Herbal Encyclopedia

Common Medicinal Herbs For Natural Health

Blackberry

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Botanical Names

  • Family Rosaceae
  • Rubus fruticosus
  • Rubus villosus

Common Names

  • American Dewberry, Bramble, Brambleberry, Goutberry, High Blackberry, Thimbleberry

Cautions

  • None listed.

Description

Native to temperate areas of Europe and now naturalized in the Americas and Australia, growing along roads, in open areas, and woodlands. The plant is a sprawling, prickly shrub, growing to twelve feet having palm-shaped leaves with three to five lobes, white to pale pink flowers, and clusters of large, black berries that contain numerous edible, but crunchy, seeds.

History

In the 1st century CE, Dioscorides recommended blackberries in a gargle for sore throats, a practice that remains today.

In European folk medicine, the leaves have long been used for washing and staunching the bleeding of wounds.

In parts of England, arching blackberry runners that had rooted at both ends were credited with magical properties. Children with hernias were pushed under these arches for a magical cure.

The Kiowa-Apache, Cherokee, Chippewa, Ojibwa, Menominee, Delaware, and Iroquois all have used decoctions to treat diarrhea. The Chippewa used a tea to treat lung conditions. The Cherokee found that the root made an effective topical wash to relieve the discomfort of hemorrhoids.

Key Actions

  • astringent
  • antidiarrheal

Key Components

(a) Leaves

  • tannins (8-14% mainly gallo tannins, dimeric ellagitannins)
  • flavonoids
  • fruit acids (gallic, citric, isocitric)

(b) Fruit

  • anthocyanins
  • pectin
  • fruit acids
  • vitamin C

(c) Roots

  • saponins
  • tannins

Medicinal Parts

  • Leaves, berries, roots.

Traditional Uses

  • Since the plant is strongly astringent, infusions are used to relieve diarrhea.
  • As a mouthwash, it is used to strengthen spongy gums and ease mouth ulcers. The berries make a pleasant gargle for swallowing.
  • Poultices or compresses are used externally on wounds and bruises.
  • Decoctions are used to relieve diarrhea and hemorrhoids. The tannins in the herb, not only tighten tissue, but also help to control minor bleeding.

Amaranth

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Botanical Name

  • Family Amaranthaceae
  • Amaranthus hypochondriacus

Common Names

  • Lady Bleeding, Lovely Bleeding, Love-Lies-Bleeding, Red Cockscomb, Velvet Flower, Pilewort, Prince’s Feather, Pig Weed, Cockscomb
  • Spanish: Alegría, Chile Puerco, Chichilquiltic
  • Nahuatl: Tlanepaquelitl, Quíhlitl, Huauhtli
  • Maya: Kix-xtez

Cautions

  • None listed

Description

Native to India and South America, it now grows wild in many countries as well as being cultivated. A common garden plant, it is a sturdy, upright annual growing to about three feet, having deeply veined, lance-shaped, purple-green leaves that grow to six inches. The flowers are tufts of small, deep crimson spikes which are harvested when in flower in late summer and early autumn.

History

The name comes from the Greek word meaning “unwithering”. It was used to decorate their tombs to signify immortality.

Key Actions

  • astringent
  • nutritive

Key Components

  • saponins
  • tannins

Medicinal Parts

  • Aerial parts

Remedies

  • decoctions to counter heavy menstruation
  • gargles to soothe throat inflammations
  • mouthwashes to heal canker sores

Traditional Uses

The astringency of the herb is useful in reducing blood loss and to treat diarrhea.

A decoction not only counters heavy menstrual bleeding, but also excessive vaginal discharge, diarrhea, and dysentery.

A related species called Quinoa or Inca Wheat, A. caudatus, is also a nutritious Andean grain. Both quinoa and amaranth are used as a grain or eaten cooked as a cereal. Another variety, A. grandiflorus, is used as a food by the Australian Aborgines. Still another variety, A. spinosus, is used in Ayurvedic medicine to reduce menstrual bleeding and excessive vaginal discharge and to arrest the coughing up of blood.

Alder

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Botanical Name

  • Family Betulaceae
  • Alnus glutinosa and other Alnus species

Common Names:

  • Black Alder, Common Alder, Owler, Tag Alder

Cautions

  • Not to be confused with another plant called Black Alder (Rhamnus frangula syn.Frangula alnus Family Rhamnaceae) which is closely related to Cascara.

Description

Indigenous to the damp regions of Europe, Asia, and North America, alder is a small tree with fissured, orangey bark, growing as high as seventy feet and producing notched, oval leaves which can be very sticky when young. The male flowers are arranged in stemmed catkins, while the female flowers form ovoid fruits which turn woody and remain on the tree the entire year. Thriving in damp places along riverbanks, it now grows in much of the Northern Hemisphere. It is almost identical in appearance to the oak. The bark and the leaves are gathered in spring or fall and best used fresh or from recent collections.

History

Water resistant, the tree was used in the construction of Venice. Wooster Beech (1794-1868), founder of the Eclectic healing movement, used a decoction of the bark to purify the blood.

Key Actions

  • antimicrobial
  • astringent
  • heals wounds
  • stops bleeding

Key Components

  • anthraquinone (emodin)
  • flavonoids (including hypericin)
  • glycosides
  • lignans
  • tannin (10-20%)

Medicinal Parts

  • Bark, leaves

Remedies

  • Decoctions are used as a tonic and to treat intestinal bleeding.
  • Gargles from the decoctions are used to treat streptococcal throat infections.
  • Compresses soaked in decoction are used to stauch wound bleeding and to help heal them.
  • Washes are used for scabies.
  • Poultices from the leaves are used to help reduce breast engorgement of nursing mothers.

Traditional Uses

Alder is most often used as a mouthwash and gargle for tooth, gum, and throat problems. Its drying action helps to contract the mucous membranes and reduce inflammation.

Since the bark is high in tannin, it can be used in all situations where astringency is needed, including diarrhea, gum inflammations, and sore throats.

For external use, it is good as a wash for cuts, hives, poison ivy, swellings, wounds, and sprains.

In Spain, the leaves are smoothed and placed on the soles of the feet to relieve aching.

The PDR for Herbal Medicines mentions an ophthalmic powder, but gives no further information.

For educational purposes only.
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.