Skip to main content

Some Categories of Medicinal Herbs

Medicinal Herb Exploration

Herbal remedies are categorized by application. Here are a few of the most common categories and some examples of herbs that fit them!




Anti-Inflammatory
This group is comprised of plants that release soothing compounds into the body to reduce inflammation. Examples include circumen (found in turmeric), zingerone (ginger), flavonoids (tea, chili peppers), cinnamaldehyde (cinnamon), eugenol (clove) and so on. While some compounds reduce inflammation by breaking down free radicals (which cause tiny-scale inflammation in the body that can accumulate to a big problem), others inhibit enzymes that cause inflammatory response in the body. More examples of anti-inflammatory plants are peppercorn, sage, rosemary, and spirulina.

Expectorant
Expectorants loosen congestion and cause all that gnarly mucus to work its way out of the body. We most frequently see expectorant properties in roots and resins, though many seeds also help with congestion! Some examples of expectorant herbs are anise seed, bloodroot, camphor, cedar, slippery elm, eucalyptus, fennel and garlic.

Astringent
These herbs take a different approach to congestion. While expectorants loosen and move mucus, astringents dry the mucus membranes. Due to their drying nature, be careful when working with these herbs. They are super-effective diuretics and can cause dehydration when overused. Try topical application for toning skin and pulling splinters and internal application for drying out the body. Examples of astringent herbs include rose, tea, witch hazel (do not take internally!), blackberry leaf, plantain, horsetail and yarrow.

Digestive
Plants can be a very powerful and quickly effective way of managing digestive issues. Whether it's a mildly upset tummy or serious GI distress, there are a number of options. Dandelion root, peppermint, chamomile and milk thistle are great for minor upsets, while ginger, artichoke and slippery elm can tackle the more serious cases. Try marshmallow (no, not the candy) and licorice root to assist with constipation, and don't forget cinnamon for loss of appetite and bloating.

Immune-Boosting
Antiviral herbs are key in preventing cold and flu season from taking you down. These plants fight back by inhibiting development of viruses, treating infections with little-to-no side effects (depending of course on your allergies...), and shoring up your existing immunity. Antivirals are also great support for cardiovascular and inflammatory issues. Bonus! Give your immune system some help by stocking up on elderberry and garlic (both also great anti-fungal plants), astragalus, ginger, echinacea (one of the most potent!), olive leaf and oregano.

Adaptogenic
These badasses balance out the body's response to stressors (both physical and mental) and can help with many difficulties from fatigue to metabolism, blood pressure and sex drive. Whoa. We call this effect the “promotion of homeostasis” and they work especially well when taken cumulatively. The most common adaptogens on the market are ashwaganda, rhodiola, tulsi, ginseng, turmeric and reishi mushroom.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Indigenous Sips: Pacific Madrone

Pacific Northwest local red-barked beauty Pacific Madrone, aka Arbutus Menziesii , is a sight to behold for sure. The rich hue and dramatically peeling bark, the curve of its sturdy branches and sheen of its verdant waxy leaves are all peak hiking aesthetic, but did you know this tree has long been a multipurpose source of healing tincture and tea? Various tribes of the west coast, ranging from California up through British Columbia, make use of Madrone bark and berries. Extracted as a tincture or bundled and bruised for a poultice, this plant can be used topically to treat minor wounds and sores. Brewed as a tea, the light-bodied brew has notes of cinnamon, foresty fungus and wood smoke and is used to help a stomachache or as a cold medicine. This tree serves as a very renewable source of bark, leaf and berry and can be harvested without damaging the tree. Madrones will naturally shed their leaf every two years and their bark each summer. When you approach a Madrone in midsumme...
1 comment
Read more

Synesthesia And Blending As Sensory Art

I am frequently asked how I get ideas for my blends. Where does my inspiration come from? Which comes first, the blend or its name? I'm proud of how original my blends are, and how different from blends you'll find by any other company. This is largely due to the fact that I have synesthesia (meaning my senses are cross-wired and abstract concepts, personalities, colors, weather, etc. all translate to me as flavor). My dominant forms are referred to as "lexical-gustatory," "auditory-tactile," and "mirror touch." It's fascinating stuff for sure, and has made my life and relationships more complicated. On the flip side, I have discovered a practical use for my brain-strangeness! Like many synesthetes before me (Jimi Hendrix, Tori Amos, Richard Feynman, Vladimir Nabokov, etc.), I've translated my particular brand of strange into a career. Synesthesia salad. credit: jessicahagy.info/ My personal experience with synesthesia leads me...
8 comments
Read more

Six True Types of Tea

We get asked a LOT what the difference is between white tea and black tea, herbal tea and green tea, and so on. The world of tea is mysterious and a lot of you want to learn more, so let's start with the basics! True tea comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant. Always. Any infusion made from the leaf, stem, root or whatever other part of any other plant falls into the "tisane" category, also known as "herbal tea." Those are a whole tasty world absolutely worth your time and attention, but today we're focusing on true teas.   There are six basic types of true tea, delineated by the level of oxidation allowed to occur in the leaf during processing. After picking, tea leaves frequently go through a process of bruising, withering, heating, and drying. (I say frequently because the world of tea is so vast and varied, every facet of the end product is up for flux. How much caffeine? What does it taste like? Is it smooth or brash? The answer is always "it ...
7 comments
Read more