Native to the Congo, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Gabon, this tall and possibly endangered evergreen provides a wide variety of medicinal benefits. The bark of the yohimbe was used originally to treat problems including leprosy, fever, and coughs by West Africans. It has also been used to dilate pupils, as an anesthetic, as a way to prevent heart disease, and as a hallucinogen and an aphrodisiac. More →
Uva Ursi is used to treat urinary tract inflammations such as cystitis. It has been used as a healing remedy and an astringent. Uva Ursi has been used the Native Americans to treat urinary diseases and uterine dropsy. More →
Elm trees are native to the Appalachian Mountains of eastern North America. Skin washes and tea were created by drying elm leaves. Natives ate the inner bark because it is high in carbohydrates and can be easily digested. The inner bark was also used to waterproof canoes, baskets, and places of living. Elm was used by colonists to make pudding, to thicken jelly, to preserve grease, and as a survival food on long trips. It was used medicinally to treat toothaches, skin injuries, gout, arthritis, stomach aches, intestinal worms, and coughs. More →
Saw palmetto grows in areas of southern Europe, Africa, and in coastal regions of the American southeast. This small palm tree produces white flowers in the spring and summer. The tree’s fruit is olive-sized and forms in clusters. When ripe, the fruit becomes dark blue. The fruit is used for medicinal purposes after being dried. Plant sterols and fatty acids are two of the compounds found in the plant. More →
Reishi mushrooms grow in the coastal areas of China and are cultivated in Taiwan, Korea, North America, and Japan. It is referred to as the “herb of spiritual potency”, or hing zhi. They are found on fallen tree stumps and decomposing logs. There are six varieties of color, but red mushrooms are used primarily in Asia and North America. Medicinal benefits come from the fruiting part of the mushroom. More →
Today peppermint is grown in Europe and the U.S. It was originally found in London in 1750 and is a hybrid of spearmint and water mint. High oil content is found in the stems and leaves of the plant. These parts are used medicinally. More →
Maitake is a large mushroom that is native to northeastern Japan and limited areas in Europe and North America. The mushroom provides medicinal benefits and has a unique taste.
Because this plant is extremely sensitive to changes in the environment, it is difficult to grown away from its natural habitat. New methods of cultivation have been discovered by the Japanese making it easier for the U.S. and Japan to grow maitake. More →
Licorice was used historically to treat the skin and coughs. It is also used to treat constipation, bronchitis, inflammation, and arthritis. Licorice may be prescribed by health care providers to treat adrenocortical insufficiency, peptic ulcer, and chronic gastritis. More →
A tall tropical shrub produces the Kava-Kava root. The plant is characterized by big leaves shaped like hearts that fill the branches. Flowers blossom on the plant where the branches join with the stems.
The Kava root is primarily used to fight anxiety disorders and to relieve anxiety related to stress. Low doses of Kava improve activity More →
Chinese legend says that over four thousand years ago, green tea was accidentally discovered. Today green tea is used to treat problems including depression, headaches, gastrointestinal disorders, aches, and pains. It is also used to boost the immune system, to prolong life, to detoxify, and to provide energy. More →
