Herb Library

Ulmus rubra (lozenge)

Slippery elm in lozenge form — provides mucilaginous coating for sore throat and cough. One of the most effective natural throat soothers.

Mentzelia laevicaulis

Native American medicinal plant used as antirheumatic (internal), dietary aid, ear medicine, febrifuge, misc. disease remedy, dermatological aid. Documented among Cheyenne, Gosiute, Mendocino Indian.

Arctostaphylos viscida

Native American medicinal plant used as dietary aid, gastrointestinal aid. Documented among Miwok.

Hypericum perforatum (0.3% hypericin)

German standardized extract — 300mg 3x daily (0.3% hypericin). Matches SSRIs for mild-moderate depression in meta-analyses. LI 160 and WS 5572 are the most-studied extracts. Full effect takes 4-6 weeks. THE most drug-interacting herb known.

Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa (seed)

TCM premier insomnia herb — nourishes Heart blood and calms the Shen. For insomnia with palpitations, anxiety, and night sweats. Key ingredient in Suan Zao Ren Tang (Jujube Seed Decoction), one of TCMs most important sleep formulas. Dose: 15-30g in decoction.

Syzygium guineense

Pan-African tree used in Ethiopian, Congolese, and South African traditional medicine for diarrhea, abdominal pain, and malaria. Bark decoction widely used across East Africa. Fruit edible. Contains ellagic acid, gallic acid, and quercetin.

Zanthoxylum bungeanum

Not actually pepper — produces unique "numbing" sensation (hydroxy-alpha-sanshool activates touch receptors). TCM warms the middle jiao and kills parasites. For digestive coldness, abdominal pain, and roundworms. Key in Sichuan cuisine.

Strophostyles helvula

Native American medicinal plant used as misc. disease remedy, dermatological aid. Documented among Houma, Iroquois.

Xysmalobium undulatum

South African anti-diarrheal — German registered medicine (Uzara). Contains uzarin (cardiac glycoside with anti-motility effect). For acute non-specific diarrhea. One of the most successful African traditional medicines commercialized in Europe.

Piper guineense

Nigerian spice-medicine for postpartum recovery, cough, and rheumatism; leaf used in soups for lactation and uterine healing.

Musa paradisiaca

Siddha diuretic and lithotriptic; banana stem juice for kidney stones and UTIs; also used for weight loss in Tamil tradition.

Rhododendron occidentale

Native American medicinal plant used as antidote. Documented among Modesse.

Arctostaphylos manzanita

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, veterinary aid, poison, dietary aid, gastrointestinal aid, cold remedy. Documented among Concow, Mendocino Indian, Miwok.

Mentzelia albicaulis

Native American medicinal plant used as burn dressing, toothache remedy, snake bite remedy. Documented among Gosiute, Hopi, Navajo, Ramah.

Hamamelis virginiana

A widely used astringent herb, primarily topical, for skin toning, hemorrhoids, and minor skin irritation.

Hamamelis virginiana (distillate)

Distilled witch hazel — the classic natural skin toner. Alcohol-free versions (Thayers) are gentler. Used for acne, oily skin, and as a post-shave tonic.

Arctostaphylos tomentosa

Native American medicinal plant used as antihemorrhagic, dietary aid, gastrointestinal aid. Documented among Costanoan (Olhonean), Miwok.

Rhododendron molle

Traditional medicinal plant used for arthritis, caries, carminative, insecticide, itch, larvicide, malaria, poison, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Origanum syriacum

A medicinal plant (Origanum syriacum) from the Lamiaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Zaleya pentandra

Sahelian herb used in Hausa (Nigerian) and Sudanese traditional medicine for intestinal worms, cough, and wound healing. Whole plant decoction for stomach pain. Contains triterpenoid saponins. Used in ethnoveterinary medicine for livestock.

Anisodus tanguticus

A medicinal plant (Anisodus tanguticus) from the Solanaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Zanha golungensis

East African tree from the soapberry family used in Mozambican and Tanzanian traditional medicine for malaria, stomachache, and wound treatment. Roots prepared as decoction for fever.

Zanthoxylum chalybeum

East African tree used by Maasai and other pastoralist communities for malaria, cough, and toothache. Bark chewed for dental pain (numbing effect from alkylamides). Contains pellitorine and chelerythrine. Important Maasai traditional medicine.

Berberis integerrima

Central Asian barberry used in Unani medicine for liver disorders, jaundice, and fever. The sour berries are also used culinarily and the root bark contains berberine.

Desmodium incanum

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, febrifuge, gastrointestinal aid. Documented among Seminole.

Curcuma zedoaria

TCM blood-mover — E Zhu breaks blood stasis and dissolves masses. For uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, and abdominal pain from stagnation. Related to turmeric but different actions. Contains curcumenol and curdione (anti-tumor research).

Clinoptilolite (mineral)

Volcanic mineral with cage-like structure that traps heavy metals and toxins. For heavy metal detox, gut health, and alkalizing. Microporous structure acts like a molecular sieve. Quality varies enormously — only use purified clinoptilolite.

Zephyranthes sp.

Native American medicinal plant used as toothache remedy. Documented among Seminole.

Anemarrhena asphodeloides

TCM heat-clearing and yin-nourishing herb — for high fever, night sweats, diabetes, and dry cough. Contains mangiferin (anti-diabetic) and timosaponins (anti-inflammatory). Often paired with Huang Bai (Phellodendron) in Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan.

Polyporus umbellatus

TCM diuretic mushroom — promotes urination without depleting potassium. For edema, UTIs, and as cancer adjuvant (clinical use in China). Part of Zhu Ling Tang (Polyporus Decoction) for UTI with blood in urine. Immune-modulating polysaccharides.

Solidago flexicaulis

Native American medicinal plant used as throat aid, gastrointestinal aid, analgesic, hemostat, febrifuge. Documented among Chippewa, Iroquois, Menominee.

Zinc L-carnosine complex

A chelated zinc-carnosine complex — studied for gastric mucosal protection, H. pylori, and gut barrier integrity. Not an herb but commonly used with herbs.

Zinc acetate/gluconate (lozenge)

Zinc lozenges for cold — dissolve in mouth every 2-3 hours. Studies show 33% reduction in cold duration. Zinc acetate form is most studied. Start within 24 hours.

Zinc picolinate

One of the most bioavailable forms of zinc. Essential for immune function, wound healing, taste/smell, testosterone, and skin health. Often deficient.

Ziziphora clinopodioides

Iranian and Central Asian highland herb used in traditional Persian medicine for digestive spasms, diarrhea, fever, and as carminative. Rich in pulegone and menthone. Important in Kurdish and Afghan folk medicine. Often used as wild thyme substitute.

Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa

The seed of the sour jujube, one of TCM's most important herbs for insomnia, anxiety, and heart-blood deficiency. Calms the spirit.

Ziziphus mauritiana

Pan-tropical jujube relative used in Ayurveda, Unani, and African medicine. Bark decoction for diarrhea and wounds. Leaf paste for boils and abscesses. Root for fever. Different species from Chinese jujube (Z. jujuba). Fruit is popular snack across tropics.

Zornia latifolia

Brazilian herb called 'maconha brava' (wild marijuana) though unrelated to cannabis. Used in Brazilian folk medicine for urinary infections, kidney stones, and bronchitis. Contains zornoside flavonoids. Mild sedative properties reported.