Post by Noel Councilor on Sept 21, 2015 21:56:14 GMT
Here is a list of medical herbs that may be used within the rp.
(Please note, some images may not show. )
General Purpose
Antiscorbutic (Plants that produce Vitamin C)
Aonla Fruit; A small-medium tree with a crooked trunk, spreading branches, and narrow, pinnate leaves. In Autumn round, yellow-green berries can be eaten for their high Vitamin C content.
Raspberries; A climbing shrub with arching, perennial stems with simple, broad leaves. White, perennial flowers bloom in Spring followed by red berries that are eaten for Vitamin C.
Rose Hips; Found on common rose bushes (climbing shrubs with thorns and large, colorful flowers), these berries grow in early summer, are normally bright red, and full of Vitamin C.
Depurative (Aids Kidney & Liver functions; purifies and detoxifies)
Burdock Root; Biennial plant with large, coarse and wooly heart shaped leaves (mouseover). From summer-fall they bloom purple and pink burr flowers. Fresh or dried root is eaten for purifying affects.
Juniper Berries; Berry-like seed cones grow on a twisting, woody evergreen tree-shrub reaching 32ft. Slow growing, fruit ripens during second year of growth. Berries help with detoxing and infection.
Yarrow; An erect plant with many stems and feathery pinnate leaves. White, flat topped flowers bloom in summer. This plant can be chewed and applied to wounds to pull poison, or eaten to detoxify.
Essential Fatty Acids (EFA; vital to the immune system)
Goji; A woody perennial with lance or oblong shaped leaves that cluster up the shoot. Lavender flowers grow in threes in summer. Bright orange berries grow in fall and are a fair source of EFA.
Seaweed; Actually a type of marine algae, it can be red, brown, or green, and is usually slender or may have fern-like growth. The entire plant is eaten and is full of essential fatty acids.
Wild Gourd; A tuberous plant with heart shaped leaves on long crawling vines that bloom small, yellow, star shaped flowers. 2-3" green and white striped gourds are rich in EFA.
Digestive Aid
Antidiarrheal (helps stop the runs)
Blueberry; Erect shrub with blue-green leaves that purple in fall. Spring white, bell-shaped flowers turn to blue gray berries in summer. Eating dried berries or root will stop diarrhea.
Oak Bark; 85ft. hardwood tree with light gray bark. Green oblong, 9-lobed leaves turn yellow in fall when nuts begin sprout. Bark is binding and stops diarrhea when eaten.
Oceanspray; Shrub with small, thick and juicy, lobed leaves. Small white flowers cascade from branches, and area eaten as an antidiarrheal.
Digestive (Improves and aids the digestive process)
Dill; A lanky herb with long, fern-like leaves. Small lime flowers form a flat top at the end of stems in spring. Leaves are gathered and chewed to prevent and/or expel gas.
Mallow; An erect annual with toothy, lobed oval or heart shaped leaves that are velvety. Small pale colored, simple flowers bloom late summer. Eating root coats and soothes digestive tract.
Black Cohosh; Smooth flowering plant with large, basal compound leaves forming leaflets. Small flowers with no petals cluster at the end of the stem. Bitter flavor of root stimulates digestion.
Stomachic (Promotes appetite and aids digestion)
Chamomile; Annual herb that blooms white daisy-like flowers in late spring. Fern-like green leaves give a feathery look. Bitter flowers are eaten to stimulate stomach acid.
*may cause miscarriage*
Fringe Cups; Evergreen perennial with round leaves that emerge from a rootstock. Flowers bloom on spikes in early summer (mouseover). Eating entire plant restores appetite.
Gentian; Annual plant sitting on a net of opposite leaves. Intense blue trumpet shaped flowers bloom in spring. Root's bitter flavor promotes digestive action.
Pain Killers & Joint Health
Analgesic (Pain killer)
Birch; Medium broadleaved deciduous tree with simple, alternate leaves. Catkins and samara (winged) fruit are full grown in mid summer. Bark is papery with dark marks and chewed to relieve muscle pain.
Dandelion; Weed with a rosette of simple basal leaves. Yellow composite flower blooms at the end of a hollow stem, maturing into white seeds (mouseover). Chewing leaves relieves pain.
Devil's Claw; Lobe leafed herb with beautiful tubular, five lobed cream and purple flowers that bloom into woody 'fruit' capsule with two long-hooked seed pods. Chewing root relieves joing/muscle pain.
Antirheumatic (Treats Rhumatoid Arthritis *Not for treatment of age related arthritis*)
Bogbean; Herb with alternate, trifolate leaves. Small, white star-shaped flowers bloom in early summer from the center of the plant. Eating entire plant relieves inflammation and pain from joint.
White Poplar; Medium, deciduous tree with smooth, diamond marked bark (mouseover). Five-lobe leaves are thick. Catkins bloom in early spring. Eat bark to relieve joint pain and inflammation.
Yucca Root; Evergreen shrub-tree that blooms a rosette of sword-shaped leaves and a large, towering clusters of white or off-white flowers. Root reduces joint pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Anti-Inflammatory (Treats inflammation)
Daisy; Rosette of small round leaves. Blooming early to mid summer is a complex flower made of small white blossoms around a yellow disc. Chewed and apply leaves to reduce inflammation.
Fennel; Hardy erect perennial herb with feathery, fern like leaves and clustered yellow flowers. The stems are hollow. A dry seed is the fruit of these flowers and can be eaten to prevent inflammation.
Ragwort Leaf; Erect stems and pinnate, with foul smelling lobed leaves. Yellow flowers are born in flat-topped clusters from summer-fall. Chew and topically apply leaves to reduce inflammation.
Pregnancy & Birth
Aphrodisiac (Stimulates arousal)
Angels Trumpet; A tree-shrub reaching 36ft. with large, compound leaves. In spring hanging, trumpet-shaped flowers bloom. Eat or burn flowers/leaves for a powerful aphrodisiac.
Epimedium; A flowering evergreen plant that grows small compound leaves that brown in fall. Yellow star-shaped flowers bloom in spring and are eaten as an aphrodisiac for males and females.
Indian Plum; Erect 15ft. shrub with simple, bright green oblong leaves. Bell shaped pale green flowers bloom late winter (female plants bare fruit - mouseover). Twigs are chewed as a mild aphrodisiac.
Emmenagogue (Stimulates bloodflow to the groin; Females: stimulates menstruation) **May terminate pregnancies**
Angelica; Small herb with purple stems and umbrella shaped clusters of white flowers that bloom in late summer. It has ridged cuneate leaves. Plant and root is eaten to help regulate menstrual cycle.
Chaste Tree Berry; A flowering tree that blooms small purple flowers with spikes every summer on long stems (mouseover). Berries follow these blooms and are eaten to regulate blood flow to the groin.
Lady's Mantle; A clump forming perennial with gray-green barb-lobed, basal leaves. In late spring, green & lime flowers with no petals bloom in clusters. Whole plant eaten to ease cramps and bleeding.
Galactagogue (Promotes lactation in females)
Alfalfa; Perennial legume reaching 3ft. that slow grows to a crowned plant. Alternating leaves are small with clover-like purple flowers. Eating leaves and stem aids milk production.
Borage Leaves; A bristly, hairy herb with simple, long, alternate leaves. Blue, star-shaped flowers bloom yearly. Chewing and eating leaves produces more nutrient-rich milk.
Goat's Rue; Hardy perennial that blooms in summer. Small pink flowers appear on a long stalk. Pinnate leaves are thick and are chewed and eaten to stimulate milk production.
Parturient (Supports and facilitates birthing process)
Day Flower; Woody, perennial herb with long tapering leaves and small yellow flowers that blooms in fall/winter. Eating leaves helps relax pelvic muscles to ease birth.
Motherwort; Opposite, multi-lobed leaves sprout from a hairy, woody stem. Toward the top, small flowers white and pink appear in the leaf axils. Eating whole herb makes birthing easier.
Partridge Berry; Non-climbing evergreen vine with opposite small, broad, shiny leaves. Berries sprout from 2 flowers (mouseover) in late autumn and are eaten with vine before and after birth.
Phytoestrogen (Promotes estrogen in females wishing to give birth or nearing menopause)
Apples; Small 15ft. tree with serrated, oval shaped dark green leaves that fall in autumn. In spring, leaves and fruit begin to bud. Apples contain phytoestrogen which can stave menopause.
Licorice Root; A legume with pinnate leaves and long, purple to wash blue flowers. Root is filled with xenoestrogen and helps stave menopause and promote estrogen.
Red Clover; A short lived perennial clover with alternating trifolate leaves. Dark pink flowers are round, edible and filled with natural plant estrogen.
Uterine Tonic (Prepares women for an easier childbirth)
Blue Cohosh; Single stalked barberry with large, 3-branched leaves. Spring yields clusters of small bluegreen flowers that produce blue berries. Eating dried root improves uterine wall strength.
False Unicorn; A single stalk grows from a rosette of long leaves. Small, bright colored flowers cluster at the tip in spring. Eating root strengthens uterine wall.
Stagbush; Short tree with crooked trunk and spreading branches. Wedge shaped leaves are simple, and fruit baring flowers are white and cluster. Bark, when eaten, relaxes the uterus.
Mental Health
Mental Health (Used to treat neurological disorders and other ailments of the brain)
Ginkgo Biloba; Ancient 115ft. tree with long erratic branches. Fan-shaped leaves yellow and fall in autumn. Male trees produce catkins. Eating leaves aids bloodflow, lifts mood and energy.
St. John's Wort; Erect stem branches into opposing, narrow leaves with clear dots. Fresh, bright, star-shaped flowers that bloom late spring-early summer (and herb) are eaten to relieve minor anxiety.
Valerian; A hardy perennial plant with heads of pink or white flowers that bloom in summer. Pinneate, narrow leaves are medium green. Pungent smelling root acts as a sedative when eaten.
Periwinkle; An evergreen perennial vine with opposite leaves and violet-purple flowers that bloom spring to fall. Eating plant improves blood flow to the brain, good for stroke.
Stimulants
Diuretic (Stimulates urination)
Kinnikinnik; Groundcover shrub with small, thick green leaves and green-red stems. Urn-shaped flowers and red berries bloom in Spring. Chew leaves for juice to induce urination.
Buchu; Tall shrubbery with small leaves that cluster on red stems. Small white or pink flowers bloom in spring. Leaves are chewed to induce urination and clean urinary tract.
Sweet Woodruff; Groundcover shrub with lance shaped green leaves and small white flowers that bloom in spring. Should be dried before consuming to flush toxins out of urinary tract.
Emetic (induces vomiting)
Butterfly Weed; A tall milkweed plant with broad, spiral leaves and clustering orange-yellow flowers that bloom spring-summer. The root needs to be chewed and ingested to induce vomiting.
Elderberry Root; Large shrub reaching 13ft. with long fringed leaves. In spring clusters of small white flowers bloom along with black berries (mouseover). The root is eaten to induce vomiting.
Pacific Ninebark; A 13ft. high shrub with maple-like leaves and white, dome-shaped flowers that bloom in clusters. The bark is brown and flakey, and should be eaten to induce vomiting.
Expectorant (Supports the expulsion of phlegm and mucus from respiratory tract)
Mullein Flower; A 2ft. plant that blooms small yellow flowers on a stalk protruding from a rosette of leaves. The flower and leaves should be dried and consumed to break up phlegm and soothe coughs.
Wild Ginger; A low growing herb with heart shaped leaves and small, a single brown flower blooms in spring. Root stalk is eaten to stimulate circulation and expel phlegm.
Thyme; A bushy, evergreen shrub with small gray/green leaves. It normally flowers in Summer. Eat leaves, stem, and flower to fight off cold infection and prevents phlegm from settling.
Purgative (Empties the bowels; laxative)
Cascara; A deciduous, 30ft. tree. Dark green leaves are oval shaped and yellow in fall. In spring, small flowers and berries bloom (mouseover). Dried, aged bark or berries are eaten as laxative.
Jalap Bindweed; A climbing plant with heart-shaped green leaves and crimson flowers. The root - varying in size from a nut to an orange - is eaten as a strong laxative.
Turkey Rhubarb; A rhubarb root that grows in a jointed stalk with clusters of flowers that bloom white/yellow to crimson. In lobe-leafed varieties the root is eaten as a laxative.
Vermifuge (Destroys and expels parasitic worms)
Black Walnut Hull; A riverside tree reaching 40ft. Black bark is deeply furrowed. Female flowers turn to walnut hulls in autumn, blooming alongside male catkins. Eating the hull kills worms and parasites.
Butternut; A fast growing, 66ft. tree with light gray bark and soft bright green pinnate leaves. Green catkins and pink flowers bloom before nuts in fall. Eating inner bark kills worms, toxins, and parasites.
Papaya Leaf; A 33ft. tree-like plant. At the top of the stem sprouts large, multi-lobed leaves alongside white flowers that bloom into fruit (mouseover). Eat leaves to expel worms and parasites.
Physical Injuries
Cicatrisant (Promotes healing of surface wounds and scar tissue)
Goldenrod; An erect perennial plant with a stalk that blossoms numerous, small yellow flowers in late summer. Tapering leaves are chewed to a poultice and applied to reduce inflamed wounds.
Pearly Everlasting; A wooly, erect perennial that blooms in late summer. Alternating, lance leaves and swirled, yellow-brown centered flowers chewed to poultice are applied to relieve burns and sores.
Velvet Dock; Weed with a rosette of long, large leaves. A single stem from the center blooms yellow flowers in summer (mouseover). Chewed leaves applied to injuries reduces swelling (it stings).
Emollient (Moisturizes and soothes damaged, burned or irritated skin)
Red Aloe; Thick, fleshy leaves arranged in a rosette sit on a thick stalk. Orange and red flowers protrude from the center. Soothing gel inside leaves is great for burns and fresh cuts.
Vulnerary (Promotes healing of surface wounds)
Blackberry; A tall, thorny, arching plant with loosely clustered compound leaves. Small white flowers bloom in spring followed by blackberries. Chewed leaves reduce swelling in wounds.
Chervil; An herb made of clusters of feather-like leaves. Small white flowers mature into beak-shaped seeds in late summer. Leaves chewed and applied to wounds fights infection.
Comfrey Root; An herb with large, broad leaves that blooms small, pink, bell-shaped flowers in spring. Root chewed and added to injuries to encourage healing.
Disease & Infection
Antibacterial (Inhibits growth of, or kills bacteria)
Oregon Grape; Evergreen with spiny pinnate leaves. Clusters of yellow flowers bloom early spring followed by berries (mouseover). Chew and apply topically or eat dry root to kill internal bacteria.
Sweet Sedge; Vigarous plant with sword shaped leaves with a distinct crinkled edge and flower 'spikes' that appear in summer. Sap from small berries eases internal infaction.
Turmeric; Perennial with 2 rows of alternate leaves. In fall brachets stack on a stem ending in white flowers with fluffy hairs. Roots fight off internal infections.
Antifungal (Treats fungal infections)
Goldenseal; Tall purple stem plant with 2 palmate, hairy leaves. In late spring, tiny flowers bloom at the tip, changing into bright red berries in summer (mouseover). Eat root to break down fungus.
**not safe for pups**
Pink Lapacho; Large deciduous tree with oval opposite leaves. In summer large pink tulip-shaped flowers abound. Tough dried inner bark is antifungal and eaten.
Western Hemlock; Evergreen tree with slender, needle-like leaves and small, woody, egg-shaped cones. Chew and apply young twigs for ringworm.
Antiparasite (For treatment of parasitic diseases)
Coconut; Hard, round fruit of the tall palm tree (mouseover) with frilly pinnate leaves. They are in continuous bloom. Meat and juice kills worms and giardia.
Pomegranate; Small tree-shrub with opposite, narrow, oblong leaves. Red flowers bloom in spring, followed by red fruit (mouseover). Eat bark to kill to kill parasites and worms.
Wormwood; Straight stemmed perennial with basal silver-white spirally arranged leaves. Small yellow flowers bloom in summer season. Eating leaves will kill most parasites and worms.
AntiViral (Treats viral infections)
Clove; Large leafed evergreen what produces small 'cloves', or clusters of wine colored bell shaped flowers. Dried flowers treat a wide range of infections.
Echinacea; Daisy-like plant with moderately hairy stem and alternate basal leaves. Spring-summer brings large, pink complex flowers. Eat leaves, flower, or root to ward off viruses.
Usnea; A lichen resembling gray or greenish hair that grows off trees. Fresh or dried plant is eaten and coats throat to prevent infection and subdue cough.
Miscellaneous
Insect Repellent (Yup. Repels bugs)
Crow Garlic; A naturalized flowering plant that produces a garlic bulb root. The 3ft. high stem ends in a flowering head that can be white or usually dark brown/black. Odor of plant keeps away bugs.
; A tall perennial plant with broad, dark-green leaves (occasionally with red veins) that buds long, four lobed purple flowers in spring/summer. The minty smell repels bugs.
Vanilla Orchid; This vine climbs up trees with thick, leathery dark green leaves. When full grown it buds large, white, tulip-shaped flowers. A vanilla 'bean' grows near the root. The smell repels bugs.
Poison (Harmful or deadly if eaten)
Deadly Nightshade; A highly toxic plant with purple flowers and sweet tasting, black berries. Consumption of 2 (or more) berries, roots, and leaves is lethal without immediate treatment.
Water Hemlock; An 8ft tall plant with small white and green flowers that umbrella at the end of the branches. It flowers in spring. Ingestion of any part of this plant is fatal without immediate treatment.
Healing Aids (Anything that can aid with healing)
Cobwebs; Woven by a variety of spiders, cobwebs are sticky and when layered can help to bind limbs or secure medication among other things.
Sticks/Bamboo; Normally used as splints, the best sticks are smooth, strong, and without many branches. Bamboo (mouseover) is also a great alternative as the stalks are strong and smooth.