Herbal medicine treats disease and promotes health with plant material. For centuries herbal medicines were the primary methods to administer medicinally active compounds.
Herb |
Botanical Name |
Common Use |
Aloe |
Aloe vera |
Skin, gastritis |
Black cohosh |
Cimicifuga racemosa |
Menstrual, menopause |
Dong quai |
Angelica sinensis |
Menstrual, menopause |
Echinacea |
Echinacea angustifolia |
Colds, immunity |
Ephedra (ma huang) |
Ephedra sinica |
Asthma, energy, weight loss |
Evening primrose oil |
Oenothera biennis |
Eczema, psoriasis, premenstrual syndrome, breast pain |
Feverfew |
Tanacetum parthenium |
Migraine |
Garlic |
Allium sativum |
Cholesterol, hypertension |
Ginger |
Zingiber officinale |
Nausea, arthritis |
Ginkgo biloba |
Ginkgo biloba |
Cerebrovascular insufficiency, memory |
Ginseng |
Panax ginseng, Panax quinquifolius, Panax pseudoginseng, Eleutherococcus senticosus |
Energy, immunity, mentation, libido |
Goldenseal |
Hydrastis candensis |
Immunity, colds |
Hawthorne |
Crateaegus laeviagata |
Cardiac function |
Kava kava |
Piper methysticum |
Anxiety |
Milk thistle |
Silybum marianum |
Liver disease |
Peppermint |
Mentha piperita |
Dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome |
Saw palmetto |
Serona repens |
Prostate problems |
St. John’s Wort |
Hypericum perforatum |
Depression, anxiety, insomnia |
Tea tree oil |
Melaleuca alternifolia |
Skin infections |
Valerian |
Valeriana officinalis |
Anxiety, insomnia |