Herb Profile: Holy Basil (Tulsi) (Ocimum tenuiflorum)

Quick Facts

• Family: Lamiaceae (Mint family)

• Parts Used: Leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds

• Energetics: Warming, Pungent, Spicy

• Taste/Aroma: Pungent, Spicy, Peppery, Clove-like

Core Uses & Actions

• Primary Actions: Adaptogen, Anxiolytic, Immunomodulator, Antioxidant, Anti-diabetic.

• Key Uses: Sacred plant used to help the body manage stress (influences cortisol levels) and elevate mood. Used for colds, coughs, and respiratory issues. Helps normalize blood glucose and lipid levels.

Critical Safety Warnings

• Pregnancy/Breastfeeding: Use is discouraged (potential effects on fertility and pregnancy).

• Surgery: May slow blood clotting. Stop use at least two weeks before surgery.

• Drug Interactions: Caution if taking medications that slow blood clotting or manage blood sugar.

• Thyroid: May potentially lower thyroxine levels (Hypothyroidism).

Herb Profile: Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

Quick Facts

• Family: Caprifoliaceae

• Parts Used: Flower buds and flowers, leaves, and stems

• Energetics: Cooling, Clearing

• Taste/Aroma: Sweet, Floral (Flowers), Lightly Bitter (Tea)

Core Uses & Actions

• Primary Actions: Antiviral, Antibacterial, Anti-inflammatory, Febrifuge.

• Key Uses: Staple in TCM for clearing "heat" and treating fevers, sore throats, and infections. Antimicrobial properties fight viral and bacterial infections. External wash for skin irritations.

Critical Safety Warnings

• CRITICAL TOXICITY: The berries are moderately poisonous (can cause vomiting, respiratory failure, and coma in large amounts). Do not ingest berries.

• Invasive Species: An aggressive invasive species in many regions.

• General: Overconsumption can have a laxative effect.

Herb Profile: Hops (Humulus lupulus)

Quick Facts

• Family: Cannabaceae (Hemp family)

• Parts Used: Female flower cones (strobiles), lupulin glands

• Energetics: Cooling, Sedative, Bitter

• Taste/Aroma: Bitter, Herbal, Floral

Core Uses & Actions

• Primary Actions: Sedative, Hypnotic, Nervine, Digestive Tonic, Phytoestrogenic.

• Key Uses: Used as a sedative to treat insomnia and anxiety (often as a "hop pillow"). Used to relieve nervousness and restlessness. Bitter quality supports digestion.

Critical Safety Warnings

• Contraindications: Avoid if you have depression (mild depressant action).

• Hormone-Sensitive Conditions: Not recommended for those with hormone-sensitive cancers, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids (phytoestrogenic properties).

• Allergies: Can cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals.

• Pregnancy/Breastfeeding: Not recommended.

Herb Profile: Horehound (Marrubium vulgare L.)

Quick Facts

• Family: Lamiaceae (Mint family)

• Parts Used: The aerial parts (leaves and young flowering stems)

• Energetics: Warming, Bitter

• Taste/Aroma: Very Bitter (due to marrubiin)

Core Uses & Actions

• Primary Actions: Expectorant, Antitussive, Bitter Tonic, Stimulates bile flow.

• Key Uses: Most famously used for coughs, colds, asthma, and bronchitis (helps thin and loosen mucus). Used as a bitter tonic for indigestion and to aid liver/gallbladder health.

Critical Safety Warnings

• Toxicity: Avoid during pregnancy (may stimulate menstruation). Large doses can be very poisonous.

• Drug Interactions: Caution if taking diabetes or blood pressure medications (may lower both).

• Contraindications: Avoid if you have low blood pressure or depression.

Herb Profile: Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)

Quick Facts

• Family: Sapindaceae (Soapberry family)

• Parts Used: Seeds (processed), bark, and leaves

• Energetics: Cooling, Astringent

• Taste/Aroma: Bitter and Astringent (Unprocessed)

Core Uses & Actions

• Primary Actions: Venotonic (Strengthens veins), Anti-inflammatory, Anti-edematous (reduces swelling).

• Key Uses: Primary use is for symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI): varicose veins, leg pain, swelling, and itching. Used for hemorrhoids and edema (fluid retention).

Critical Safety Warnings

• CRITICAL TOXICITY: Raw seeds, bark, leaves, and flowers are highly toxic and must not be ingested. The toxin esculin must be removed during commercial processing.

• Drug Interactions: May slow blood clotting (risk with anticoagulants). May interact with diabetes medications.

• Contraindications: Avoid if you have kidney or liver disease, bleeding disorders, or bowel/stomach disorders.

Herb Profile: Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)

Quick Facts

• Family: Equisetaceae (Horsetail family)

• Parts Used: The sterile stems

• Energetics: Cooling, Drying, Astringent

• Taste/Aroma: Grassy and Mildly Bitter

Core Uses & Actions

• Primary Actions: Diuretic, Astringent, Hemostatic, Rich in Silica.

• Key Uses: Used for strengthening bones and connective tissue (silica content) and treating osteoporosis. Diuretic action for kidney/bladder ailments. Used topically to stop bleeding and for wounds.

Critical Safety Warnings

• Thiamine Deficiency: Contains thiaminase (an enzyme that destroys Vitamin B1). Prolonged use may lead to thiamine deficiency.

• Drug Interactions: Diuretic effects may interact with blood pressure drugs, diuretics, and lithium.

• Contraindications: Avoid if you have kidney or heart disease, or low potassium levels. Contains small amounts of nicotine.

Herb Profile: Horehound (Marrubium vulgare L.)

Quick Facts

• Family: Lamiaceae (Mint family)

• Parts Used: The aerial parts (leaves and young flowering stems)

• Energetics: Warming, Bitter

• Taste/Aroma: Very Bitter (due to marrubiin)

Core Uses & Actions

• Primary Actions: Expectorant, Antitussive, Bitter Tonic, Stimulates bile flow.

• Key Uses: Most famously used for coughs, colds, asthma, and bronchitis (helps thin and loosen mucus). Used as a bitter tonic for indigestion and to aid liver/gallbladder health.

Critical Safety Warnings

• Toxicity: Avoid during pregnancy (may stimulate menstruation). Large doses can be very poisonous.

• Drug Interactions: Caution if taking diabetes or blood pressure medications (may lower both).

• Contraindications: Avoid if you have low blood pressure or depression.

Herb Profile: Juniper (Juniperus communis)

Quick Facts

• Family: Cupressaceae (Cypress family)

• Parts Used: The ripe berries (female cones), new twigs

• Energetics: Warming, Drying, Pungent

• Taste/Aroma: Pungent, Resinous, Pine-like

Core Uses & Actions

• Primary Actions: Diuretic, Urinary Antiseptic, Carminative, Anti-inflammatory.

• Key Uses: Powerful diuretic for UTIs and fluid retention. Used for digestive issues (gas, bloating, indigestion). Applied topically for rheumatism and arthritis (anti-rheumatic).

Critical Safety Warnings

• Toxicity: High oral doses or prolonged use (over 4 weeks) may be unsafe. High doses can cause kidney failure or convulsions.

• Contraindications: Do not use during pregnancy (uterine stimulant) or if you have kidney inflammation/disease.

• Essential Oil: Do not ingest the essential oil. Always dilute for topical use (it is highly irritating).

Herb Profile: Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium acaule Ait.)

Quick Facts

• Family: Orchidaceae (Orchid family)

• Parts Used: The root (rhizome)

• Energetics: Cooling, Sedative

• Taste/Aroma: Pungent and Unpleasant

Core Uses & Actions

• Primary Actions: Sedative, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Anodyne.

• Key Uses: Historical use only. Highly valued as a superior nervine and sedative for nervousness, anxiety, hysteria, and insomnia (often used as a substitute for Valerian). Relieves headaches and muscle spasms.

Critical Safety Warnings

• CRITICAL: ENDANGERED SPECIES: Do not harvest from the wild (illegal and unsustainable). Use is rare due to conservation concerns.

• Toxicity: Use only under professional supervision. Plant hairs can cause severe contact dermatitis. Large doses may cause hallucinations.

• Pregnancy/Breastfeeding: Avoid use.

Herb Profile: Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Quick Facts

• Family: Lamiaceae (Mint family)

• Parts Used: Flowers, essential oil, aerial parts

• Energetics: Cooling, Drying, Relaxing

• Taste/Aroma: Floral, Herbaceous, Subtly Bitter

Core Uses & Actions

• Primary Actions: Sedative, Anxiolytic, Antispasmodic, Analgesic, Antimicrobial.

• Key Uses: Premier herb for anxiety, stress, and insomnia (calms the CNS via Linalool). Inhalation improves sleep quality. Used topically for wounds, burns, and skin conditions. Eases menstrual cramps.

Critical Safety Warnings

• Essential Oil: Must be diluted for topical use. Never ingest concentrated essential oil (highly toxic).

• Sedation: May cause increased drowsiness with other sedatives or alcohol. Discontinue use two weeks before surgery.

• Hormone Effects: Caution advised for pre-pubescent males (conflicting data suggesting weak estrogenic activity).

Herb Profile: Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.)

Quick Facts

• Family: Lamiaceae (Mint family)

• Parts Used: The leaves

• Energetics: Cooling, Relaxing

• Taste/Aroma: Distinctly Lemony, Refreshing

Core Uses & Actions

• Primary Actions: Anxiolytic, Antispasmodic, Antiviral, Sedative, Carminative.

• Key Uses: Used to combat stress and mild anxiety. Topical cream is effective for reducing the healing time of cold sores (herpes labialis). Relaxes smooth muscles to ease indigestion, colic, and nervous stomach issues.

Critical Safety Warnings

• Thyroid Function: May inhibit thyroid function by interfering with TSH. Use caution or avoid long-term use if you have hypothyroidism or are taking thyroid medications.

• Pregnancy/Breastfeeding: Should be avoided.

• Surgery: Discontinue use at least two weeks before surgery (may increase drowsiness with anesthesia).

• Glaucoma: Avoid using if you have glaucoma (potential to increase intraocular pressure).