Uva Ursi   (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)  Uva-ursi is one of the best natural urinary antiseptics.  It has been used extensively in herbal medicine to disinfect and astringe the urinary tract in cases of acute and chronic cystitis and urethritis.  However, it is not a suitable remedy if there is a simultaneous infection of the kidneys.  Experiments have shown that uva-ursi extracts have an antibacterial effect.  This action is thought to be stronger in alkaline urine-thus the efficacy of uva-ursi is likely to increase if it is taken in combination with a vegetable-based diet.  Sodium bicarbonate is often administered with uva ursi to help increase the alkalinity of the urine.  In the urinary tract, the arbutin in uva ursi is chemically transformed into an antiseptic chemical, hydroquinone.  Beta-carotene, present in generous quantities in uva ursi, is known to stimulate the production of epithelial cells.  Ursolic acid has antiseptic properties and the flavonoids have spasmolytic properties on the smooth muscles which help reduce reactions to pain stimulus in urinary tract infections and increase renal volume in inflamed renal tubules.    Uva Ursi’s allantoin may help spur wound healing.  Allantoin is the active ingredient in several over-the-counter skin creams for relief of oral herpes and for irritation associated with vaginal infections.  It’s the diuretic most often used in herbal weight-loss formulas as a diuretic.  Uva Ursi is among the herbs useful in diabetes for excessive sugar. 

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Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)  Valerian root is a general tranquilizer used for relieving nervous tension, insomnia, and headaches.  Widely studied, it has been shown to sedate the central nervous system due to the valepotriates and other components found in the essential oil. Valerian decreases muscle spasms, so is useful for cases of nervous digestion, irritable bowel syndrome, and stomach or menstrual cramps.  It contains many types of valeopotriates that have opposing effects, indicating that it has the ability to regulate many conditions.  In one study, it sedated agitated patients, but stimulated those suffering from fatigue.  Valerian improved the quality of sleep in subjects in another study, as observed in their brain-wave patterns.  It also reduced the time it took them to fall asleep, especially the elderly and the habitually poor sleepers, but did not affect their dream recall or ability to wake up in the morning.  In Germany, hyperactive children have been treated with valerian since the 1970s.  After taking valerian for only a few weeks, 120 children diagnosed as hyperactive, anxious, or learning disabled had better muscle coordination and reaction time, and showed less aggression, restlessness, anxiety, and fear.  Valerian may also lower blood pressure and strengthen the optic nerve in the eye, although thus far, only animal studies have been done.

Vanilla (Vanilla planiforlia)  In the 16^th and 17^th centuries vanilla was believed to have various medicinal properties and was used as a stomach herb, a stimulant and aphrodisiac and an antidote to poisons.  It was first included in European pharmacopoeias in the 18^th century and was listed in the British and American ones for many years.  It acts on the nervous system and used to be used to treat hysteria and high fevers.

Velvet Bean (Mucuna pruriens)  a source of the dopa that's converted by the brain to the neurotransmitter dopamine. Reductions in dopamine have been associated with Parkinson's disease, which occurs when brain cells that produce dopamine are destroyed.  Velvet beans have actually been used in clinical trials to treat Parkinson’s.  The researchers at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine used a velvet bean preparation called HP-0 which is derived from the inner part of the bean.  The HP-0 was standardized so that each gram of the preparation contained 33.33 milligrams of L-dopa.   Velvet bean also contains bufotenine (a cholinesterase inhibitor) and serotonin (a brain neurotransmitter that may be involved in learning, sleep, and control of moods).  Bufotenine treats parasitic intestinal worms; pesticide. In Ayurvedic medicine it’s considered a  tonic and aphrodisiac to the reproductive system, rejuvenative, excellent for Vata.  An herbal source of levadopa.  1 tablespoon = 25/100 Sinemet but without the carbidopa.  
              It may help with improving sexual dysfunction, loss of libido, stimulating arousal, and increasing intensity and frequency of orgasms for both men and women.  L-Dopa is an effective inhibitor of pituitary prolactin release.  Excess prolactin is thought to cause erection failures.

Vervain (Verbena officinalis)  Vervain achieved a reputation as a virtual panacea.  Colds, fevers, so-called nervous complaints, skin infections, and gout were among the disorders it was supposed to cure.  Herbalists still recommend vervain tea occasionally as a tonic, astringent, diuretic, diaphoretic, sedative, antispasmodic, and aphrodisiac.    In previous centuries, vervain leaves were used to treat autumn fevers.  They were found in formulas for liver and gall bladder problems and chronic skin conditions.  Vervain leaves were a traditional remedy for uterine cramping, and the glycosides they contain do show evidence of promoting menstruation and increasing mother’s milk.   They can also be taken during labor to stimulate contractions.  Vervain is made into a mouthwash for infected gums and a poultice for hemorrhoids or wounds.  A tea has been used  to treat insomnia, and as a digestive because of its bitter properties.  Vervain is prized as a restorative for the nervous system and is especially helpful for nervous tension.  It is thought to have a mild antidepressant action, and is used specifically to treat anxiety and the nervous exhaustion that follow long-term stress.   Vervain is also used in home-made liqueurs.  South American, Mexican and Chinese folk medicines suggest vervain tea for treating various growths and cancers, particularly of the neck, spleen and scrotum.  Avoid during pregnancy.
            Chemically, vervain is quite different from aspirin, but German and Japanese studies suggest it has similar effects, combining mild pain relief with some ability to reduce inflammation. These findings support its traditional use in treating headache, toothache and wounds. 
            Extracts have been shown to suppress thyroid hormone production by influencing levels of TSH in the body.

Vervain, Blue (Verbena hastata)  It treats fevers, colds, flu, hysteria, throat and lung congestion, liver disorders, and irregular menses and cramps.  This herb is more detoxifying and exerts its action both on the surface and internally as an alterative.  A natural tranquilizer and is helpful with colds and fevers, especially when the upper respiratory tract is involved. It will eliminate intestinal worms and is used externally for wounds.  When the circulation of the blood is weak and languid, it will increase and restore it to its proper operation.  The infusion, taken cold, forms a good tonic in cases of constitutional debility and during convalescence from acute diseases.   

Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides)  Vetiver roots are occasionally taken as a stimulating tonic drink in India.  They are used to improve digestion, encourage menstruation, and kill parasites.  It is said to have a “cooling” effect on the body and to increase sweating.  East Indians treat fevers, flus, and rheumatism with it. 

Violet (Viola odorata)  Violets were known for their medicinal and antiseptic properties and were commonly used in antiseptics.  Violet tea is a sedative.  The leaves are useful for poultices to soothe and heal wounds.  The liquid extracts from the flowers and roots have expectorant and emollient properties.  It serves as an emetic in quantity, and has been used to treat respiratory disorders, as a gargle, in cough mixtures, and as a diuretic.  
            Violet flowers contain generous amounts of rutin, which helps maintain the strength and integrity of capillary walls.  A few tablespoons would get you the 100 milligram daily dosage that research recommends is the most beneficial.  
            Traditional Chinese medicine places violet leaf and root poultices on  hot swelling, inflammation, and mumps, while in the west, they traditionally have been used on swollen or tumorous breasts.

Virginia Skullcap (Scutellaria laterifolia)  Traditionally, the skullcaps have provided remedies for a whole range of nervous disorders, including nervousness, agitations, insomnia, hysteria, epilepsy, convulsions and St. Vitus dance.  Virginian skullcap earned a reputation as a cure for hydrophobia or rabies which gave it the name mad-dog skullcap.  Skullcaps were also used for infertility and to quiet unwanted sexual desires.  Skullcap leaves are used mostly for their actions on the nervous system. They help relieve anxiety, depression, insomnia, nervous headache, nervous twitches, muscle cramps and convulsions.  Most of the research comes from Russia, where studies support many claims of skullcap’s usefulness as a sedative and stabilizer of stress-related heart disease.  Those studies also discovered that it lowers blood pressure and cholesterol. Native American used skullcap to treat heart disease, as well as to promote afterbirth and menstruation.  This is one of the best herbs to use to break addictions and to ease the problems associated with drug and alcohol withdrawal.  For such a condition, a quarter to half a cupful of the tea should be taken every hour or two, tapering off as the symptoms subside.  It is also a good brain tonic for promoting meditation. 

Virginia Snakeroot  (Aristolochia serpentaria) This is a pure stimulant whose action is mainly employed in diverting the flow of blood outward, so it is largely employed in eruptive diseases before the appearance of outward manifestations are noticed.  Internally used for rheumatism, gout, arthritis due to fevers, pneumonia, typhoid, and malaria. The finely powdered root was combined with white wine (1 part root to 3 parts wine) and used to induce sweating in the treatment of malaria.  Externally it’s used for pleurisy, herpes, and slow-healing wounds.  It has been included in a number of commercial tonics for the circulation, skin and kidneys.  In small doses, it promotes the appetite, toning up the digestive organs. It has been recommended in intermittent fevers, when it may be useful as an adjunct to quinine. In full doses it produces increased arterial action, diaphoresis, and frequently diuresis. In eruptive fevers where the eruption is tardy, or in the typhoid stage where strong stimulants cannot be borne, it may be very valuable. An infusion is an effective gargle in putrid sore-throat. It benefits sufferers from dyspepsia and amenorrhoea. Long boiling impairs its virtues. A cold infusion is useful in convalescence from acute diseases and for strengthening purposes and used in dyspepsia, croup, throat and kidney congestion.  Suppressed menstruation due to colds will be brought about by 5-10 drops of snakeroot tincture in Pennyroyal tea.  Used for cold extremities of hands and feet due to general receding of blood from the surface.

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Wahoo   (Euonymous atropurpurea) The Sioux, Cree, and other Native American peoples used wahoo bark in various ways, as an eye lotion, a poultice for facial sores and for gynecological conditions.  Native Americans introduced the plant to early European settlers, and it became very popular in Britain as well as in North America in the 19^th century.  Wahoo bark is considered a gallbladder remedy with laxative and diuretic properties.   It is prescribed for biliousness and liver problems as well as for skin conditions such as eczema (which may result from poor liver and gall bladder function), and for constipation.  In small doses, Euonymin stimulates the appetite and the flow of the gastric juice. In larger doses, it is irritant to the intestine and is cathartic. It has slight diuretic and expectorant effects, but its only use is as a purgative in cases of constipation in which the liver is disordered, and for which it is particularly efficacious. It is specially valuable in liver disorders which follow or accompany fever. It is mildly aperient and causes no nausea, at the same time stimulating the liver somewhat freely, and promoting a free flow of bile. It the past, it was often used in combination with herbs such as gentian as a fever remedy, especially if the liver was under stress.  Following the discovery that it contains cardiac glycosides, wahoo bark has been given for heart conditions. It is also a remedy for dandruff and scalp problems.  

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale)  Watercress is a valuable source of vitamins and a good detoxifying herbs.  Its high content of vitamin C and minerals makes it a remedy that is particularly valuable for chronic illnesses.  Herbalists recommend the herb for catarrh and bronchitis, and also for skin problems since it helps the body to eliminate wastes.  It is used to treat fluid retention, mucus in the lungs and indigestion.  It also stimulates metabolism, promotes bile metabolism and helps dispel gas.  Eaten raw, it not only prevents inflamed or bleeding gums but is considered one of the best natural depuratives.  Crushed leaves are applied as poultice for rheumatism and gout.  The juice or the crushed leaves dabbed on the skin every day is said to remove facial blemishes, and applied under the arms, they are known to be of use as a deodorant.  The raw seeds used as vermifuge. 

White Sage (Salvia apiana)   Relaxes blood vessels; helps with bites and stings and canker sores; reduces blood sugar levels; reduces fever; Hot flashes and night sweats; Sore throats; Digestive tonic and stimulant; Nerve tonic which both calms and stimulates the nervous system; Mild sedative; Helps irregular and light menstruation; Bleeding gums; Cuts; Burns; Improves digestion.  The diterpenes are effective against staph, candida, and Klebsiella pneumoniae.  An infusion of the leaves is used as a blood tonic and as a treatment for coughs and colds. The leaves can be eaten, or used as a sweat bath, in the treatment of colds. The seeds have been used as eye cleaners. The seed has been placed in the eye, it then forms a gelatinous covering to which any foreign matter in the eye adheres. The seed is washed out of the eye by the eyes own tears.   The plant is best prepared as a tincture, since the carnosic acids are poorly water soluble.  The tea is most effective if you fill a jar full of the leaves, add a tablespoon of alcohol on top of them, close the lid, and store the pickled leaves for tea use.  The douche is a good treatment for acute candidal vaginitis, and the sitz bath will help limit the yeast on the outside of the area.  The tea, tincture, or powder is an excellent wash or dust for dirty scrapes and abrasions, and you can simply soak the area in the tea if it is particularly bad.

Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa, L. scariola, L. Canadensis, L. serriola)  The drug resembles a feeble opium without its tendency to upset the digestive system. It is used to a small extent as a sedative and narcotic. Dissolved in wine it is said to be a good anodyne. It’s said  that twenty-three out of twenty-four cases of dropsy were cured by taking doses of 18 grains to 3 drachms of extract in twenty-four hours. It is used in Germany for this complaint, but combined with more active drugs. It is said to be also a mild diaphoretic and diuretic, easing colic, inducing sleep and allaying cough.  Water distilled from lettuce (eau de laitre) is used in France as a mild sedative in doses of 2 to 4 oz., and the fresh leaves boiled in water are sometimes used as a cataplasm.   Dosages of powder, 10 to 20 grains or more. Of tincture, 30 to 60 drops. Of alcoholic extract, 1 to 5 grains. Of Lactucarium, 5 to 20 grains. Of fluid extract leaves, ¼  to 1 drachm. Of syrup, U.S.P., 2 drachms. Tincture, U.S.P., 30 drops. 
           Wild Lettuce helps to calm restlessness and reduce anxiety; it also helps to induce sleep for those experiencing insomnia. It has a sedative effect on the respiratory system, beneficial for whooping cough and nervous/dry/irritating coughs. It may also help to relieve birth pains, headaches, and muscle/joint pains. Calms overactivity or overstimulation and excitability in children.  It is also taken to treat coughs, often combined with herbs such as licorice.  Wild lettuce is thought to lower the libido and may also be used to relieve pain. 
              Combines well with Prunus in irritable coughs: with Humulus, Scutellaria, Cypripedium and Passiflora in insomnia and with Dioscorea and Cimcifuga for rheumatic pains.   The tea is cooling and diaphoretic.  People use the infusion for gastric spasms, fevers, and insomnia, and apply the sap to rashes, warts and acne.  Lactucarium is not easily powdered, and is only slightly soluble in boiling water, though it softens and becomes plastic.  

Wild Onion (Allium cernuum)  The whole plant has mild medicinal activity similar to the action of garlic. The bulbs have been used as a stimulant, to increase perspiration and urine flow, to expel intestinal worms, and as a cough remedy.  It is used specifically as a poultice on the chest for the treatment of respiratory ailments and the juice has been used in the treatment of kidney stones.  The juice of the plant is used in treating colds, croup, sore throats etc.  A poultice of the plant is applied externally to various infections such as sore throats, sores, swellings, chest and pleurisy pains. 

Wild Sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis (syn A. medicaulis) )   Wild sarsaparilla is a sweet pungent tonic herb that acts as an alterative. It had a wide range of traditional uses amongst the North American Indians and was at one time widely used as a substitute for the tropical medicinal herb sarsaparilla.  The herb encourages sweating, is stimulating and detoxifying and so is used internally in the treatment of pulmonary diseases, asthma, rheumatism, stomach aches etc. Externally it is used as a poultice in treating rheumatism, sores, burns, itchy skin, ulcers and skin problems such as eczema.  A drink made from the pulverized roots is used as a cough treatment.  A poultice made from the roots and/or the fruit is applied to sores, burns, itchy skin, ulcers, swellings etc.
Homeopathy: A homeopathic remedy made from the roots is important in the treatment of cystitis. 

Wild Senna (Cassia marilandica (syn Senna marilandica, Cassia marylandica, Cassia medsgeri) )  Indians used the bruised roots as a poultice for sores, a decoction of the roots for treating fever, and the leaves as a mild laxative.  The leaves are a safe and effective cathartic. They are best used with Foeniculum vulgare seeds in order to counteract a tendency to cause gripe. The seedpods can also be used and are milder but slower in their action. The seeds have been soaked in water until they are mucilaginous and then swallowed as a treatment for sore throats.  The root is cardiac and febrifuge. An infusion has been used in the treatment of fevers and heart problems. 

Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca  (F virginiana) )  The leaves are mainly used, though the fruits are an excellent food to take when feverish and are also effective in treating rheumatic gout. The leaves can be made into a tea that is a diuretic and astringent.  It is a blood tonic and has been used as a treatment for diarrhea in adults and children. It is used in the treatment of chilblains and also as an external wash on sunburn. A poultice can be made from the powdered leaves mixed in oil, it is used to treat open sores.   In the form of an enema it is used to relieve hemorrhoids and constipation. Young leaves combined with thyme make an excellent tea.
                The berries, drunk with wine or milk, act similarly.  The leaves were also used as a gargle for sore throats, and in a lotion for minor burns and scrapes.  In Europe, the fruit is considered to have cooling and diuretic properties, and has been prescribed as part of a diet in cases of tuberculosis, gout, arthritis and rheumatism.  It is also eaten as an iron supplement and mild laxative.  A poultice made from crushed fresh berries is used to cure skin blemishes and acne.  The water extract from boiled roots is an effective vermifuge.  A slice of strawberry is excellent when applied externally to sunburned skin. The fruits contain salicylic acid and are beneficial in the treatment of liver and kidney complaints.  The roots are astringent and diuretic. A decoction is used internally in the treatment of diarrhea and chronic dysentery. Externally it is used to treat chilblains and as a throat gargle.

Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum (syn Thymus angustifolius) )  Like its close relative thyme (T. vulgaris), wild thyme is strongly antiseptic and antifungal though to a lesser degree.  It may be taken as an infusion or syrup to treat flu and colds, sore throats, coughs, whooping cough, chest infections, and bronchitis.  Wild thyme has decongestant properties and helps clear a stuffy nose, sinusitis, ear congestion, and related complaints.  It has been used to expel threadworms and roundworms in children, and is used to settle gas and colic and help with hangovers.  It is said to be effective in treating alcoholism.  Wild thyme’s antispasmodic action makes it useful in relieving menstrual pain.  Externally, it may be applied as a poultice to treat mastitis and an infusion may be used as a wash to help heal wounds, ulcers, throat and gum infections.  Externally, it is applied to minor injuries, mastitis, mouth, throat and gum infections etc. Wild thyme is also used in herbal baths and pillows. The seeds are used as a vermifuge. 

Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa)  The plant is also known as colic root and rheumatism root in North America, indicating its use by European settlers for these conditions.     Diosgenin, a breakdown product of dioscin, was first identified by Japanese scientists in 1936.  This discovery paved the way for the synthesis of progesterone and of corticosteroid hormones such as cortisone.  For this reason it is sometimes expensive, because pharmaceutical firms buy up large crops on the global market. This use of the root, coupled with its traditional use as an antispasmodic and antirheumatic gave rise to the saying that wild yam is a natural steroid.  Indeed, it contains compounds that are similar in chemical structure to steroids, but these compounds must be digested, absorbed and processed by one’s body before becoming steroids or hormones.  Eating foods such as wild yam thus provides the building blocks for many complex glandular manufacturing processes.  The herb’s combination of anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic actions makes it extremely useful in treatments for arthritis and rheumatism. It reduces inflammation and pain, and relaxes stiff muscles in the affected area.  It stimulated the removal of accumulated wastes in the system.  Wild yam helps to relieve cramps, muscle tension, and colic.  It can be an effective treatment for digestive problems, including gallbladder inflammation, irritable bowel syndrome, and diverticulitis.  In large doses it is regarded as a diuretic and acts as an expectorant.
                In North and Central America, wild yam is a traditional relaxing remedy for painful menstruation, ovarian pain, and labor.   It is classically given for uterine pain, such as severe menstrual pain, or shooting pain beyond cramps.  It’s also used for ovarian spasm and inflammation such as occurs with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).  To relieve the nauseous symptoms of pregnancy, Dioscorein is the very best and is prompt in action given in small, frequent doses.  It is useful as part of a natural approach to any endocrine imbalance.  For extremely heavy periods wild yam root tincture, 20-30 drops taken daily for the two weeks preceding the expected onset of menses, can supply enough progesterone precursors to remedy flooding.  Ointment made from wild yam roots may be the able to restore youthful moistness and elasticity to post-menopausal vaginal tissues.  However, this is where a lot of misinformation and controversy occurs.
           Today most USP progesterone is, in fact, extracted from soy.  Neither USP nor human progesterone is present in either of the major plant sources (soybean or wild yam). Yams contain the sterol diosgenin, whereas soybeans contain the sterol stigmasterol—both of which have progesterone-like effects.  The substances sold as USP progesterone is produced in the lab by hydrolyzing extracts of soy or yam and converting saponins into sapogenins, two of which, sarsasapogenin (soy) and diosgenin (yam) provide the majority of derivation of natural progesterone produced for medical purposes.  While diosgenin may have some progestogenic or even phytoestrogenic action, the effect varies from one person to another.  Some doctors say that the human body cannot convert wild yam or diosgenin to hormones and that conversion to progesterone must take place in a laboratory. It is possible, however, that some women’s bodies are better able to utilize plant-derived compounds than others.  It is also important to remember that while the mechanism of phytogenic activity may not be clearly understood at this time, botanical supplementation continues to gain support among everywhere because it works for them.  There has been a great deal of confusion pertaining to the progesterone content of various manufacturers’ transdermal creams.  The bioavailability of the progesterone in such products is of paramount importance. The quality of a formulation and its delivery system determines the absorption and effectiveness.  It’s essential that you know your product and your supplier and above all observe your body’s response to the product of your choice.  Wild yam, given in combination with black cohosh, is not only common in menopause formulas but is also an effective pain-relieving remedy for rheumatoid arthritis, especially in the inflamed stages of flare-up.     Solvent in water. As a primary liver tonic herb, wild yam activates and stimulates liver activity.  High concentrations of steroidal saponins provide the building blocks required by the liver to synthesize sex hormones. Whenever both the liver and reproductive system are implicated as the cause of hormone imbalance, wild yam is the herb of choice to use in the formula.     

Willow, Black (Salix nigra)  Black willow is a safe natural source of aspirin-like chemicals which helps to explain its reputation in the treatment of rheumatism and arthritis where there is much associated pain and inflammation.  It may be used as part of a wider treatment for any connective tissue inflammation anywhere in the body, but it is especially useful in rheumatoid arthritis.  It may also be used in fevers such as influenza.  The bark has been used in the treatment of gonorrhea, ovarian pains and nocturnal emissions. The bark of this species is used interchangeably with S. alba. It is taken internally in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis, gout, inflammatory stages of auto-immune diseases, diarrhea, dysentery, feverish illnesses, neuralgia and headache. The bark can be used as a poultice on cuts, wounds, sprains, bruises, swellings etc. The leaves are used internally in the treatment of minor feverish illnesses and colic.

Willow, White (Salix alba)  Medicinal Uses: The values of willow lie in the glycosides salicin and populin as well as the tannin.  The uses are many, but most specifically in the reduction of inflammations of joints and membranes.  Useful for headache (caused by dampness and heat in the gastrointestinal tract), recurring fevers, gonorrhea, ovarian pains, dyspepsia, dysentery, chronic diarrhea, neuralgia, rheumatic aches and pains, worms, edema and hay fever.  It has been used internally in the treatment of dyspepsia connected with debility of the digestive organs, rheumatism, arthritis, gout, inflammatory stages of auto-immune diseases, feverish illnesses, neuralgia and headache. Its tonic and astringent properties render it useful in convalescence from acute diseases, in treating worms, chronic dysentery and diarrhea. The fresh bark is very bitter and astringent. The salicin in it probably decomposes into salicylic acid  in the human body. This is used as an anodyne and febrifuge. The glycosides are excreted in the urine as salicylic acid, salicyl alcohol, and related compounds; this renders the tea useful for urethra and bladder irritability, acting as an analgesic to those tissues.  Most of our plants are not particularly potent and a fair amount of the bark or stem is needed.  Up to an ounce a day can be consumed in tea if needed, but take no more than is needed for the problem.  Willow bark is a strong but benign antiseptic, and a good poultice or strong wash is made of the fresh or dried herb.  For infected wounds, ulcerations, or eczema, the plant should be boiled in twice its volume of water in a covered pot for at least half an hour, some borax or boric acid added (tablespoon to a pint of water), and the tea used externally as often as necessary.  It also may be taken as a bitter tonic in small doses before meals, to hasten convalescence from acute disease.  The leaves are used internally in the treatment of minor feverish illnesses and colic. An infusion of the leaves has a calming effect and is helpful in the treatment of nervous insomnia. When added to the bath water, the infusion is of real benefit in relieving widespread rheumatism.

Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens)  Wintergreen is strongly anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and soothing to the digestive system.  It is an effective remedy for rheumatic and arthritic problems and, taken as a tea, it relieves flatulence and colic. It reestablishes fundamental flow patterns.  It heals chronic mucus discharge.  It is diuretic and astringent but increases menses and lactation.  The essential oil, in the form of a liniment or ointment, brings relief to inflamed, swollen, or sore muscles, ligaments, and joints, and can also prove valuable in treating neurological conditions such as sciatica and trigeminal neuralgia.  The oil is sometimes used to treat cellulitis, a bacterial infection causing skin to become inflamed.  The Inuit of Labrador and other native peoples eat the berries raw, and use the leaves to treat headaches, aching muscles and sore throat. The methyl salicylate found in wintergreen leaves is closely related to salicylic acid.  Accordingly, the leaf tea is given for the same conditions treated by aspirin, such as colds, flu, fever, muscle pain, arthritis and rheumatism.  It has also been used to treat asthma and skin problems.  In contrast to aspirin, small amounts relieve stomach indigestion instead of causing it.  Native Americans chewed wintergreen leaves to improve their breathing while carrying loads or running and on long treks.  In some regions, Early American settlers had their children chew the roots for 6 weeks every spring to reduce tooth decay.  They also steeped the berries in brandy for a winter tonic.  It is a skin softener that will smooth rough, callused skin.  In liniments, it eases muscular, arthritic and rheumatic pains and is readily absorbed into skin.  It's a popular flavoring for toothpaste and other dental preparations.

Witch Hazel  (Hamamelis virginiana)   Witch hazel was highly valued in Native American medicine.  Many tribes rubbed a decoction on cuts, bruises, insect bites, aching joints, sore muscles, and sore backs.  They also drank witch hazel tea to stop internal bleeding, prevent miscarriage, and treat colds, fevers, sore throat and menstrual pain.  The colonists adopted these uses until the 1840s when an Oneida medicine man introduced the plant to Theron T. Pond of Utica, NY.  Pond learned of the plant’s astringent properties and ability to treat burns, boils, wounds and hemorrhoids.  In 1848, he began marketing witch hazel extract as Pond’s Golden Treasure.  Later, the name was changed to Pond’s Extract and witch hazel water has been with us ever since. The Eclectic text, King’s American Dispensatory, listed that the decoction was very useful the fluid extract had little to recommend it.  It as listed in the US Pharmacopoeia from 1862 through 1916 and in the National Formulary from 1916-1955.  It was finally dropped because the 24^th edition of The Dispensatory of the United States stated witch hazel is “so nearly destitute of medicinal virtues, it scarcely deserves official recognition…[Its continued use serves only to fill] the need in American families for an embrocation [liniment] which appeals to the psychic influence of faith.” Contemporary herbalists recommend only the decoction of witch hazel bark.  Though the commercial witch hazel water may not contain tannins, it does contain other chemicals with reported antiseptic, anesthetic, astringent, and anti-inflammatory action.  Witch hazel water is an ingredient in Tucks, Preparation H Cleansing Pads and several German hemorrhoid preparations.  Witch hazel itself contains large quantities of tannins.  These have a drying, astringent effect, causing the tightening up of proteins in the skin and across the surface of abrasions.  This creates a protective covering that increases resistance to inflammation and promotes healing of broken skin.  Witch hazel also appears to help damaged blood vessels beneath the skin.  It is thought that this effect may be due to the flavonoids as well as to the tannins.  When witch hazel is distilled it retains its astringency, suggesting that astringent agents other than tannins are present.  Witch hazel is very useful for inflamed and tender skin conditions, such as eczema.  It is mainly used where the skin has not been significantly broken and helps to protect the affected area and prevent infection.  It is valuable for damaged facial veins, varicose veins and hemorrhoids, and is an effective remedy for bruises.  Due to its astringent properties, it helps to tighten distended veins and restore their normal structure. A lotion can be applied to the skin for underlying problems such as cysts or tumors.  Witch hazel also makes an effective eyewash for inflammation of the eyes.  Less commonly, it is taken internally to alleviate diarrhea, helping to tighten up the mucous membranes of the intestines, and for bleeding of any kind.  Japanese research showed witch hazel to have sufficient antioxidant activity to have potential against wrinkles.

Woad (Isatis tinctoria)   The Chinese and East Indians used woad as both a dye and a medicine.  They considered it a broad-spectrum antibiotic and used it to treat many different infections and also for inflammation.  Both leaves and roots are used when there are swollen glands, such as in cases of mumps, tonsillitis, or laryngitis.  High fevers, diphtheria, and hepatitis are other problems that respond to woad.  The herb is so astringent, that is not usually given internally as a medicine and has only been used as a plaster, applied to the region of the spleen and as an ointment for ulcers, inflammation and to staunch bleeding.
TCM: Indications are for delirium, fainting spells, heat rash, dry and sore throat, abscesses, and swelling due to internal heat excess; erysipelas.  Effective preventive in chronic encephalitis; suppresses or kills a broad range of germs.   

Wood Apple (Feronia limonia (Feronia elephantum), (Limonia acidissima))   The fruit is much used in India as a liver and cardiac tonic, and, when unripe, as an astringent means of halting diarrhea and dysentery and effective treatment for hiccough, sore throat and diseases of the gums. The pulp is poulticed onto bites and stings of venomous insects, as is the powdered rind.   Juice of young leaves is mixed with milk and sugar candy and given as a remedy for biliousness and intestinal troubles of children. The powdered gum, mixed with honey, is given to overcome dysentery and diarrhea in children.  Oil derived from the crushed leaves is applied on itch and the leaf decoction is given to children as an aid to digestion. Leaves, bark, roots and fruit pulp are all used against snakebite. The spines are crushed with those of other trees and an infusion taken as a remedy for menorrhagia. The bark is chewed with that of Barringtonia and applied on venomous wounds.

Wood Sage (Teucrium scorodonia (T scordonia))  Wood sage may be used for all infections of the upper respiratory tract, especially for colds and influenza.  It may be used as a diaphoretic in all fevers.  It can prove beneficial in some cases of rheumatism.  There is a marked stimulation of gastric juices, thereby aiding digestion and relieving flatulent indigestion.  It’s equal to gentian root as a bitter tonic.  Externally wood sage will speed the healing of wounds, boils and abscesses.

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)  Wormwood leaves’ primary use is to stimulate the gallbladder, help prevent, and release stones, and to adjust resulting digestive problems.  Clinical studies with volunteers proved that wormwood does effectively increase bile.  It expels roundworms and threadworms, probably due to is sesquiterpene lactones.  It is also a muscle relaxer that is occasionally added to liniments, especially for rheumatism.  Members of the Bedouin African tribe place the antiseptic leaves inside their nostrils as a decongestant and drink it for coughs.  Wormwood is an extremely useful medicine for those with weak and underactive digestions.  It increases stomach acid and bile production and therefore improves digestion and the absorption of nutrients, making it helpful for many conditions including anemia.  It also eases gas and bloating, and if the tincture is taken regularly, it slowly strengthens the digestion and helps the body return to full vitality after a prolonged illness.   

X 

Xuan Fu Hua (Inula japnoica (syn I. Britannica var. chinensis) )  Medicinal Uses:  Used in traditional Chinese medicine as a mildly warming expectorant remedy, it is especially suitable when phlegm has accumulated in the chest.  The herb is often prescribed for bronchitis, wheezing, chronic coughing, and other chest complaints brought on by “cold conditions” (profuse phlegm, nausea and vomiting, hiccups and flatulence.  Xuan fu hua also has a bitter action, and it helps to strengthen digestive function.  The flowers are normally used in medicinal preparations, but the aerial parts are also taken, generally for les serious conditions.  The flowers have an antibacterial action, but this can be destroyed by proteins in the body.   The plant has been mentioned as a possible treatment for cancer of the esophagus.

Y  

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): Due to the flavonoids they contain, yarrow flowers encourage circulation, lower blood pressure and help stop bleeding anywhere in the body. A couple of cups of hot yarrow, peppermint and elder flower tea is an old remedy for reducing fevers and treating colds, measles, and eruptive diseases.  It also helps relieve urinary tract infections and stones. The tea benefits the kidneys.  Cramps and rheumatism are treated with the tea, as are intestinal gas, diarrhea, anorexia and hyperacidity.  In China, yarrow is used in poultices and to ease stomach ulcers.  It is said to stop excessive blood flower especially well in the pelvic region, so is used to decrease excessive menstruation, postpartum bleeding, and hemorrhoids.  Chewing the fresh leaves relieves toothache. Yarrow contains a chemical also present in chamomile and chamazulene, that helps relax the smooth muscle tissue of the digestive tract, making it an antispasmodic.   

Yellow Archangel (Lamium galeobdolon (Galeobdolon luteum, Lamiastrum galeobdolon) (  The crushed leaves bound to open sores will cause rapid healing.

Yellow Fawn Lily (Erythronium grandiflorum )  Indians crushed the bulbs to make a poultice for treating boils.  They believed that a wash made of the bulbs cooked in water would protect them from snakebite.  The pulverized root was applied to boils and as a wet dressing on skin sores. The leaf infusion of this plant has been shown to be active against a wide spectrum of bacteria, particularly in topical applications.

Yellow Foxglove (Digitalis lutea) Less toxic alternative to purple foxglove.  It has similar medicinal actions, but its alkaloids are more readily metabolized and flushed out by the body.  Like other foxgloves, this plant supports a weakened or failing heart, increasing the strength of contraction, slowing and steadying the heart rate and lowering blood pressure by strongly stimulating the production of urine, which reduces overall volume.

Yellow Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) A potent medicinal herb, yellow jasmine is prescribed in small doses as a sedative and antispasmodic, most commonly to treat neuralgia.  Yellow jasmine is often given for nerve pain affecting the face.  The herb is also applied externally to treat intercostals neuralgia and sciatica.  Yellow jasmine’s antispasmodic property is employed in treating whooping cough and asthma.  The herb is occasionally taken to treat migraine, insomnia, and bowel problems, and also to reduce blood pressure.  A tea made of the flowers was once thought to be good for coughs, shortness of breath, pleurisy, and stomach pains, as well as to help in childbirth.  Gelsemium also reduces the overstimulation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system and calms the overtonicized vascular system.  The therapeutic action of yellow jasmine can be classified as cardiosedative.  It as a calming effect on the heart in patients with extrasystoles and functional heart disorders  The tincture is the most practical dosage form.

Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus)  The action of yellow dock has been compared to that of various rhubarb species used as laxatives.  The active principles in yellow dock are the astringent tannins and purgative anthraquinone glycosides based on emodin and chrysophenic acid.  The primary use of this herb is in purgative therapies.              The tannins and the antimicrobial properties of the anthraquinones combine to make decoctions of the plant useful in scrofulous diseases of the skin, including psoriasis and eczema, and help explain the traditional use of yellow dock in treating skin rashes obtained from stinging nettles and syphylitic lesions.  Its astringent and antimicrobial properties also explain its use as an abrasive dentrifice, especially in cases of spongy gums.  Many sorrels and dock species have a sour taste, apparently due to ascorbic and other organic acids.  Studies confirm that yellow dock has considerable amounts of ascorbic acid that accounts for its former success as an antiscorbutic agent.  Yellow dock has accumulated, through the doctrine of signatures and folk tradition, the reputation of being a liver tonic, gall bladder tonic and the best organic source of iron available.  One nutritional therapist recently claimed that yellow dock is 50% iron by weight.  Though yellow dock contains above-average quantities of iron, it doesn’t come close to its legendary esteem in this regard.  Still, it is useful as a nutritive tonic supplying many trace minerals.  Its action on the liver and gall bladder may have some, yet unproven, efficacy since most laxatives do stimulate bile production and the secretion of gastric fluids.       The root has diuretic properties, increasing urine production and elimination of toxins via the urinary system.  It can be used for gout, cystitis, water retention, urinary stones and gravel.        Yellow dock roots combined with nettle leaves increase iron levels in the body.  They are safe for pregnant and nursing women and for any woman low in iron to take two to three times a day, four to five times a week for several weeks or months  

Yellow Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera (syn Tulipifera liriodendron) )  An ointment made of the buds crushed in grease was used to treat scalds, burns, and inflammations.  The crushed leaves were used as a poultice to treat headaches.  A decoction of the root bark was applied warm to an infected tooth for relief of pain.  The inner bark was once considered a stimulant.  The raw green bark is also chewed as an aphrodisiac. The bark contains 'tulipiferine', which is said to exert powerful effects on the heart and nervous system. A tea is used in the treatment of indigestion, dysentery, rheumatism, coughs, fevers etc. Externally, the tea is used as a wash and a poultice on wounds and boils. The root bark and the seeds have both been used to expel worms from the body.

Yellowroot (Xanthorhiza simplicissima (syn Xanthorhiza apiifolia, Zanthorrhiza apifolia))   Yellowroot survives to this day as a folk remedy in parts of the US South, where the root is chewed to freshen the mouth and sharpen the tastebuds.  Tea brewed from the roots serves as a mouthwash and as a medicine for throat and stomach disorders.  The root is astringent and a blood tonic. An infusion of the root is also used to treat mouth ulcers, stomach ulcers, colds, jaundice etc. An infusion of the roots has also been used to treat piles, though the report does not specify if it is used internally or externally.  The root contains the alkaloid 'berberine' which is used for its tonic properties and for digestive disorders. It stimulates the secretion of bile and bilirubin and may be helpful in correcting high tyramine levels in people with liver cirrhosis.

Yerba Buena, (Satureja douglasii) Esteemed by California Indians as a carminative for colic, a blood purifier, a febrifuge, a reliever of arthritic symptoms, and a general tonic and panacea.  The leaf tea was a remedy for upset stomach.  The Costanoan Indians made a strong decoction of the herb for pinworms or held the leaves in their mouths to treat toothache.  The warm leaves were also poulticed on the outside of the jaw to treat toothache. Chumash women drank the water in which the leafy vines of Yerba Buena were boiled to promote menstrual discharge.  Dosage is 10-30 drops of the tincture or as a tea.  A complementary herb to add to catnip or to chamomile.  Use as a skin wash for rashes and prickly heat.  For arthritis make a tea of equal parts parsley, yerba buena and yerba santa. 

Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica), Yerba Mansa is considered by herbalists  to have many properties similar to Goldenseal though it is not related botanically or chemically  It is used for slowly healing boggy conditions of the mouth, intestinal and urinary tracts and lungs.  It is astringent to the connective tissues that form the membrane structure, but it stimulates better fluid transport, helping to remove the exudates that prevent repair of the irritation that began the whole mess.  Mouth, gum and throat sores are helped by the herb, as are ulcers of the stomach and duodenum.  Use ¼  teaspoon of either tincture in water, a standard infusion, 2-3 oz or 2 #00 capsules, 2-3 times a day.  It is also used for bleeding gums and herpes simplex.  As a diuretic, yerba mansa stimulates the excretion of nitrogenous acids, especially uric acid, which can aid many types of joint problems.  It is also substantially aspirin-like in its anti-inflammatory effects.  Drink as a tea for arthritis…1/2 cup up to 5 times a day.  It is antibacterial and antifungal, so it affords a fine external first aid or dressing for abrasions or contusions.  A sitz bath for bartholin gland cysts and perianal fissures or  boils usually  brings quick healing.   Use 1 teaspoon of the tincture per quart of water, or a 1:64 decoction of the powdered root.  The powdered root is an impeccable dust when mixed with four parts of a soothing starch for diaper rash and chafing.  The leaves, although much feebler and chemically simpler, make a fine bath for general pain of the muscles and joints.  A water percolation (1:10) with 20% glycerine and 10% alcohol added when finished, is an excellent nasal spray for hay fever, lingering head cold, or the results of cocaine or snuff abuse.  Used by itself (powdered root) or combined with Cypress and Chaparral, it's an excellent for athlete's foot.

Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguarensis), A basic, hot, caffeine beverage tea, helpful as a remedy for hangovers and sick headaches, and as a morning wake-up drink. It is used in popular medicine and employed in commercial herbal preparations as a stimulant to the central nervous system, a diuretic, and an anti rheumatic.    It can be drunk green, or lightly roasted in a frying pan for a more robust flavor.  It is preferable to coffee for those with gastritis or colitis and easier on the kidneys than Chinese tea.  Take up to 3 times a day.  Not for use by those avoiding caffeine sources in managing fibrocystic breast disease or for other reasons.
           Yerba Maté is the subject of a German Monograph which lists its uses for mental and physical fatigue, and having "analeptic, diuretic, positively inotropic, positively chronotropic, glycogenolytic and lipolytic effects." Yerba maté has been used medicinally as a diuretic, tonic, and a central nervous system stimulant. Another traditional use has been as a depurative (to promote cleansing and excretion of waste).  Herbalist, Daniel Mowrey, states that yerba mate is a "whole body tonic," even in large amounts" and "promotes balances in many body systems without overstimulating any system." Yerba mate's tonic effect on the body helps to regulate sleep cycles and reduce fatigue.  Mate is used to reduce appetite, invigorate the body, and affects the muscles by reducing fatigue.
          In Europe, Mate is used for weight loss, "as the ideal slimming remedy which facilitates losing weight in a natural way and still the distressing feelings of hunger and thirst."  Dr. James Balch, MD recommends Yerba Maté for arthritis, headache, hemorrhoids, fluid retention, obesity, fatigue, stress, constipation, allergies and hay fevers stating that it "cleanses the blood, tones the nervous system, retards aging, stimulates the mind, controls the appetite, stimulates the production of cortisone, and is believed to enhance the healing powers of other herbs."
            Research on the active constituents of Yerba Maté were reported in the mid-1970s through mid-1980's   The primary active chemical constituency of yerba maté is made up of 0.3-2.0% caffeine, theobromine, theophylline, saponins, and 10% chlorogenic acid.   Sterols resembling ergosterol and cholesterol are also present in yerba maté.  In addition, Yerba Mate is a rich source of minerals and 15 amino acids are present in the leaves.  In a study by Swantson-Flatt with the closely related Ilex species guayusa, the maté extract "retarded the development of hyperglycaemia" in streptozotocin diabetic mice and "reduced the hyperphagia, polydipsia, body weight loss, and glycated haemoglobin."  This study suggests the presence of potentially useful antidiabetic agents in Mate. The antioxidant properties demonstrated clinically by Yerba Maté were reported in two clinical studies demonstrating its high antioxidant values linked to rapid absorption of known antioxidant phytochemicals found in Mate leaves.  Of most recent clinical interest is a group of known and novel saponins that researchers have isolated in Mate leaves. Saponins are a group of phytochemicals with known pharmacological activities, including, as the latest research shows, stimulating the immune system.  

Yerbe Santa (Eriodictyon californicum)  Excellent decongestants, used for any lung or sinus condition that is juicy, hypersecretory and gaggy.  It decreases the secretions and lessens the underlying inflammation.  With its decongestant effects and its high level of flavonoids, Yerba Santa is very useful for chronic gastritis and chronic urethral irritation (use a cold tea--take ½ cup up to 5 times a day).  The flavonoids help to strengthen the fragile, irritated membrane capillaries that are distended and leaky from the chronic irritation that underlies the problem. Yerba Santa coats the mucous membranes and holds the aqueous component in contact with the cells. It provides a unique method to reintroduce the mucoprotective effects of sustained moisturization.  It dilates the bronchial tubes which makes it excellent for asthma and hay fever.  For mild bronchial spasms, smoking the leaves along with the tea can improve the effects. Often combined with Yerba del Buey.  E. californica is more soluble in alcohol while the other varieties do better in water.  Dosage: Dry herb tincture: 20-30 drops up to 5 times a day.   Other uses include: catarrh of the bladder, hemorrhoids, and as a poultice for bruises, sprains,   wounds, and insect bites.  

Yew (Taxus baccata (syn T. baccata var. aurea, T. baccata var. fastigiata, T. baccata var. fastigiata-aurea, T. baccata var. washingtonii, T. canadensis var. washingtonii[, T. cuspidate, T. fastigiata)   The yew tree is a highly toxic plant that has occasionally been used medicinally, mainly in the treatment of chest complaints. Modern research has shown that the plants contain the substance 'taxol' in their shoots. Taxol has shown exciting potential as an anti-cancer drug, particularly in the treatment of ovarian cancers.  Taxol inhibits cell division and has been extensively researched for its potential as an anticancer drug.   Unfortunately, the concentrations of taxol in this species are too low to be of much value commercially, though it is being used for research purposes. It is most commonly found in the Pacific yew.  This remedy should be used with great caution and only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. See also the notes above on toxicity.  The leaves have been used internally in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, hiccough, indigestion, rheumatism and epilepsy. Externally, the leaves have been used in a steam bath as a treatment for rheumatism. Homeopathy: A homeopathic remedy is made from the young shoots and the berries. It is used in the treatment of many diseases including cystitis, eruptions, headaches, heart and kidney problems, rheumatism etc. 

Yin Chen Hao (Artemisia capillaries )  Yin chen hao is an effective remedy for liver problems, being specifically helpful for treating hepatitis with jaundice.  Traditional Chinese medicine holds that it is bitter and cooling, clearing “damp heat” from the liver and gall ducts and relieving fevers.  Yin chen hao is also anti-inflammatory and diuretic.  It was formerly used in a plaster for headaches.  Research indicates that yin chen hao has a tonic and strengthening effect on the liver and gallbladder and digestive system.  It is an effective remedy for liver problems, being specifically helpful in treating hepatitis with jaundice.    An infusion of the young shoots is used internally in the treatment of jaundice, hepatitis, gall bladder complaints and feverish illnesses. Externally it has been applied in the form of a plaster for treating headaches. 

Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe (Coryanthe yohimbe)): Yohimbine is an agrenergic blocker and has a long-standing reputation as a sexual stimulant.  A recent study in rats has shown this to be justifiable despite earlier clinical studies which gave equivocal results;  the dose of yohimbine is very important as too high a dose leads to general depression.  Recommended dose is 1-2 capsules per day (early, with food).  It is a broader glandular tonic that works on several glands: adrenals, gonads, thyroid, and pituitary.  It’s a good short-term energy booster.  It’s also the only herb or natural substance scientifically verified to be an aphrodisiac by orthodox medical studies.  
            The African herb yohimbe has been proven to improve a man’s staying power.  It improves the operation of the nerves that promote desire while dampening those that stimulate ejaculation.  Men with sexual dysfunction problems notice the benefits the most.  It both causes the dilation of peripheral and mucous membrane blood vessels along with central nervous system stimulation.   The action takes about 30 minute to take effect and then continues for a couple of hours.  Yohimbe contains the compound yohimbine, a major ingredient in several prescription drugs for impotence.  The concentrate yohimbine occasionally increases heartbeat, raises blood pressure or increases irritability, depression, nervousness or dizziness.  If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, use only under the care of a professional. It should not be used by people with kidney disease. Also, don’t take it with diet aids, commercial nasal decongestants that contain ephedrine, or with cheese, red wine or liver since combining these sometimes cases wide effects, such as headaches.  There is a prescription medication based on yohimbine.
              The only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medicine for impotence is yohimbine - an alkaloid isolated from the bark of the yohimbe tree (Pausinystalia yohimbe) native to tropical West Africa. Yohimbine hydrochloride increases libido, but its primary action is to increase blood flow to erectile tissue. Contrary to a popular misconception, yohimbine has no effects on testosterone levels.  When used alone, yohimbine is successful in 34-43 percent of cases.   

Yuan Zhi (Polygala tenuifolia )  Yuan Zhi contains triterpenoid saponins, these promote the clearing of phlegm from the bronchial tubes. The plant is used mainly as an expectorant and stimulant to treat bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis and whooping cough.  It acts mainly as a tonic for the heart and kidney energies. It is taken internally in the treatment of coughs with profuse phlegm, bronchitis, insomnia, palpitations, poor memory, anxiety, depression and nervous tension. Externally it is used to treat boils and carbuncles. The leaves are used as a tonic for the kidneys. This herb is reputed to improve cerebral functions such as memory, learning, and clarity, and strengthen mental powers such a will and insight. This is probably due to its highly tonifying effects on the kidneys and heart, whose energies govern many important mental faculties.

Yucca    (Yucca filamentosa, Y baccata, Y arizonica, Y elaza, Y whipplei ssp caespitosa)  Yucca is used for arthritis, rheumatism, gout, urethritis and prostates.  At one time it was considered an important source of phytosterols and used in the manufacturing of steroidal hormones.  Y glauca has been shown to have some activity against one strain of melanoma.  The amino acids in Yucca leaves have been shown to inhibit viruses, namely herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2, and cytomegalovirus.  One possible biochemical mechanism responsible for Yucca’s anti-inflammatory benefits lies in the plant’s steroidal saponins interacting with steroid receptors in the body, altering prostaglandin synthesis. Another possibility is that these chemicals may induce the production of anti-inflammatory steroidal compounds in the human body.

Z

Zedoary (Curcuma zedoaria (round) C. zerumbet (long): Useful in flatulent colic and debility of the digestive organs, though it is rarely employed, as ginger gives the same, or better results. It is highly valued for its ability to purify the blood.  Like turmeric, Zedoary is an antiseptic and a paste applied locally to cuts and wounds helps healing.  It is used as an ingredient in bitter tincture of Zedoary, antiperiodic pills (with and without aloes) bitter tincture, antiperiodic tincture (with and without aloes). Zedoary is also rich in starch and is given to babies and invalids in India.  It is combined with pepper, cinnamon and honey and used to treat colds.   It is used in Indian perfumes called ittars as well as in some drinks.  A paste of a little zedoary and cream makes a good face mask and keeps the skin clear and shining.  An ingredient in Swedish bitters.  The rhizome is used in China to treat certain types of tumors.  In Chinese trials, zedoary has reduced cervical cancer, and increased the cancer-killing effects of radiotherapy chemotherapy.  

Zhe Bei Mu (Fritillaria thunbergii (syn F. callicola, F. verticillata, Uvularia cirrhosa))   Zhe bei mu increases the coughing up of mucus and relieves irritability in the respiratory tract.  It is given for the treatment of bronchitis and tonsillitis, and for fever and respiratory symptoms accompanying other acute infections such as flu.  Zhe bei mu is thought to act specifically on tumors and swellings of the throat, neck, and chest, and is taken for thyroid gland nodules, scrofula (tuberculosis of the lymph glands of the neck), abscesses and boils, and breast cancer.  It has also been used to treat dysentery, and to increase breast-milk production.  They contain fritimine which diminishes excitability of respiratory centers, paralyses voluntary movement and counters effects of opium. The bulbs are thought to act specifically on tumors and swellings of the throat, neck and chest, and they are taken in the treatment of thyroid gland nodules, scrofula, abcesses and boils and breast cancer. The bulb is used internally in the treatment of coughs, bronchitis, pneumonia, feverish illnesses, abscesses etc. The bulbs also have a folk history of use against cancer of the breast and lungs in China. This remedy should only be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner, excessive doses can cause breathing difficulties and heart failure.

Zhi Mi (Anemarrhena asphodeloides )  Internally used for high fever in infectious diseases, tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis, and urinary problems.  Zhi mu is used in Chinese herbal medicine for “excess heat” – fever, night sweats, and coughs.  It has a bitter taste and a “cold temperament,” and is used to treat canker sores, particularly in combination with rehmannia and Scrophularia ningpoensis.  Externally as a mouthwash for mouth ulcers. Therapeutic action is slightly altered by cooking with wine or salt. It has an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Bacillus dysenteriae, B. typhi, B. paraatyphi, Proteus and Pseudomonas. It is taken internally in the treatment of high fevers in infectious diseases, TB, chronic bronchitis and urinary problems. It should not be given to patients with diarrhea and should be administered with caution since when taken in excess it can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure. Externally, it is used as a mouthwash in the treatment of ulcers. The rhizome is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use.