WORMWOOD (Artemisia absinthium L) Wormwood is mainly used as a bitter tonic. Chances are that you have heard of the ancient proverb ‘bitter as wormwood.’ Its this bitter characteristic that gives wormwood its significant place in herbal pharmacopeia. As the name implies, wormwood is a powerful worming agent that has been historically used to expel parasites including tapeworms, threadworms, and roundworms from dogs, cats, and...

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INDIAN MALLOW (Abutilon indicum) Abutilon indicum has been medicinally used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic traditions. The entire plant has medicinal value. The leaves are used as demulcent, aphrodisiac, laxative, and sedative. The bark is astringent and diuretic; the seeds are considered to be laxative, demulcent, and expectorant. The entire plant is uprooted, dried and crushed into a powder to be used as a laxative...

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Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora) Camphor is a white crystalline substance, obtained from the tree Cinnamomum camphora. It has a strong, penetrating fragrance and a bitter, pungent taste. It is slightly cold to the touch like menthol leaves. You may recognize the exclusive smell since it is typically used in mothballs as well as some anti-itching medical formulations. It can be purchased in the form of oil,...

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BLACK WALNUT HULL (Juglans Nigra) Black Walnut tree is native to Eastern North America but is cultivated in many parts of the world. Black Walnut hulls have been used in herbal medicine for centuries to treat various conditions including intestinal problems, snake bites, open wounds, ulcers, and as a laxative. Because of its dark color, the hull was also used as a dye and commonly...

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BASIL (Ocimumbasilicum) Basil is a leafy aromatic herb that you often see being sold in small pots in supermarkets and grocery stores. Its enticing peppery aroma gives a fine touch to any old dish. There are many varieties of basil but here we are only discussing the culinary variety that goes by the names Basil, Sweet Basil, and Thai Basil. There are many other varieties...

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ANGELICA (Angelica archangelica) Angelica is used extensively in herbal medicine. Angelica is a very good tonic herb for women and children, the elderly or general debility. Angelica root contains vitamin B12, Zinc, Thiamine, Sucrose, Riboflavin, Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, Fructose, Glucose, and many other trace minerals. USES: Angelica is a surprisingly rich herb with wide-ranging effects, including: It is a tonic herb and is said to...

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AMARGO (Quassia amara) Amargo is a deciduous tree that can reach up to hundred feet, but normally grows to about twenty feet. This shrubby tree produces smooth, gray bark, compound leaves, small red flowers, and pea-sized black fruits. It grows in forests near water, and is cultivated for its medicinal use. The bark is harvested throughout the year.Quassia bark was first introduced into Europe in...

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