Phytochemistry

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

Caffeine is an alkaloid which can be damaged by roasting and processing. This is why heavily processed coffee like instant...

Crush a fresh blossom of Saint John's wort. You will see a ruddy, almost bruise colored liquid stain your fingers....

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

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

Bugs aren't the only creatures that notice linalool. This monterpene is a broad spectrum antimicrobial. Both Gram positive and Gram...

Most of the plants that produce higher levels of Cineole are connected with respiratory health and reducing inflammation. Rosemary and...

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

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

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

Galangin has proven its worth as a stout defense as a broad spectrum antibiotic.

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

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

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

These pigments are not just responsible for granting elderberry their deep blue color. They make their mark in human health...

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

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

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

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...

Herbal Nerd Society Exclusive Article - Herbalists know that apple cider vinegar deserves its place in the spotlight is its...

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

Hawthorn (Crataegus species) has a bounty of active constituents to help heal the circulatory system. Among the list of antioxidants...

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