Phytochemistry

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) sits on pharmacy shelves along with with other OTC (over the counter) topical liquids. It is...

Cinnamon is a favorite herb to stir into cocoa to revive numb fingers and toes after an afternoon of snowman...

Tea tree essential oil is a potent topical antiseptic which is known as a anti-fungal, antiviral and antibacterial aid. The...

Inulin is a starchy, soluble dietary fiber found in many fruits and vegetables. It is a chain of carbohydrates (called...

The key, as far as modern science is concerned, may lay within a chemical structure known as Withanolides. Ashwagandha roots...

Lobelia inflata has many uses. It has been used to address respiratory disorders, peripheral vascular disorders and insomnia along with...

Calendula is full of healing flavonoids. Although this term is thrown around a lot in scientific circles, it is an...

Herbal Nerd Society Exclusive Article Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) has a bounty of healing properties but also sold without it's...

Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait) is one of the most cultivated fruits in the western upper regions of North America. Today...

Spilanthes has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and analgesic properties thanks, in part, to the compound spilanthol.

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is an herb commonly used for its anxiolytic (anxiety/panic reducing) effects.

The term adaptogen is a holistic term that refers to an herb that helps the body recover from stress by...

Pickles are foods, like cucumbers or red onions, that have been submerged in an acid solution, usually vinegar in Western...

Mucilage is slime. The mucilage in mullein works in a variety of ways. It coats and soothes dry, chronic coughs.

Many plants make tannins. For all practical purposes, a tannin is an astringent, polyphenolic molecule that binds to organic compounds...

Skin infections are very responsive to the antimicrobial compounds in poplar buds. Balm of Gilead's success lies in its clustered...

Pectin is normally thought of as an item used in the kitchen not in the medicine cabinet. Those little packets...

Herbalists rely on the leonurine in motherwort to help people with rapid heart beat, nerve pain, anxiety and depression.

Reishi has a wide variety of constituents but the over 150 different triterpenoids primarily found in the mushroom's fruiting body is...

Nettle is commonly harvested for its leaves in the spring but advanced herbalists know it as a harvestable herb well...

Ginger is an amazing healer. It is used around the world to treat indigestion, motion sickness and arthritis pain. One...

Once relegated to Asian cuisine aisle in the marketplace, burdock is regaining interest in the West for it's capacity to...

Yarrow is full of delightful smelling volatile oils including the beautiful blue azulene. This is a treasure that has been...

Geranial is one of the primary chemical components of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis). It is one of the many volatile...