaps were also used for infertility and to quiet unwanted sexual desires.  Skullcap leaves are used mostly for their actions on the nervous system. They help relieve anxiety, depression, insomnia, nervous headache, nervous twitches, muscle cramps and convulsions.  Most of the research comes from Russia, where studies support many claims of skullcap’s usefulness as a sedative and stabilizer of stress-related heart disease.  Those studies also discovered that it lowers blood pressure and cholesterol. Native American used skullcap to treat heart disease, as well as to promote afterbirth and menstruation.  This is one of the best herbs to use to break addictions and to ease the problems associated with drug and alcohol withdrawal.  For such a condition, a quarter to half a cupful of the tea should be taken every hour or two, tapering off as the symptoms subside.  It is also a good brain tonic for promoting meditation. 

Virginia Snakeroot  (Aristolochia serpentaria) This is a pure stimulant whose action is mainly employed in diverting the flow of blood outward, so it is largely employed in eruptive diseases before the appearance of outward manifestations are noticed.  Internally used for rheumatism, gout, arthritis due to fevers, pneumonia, typhoid, and malaria. The finely powdered root was combined with white wine (1 part root to 3 parts wine) and used to induce sweating in the treatment of malaria.  Externally it’s used for pleurisy, herpes, and slow-healing wounds.  It has been included in a number of commercial tonics for the circulation, skin and kidneys.  In small doses, it promotes the appetite, toning up the digestive organs. It has been recommended in intermittent fevers, when it may be useful as an adjunct to quinine. In full doses it produces increased arterial action, diaphoresis, and frequently diuresis. In eruptive fevers where the eruption is tardy, or in the typhoid stage where strong stimulants cannot be borne, it may be very valuable. An infusion is an effective gargle in putrid sore-throat. It benefits sufferers from dyspepsia and amenorrhoea. Long boiling impairs its virtues. A cold infusion is useful in convalescence from acute diseases and for strengthening purposes and used in dyspepsia, croup, throat and kidney congestion.  Suppressed menstruation due to colds will be brought about by 5-10 drops of snakeroot tincture in Pennyroyal tea.  Used for cold extremities of hands and feet due to general receding of blood from the surface.

Virginia Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana (Fragaria glauca))   The berries were once thought helpful in treating kidney stones and gout.  An infusion of the root has been used in England for gonorrhea.  A tea made from the leaves has been used to treat diarrhea.  The roots have been considered excellent as bitters to increase urine flow. The whole plant has been used to regulate the menstrual cycle.  A tea made from the leaves has been used as a nerve tonic and is slightly astringent. A poultice made from the dried powdered leaves mixed with oil has been used to treat open sores. A tea made from the roots is diuretic. It has also been used in the treatment of irregular menses, gonorrhea, stomach and lung ailments.

 -W HERBS

Wahoo   (Euonymous atropurpurea) The Sioux, Cree, and other Native American peoples used wahoo bark in various ways, as an eye lotion, a poultice for facial sores and for gynecological conditions.  Native Americans introduced the plant to early European settlers, and it became very popular in Britain as well as in North America in the 19^th century.  Wahoo bark is considered a gallbladder remedy with laxative and diuretic properties.   It is prescribed for biliousness and liver problems as well as for skin conditions such as eczema (which may result from poor liver and gall bladder function), and for constipation.  In small doses, Euonymin stimulates the appetite and the flow of the gastric juice. In larger doses, it is irritant to the intestine and is cathartic. It has slight diuretic and expectorant effects, but its only use is as a purgative in cases of constipation in which the liver is disordered, and for which it is particularly efficacious. It is specially valuable in liver disorders which follow or accompany fever. It is mildly aperient and causes no nausea, at the same time stimulating the liver somewhat freely, and promoting a free flow of bile. It the past, it was often used in combination with herbs such as gentian as a fever remedy, especially if the liver was under stress.  Following the discovery that it contains cardiac glycosides, wahoo bark has been given for heart conditions. It is also a remedy for dandruff and scalp problems.  

Wall Rue (Asplenium ruta-muraria)   A decoction of the fronds is good for kidney troubles and, boiled with chamomile flowers, makes a lotion that will rid the head of scurf and prevents falling hair.  Add a little oil of rosemary for greater efficiency.  A distilled water made from the fronds has proved of benefit in the treatment of many eye complaints. The plant is also considered to be useful in the treatment of coughs and ruptures in children. It was at one time used as a herbal remedy for rickets and its tannin content renders it suitable for stopping bleeding from small wounds.

Wallflower (Cheiranthus cheiri)  Although wallflower was formerly used as a diuretic, there was no understanding of its powerful effect on the heart.  In small doses it is cardiotonic, supporting a failing heart in a manner similar to foxglove.  In more than small doses it is toxic, and is therefore rarely used.  Traditionally used as a purgative, for liver disorders and as an emmenagogue.  The flowers and stems are used in the treatment of impotence and paralysis. The essential oil is normally used. This should be used with caution because large doses are toxic.   The seeds are used in the treatment of dry bronchitis, fevers and injuries to the eyes.

Walnut (Juglans regia)   The leaves and hull produce the fluid extract that possesses tonic, bitter properties, and an ethereal fluid extract used as a sun-tan oil.  The seeds are a mild yang tonic good for wasting diseases, emaciation and underweight conditions, and weakness and dryness of the colon and lungs.  The bark has mild astringent and laxative properties, the leaves and outer hulls are antiparasitical, antifungal and detoxifying.  The leaves are used internally the treatment of constipation, chronic coughs, asthma, diarrhea, dyspepsia etc. The leaves are also used to treat skin ailments and purify the blood. They are considered to be specific in the treatment of strumous sores.  Male inflorescences are made into a broth and used in the treatment of coughs and vertigo. The rind is used in the treatment of diarrhea and anemia. The seeds used internally in the treatment of low back pain, frequent urination, weakness of both legs, chronic cough, asthma, constipation due to dryness or anemia and stones in the urinary tract. Externally, they are made into a paste and applied as a poultice to areas of dermatitis and eczema.  The oil from the seed is  anthelmintic. It is also used in the treatment of menstrual problems and dry skin conditions. The cotyledons are used in the treatment of cancer. Walnut has a long history of folk use in the treatment of cancer, some extracts from the plant have shown anticancer activity.

Water Avens (Geum rivale) Chopped and mixed with sugar and milk, the roots or tops have been taken internally for dysentery, indigestion, and rundown conditions.  It is suitable for children to use.  A root decoction has been used to treat hemorrhages, menstrual disorders, intestinal worms, and stomach ulcers. It is also applied externally as a wash to various skin afflictions - it is said to remove spots, freckles and eruptions from the face. This plant has similar properties but is less active than the related G. urbanum and so is seldom used medicinally.

Water Betony (Scrophularia aquatica)  An excellent vulnerary. The plant has a good reputation as a wound herb, either applied externally as a poultice or taken as a decoction. Water betony is said to have similar medicinal properties to the knotted figwort, S. nodosa. It supports detoxification of the body and it may be used as a treatment for various kinds of skin disorders.  

Water Dock (Rumex aquaticus )   Principally used now as a gargle to clean and strengthen the gums and relieve mouth ulcers.  It can cause or relieve diarrhea according to the dose, harvest time and relative concentrations of tannin(astringent) and anthraquinones (laxative) that are present. It is used internally in the treatment of piles, bleeding of the lungs, various blood complaints and also chronic skin diseases. Externally, it is applied to various skin diseases, ulcers etc.  The root has been used with positive effect to restrain the inroads made by cancer, being used as an alterative and tonic

Water Dropwort (Oenanthe crocata)  Said to be effective for the treatment of hysteria. In some cases it has been taken with effect in eruptive diseases of the skin, being given at first in small doses, gradually increased.  Great caution must be exercised in the use of the tincture. The dose of the tincture is 1 to 5 drops. The roots have likewise been used in poultices to whitlows and to foul ulcers, both in man and cattle.  The root is used in homeopathy.

 Water Hyssop (Bacopa monnieri)  Bacopa is an Ayurvedic herb used in India for more than 3,000 years for memory enhancement, epilepsy, insomnia, and as a mild sedative. It is also employed for a wide range of other disorders, including indigestion, ulcers, gas and constipation, asthma and bronchitis. The whole plant is used in the treatment of boils, toothache and as a blood purifier. The juice along with ginger juice and sugar is used for children’s stomach disorders. A decoction of the leaves is useful in the treatment for cough and rheumatism. It is used for asthma and as a cardio tonic. Brahmi is also known to promote fertility and prevent miscarriage.  Studies show that bacopa has antioxidant properties, protects mental function in those with epilepsy who take the drug phenytion, while a study on rats showed bacopa administration improves learning skills. Two saponins, designated as bacopaside I and II, have been isolated from Bacopa monniera.   In China, it is taken as a yang tonic for impotence, premature ejaculation, infertility, and rheumatic conditions.  In Indonesia, the plant is a remedy for filariasis (a tropical disease caused by worms).  In Cuba, water hyssop is used as a purgative, and a decoction of the whole plant is taken as a diuretic and laxative.  The expressed juice is mixed with oil and applied as a rub for arthritic pain.
                Indian research suggests that water hyssop improves mental function and memory and reduces learning time.  Contemporary formulas often combine Bacopa monniera with other herbs and nutritional supplements known to promote mental functioning such as Ginkgo biloba, ginseng, and phosphatidylserine. Such formulas may also be applicable as protection against the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions of mental deterioration associated with aging.  The plant is used to increase the speed of learning and to increase sharpness and perception by the sense organs.  The plant is thought to be particularly useful for the promotion of memory in children. In India, brahmi tea is given to babies to encourage optimal mental development. Brahmi has been administered in religious schools to help students enhance their memory for learning ancient sacred hymns.  Studies suggest that Brahmi is a potent antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in brain tissue.
            The herb has a bitter taste and in Ayurvedic medicine it is generally used in the form of paste or juice. Sugar, jaggery (raw date sugar), or honey may be added. Some of the traditional preparations with brahmi are brahmi Ghrita (in ghee, clarified butter), sarasvatarishta (a decoction used as a brain tonic), brahmi rasayana (a rejuvenating formulation with other herbs), brahmi taila (medicated oil), brahmi sarbat (a cooling drink). 

Research: Many studies have shown Brahmi helps improve protein activity and protein synthesis, especially in brain cells, which can increase intelligence, longevity and memory and decrease senility and aging. The active principles, bacosides, help repair damaged neurons by augmenting kinase, the protein involved in the synthesis of new neurons to replace old ones. It has tranquilizing effects in anxiety but, unlike synthetic sedatives which often have side effects of dulling the mind, Brahmi actually improves mental clarity. In one study its effects were considered comparable to the usual benzodiazpine tranquilizer. Interestingly, it increases novelty-seeking behavior. A study in India showed that Bacopa enhances intellectual behavior in children. The Indian study investigated the effect of Bacopa in school children aged 6-8 years. In a single-blind design, 40 children were given bacopa syrup equivalent to 1 g dried herb daily for 3 months. Immediate memory, perception and reaction/performance times improved with Bacopa treatment. No side-effects were observed. In vitro Bacopa was cytotoxic to Sarcoma-180 cancer cells.

 Water Mint (Mentha aquatica) A tea made from the leaves has traditionally been used in the treatment of fevers, headaches, digestive disorders and various minor ailments. It is also used as a mouth-wash and a gargle for treating sore throats, ulcers, bad breath etc. The leaves are harvested as the plant comes into flower and can be dried for later use. The essential oil in the leaves is antiseptic, though it is toxic in large doses.

Water Plantain (Alisma plantago, syn Alisma triviale)  The leaves are used in the treatment of cystitis, dysentery, renal calculus, gravel etc.  It is useful in treating the weak and elderly for whom other diuretics may be too strong, and is particularly good for chronic urinary tract infections or yin deficient heat.  Also used internally for cardiovascular disease.  The fresh leaf is rubefacient. It is used in the treatment of leprosy and is also applied locally to bruises and swellings.  Dried stem bases eaten, or grated and taken with water in treating digestive disorders such as heartburn, cramps and stomach flu.  The powdered seed is an astringent, used in cases of bleeding. The seed is also said to promote sterility.  The root has a wide range of medicinal uses. It is antibacterial, anticholesterolemic, diuretic and hypotensive. It is said to lower blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels while it also has an antibacterial action on Staphococci, Pneumococci and Mycobacteria. The root is used in the treatment of oliguria, edema, nephritis, acute diarrhea, cholesterolemia and fatty liver. It has been thought of as a cure for rabies, though this has not been substantiated. The whole plant is believed to promote conception. Believed to stimulate the female genitalia.  Used in traditional Chinese medicine for kidney weakness, which manifests as deafness, tinnitus, and dizziness. 

Water Soldier (Stratiotes aloides)  The herb has had a high reputation for treating wounds, especially when these are made by an iron implement. It is applied externally. The plant is also said to be of use in the treatment of St. Anthony's Fire and also of bruised kidneys.

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale)  Watercress is a valuable source of vitamins and a good detoxifying herbs.  Its high content of vitamin C and minerals makes it a remedy that is particularly valuable for chronic illnesses.  Herbalists recommend the herb for catarrh and bronchitis, and also for skin problems since it helps the body to eliminate wastes.  It is used to treat fluid retention, mucus in the lungs and indigestion.  It also stimulates metabolism, promotes bile metabolism and helps dispel gas.  Eaten raw, it not only prevents inflamed or bleeding gums but is considered one of the best natural depuratives.  Crushed leaves are applied as poultice for rheumatism and gout.  The juice or the crushed leaves dabbed on the skin every day is said to remove facial blemishes, and applied under the arms, they are known to be of use as a deodorant.  The raw seeds used as vermifuge. 

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus, syn Citrullus vulgaris, Cucurbita sativus)   Watermelon is best known as a thirst-quenching fruit that comes into season when temperature are at their hottest.  In traditional Chinese medicine it is used precisely to counter “summer heat” patterns characterized by excessive sweating, thirst, raised temperature, scanty urine, diarrhea, and irritability or anger. Watermelon fruit and juice soothe these symptoms, increasing urine flow and cleansing the kidneys.  The fruit’s refreshing properties extend to the digestive system, where it clears gas. Watermelon may be used in the treatment of hepatitis.  In hot weather it is helpful for those suffering from bronchitis or asthma. The cooling fruit pulp may be applied to hot and inflamed skin and to soothe sunburn.  The fruit, eaten when fully ripe or even when almost putrid, is used as a febrifuge The fruit is also diuretic, being effective in the treatment of dropsy and renal stones. The fruit contains the substance lycopine (which is also found in the skins of tomatoes). This substance has been shown to protect the body from heart attacks and, in the case of the tomato at least, is more effective when it is cooked.  The seeds can be mashed and used to expel worms.  The seed is sometimes used in the treatment of the urinary passages and has been used to treat bed wetting. It also has a hypotensive action. The dried pulp was once used as a powerful purgative.  It contains a cucurbitacin glycoside with antitumor properties. A fatty oil in the seed, as well as aqueous or alcoholic extracts, paralyze tapeworms and roundworms.  The rind of the fruit is prescribed in cases of alcoholic poisoning and diabetes.  The root is purgative and in large dose is said to be a certain emetic.

Weeping Forsythia (Forsythia suspensa): Lian Qiao has been used in Chinese herbalism for over 4,000 years and is considered to be one of the 50 fundamental herbs.  A bitter-tasting, pungent herb with an antiseptic effect, lian qiao is chiefly used to treat boils, carbuncles, mumps, and infected neck glands.  It is also a remedy for colds, flu, sore throats, and tonsillitis, and for the early stages of fevers.  It is given in combination with other herbs for dysentery and skin infections, and is used for “cold” swellings of the neck (as in tuberculosis of the lymph glands).  The fruit is a bitter astringent herb that stimulates the heart, nervous system and gall bladder. It contains vitamin P, which is used to strengthen capillaries. It is used internally in the treatment of acute infectious diseases such as mumps, and also for tonsillitis, urinary tract infections allergic rashes etc. The fruit is harvested when fully ripe and is dried for use in decoctions. The plant has a similar action to Lonicera japonica and is usually used in combination with that species to achieve a stronger action. The flowers have a broad-spectrum antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Staphococcus aureus, Shigella dysenteriae, haemolytic streptococcus, pneumococcus, Bacillus typhi, Mycobacterium tuberculi etc.  The plant is vermifuge, though the part used is not stated.  The leaves are febrifuge and are also poulticed onto ulcerated glands and hemorrhoids. A decoction of the leaves and twigs is used in the treatment of breast cancer. The root is used in the treatment of cancer, colds, fever and jaundice. In Chinese folk medicine, it is a treatment for breast cancer.  This herb is sometimes taken to induce menstruation.  Research in China indicates that forsythin is significantly antimicrobial and reduces nausea and vomiting.  Source: Crimson Sage  

Welsh Onion (Allium fistulosum)   Internally in traditional Chinese medicine as a decoction of the fresh plant, for the early stages of the common cold, and for excess mucus following respiratory tract infections.  Regarded as especially useful for complaints and injuries caused by extreme cold (such as frostbite), and low yang energy.  The bulb is used in the treatment of colds and abdominal coldness and fullness. A tea made from the roots is a children's sedative. Use of the bulb in the diet impedes internal parasites. Externally, the bulb can be made into a poultice to drain pus from sores, boils and abscesses.

White Ash (Fraxinus americana)  In Appalachia, the chewed bark is applied on sores as a poultice. A tea made from the buds is thought useful for snakebite.  Another belief was that the seeds were aphrodisiac and also increased the appetite and urine flow.  Indians made a strong tea from the leaves and gave it to women after childbirth.  The bark, taken internally was supposed to increase perspiration and urine flow.  An infusion of the bark is used to promote menstruation. It has also been used as a wash to treat skin sores, itches and vermin on the scalp.   The inner bark is used as a tea to remove bile from the intestines and to relieve stomach cramps and fevers. It is chewed and applied as a poultice to sores.  The leaves are used to soothe the itching caused by mosquito bites and bee stings. 

White Cinnamon (Canella alba syn Canella winterana)   The bark is used as a substitute for winter’s bark (Crotex coto) a well-known medicine for yellow fever and stomach problems.  A most effective stimulant and tonic for the aged.  It promotes digestion and elimination and prevents flatulence.  Canella is cytotoxic (kills cells), antifungal, and repels insects.  It is also strongly aromomatic, stimulant, and antiseptic.  Canella is often used in the West Indies and Latin America as a substitute for cinnamon.  The infusion is drunk both for its pleasant flavor and tonic effect (the bark is thought a sexual stimulant).  Canella is also used for puerperal fever following childbirth.

White Poplar (Populus tremuloides)   American aspen has a long history of herbal use. It was widely employed medicinally by many native North American Indian tribes who valued it especially for its antiseptic and analgesic qualities, using it in the treatment of wounds, skin complaints and respiratory disorders. The stem bark contains salicylates, from which the proprietary medicine aspirin is derived. White poplar is an excellent remedy to use in the treatment of arthritis and rheumatism where there is much pain and swelling.  Its use is quite similar to black willow.  It is most effective when used in a broad therapeutic approach and not by itself.  It is very helpful during the flare-ups of rheumatoid arthritis.  As a cholagogue it can be used to stimulate digestion and especially stomach and liver functions, particularly where there is loss of appetite.  Being a stimulant, quaking aspen bark acts as a tonic remedy in the treatment of anorexia and other debilitated states.  In feverish colds and in infection such as cystitis it may be considered.  As an astringent and antiseptic,  it can be used in the treatment of diarrhea and the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.  It is also used to treat urinary infections. Externally, the bark is used to treat chilblains, hemorrhoids, infected wounds and sprains. An infusion of the inner bark is considered to be a remedy for coughs and an appetite stimulant, it is also used in the treatment of stomach pains, urinary ailments, VD, worms, colds and fevers.  The root is poulticed and applied to cuts and wounds.  A tea from the root bark is used as a treatment for excessive menstrual bleeding.  The leaf buds are used as a salve for colds, coughs and irritated nostrils.

White Sage (Salvia apiana)   Relaxes blood vessels; helps with bites and stings and canker sores; reduces blood sugar levels; reduces fever; Hot flashes and night sweats; Sore throats; Digestive tonic and stimulant; Nerve tonic which both calms and stimulates the nervous system; Mild sedative; Helps irregular and light menstruation; Bleeding gums; Cuts; Burns; Improves digestion.  The diterpenes are effective against staph, candida, and Klebsiella pneumoniae.  An infusion of the leaves is used as a blood tonic and as a treatment for coughs and colds. The leaves can be eaten, or used as a sweat bath, in the treatment of colds. The seeds have been used as eye cleaners. The seed has been placed in the eye, it then forms a gelatinous covering to which any foreign matter in the eye adheres. The seed is washed out of the eye by the eyes own tears.   The plant is best prepared as a tincture, since the carnosic acids are poorly water soluble.  The tea is most effective if you fill a jar full of the leaves, add a tablespoon of alcohol on top of them, close the lid, and store the pickled leaves for tea use.  The douche is a good treatment for acute candidal vaginitis, and the sitz bath will help limit the yeast on the outside of the area.  The tea, tincture, or powder is an excellent wash or dust for dirty scrapes and abrasions, and you can simply soak the area in the tea if it is particularly bad.

White Waterlily (Nymphaea alba)  The rhizome of the white water lily is astringent and antiseptic.  A decoction treats dysentery or diarrhea due to irritable bowel syndrome.  White water lily has also been employed to treat bronchial congestion and kidney pain, and taken as a gargle for sore throats. The rhizome may be used to make a douche for vaginal soreness and discharge, or to make a poultice, often in combination with slippery elm or linseed, for boils and abscesses.  The plant has been found to lower blood pressure in animals. The flowers are anaphrodisiac and sedative. They have a generally calming and sedative effect upon the nervous system, reputedly reducing the sex drive and making them useful in the treatment of insomnia, anxiety and similar disorders.  A complete cure of uterine cancer by a decoction and uterine injection has been recorded. 

Wild Allspice (Lindera benzoin)  A decoction of the bark, twigs, or fruit was used to stimulate blood circulation, increase perspiration, and treat for intestinal worms, dysentery, coughs, and colds.  The prime medicinal use of spicebush has been as a febrifuge.  Spice bush has a wide range of uses as a household remedy, especially in the treatment of colds, dysentery and intestinal parasites.  The bark is used in the treatment of coughs and colds. The fruits are carminative. The oil from the fruits has been used in the treatment of bruises and rheumatism.  A tea made from the twigs was a household remedy for colds, fevers, worms and colic. A steam bath of the twigs is used to cause perspiration in order to ease aches and pains in the body. The young shoots are harvested during the spring and can be used fresh or dried.  The bark is diaphoretic and vermifuge. It was once widely used as a treatment for typhoid fevers and other forms of fevers.   

Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)  Indians made a decoction of the leaves and treated chills by bathing the patient with it; the dried herb was boiled and the vapors were inhaled for bronchial ailments; a decoction of the root was drunk for stomach disorders; and a tea of leaves and flowers was used for bronchial problems. The pioneers made a lotion of boiled leaves for treating pimples and skin eruptions.  A plant infusion has been used to reduce fever and treat headaches, colds, and sore throats.  Some Indians in New Mexico dry and pulverize the plant and rub it on the forehead to relieve headache.   It is still sometimes used in modern herbalism.  An infusion is used internally in the treatment of colds, catarrh, headaches, gastric disorders, aching kidneys, to reduce low fevers and soothe sore throats. Externally, it is applied as a poultice to skin eruptions, cuts etc and as a wash for sore eyes. The leaves can be harvested before the plant flowers, or they can be harvested with the flowering stems. They can be used fresh or dried.  The leaves also contain 'thymol', an essential oil that can be used to expel gas from the digestive tract.

Wild Cherry (Prunus virginiana)  The turpentine from the resin is a valuable remedy used internally in the treatment of kidney and bladder complaints and is used both internally and as a rub and steam bath in the treatment of rheumatic affections. It is also very beneficial to the respiratory system and so is useful in treating diseases of the mucous membranes and respiratory complaints such as coughs, colds, influenza and TB. The bark is used for the feverish stages of viral infections, when there is rapid, shallow breathing and hot, dry membranes. The bark or root is boiled for stomach inflammations and acidosis. Externally it is a very beneficial treatment for a variety of skin complaints, wounds, sores, burns, boils etc and is used in the form of liniment plasters, poultices, herbal steam baths and inhalers. An infusion of the leaves has been used in the treatment of high fevers.  An infusion of the buds has been used to remove worms from the body. Similar to P. serotina.  The fruit was basic to the making of pemmican.

Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)   Internally used for coughs, asthma, chills, and rheumatic disorders.  Women of the Pomo tribe take wild ginger as a contraceptive, and in Western medicine it is used to regulate menstruation and as a stimulant in difficult labor.  The Ojibwa tribe combined it with Aralia racemosa in poultices for fractures.  The pioneers used the root as a stimulant and for heart palpitations, fevers, and nervous problems.  It stimulates the circulation of blood and chi, opens the meridians, aids digestion, and counteracts and eliminates gas.  It also is used as a stimulating diaphoretic to promote perspiration for the treatment of colds, coughs and flu.  A fine powder of the dried root was inhaled like snuff to relieve aching head and eyes.  The Chinese use their variety as a primary herb for headaches, facial nerve pain and sinus congestion.  Solvent in alcohol and hot water.  Do not boil as it weakens its properties.

Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa, L. scariola, L. Canadensis, L. serriola)  The drug resembles a feeble opium without its tendency to upset the digestive system. It is used to a small extent as a sedative and narcotic. Dissolved in wine it is said to be a good anodyne. It’s said  that twenty-three out of twenty-four cases of dropsy were cured by taking doses of 18 grains to 3 drachms of extract in twenty-four hours. It is used in Germany for this complaint, but combined with more active drugs. It is said to be also a mild diaphoretic and diuretic, easing colic, inducing sleep and allaying cough.  Water distilled from lettuce (eau de laitre) is used in France as a mild sedative in doses of 2 to 4 oz., and the fresh leaves boiled in water are sometimes used as a cataplasm.   Dosages of powder, 10 to 20 grains or more. Of tincture, 30 to 60 drops. Of alcoholic extract, 1 to 5 grains. Of Lactucarium, 5 to 20 grains. Of fluid extract leaves, ¼  to 1 drachm. Of syrup, U.S.P., 2 drachms. Tincture, U.S.P., 30 drops. 
           Wild Lettuce helps to calm restlessness and reduce anxiety; it also helps to induce sleep for those experiencing insomnia. It has a sedative effect on the respiratory system, beneficial for whooping cough and nervous/dry/irritating coughs. It may also help to relieve birth pains, headaches, and muscle/joint pains. Calms overactivity or overstimulation and excitability in children.  It is also taken to treat coughs, often combined with herbs such as licorice.  Wild lettuce is thought to lower the libido and may also be used to relieve pain. 
              Combines well with Prunus in irritable coughs: with Humulus, Scutellaria, Cypripedium and Passiflora in insomnia and with Dioscorea and Cimcifuga for rheumatic pains.   The tea is cooling and diaphoretic.  People use the infusion for gastric spasms, fevers, and insomnia, and apply the sap to rashes, warts and acne.  Lactucarium is not easily powdered, and is only slightly soluble in boiling water, though it softens and becomes plastic.  

Wild Licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota)   An extract of the roots has been included in cough mixtures to help bring up chest phlegm. Taken internally, wild licorice has been used to treat stomach ulcers, rheumatism, and arthritis.  A root decoction has been used to induce menstrual flow, to treat fever in nursing mothers, and to facilitate the expelling of the afterbirth.  American licorice was widely employed medicinally by a number of native North American Indian tribes who used it in the treatment of a range of diseases. All parts of the body are medicinal, but the roots are the most active part. This species has properties similar to other licorices which are widely used medicinally, though this species is rather neglected in modern literature. An infusion of the root is used to speed the delivery of the placenta after childbirth, often combined with antelope horn.  It is also used to treat diarrhea, chest pains, fevers in children, stomach aches etc.  It is also used as a wash or poultice on swellings.  The chewed root is retained in the mouth as a treatment for toothache and sore throats.  The mashed leaves are used as a poultice on sores.  The leaves have been placed in the shoes to absorb moisture. The sticks are given to teething infants to chew and suck on.  In recent years it has been promoted as a tea to aid adult-onset diabetics.  The roots are chewed to aid in quitting smoking.

Wild Onion (Allium cernuum)  The whole plant has mild medicinal activity similar to the action of garlic. The bulbs have been used as a stimulant, to increase perspiration and urine flow, to expel intestinal worms, and as a cough remedy.  It is used specifically as a poultice on the chest for the treatment of respiratory ailments and the juice has been used in the treatment of kidney stones.  The juice of the plant is used in treating colds, croup, sore throats etc.  A poultice of the plant is applied externally to various infections such as sore throats, sores, swellings, chest and pleurisy pains. 

Wild Rosemary (Rhododendron tomentosum previously Ledum palustre)   The plant is more strongly narcotic than Ledum groenlandicum and should not be used without expert supervision. A tea is taken internally in the treatment of asthma, coughs, colds, stomach aches, kidney ailments etc. Externally, it is used as a wash for burns, ulcers, stings, infections etc. Detoxifies simple poisoning, joints and connective tissues, pains through limbs and joints.  Rheumatism begins in lower limbs and ascends, cracking joints, throbbing shooting pains. Acne on forehead, eczema, itching worse from scratching and heat, red pimples on forehead and cheeks, stinging when touched. Irritation, pain and itching from insect bites, swelling with heat

Wild Sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis (syn A. medicaulis) )   Wild sarsaparilla is a sweet pungent tonic herb that acts as an alterative. It had a wide range of traditional uses amongst the North American Indians and was at one time widely used as a substitute for the tropical medicinal herb sarsaparilla.  The herb encourages sweating, is stimulating and detoxifying and so is used internally in the treatment of pulmonary diseases, asthma, rheumatism, stomach aches etc. Externally it is used as a poultice in treating rheumatism, sores, burns, itchy skin, ulcers and skin problems such as eczema.  A drink made from the pulverized roots is used as a cough treatment.  A poultice made from the roots and/or the fruit is applied to sores, burns, itchy skin, ulcers, swellings etc.
Homeopathy: A homeopathic remedy made from the roots is important in the treatment of cystitis. 

Wild Senna (Cassia marilandica (syn Senna marilandica, Cassia marylandica, Cassia medsgeri) )  Indians used the bruised roots as a poultice for sores, a decoction of the roots for treating fever, and the leaves as a mild laxative.  The leaves are a safe and effective cathartic. They are best used with Foeniculum vulgare seeds in order to counteract a tendency to cause gripe. The seedpods can also be used and are milder but slower in their action. The seeds have been soaked in water until they are mucilaginous and then swallowed as a treatment for sore throats.  The root is cardiac and febrifuge. An infusion has been used in the treatment of fevers and heart problems. 

Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca  (F virginiana) )  The leaves are mainly used, though the fruits are an excellent food to take when feverish and are also effective in treating rheumatic gout. The leaves can be made into a tea that is a diuretic and astringent.  It is a blood tonic and has been used as a treatment for diarrhea in adults and children. It is used in the treatment of chilblains and also as an external wash on sunburn. A poultice can be made from the powdered leaves mixed in oil, it is used to treat open sores.   In the form of an enema it is used to relieve hemorrhoids and constipation. Young leaves combined with thyme make an excellent tea.
                The berries, drunk with wine or milk, act similarly.  The leaves were also used as a gargle for sore throats, and in a lotion for minor burns and scrapes.  In Europe, the fruit is considered to have cooling and diuretic properties, and has been prescribed as part of a diet in cases of tuberculosis, gout, arthritis and rheumatism.  It is also eaten as an iron supplement and mild laxative.  A poultice made from crushed fresh berries is used to cure skin blemishes and acne.  The water extract from boiled roots is an effective vermifuge.  A slice of strawberry is excellent when applied externally to sunburned skin. The fruits contain salicylic acid and are beneficial in the treatment of liver and kidney complaints.  The roots are astringent and diuretic. A decoction is used internally in the treatment of diarrhea and chronic dysentery. Externally it is used to treat chilblains and as a throat gargle.

Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum (syn Thymus angustifolius) )  Like its close relative thyme (T. vulgaris), wild thyme is strongly antiseptic and antifungal though to a lesser degree.  It may be taken as an infusion or syrup to treat flu and colds, sore throats, coughs, whooping cough, chest infections, and bronchitis.  Wild thyme has decongestant properties and helps clear a stuffy nose, sinusitis, ear congestion, and related complaints.  It has been used to expel threadworms and roundworms in children, and is used to settle gas and colic and help with hangovers.  It is said to be effective in treating alcoholism.  Wild thyme’s antispasmodic action makes it useful in relieving menstrual pain.  Externally, it may be applied as a poultice to treat mastitis and an infusion may be used as a wash to help heal wounds, ulcers, throat and gum infections.  Externally, it is applied to minor injuries, mastitis, mouth, throat and gum infections etc. Wild thyme is also used in herbal baths and pillows. The seeds are used as a vermifuge. 

Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa)  The plant is also known as colic root and rheumatism root in North America, indicating its use by European settlers for these conditions.     Diosgenin, a breakdown product of dioscin, was first identified by Japanese scientists in 1936.  This discovery paved the way for the synthesis of progesterone and of corticosteroid hormones such as cortisone.  For this reason it is sometimes expensive, because pharmaceutical firms buy up large crops on the global market. This use of the root, coupled with its traditional use as an antispasmodic and antirheumatic gave rise to the saying that wild yam is a natural steroid.  Indeed, it contains compounds that are similar in chemical structure to steroids, but these compounds must be digested, absorbed and processed by one’s body before becoming steroids or hormones.  Eating foods such as wild yam thus provides the building blocks for many complex glandular manufacturing processes.  The herb’s combination of anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic actions makes it extremely useful in treatments for arthritis and rheumatism. It reduces inflammation and pain, and relaxes stiff muscles in the affected area.  It stimulated the removal of accumulated wastes in the system.  Wild yam helps to relieve cramps, muscle tension, and colic.  It can be an effective treatment for digestive problems, including gallbladder inflammation, irritable bowel syndrome, and diverticulitis.  In large doses it is regarded as a diuretic and acts as an expectorant.
                In North and Central America, wild yam is a traditional relaxing remedy for painful menstruation, ovarian pain, and labor.   It is classically given for uterine pain, such as severe menstrual pain, or shooting pain beyond cramps.  It’s also used for ovarian spasm and inflammation such as occurs with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).  To relieve the nauseous symptoms of pregnancy, Dioscorein is the very best and is prompt in action given in small, frequent doses.  It is useful as part of a natural approach to any endocrine imbalance.  For extremely heavy periods wild yam root tincture, 20-30 drops taken daily for the two weeks preceding the expected onset of menses, can supply enough progesterone precursors to remedy flooding.  Ointment made from wild yam roots may be the able to restore youthful moistness and elasticity to post-menopausal vaginal tissues.  However, this is where a lot of misinformation and controversy occurs.
           Today most USP progesterone is, in fact, extracted from soy.  Neither USP nor human progesterone is present in either of the major plant sources (soybean or wild yam). Yams contain the sterol diosgenin, whereas soybeans contain the sterol stigmasterol—both of which have progesterone-like effects.  The substances sold as USP progesterone is produced in the lab by hydrolyzing extracts of soy or yam and converting saponins into sapogenins, two of which, sarsasapogenin (soy) and diosgenin (yam) provide the majority of derivation of natural progesterone produced for medical purposes.  While diosgenin may have some progestogenic or even phytoestrogenic action, the effect varies from one person to another.  Some doctors say that the human body cannot convert wild yam or diosgenin to hormones and that conversion to progesterone must take place in a laboratory. It is possible, however, that some women’s bodies are better able to utilize plant-derived compounds than others.  It is also important to remember that while the mechanism of phytogenic activity may not be clearly understood at this time, botanical supplementation continues to gain support among everywhere because it works for them.  There has been a great deal of confusion pertaining to the progesterone content of various manufacturers’ transdermal creams.  The bioavailability of the progesterone in such products is of paramount importance. The quality of a formulation and its delivery system determines the absorption and effectiveness.  It’s essential that you know your product and your supplier and above all observe your body’s response to the product of your choice.  Wild yam, given in combination with black cohosh, is not only common in menopause formulas but is also an effective pain-relieving remedy for rheumatoid arthritis, especially in the inflamed stages of flare-up.     Solvent in water. As a primary liver tonic herb, wild yam activates and stimulates liver activity.  High concentrations of steroidal saponins provide the building blocks required by the liver to synthesize sex hormones. Whenever both the liver and reproductive system are implicated as the cause of hormone imbalance, wild yam is the herb of choice to use in the formula.