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Maca – Officially known as Lepidium Meyenii, this plant is native to the high Andes of Peru and Bolivia. Humans have harvested and used it for centuries, consuming it as food and for medicinal purposes. It is also known as “Peruvian Ginseng,” even though it is not a member of the Ginseng family, because of its reputation for increasing strength, stamina, energy, libido, and sexual function. It is also said to be beneficial in treating fatigue, infertility, symptoms of menopause, and cancer.

Marshmallow Leaf/Root – Officially known as Althea Officinalis, this perennial herb is native to Europe and western Asia. Also known as Marshmallow Plant, Mallow, White Mallow, or Common Marshmallow, it has a long history as an herbal remedy for cough, sore throat, mouth ulcers, and respiratory problems such as bronchitis and whooping cough. The ancient Egyptians were known to have used it in a honey-sweetened confection for sore throat. Other uses include treating diarrhea, indigestion, and weight loss. External uses also include swelling, cuts, wounds, boils, eczema, and psoriasis. The flowers and young leaves are edible and are often added to salads or boiled and fried.

Mayapple – Officially known as Podophyllum Peltatum, this plant is native to wooded areas of eastern North America; it went by several other names, including American Mandrake, Duck’s Foot, Ground Lemon, Hog Apple, Indian Apple, Love Apple, Raccoonberry, Umbrella Plant, and others. The ripe fruit is edible in moderate amounts, but in large amounts, it is poisonous. All other parts of the plant are poisonous. The Mayapple is surrounded by folklore. It was said to have been used by witches as a poison and named after Witch’s Umbrella. The English version of this plant, called Manroot (mandrake, was believed to be alive, and its screams, when pulled from the ground, would render a man permanently insane. Native Americans used the edible fruit extensively, eating it raw, cooked, or made into jams, jellies, marmalades, and pies. Though other parts of the plant are toxic, Indian Healers knew what they were doing, using the roots os a laxative to treat worms and support liver function. Externally, they used it to treat snakebite, warts, and some skin conditions. They also used it as an insecticide on their crops. Later, Mayapple was used as an ingredient in Carter’s Little Liver Pills. Because of its toxicity, professional Herbalists should use this herb only with caution.

Milk-vetch – See Astragalus.

Milkweed – Formally known as Asclepias Syriaca, this herb, named for its milky juice, is also known as Common Milkweed, Common Milkweed, Cottonweed, Silkweed, Wild Cotton, Virginia-Silk, and Silky Swallowwort.  Though it can be toxic if not prepared properly, people used milkweed as food and medicine and to make cords, ropes, and coarse cloth. Various indigenous groups in eastern and midwestern America boiled and ate the young shoots, stems, flower buds, immature fruits, and roots of butterfly milkweed as a vegetable. The Meskwaki tribe steamed the flower buds as a food source, which was nutritious but not very flavorful. The Cherokee drank an infusion of common milkweed root and Virgin’s Bower (Clematis species) for backache. They also used the plant as a laxative, an antidote for dropsy, and an infusion of the root for venereal diseases. The Meskwaki and Mohawk used decoction as a contraceptive; the Iroquois and Navajo used it to prevent problems after childbirth; and the Chippewa used it to produce postpartum milk flow. Other uses included treatment for stomach problems, female issues, chest discomfort, external warts, ringworm, and bee stings. Warning: Milkweed may be toxic when taken internally without sufficient preparation.

Mint – Officially known as Mentha, it originated in Asia and the Mediterranean, but several varieties are grown worldwide today. Fresh or dried leaves have long been used in teas, beverages, jellies, syrups, candies, ice creams, and specific cuisines. It has also been used for a long time to treat indigestion, respiratory problems, heartburn, colds, flu, allergies, and headaches, and it is also a mild sedative. Externally, it has been used to treat minor burns, itching, acne, and skin irritations. The Cherokee were known to have used the leaves and stems to lower high blood pressure.

Mountain Hemlock – See Native Hemlock

Mugwort – Also called St. John’s Plant, these names are common for several aromatic plants in the genus Artemisia. Both the leaves and roots have been used for hundreds of years to alleviate gas and bloating, as a digestive stimulant, as a uterine stimulant, to bring on delayed menstruation, for relaxation, and as a mild sedative.

Mullein – Officially known as genus Verbascum and also known as velvet plants, this slowering plant is native to Europe and Asia and was first introduced to America by Europeans. A tobacco-like plant and one of the oldest herbs, it has a long history of being used as a medicine to treat asthma and respiratory disorders. Native Americans, including the Menominee, Forest Potawatomi, Mohegan, and Penobscot, often inhaled the smoke from smoldering mullein roots and leaves to soothe asthma attacks, chest congestion, and other respiratory disorders. The roots can be made into a warm decoction for soaking swollen feet, reducing swelling in joints or other areas, and soothing painful tissues. It benefits the mucous membranes. The Catawba Indians used a sweetened syrup from the boiled root, which they gave to their children for cough. Tea can be made from flowers as a mild sedative. Extracts made from the plant’s flowers are used to treat ear infections, and one species, called Great Mullein, is used as a herbal remedy for sore throat, cough, and lung diseases.

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Native Hemlock – Officially called Tsuga, this is a type of Conifer tree in the Pine family. Unlike poison hemlock (Conium), Tsuga species are not poisonous. Western Hemlock is found on onthe West Coast of North America. Tribes in the area often used it as a dye for tanning hides and making baskets and wooden items. The people then applied the pitch topically as a poultice or salve for colds and to prevent sunburn. A decoction of pounded bark was also used to treat hemorrhages. Native Americans also used another species, commonly known as Mountain Hemlock (Tsuga Mertensiana). The Menominee and the Forest Potawatomi used tea from the inner bark and twigs to relieve colds and fever. They also used it to treat flu, kidney or bladder problems, and diarrhea; as a gargle for mouth and throat problems; and externally to wash sores and ulcers.

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Oak – Scientifically called Quercus, these trees and shrubs have about 600 species found worldwide. Its fruit, the acorn, was a staple of many Native American cultures, and the tree’s inner bark was used for various ailments. Acorns are an ideal food for those with degenerative, wasting diseases such as tuberculosis, and when it was rampant in the early 19th Century, acorn porridge was often prescribed. Native Americans used the inner bark of the oak to make a bitter decoction to treat diarrhea, a gargle for sore throats, kidney and bladder problems, viruses, and menstrual bleeding. They also used poultices for skin problems, ringworms, burns, sores, sprains, and swelling.

Oat Straw – Formally known as Avena Sativa, it is also commonly known as Groats, Herb Oats, Oatgrass, and Wild Oats. Oats have been an elemental food source for humans and animals since prehistoric times. They have also long been used to treat several medical problems, such as lowering cholesterol, increasing vigor and stamina, nervousness, exhaustion, insomnia, and digestive problems. More recently, they have been effective in treating multiple sclerosis, ADHD, cancer, tumors, and diabetes.

Olive Oil – Obtained from the olive, a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin, Olive Oil has long been used in cooking, cosmetics, medicines, soap, and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps. Because of its high content of fatty acids and anti-oxidative substances, it has long been used in cooking and traditional medicines. When used in food, olive oil aids digestion and prevents constipation. A spoonful has been used to relieve throat troubles. It has long been used as a skin moisturizer and cleanser. Today’s studies suggest that using olive oil in food, rather than other types of oils, can provide protective effects against certain malignant tumors and cancer and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Osha – Formally known as Ligusticum Porteri, it is also called Porter’s Licorice Root, Osha Root, Bear Root, or Colorado Cough Root. In some Native American cultures, it is called Bear Root and Bear Medicine. A member of the celery family, this aromatic plant grows in the mountain woodlands throughout the Southwest. The whole plant has been used medicinally; however, the thick taproots are most highly valued. With its wide range of medicinal properties and high value, it was commonly traded among Native Americans, so tribes far removed from the plant’s native range also used the herb in ceremonies and medicine. Osha fresh or dried roots were in teas and tonics, chewed for internal use, and made into poultices and salves for external use. It has long been known for its warming properties against cold and chills and for stimulating circulation. They used salves and liniments for sore muscles, body aches, rheumatism, and arthritis. Because of its strong smell, the Apache and other Indians used it as a snake and insect repellent and to treat insect and spider bites. Internally, they used it for digestive problems, respiratory problems, headaches, cold and flu symptoms, fever, heartburn, and sinusitis. Many tribes also used the Osha root as incense for purification and during ceremonies. The Chiricahua and Mescalero Apache use the aromatic root with chilies as a culinary spice to flavor meat.

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Palo Santo – Officially known as Bursera Graveolens, Palo Santo is a tree native to Central and South America. Growing in dry tropical forests, it produces a fragrant resin with hints of pine, mint, and lemon. Meaning “holy wood” or “wood of the saints” in Spanish, its wood, resin, and oil have been used for centuries by Indigenous people in sacred ceremonies, medicinal purposes, and to ward off evil spirits. Palo Santo tea has been used as a natural digestive aid and anti-inflammatory to treat arthritis, headache, sore throat, colds, and flu. It is also said to support the immune and nervous systems, which helps patients recover faster from illness. The citrus family, related to Frankincense, Myrrh, and Copal, has also long been used in smudging, which can have immediate calming effects and help with stress, anxiety, and depression. It is often utilized to clear negative energy, purify, and have a cleansing effect on the body and mind. The holy wood also contains a high concentration of a compound called d-limonene, which is thought to help prevent various cancers. Burning Palo Santo sticks is also widely used to repel mosquitoes and deter ants, termites, and flies.

Partridgeberry – Officially called Mitchella Repens, it is native to America and is also known by the common names of Deerberry, One-berry, Squaw Vine, and Winter Clover. Although primarily used in medicine, Partridgeberry also had uses among Native American tribes, including ceremonial smoke, a love potion, and food when the berries were eaten or used in sauces, bread, and cakes. Many Native Americans, including the Cherokee, made a tea of the boiled leaves that was drunk during the final weeks of pregnancy to ease childbirth. Nursing mothers applied a lotion made from the leaves to their breasts to relieve soreness. Early colonists also used the tea to aid childbirth and as a remedy for menstrual cramps. It has also been used to treat menstrual pains and cramps, regulate menstruation, and induce childbirth. It may also be effective as an abortifacient and should not be used by pregnant women.

Passion Flower – Officially called Passiflora, also commonly known as Passion Vine. Consisting of 500 species of flowering plants, it is found worldwide, but nine species are native to the USA, found from Ohio to the North, West to California, and South to the Florida Keys. One species, called Maypop, has a long history of use among Native Americans, and early European colonists adopted it. The leaves and roots were used to make tea to treat insomnia, anxiety, hysteria, seizures, and epilepsy. People have also used it to treat depression, hyperactivity, tension, and muscle pain, as well as in poultices for injuries, wounds, boils, and earaches. Do not take passion flowers if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Pau d’arco – Scientifically known as Tabebuia Avellanedae, this herb, native to South America, has long been used to treat many conditions. Traditionally, it has been used to treat pain, arthritis, inflammation of the prostate gland, fever, dysentery, boils and ulcers, and various cancers. Today, it has been found to have active compounds that kill some bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. It has flu.

Pennyroyal – Scientifically called Mentha Pulegium, this member of the Mint family has long been used as a culinary herb and folk remedy. It was commonly used as a cooking herb by the Greeks and Romans, and the Greeks also made wine. American Pennyroyal is also known as Mock Pennyroyal, Mosquito Plant, Fleabane, Tickweed, and Stinking Balm. In colonial America, it was used to eradicate pests, including snakes. Though it is known to be toxic, American Pennyroyal was used extensively by Native Americans to treat headaches, stomach aches, itching, watery eyes, and fever, and to stimulate menstrual flow. Externally, they crushed the leaves and applied them to the skin as an insect repellent. It has also been used to treat flatulence, gall ailments, gout, hepatitis, gums, tumors, and as an emmenagogue. Pregnant women should not use pennyroyal in any way. Over-ingestion of this herb has caused death.

Peppermint – Mentha Piperita is a hybrid mint, a cross between the watermint (Mentha aquatica) and spearmint (Mentha spicata). Indigenous to Europe, it is now widespread worldwide. It has a long tradition of medicinal use, with archaeological evidence placing its use at least as far back as ten thousand years ago. Most often known as a flavoring for gum, toothpaste, and tea, it has long been used to soothe an upset stomach and heartburn and aid indigestion. Because it has a calming and numbing effect, it has been used to treat headaches, skin irritations, anxiety, depression, nausea, diarrhea, menstrual cramps, and flatulence. Externally, it has been used in chest rubs to treat colds. Later, it was found to be effective in boosting mental power and energy, morning sickness, and irritable bowel syndrome. Do not give peppermint to an infant or small child, as it is known to cause life-threatening breathing problems.

Persimmon – An edible fruit of several tree species in the genus Diospyros in the ebony wood family (Ebenaceae), persimmons are eaten fresh, dried, raw, or cooked. They have long been used in traditional Asian medicine in teas to stop hiccups, bed-wetting, constipation, and fever, and to improve circulation. They have also been found to help prevent heart attacks and strokes, as well as reduce fluid retention and high blood pressure.  In the U.S., the Catawba stripped the bark, boiled it in water, and used it as a mouth rinse for thrush and other conditions.

Pinon – Officially called Pinus edulis, this member of the Pine family is native to the U.S. and is found in Colorado, southern Wyoming, eastern and central Utah, northern Arizona, New Mexico, and the Guadalupe Mountains in westernmost Texas. Native Americans extensively collected the edible seeds and pine nuts, with some tribes calling it the “tree of life.” In addition to utilizing the tree for food and wood, it was often used for ceremonial purposes, such as girls’ puberty rites by the Mescalero Apache and the Navajo in their  Evilway ceremony. It was used to treat colds by inhaling smoke from the needles or burning resin for medicinal purposes. The Navajo used a poultice of buds for burns and heated resin to remove facial hair. The Zuni used the piñon for several medicinal applications, including consuming the needles or using them in an infusion to promote sweating. They also ground the resin for skin infections, cuts, and sores as an antiseptic. They also chewed the needles to treat syphilis, after which they would drink large quantities of water, take a mile run, and, upon return, would be wrapped in several blankets and made to sweat profusely. The Spanish New Mexicans treated the same disease by mixing the piñon pitch with whiskey and brown sugar.

Plantain – Scientifically called Plantago Major, has several other common names, including Ripple Grass, Waybread, Snakeweed, Cuckoo’s Bread, Englishman’s Foot, White Man’s Foot, and others. The ancient Saxon people considered it one of the nine sacred herbs, and it has a long history of use as an alternative medicine dating back to ancient times. Native to northern and central Asia and Europe, there are more than 200 species. Early colonists brought plantain to North America as a favored healing remedy. Native Americans soon called it White Man’s Foot, as it is often found growing along well-trodden footpaths. Native Americans quickly adopted many traditional European uses for this beneficial herb. The leaves and seeds were used for several remedies – to draw out the poison of rattlesnake bite, soothe rheumatic pain, as a poultice to treat battle wounds, sores, insect bites, bronchitis, tuberculosis, sore throat, laryngitis, urinary infections, digestive problems, and a blood-purifying tonic. The herb’s root was used to relieve toothache, and the juice was used to relieve earache.

Pleurisy Root – Officially called Asclepias Tuberosa, this is a species of Milkweed native to eastern North America, also known by several other names, including Butterfly Weed, Canada Root, Flux Root, Swallow-Wort, Tuber Root, White Root, Wind Root, and Orange Milkweed. It has long been used to treat many respiratory disorders because it can reduce inflammation. It has been used to relieve cough, pleurisy (lung inflammation), pneumonia, uterine disorders, pain, spasms, bronchitis, flu, and to ease breathing and promote sweating. The Natchez tribe was known to have drunk tea from boiled roots as a remedy for pneumonia and to promote the expulsion of phlegm.

Poke – Formally known as Phytolacca Americana, this perennial herb is a native plant of the eastern United States. It has several other common names, including American Nightshade, Poke Weed, Inkberry, Pigeon Berry, Pocan Bush, Redweed, and others. Though parts of this plant are highly toxic to livestock and humans and are considered a major pest by farmers, some parts have long been used for food and medicine. It has been used to treat syphilis, diphtheria, cancer, asthma, intestinal worms, cramps, and stomach ulcers; it is also used to improve the digestive, urinary, and immune systems, and as a purgative for inflammation. Externally, poultices and washes were used on skin conditions, arthritis, rheumatism, abscesses, swelling, pain, sprains, and hemorrhoids. Because this herb is toxic, professional training is required to use it.

Prickly Pear Cactus – Scientifically known as Opuntia Engelmannii, this plant has edible leaves, fruit, and flowers and has been used for both food and medicine. Common across the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico, it is also known by several common names, including Cow’s Tongue Cactus, Desert Prickly Pear, Texas Prickly Pear, and others. Native Americans used the younger pads for food, mature pads as a poultice for wounds, burns, and boils, to stop bleeding and swelling in the prostate, and as an antiseptic. Internally, teas were made to treat urinary tract infections and tuberculosis and to support the immune system. It has also been shown to lower cholesterol and help prevent diet-related cardiovascular disease and adult-onset diabetes.

Psyllium Seed Husk – Also known as Ispaghula, Isabgol, or Psyllium, these husks are parts of the seeds of the plant Plantago Ovata, native to India. A fiber-rich supplement, it has been known to relieve constipation, bowel and colon problems, diarrhea, and hemorrhoids. It also improves digestion and may help lower blood cholesterol.

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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