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C

Calamus Root – See Sweetflag

Cardinal Flower – Formally called Lobelia Cardinalis, this plant with bright red flowers is native to the Americas, from southeastern Canada south through the eastern and southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America. Native Americans used the root to heal intestinal ailments, worms, epilepsy, typhoid, cramps, and syphilis. Leaf tea was used for colds, bronchial problems, croup, nosebleeds, fever, headache, and rheumatism. A poultice of the roots has been used on hard-to-heal sores and applied to the head to relieve headache pain. The Penobscot tribe smoked the dried leaves as a substitute for tobacco. As a member of the Lobelia family, it is considered to be potentially toxic, but the degree of toxicity is unknown. The sap of the plant has been known to cause skin irritation.

Cascara Sagrada – Officially called Rhamnus Purshiana, it comes from a species of Buckthorn tree native to western North America from southern British Columbia south to central California and inland to western Montana. Also known as Cascara Buckthorn, Chitticum Bark, Sacred Bark, and Bearberry, dried and aged bark is used primarily for bowel problems. It has a powerful laxative effect and is believed to improve the muscle tone of the colon walls. The dried bark can be made into tea, although it tastes bitter. Fresh cascara bark should not be used because it can cause bloody diarrhea and vomiting. It should be aged for at least one year or put through a special heat treatment.

Catnip/Catmint – Officially called Nepeta Cataria, also known as catswort. Although native to Europe, Asia, and Africa, it is common in North America. The herb has a long history of medicinal use for its soothing properties and has also been known to have a slightly numbing effect. Consumed in teas, used in poultices, and smoked. Stems and leaves, fresh or dried, are used to make an aromatic herb tea, which effectively treats disorders of the digestive system, reduces fever, and treats colds, flu, and infant colic. It has also been found to help treat restlessness and nervousness. Externally, salves are made from the leaves and applied to bruises, especially black eyes. Raw young leaves have a mint-like flavor and are often used in salads and cooked foods as a seasoning. It has been found to deter insects, mice, and rats when isolating the plant’s oil.

Cattail – Officially called Typha, about Eleven species are primarily found in the Northern Hemisphere’s wetland habitats. It is also commonly known by several names, including Bullrush, Reedmace, Punks, and Corndog Grass. These were often used to make a nutritious, energy-rich food source processed into flour. Pollen was also collected from mature male flowers and used as a flour supplement or thickener. In Native American herbal medicine, various species were used in poultices to treat burns, wound infections, sprains, boils, and swelling. Internally, it was used for abdominal cramps,  kidney stones, whooping cough, cysts, gonorrhea, and diarrhea. Specifically, the Apache used the pollen in several remedies; the Dakota, Ponca, and Pawnee used it for dressing burns and scalds; the Algonquin to treat infection; the Cahuilla for bleeding wounds. The Cheyenne were also known to have used leaves in their Sun Dance ceremony.

Cat’s Claw – Officially known as Uncaria Tomentosa, it is also sometimes called Cat’s Nail. A tropical vine that grows in the rainforest and jungles of South America and Asia, it has been used for medicinal purposes for more than two thousand years as a general health tonic, contraceptive, anti-inflammatory agent, gastrointestinal and urinary tract problems, diarrhea, rheumatic disorders, respiratory problems, acne, and, diabetes. Current studies also show it may positively affect and boost the body’s immune system and treat Aids, diabetes, PMS, chronic fatigue syndrome, prostate conditions, and cancer.

Cayenne – Formally known as Capsicum, it is also commonly known as Chili Pepper, Hot Pepper, Red Pepper, Tabasco Pepper, Pimiento, Mexican Chili, and many other local names. It is native to the Americas, where they have been cultivated for thousands of years by people in the tropical regions, and is now cultivated worldwide. Used as both a food and for medicinal purposes, it was best known for treating circulatory and digestive problems. Other conditions it was used for were rheumatism, arthritis, chronic nerve pain, shingles, diabetes, stomach ailments, heart disease, varicose veins, headache, menstrual cramps, and asthma. It was also used as a gargle for throat irritation. Externally, it was applied to wounds to increase blood flow and numb the pain. More recently, it has been used to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

Cedar – Officially called Cedrus, these large evergreens with needle-like leaves grow at high altitudes in full sun and wet, misty forests. Of the Pine Tree Family, its wood, berries, leaves, and oil are all used for medicinal purposes. Growing worldwide, the tree has been used for various purposes since ancient times, including as incense, perfumes, embalming, and in medicines such as disinfectants, antiseptics, astringents, and sedatives. In teas, it was used for respiratory conditions, joint pain, water retention, flatulence, fungal infections, to improve appetite and digestion, coughs, colds, fever, and flu. Salves and oils were used for wounds, skin rashes, hair loss, eczema, acne, warts, fungal infections, hemorrhoids, sore joints, syphilis, leprosy, and on the chest for asthma. Cedar leaves treat tuberculosis, and wood is decocted for chest infections, insomnia, and diabetes.

Native Americans utilized every part of the cedar tree. They made spears and arrows from the wood, burned the wood for fuel and incense, used the leaves and branches as insecticides, made medicines, offered it to the sacred fire during sweat lodge ceremonies, and burned it during prayers. It was also used for various medicinal purposes. When boiled, it purified indoor air and cedar baths.

Chamomile – A common name for several daisy-like plants, they are best known for their ability to be made into tea, which is commonly used to help sleep. They are also known to be used for gynecologic complaints, including PMS and cramps, treating stomach and intestinal cramps and problems, nausea, and stomach flu. It is also an excellent calming agent and well-suited for babies and children.

Chasteberry – Officially known as Vitex Agnus-cactus, this is the fruit of the Chaste tree and has been used for thousands of years to help reduce the symptoms of menstrual problems and to stimulate the production of breast milk. Also known as chaste tree berry, vitex, and monk’s pepper, monks in the Middle Ages reportedly used it to decrease sexual desire and preserve chastity, hence the name. However, it is now clear that the herb does not affect sex drive. The berries and flowers were used in teas for PMS, to ease menopausal symptoms, and for breast pain, acne, and fertility. Today, it has also been effective as an anti-inflammatory, bone strength, and epilepsy. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not take chasteberry.

Chokecherry – Officially known as Prunus Virginiana, it is also called Western Chokecherry, Black Chokecherry, and Wild Cherry. Varieties can be found all over the United States and Canada. Numerous tribes, including the Mohawk, Huron, Miami, Delaware, Cree, Penobscot, Iroquois, Chippewa, and others, have long used the tree as food and medicine. In early American medicine, it was considered one of the most important native drugs, ranked along with Sassafras. The berries were collected and dried for later consumption. The bark of the tree was used to treat smallpox, scurvy, soreness of the chest and throat, lung hemorrhages, cough, colds, inflammation of the bowel, diarrhea, stomach cramps, cholera,  digestive problems, gangrenous wounds, sores, pains, severe burns, and wounds. When Europeans arrived in America, they learned from the Indians about the health properties of chokeberry. They began to use it to treat coughs, colds, consumption, malaria, burns, and wounds. There are minor differences between the varieties, including the color of the fruit, ranging from red to purple to black. Though the berries are edible, caution should be used because the pit can be poisonous if consumed in large enough quantities.

Chlorella – A genus of single-celled green algae that has shown promise as having anti-tumor properties and effectiveness in cancer prevention, immune system support, weight control, reducing high blood pressure, lowering cholesterol levels, and accelerating wound healing.

Chickweed – Officially known as Stellaria Media and Stellaria Pubera, its probable origin is Eurasia, but it is now established worldwide. In North America, it is widespread from the Brooks Range in Alaska to all points south.  Also known as Common Chickweeds, Star Chickweeds, and Mouse-ear Chickweeds, they have been used for both food and medicine.  High in vitamins and minerals, the whole plant has been used as an astringent, antihistamine, diuretic, and expectorant, treating constipation, cough, cystitis, and kidney and urinary tract complaints. Externally, poultices have been used to treat rheumatic pains, wounds, ulcers, roseola, itching skin conditions, cuts, minor burns, eczema, and rashes.

Cinnamon Bark – Obtained from the inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum native to southeast Asia, the use of cinnamon dates back over 4,000 years and is also mentioned in the Bible. It has a broad range of historical health applications in different cultures. Over the years, it has been used to boost cognitive function and memory, treat rheumatism, colds, diarrhea, diabetes, and toothache, help digestion, and relieve certain menstrual disorders. Regularly drinking tea made from the bark of Sri Lanka cinnamon is considered beneficial to oxidative stress-related illnesses as it contains significant antioxidant potential.

Cloves– Known officially as Syzygium Aromaticum, these aromatic dried flower buds are native to Indonesia and used as a spice and in medicinal remedies. Some uses include toothache, bad breath, cough, skin infection, gum problems, indigestion, flatulence, nausea, and heartburn. Cloves also have antioxidant properties.

Club Moss – Officially called Lycopodiopsida, this herb has several other names, including Clubfoot Moss, Foxtail, Ground Pine, Running Club Moss, Staghorn, Vegetable Sulfur, and Wolf’s Claw. Medicinal club moss use started early in Europe and may have begun as early as the Middle Ages for many herbal remedies. The old name of Vegetable Sulfur refers to the highly flammable oil contained in the powder. It has been used as a diuretic to treat kidney stones and urinary tract infections.

Coltsfoot – Scientifically known as Tussilago Farfara, this dandelion-looking plant has been used medicinally worldwide for thousands of years. Pedanius Dioscorides, a Greek physician and pharmacologist who lived from 40-90 AD, recommended it for cough and asthma. Known by several other names, including British Tobacco, Bullsfoot, Butterbur, Coughwort, Flower Velure, Horsehoof, and others, it was native to several European and Asian locations. It was introduced to the Americas by early colonists. It now grows in North America, from Kentucky and Tennessee northward to Ontario and Quebec in Canada and west of the Mississippi River in Minnesota and Washington. Its leaves were usually smoked for cough, bronchitis, whooping cough, and other respiratory disorders. Crushed leaves were also used in teas and tonics for flu, pleurisy, sore throat, inflammation, fever, diarrhea, and indigestion. Crushed leaves and flowers were also used externally for various skin disorders, insect bites, inflammation, burns, skin ulcers, and sores. Today, it has been found that coltsfoot contains an alkaloid that promotes tumor growth and has resulted in liver health concerns. For this reason, its use as medicine may not be advisable.

Coneflower – See Echinacea

Cotton – Of the genus Gossypium, cotton is native to tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including the Americas, Africa, and India. Roots, leaves, and seeds have been used to treat urinary problems, aid the contraction of the uterus after childbirth, excessive bleeding during menstruation, heal wounds and burns, dysentery, and diarrhea. The Alabama and Koasati tribes made tea of the plant’s roots to relieve labor pains.

Creosote Bush – Officially, the plant is called Larrea Tridentata, and many call it “chaparral” as a medicinal herb. It is prominent in the deserts of the South and the Western U.S. A tea of the leaves was made by Native Americans of the Southwest and used as a treatment for respiratory problems, sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, chickenpox, dysmenorrhea, and snakebite. Unfortunately, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued warnings about the health hazards of ingesting chaparral today as it is said there is a risk of liver and kidney damage.

D

Damiana – Officially known as Turnera Diffusa, this small aromatic shrub is native to southwestern Texas, southern California, Central America, Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean. It has long been claimed to have a stimulating libido, and its use as an aphrodisiac has continued into modern times. It has also been used to increase energy, improve digestion, and treat asthma, depression, impotence, menstrual problems, anxiety, nervousness, and constipation.

Dandelion – Officially called Taraxacum Officinale, most people know it as a common weed but to herbalists for its many culinary and medicinal uses. Rich in vitamins A, B complex, C, and D, and minerals such as iron, potassium, and zinc, its leaves have often been used to flavor food and teas, its roots in coffee substitutes, and the flowers to make certain wines. Traditional medicine uses dandelion roots and leaves to treat liver problems, kidney disease, swelling, skin problems, heartburn, and stomach upset. A tea of the roots was drunk for heartburn by the Pillager Ojibwas, and the Mohegan tribe drank a tea of the leaves as a general health tonic. The Chinese used it to treat digestive disorders, appendicitis, and breast problems (such as inflammation or lack of milk flow). In Europe, herbalists incorporated it into remedies for fever, boils, eye problems, diabetes, and diarrhea. Today, dandelion roots are mainly used as an appetite stimulant, a diuretic, digestive aid, and for liver and gallbladder functions.

Devil’s Claw – Formally called Harpagophytum Procumbens, this plant, native to southern Africa, is also called Grapple Plant, Harpagon, Wood Spider, and Devil’s Club. For thousands of years by indigenous people of that country, it was used to treat fever, rheumatoid arthritis, skin conditions, and conditions involving the gallbladder, pancreas, stomach, and kidneys, and a numbing agent. Later, it was brought to Europe and utilized primarily to improve digestion and treat arthritis. After it was brought to the Americas, the Indians of British Columbia utilized a tea of the root bark to offset the effects of diabetes. The roots and tubers are still used today to reduce swelling, joint disease, arthritis, gout, back pain, headache, constipation, diarrhea, sores, skin conditions, and as an appetite stimulant. Devil’s claw should not be used by women who are or may be pregnant, as it is believed to cause uterine contractions.

Dogbane – See Indian Hemp

Dogwood – Scientifically known as Cornus Florida, this flowering tree native to the U.S. can be found from Maine to Florida and west to Minnesota, Kansas, and Texas. Having several other common names, including American Dogwood, Boxwood, Budwood, Cornelian Tree, Flowering Dogwood, Green Ozier, and others, its inner bark, berries, and twigs have long been used in Native American remedies. Primarily, it was used internally to treat malaria, fever, pneumonia, colds, and diarrhea and improve digestion and appetite. Externally, poultices were used to heal ulcers and sores. In the early 19th Century, a report was made that Native Americans in Virginia were remarkable for their white teeth. They used twigs as chewing sticks, toothpicks, and brushes. The Iroquois were known to use the twigs in a tonic for gonorrhea, and the Cherokee chewed the bark for headaches and used a decoction of bark to treat childhood afflictions such as worms, measles, and diarrhea. They also made poultices, which were also used for wounds and other skin disorders. The Menominee used the bark in enemas, and the Arikara mixed it with the bearberry to make sacred tobacco. During the Civil War, it was widely used for malarial fever and chronic diarrhea in the South.

Dong Quai – Officially called Angelica Sinensis, and also known as Chinese Angelica, Dang Gui, the Female Ginseng, and Tang Kuei, the root has been used for more than a thousand years as a spice, tonic, and medicine in China, Korea, and Japan. In traditional medicine, it was usually combined with other herbs to treat women’s reproductive problems, including PMS and cramps, improve circulation, and ease menopausal symptoms. It has also been found to be effective in treating weakness after childbirth, chronic nasal or sinus congestion, fibroid tumors, high blood pressure, fibrocystic breast disease, rheumatoid arthritis,  anemia, allergies, constipation, shingles, hepatitis, and headache. Studies today suggest it may also reduce pain, dilate blood vessels, and stimulate and relax uterine muscles.

Disclaimer:  These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and we make no medical claims nor intend to diagnose, treat, or heal medical conditions. Women who are pregnant or nursing or persons with known medical conditions should consult their physician before taking any herbal products.

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