By Health Educator Sylvester Johnson, Ph. D. Applied Physics For personal consultation service, please see

Appendices: Herbal Properties

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  Information from the site (www.village.fortunecity.com/radclyffe/541/herbs2.htm). That site may not have been the originator of this information, which I haven’t double-checked, and which may never have been scientifically tested. Nevertheless, I find it useful as a quick reference, also delving into the books on the subject as needed. Excellent descriptions of herbal properties can be found in the book by Balch (Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Phyllis A. Balch MD, ISBN 1-58333-077-1, available at many large health stores). Another website to refer to is (www.alternativemedicine.com/AMHome.asp?cn=User&act=GetUser&Style=%5CAMXSL%5CGlossary.xsl).
  
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  Examples of "blood cleansers": burdock, cleavers, echinacea, nettles, red clover
  
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  Analgesics or anodynes relieve pain, taken internally or applied to the skin. Examples: passion flower, red poppy, skullcap, St. John's wort, valerian root
  
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  Anthelmintics will either kill worms or expel them from the digestive tract. Because they are strongly purgative, many are illegal. Use with caution; some of these herbs can be dangerous if misused. Examples: aloe (when used internally), garlic, pomegranate, tansy, wormwood, rue
  
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  Anti-bilious herbs help remove excess bile. Also see cholagogues and hepatics. Examples: balmony, barberry, dandelion, goldenseal, vervain
  
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  Anti-catarrhal herbs help decrease congestion and mucus. Examples: boneset, echinacea, garlic, goldenseal, hyssop, mullein, yarrow
  
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  Anti-emetics help to reduce nausea and prevent or stop vomiting. Examples: bee balm, black horehound, dill, meadowsweet
  
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  Anti-inflammatory herbs help to relieve inflammation. Demulcents, emollients and vulneraries will generally act as anti-inflammatories when used externally. Examples: black willow, chamomile, marigold, meadowsweet, St. John's wort
  
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  Anti-lithic herbs prevent the formation of stones in the urinary system and may help to dissolve them. Examples: bearberry, corn silk, gravel root (Joe Pye weed, queen of the meadow)
  
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  Anti-microbial herbs help the body to resist or eliminate pathogens. Examples: clove, echinacea, elecampane, garlic, marigold, myrrh, rosemary, thyme
  
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  Anti-spasmodics can prevent or ease spasms or cramps. Examples: black haw, chamomile, cramp bark, lobelia, motherwort, skullcap, valerian, vervain
  
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  The aromatic herbs have a strong, pleasing scent that helps to stimulate the digestive system. They are also widely used to add flavor and scent to other herbal medicines (some of which taste and smell pretty foul!) Examples: aniseed, bee balm, chamomile, cinnamon, dill, fennel, hyssop, ginger, peppermint, rosemary
  
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  Astringents usually contain tannins. They protect inflamed tissues and stop discharges by precipitating proteins to form a protective barrier. Examples: bayberry, bearberry, eyebright, meadowsweet, pilewort, plantain, raspberry, rosemary, slippery elm, St. John's wort, wild cherry, yarrow
  
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  Bitters help stimulate the digestive system when tasted. Examples: barberry, boneset, goldenseal, hops, white horehound
  
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  Carminatives contain volatile oils that relax the stomach, stimulate digestion and help prevent or eliminate gas in the digestive system. Examples: angelica, aniseed, cinnamon, chamomile, dill, fennel, garlic, ginger, peppermint, thyme, valerian
  
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  Cholagogues stimulate the production of bile in the gallbladder and generally have a laxative effect. Examples: balmony, barberry, goldenseal
  
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  Demulcents soothe and protect inflamed or irritated tissue, generally due to their high mucilage content. Examples: coltsfoot, comfrey, Irish moss, marshmallow, mullein, slippery elm
  
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  Diaphoretics promote sweating and help to eliminate toxins and to "sweat out" fevers. Examples: boneset, cayenne, garlic, peppermint, yarrow
  
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  Diuretics increase the production of urine. Examples: bearberry, cleavers, corn silk, dandelion, gravel root, nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.), parsley, yarrow
  
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  Emmenagogues help to stimulate and normalize menstruation and/or tonify the female reproductive system. Examples: black cohosh, chaste tree berry, cramp bark, false unicorn root, ginger, motherwort, red raspberry, squaw vine, true unicorn root
  
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  Emollients are used externally to protect, soothe or soften chapped or irritated skin. Examples: chickweed, comfrey, flax seed, mullein, plantain, slippery elm
  
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  Expectorant herbs help remove excess mucus from the respiratory system. Examples: coltsfoot, hyssop, licorice, lobelia, mullein, white horehound, wild cherry
  
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  Febrifuges (anti-pyretics) help to reduce fevers. Examples: boneset, cayenne, elder flower, peppermint
  
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  Galactogogues help increase a nursing mother's supply of breast milk. Examples: aniseed, fennel, goat's rue
  
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  Hepatics are liver tonics. Examples: balmony, barberry, dandelion, goldenseal
  
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  Hypnotics help to bring on sleep. Examples: chamomile, hops, passion flower, skullcap, valerian
  
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  Laxatives help to ease constipation. Herbs such as cascara segrada and senna should not be used for more than a day or two because prolonged use can destroy normal peristalsis permanently, resulting in dependence on laxatives. Psyllium and other bulk-forming substances are preferable and safe. Examples: barberry, cascara segrada, flax seed, psyllium, senna
  
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  Nervines help to strengthen the nervous system. Some are stimulant in nature and others are relaxant. Examples: bee balm, chamomile, cramp bark, damiana, ginseng, hops, lemon balm, lime blossom, lobelia, oats, passion flower, peppermint, red clover, rosemary, skullcap, valerian, vervain
  
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  Oxytocics aid in childbirth by stimulating contraction of the uterus. Examples: blue cohosh, goldenseal, squaw vine
  
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  Pectorals help to heal and strenthen the entire respiratory system. Examples: coltsfoot, comfrey, garlic, goldenseal, hyssop, Irish moss, licorice, marshmallow, mullein, white horehound
  
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  Rubefacients are applied externally. They cause a mild local irritation, resulting increased circulation in the skin, helping to relieve internal pain. Examples: black mustard, cayenne, ginger, horseradish, nettles, peppermint oil, rosemary oil
  
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  Sedatives calm the nervous system and help reduce anxiety and stress. Examples: chamomile, hops, passion flower, red clover, skullcap, St. John's wort, valerian
  
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  Stimulants increase the body's physiological functions. Examples: bayberry, black mustard, cayenne, cinnamon, garlic, ginseng, horseradish, peppermint
  
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  Tonics strengthen and support either a specific organ or system, or the body as a whole. Examples: milk thistle (liver), hawthorn or garlic (cardiovascular), mullein or coltsfoot (respiratory), bitters (digestive), red raspberry or false unicorn root (reproductive system - women), saw palmetto, sasparilla (reproductive system - men), oats or skullcap (nervous system)
  
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  Vulneraries help to heal cuts when used externally. Examples: aloe, chickweed, comfrey, elder, marigold, mullein, myrrh, slippery elm, St. John's wort, thyme