- Alternative Name:
- European elder, black elder, elder, elderberry, elder flower, sambucus
- Scientific Name:
- Sambucus nigra
European elder is a tree native to Europe and parts of Asia and Africa, and it also grows in the United States. There are several different types of elder…
- Alternative Name:
- European linden, European lime tree, tilia, linden
- Scientific Name:
- Tilia europaea L (Tiliaceae)
European linden trees are large deciduous trees and are found in north temperate regions of North America, Europe, and Asia.
- Alternative Name:
- European mistletoe, mistletoe, all-heal, birdlime mistletoe
- Scientific Name:
- Viscum album
Mistletoe that is commonly used medicinally refers to the European mistletoe, and is different than American mistletoe which is used as a decoration during…
- Alternative Name:
- European pennyroyal, pennyroyal, pulegium, pudding grass, mosquito plant
- Scientific Name:
- Mentha pulegium
European pennyroyal is a plant in the mint genus within the Lamiaceae family. It grows in moist areas such as near ponds and beside stream banks. Crushed…
- Alternative Name:
- evening primrose oil, EPO
- Scientific Name:
- Oenothera biennis
Evening primrose is a plant native to North America, but it grows in Europe and parts of the southern hemisphere as well. It has yellow flowers that bloom in…
- Alternative Name:
- fenugreek, fenugreek seed, Greek-clover, Greek hay, hu lu ba
- Scientific Name:
- Trigonella foenum-graecum
The use of fenugreek has been recorded as far back as ancient Egyptian times.
- Alternative Name:
- feverfew, bachelor's buttons, featherfew
- Scientific Name:
- Tanacetum parthenium, Chrysanthemum parthenium
Feverfew is a short bush with daisy-like flowers. It comes originally from the Balkan mountains of eastern Europe, but now grows throughout Europe, North…
- Alternative Name:
- figwort, common figwort, carpenter’s square, scrofula plant
- Scientific Name:
- Scrophularia nodosa
Figwort is a flowering plant found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Most species are found in Asia and a few species grow in Europe and North America…
- Alternative Name:
- fish oil, fish oil fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids, cod liver oil, salmon oil, tuna fish oil
- Scientific Name:
- Fish oil
Fatty acids can be classified into saturated and unsaturated. Saturated fatty acids are considered to be unhealthy, and the unsaturated fatty acids (e.g., DHA…
- Alternative Name:
- flaxseed, linseed
- Scientific Name:
- Linum usitatissimum
Flaxseeds are seeds obtained from the flax plant, and flaxseed oils are extracted from these seeds.
- Alternative Name:
- folic acid, folate, vitamin B9, folacin
- Scientific Name:
- pterolglutamic acid, pteroylmonoglutamic acid, pteroylpolyglutamate
Folic acid and folate are a water-soluble B complex vitamin, meaning that it remains in the body for a short time. Folic acid (the man-made form of the…
- Alternative Name:
- Bible frankincense, frankincense, incense, olibanum
- Scientific Name:
- Boswellia sacra
Frankincense is an aromatic resin that comes from Boswellia trees. The resin is obtained by making a cut in the tree bark, then allowing the resin to leak out…
- Alternative Name:
- garlic
- Scientific Name:
- Allium sativum
Garlic has been used both as a medicine and as a seasoning for thousands of years.
- Alternative Name:
- gentian, yellow gentian, bitterwort
- Scientific Name:
- Gentiana lutea
Gentian is a flowering plant with over 400 species that can be found worldwide, including Europe, Asia, North and South America, and New Zealand. Only the…
- Alternative Name:
- Ginger, African Ginger, Black Ginger, Gan Jiang, Ginger Root, Indian Ginger
- Scientific Name:
- Zingiber officinale
Ginger is a plant native to Asia that has green-purple flowers and an aromatic underground stem (called a rhizome). It is now cultivated in South America…
- Alternative Name:
- ginkgo, Ginkgo biloba, fossil tree, maidenhair tree, Japanese silver apricot, baiguo, bai guo ye, kew tree, yinhsing (yin-hsing)
- Scientific Name:
- Ginkgo biloba
The ginkgo tree is one of the oldest types of trees in the world. Ginkgo seeds have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years, and…
- Alternative Name:
- globe artichoke
- Scientific Name:
- Cynara scolymus L. (Asteraceae), Cynara cardunculus L. (Asteraceae)
The globe artichoke heart is a commonly used vegetable found in many types of cuisine. The fibrous leaves, when prepared appropriately, are believed to be…
- Alternative Name:
- glucosamine, glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride
- Scientific Name:
- 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose sulfate, 2-amino-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranose hydrochloride
Glucosamine is found naturally in the body. It is an important component of cartilage, a cushion that surrounds the joint in your body. Be careful to…
- Alternative Name:
- goldenseal, yellow root
- Scientific Name:
- Hydrastis canadensis
Goldenseal is a plant that grows wild in parts of the United States but has become endangered by overharvesting. With natural supplies dwindling, goldenseal is…
- Alternative Name:
- grape seed extract
- Scientific Name:
- Vitis vinifera
The leaves and fruit of the grape have been used medicinally since ancient Greece.