Natural Home Herbal Remedies

The wise woman's knowledge of plants is of a practical nature, based on skill, observation, and recipes that are passed down from generation to generation. She was the family doctor, herbalist, candle maker, chef, and seamstress all rolled into one. This herbal database of natural remedies grew out of a personal quest for knowledge of natural ways to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis. I hope you will find something here that helps you also, whatever you interest in natural medicine may be.

Herbal Preparation:
Save money and ensure purity and freshness by making your own herbal infusions, decoctions, salves, and tinctures. No special equipment or complicated instructions, if you can boil water you are well on your way to making your own home remedies.

Home herbal treatment for the flu uses sweat inducing, antiviral herbs, in teas and tinctures. Old fashioned blackberry cordial recipes are favorite during cold and flu season, and taste great anytime.

Home Healing with Herbs:

Before the relatively modern age of drugs controlled and marketed by pharmaceutical conglomerates, we relied solely on plants to treat ourselves. There are very distinct advantages to using herbs whenever possible instead of commercial drugs. The pharmaceutical companies extract what they believe to be the "active ingredient" and isolate it, and mix it with synthetic substances. This can lead to a very powerful drug, but one that is not balanced, and often produces many unwanted side effects. By using herbs, you are taking in the whole synergy of complex chemical components, exactly as they occur together in nature. The average testing time for a new drug is a only a few years, and then only on small populations of patients. Many of the healing plants that we use today have been used for centuries.

A-Z Herb Chart: Bulk Organic Medicinal Herbs: Over 400 natural healing herbs and plants are profiled along with detailed herb descriptions, common names, botanical names, medicinal uses, folklore, and references from the leading herbalists of today and ancient times.

Herbs for Coughs and Colds

The search for the cure for the common cold still eludes us. It is a constant battle between the virus and us, one that we seem to be losing due to the ever increasing immunity of viruses to modern drugs. Mother Nature has provided us with a powerful antibiotics in herbs and essential oils. Unlike synthetic antibiotics that are powerless against viruses and funguses, essential oils such as oregano, tea tree and thyme are effective against these pathogens too. Be preprepared for the cold and flu season, including swine flu, by stocking your herbal medicine chest with a ready supply of herbs that are antiseptic, as well as those that help reduce fevers, ease breathing and break up congestion, quiet coughs, and soothe aches and pains.

Buy organic bulk herbs, spices, oils and teas at Mountain Rose Herbs Detail Andrographis Andrographis paniculata small annual shrub : leaves and roots : a : Andrographis paniculata is an herb native to the Indian subcontinent and is used in Ayurveda,the ancient (before 2500 b.c.) I ... Detail Angelica Angelica archagelica herb : roots, stems,seeds, leaves : : Its virtues are praised by old writers,as well as the folk-lore of all North European countries. The fruit, leaf, and root of angelica stimulate dige ... Detail Anise Pimpinella anisum herb : seeds : 1 : Anise's phytochemicals, including creosol and alpapinene, are apparent and well-established in preparations to break up congestion, ease coughing, an ... Detail Astragalus Astragalus membranacous syn. A. propinquus perennial plant : root : China : Astragalus is especially useful for strengthening the body against viral infections of the respiratory tract and heart through stimulation of interfer ... Detail Bay Rum Pimenta racemosa tree : : : also known as the Bay Rum Tree, and is not to be confused with Bay Laurel ... Detail Black Pepper Piper nigrum herb : dried peppercorns : : Black peppers are culitivated in malabar, Java, Sumatra, and Penang. Black pepper oil is hot, warming and very yang ... Detail Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum : Aerial parts : American : Only the advent of aspirin displaced boneset as the popular choice for colds and fever. ... Detail Borage Borago officinalis : seed oil, leaves,flowers : : Borage oil should not be heated, and must be used cold to take full advantage of its health benefits. For topical applications, either apply directly, ... Detail Butterbur Petasites vulgaris : root : Europe, N. America : Butterbur is thought to work by reducing spasms in muscle tissues, including blood vessels. However, there are concerns about possible liver damage ... Detail Camphor Cinnamomum camphora : Essential oil steam distilled from wood : : Camphor is present in every part of the tree, but is usually taken from the wood of mature trees by steam distillation ... Detail Catnip Nepeta cataria Perenial herb : leaves and flowering tops : : A hot cup of catnip tea soothes the nervous system and is excellent for colds, flu, and children's upset stomach. ... Detail Cinnamon Cinnamomum zeylanicum, C. aromaticum : Dried bark : : The distinct, spicy aroma of cinnamon bark, Cassia, or Chinese cinnamon, is the spice sold as cinnamon in the United States. ... Detail Colt's Foot Tussilago farfara herb : Leaves and stems of mature plant : Greek : Since the days of ancient Greece and Rome, coltsfoot has been used to relieve asthma, coughs and bronchial congestion. ... Detail Dandelion Taraxacum officinale : roots,flowers,leaves : : Like burdock, dandelion root helps the body dispose of unwanted skin bacteria. It also stimulates digestion and supports the liver. ... Detail Echinacea Echinacea angustifolia Herb : Most often roots, stems and flowers are also used but are weaker : North American : There are dozens of dozens of biochemical compounds that act in therapeutic synergy in this complex plant that support disease resistance in several ... Detail Elder Sambucus nigra tree : Flowers, berries : Europe, North America : Leaves are used in an ointment that is a folk remedy for bruises,sprains, chilblains and hard-to-cure skin irritations. ... Detail Eucalyptus Eucalyptus globulus tree : Leaves, oil : Australian : Eucalyptus is best known for it's ability to relieve congestion and ease breathing in colds. The essential oil of eucalyptus contains cineole, a pote ... Detail Garlic Allium sativum : bulb : : Garlic can and should be used liberally in food, either powdered or freshly chopped. Using fresh garlic in your cooking also helps you cut down on the ... Detail Ginger Zingiber officinale herb : Root : : Perhaps no other herb, except garlic, crosses all barriers, foods versus medicine, Western versus Oriental, scientific versus folk tradition. Ginger i ... Detail Goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis perennial herb : primarily the root, to a lesser extent leaves : North America : Goldenseal is a folk medicine staple widely used in many herbal salves and ointments as a contact disinfectant. ... Detail Horehound Marrubium vulgare L. : Aerial parts : : The Egyptians and Romans esteemed Horehound for coughs and colds, the same uses as it is recommend by modern herbalists ... Detail Juniper Juniperus communis tree : berries : : The action of juniper closely resembles cypress, to which it is botanically related. ... Detail Lavender Lavandula officinalis herb : Flowers, leaves and stems : : Fresh lavender makes a wonderful, aromatic bouquet, and discourages insects from invading your home ... Detail Lemon Balm Melissa officinalis herb : whole herb : Greek : Lemon balm is an aromatic mint with a long reputation for having calming properties. Both the whole herb and the essential oil, melissa, are used for ... Detail Licorice Glycyrrhiza glabra : root : Greek : Many herbalists regard licorice as a natural alternative to hydrocortisone and it is used in many formulations to activate and increase the effects of ... Detail Linden Tilia, various spc tree : The flowers, carefully dried in the shade. : N. America, Europe : The fragrant, yellowish flowers have been used since the Middle Ages to promote perspiration and for nervous conditions ... Detail Marjoram,Sweet Origanum marjorana perennial herb : Flowering tops : : Sweet marjoram is a fragrant culinary herb used in soups,stews, egg and cheese dishes. . ... Detail Meadowsweet Spriea Ulmaria : : : The meadowsweet is one of the best know wildflowers, its virtues have been known since the time of Dioscorides ... Detail Niaouli Melaleuca quinquenervia : leaves : Australia : Much like tea tree in its antiseptic properties, but with a much milder, fruity aroma. ... Detail Peppermint Mentha piperita herb : whole herb : : Of all the mints, peppermint is now probably the most widely used of all, due to its high content of menthol. ... Detail Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis : Leaves, stems and flowers : : Rosemary is an extremely useful herb, with many culinary, medicinal and aromatherapy attributes. The essential oil is distilled from the fresh flower ... Detail Soapwort Saponaria officinalis perennial plant, vespertine flower : Rhizome : : The common name of this member of the carnation family indicates it's traditional uses in washing ... Detail Vervain Verbena hastata, V. officinalis : Leaves, flowering heads : : Vervain has been used in traditional herbal medicine by many diverse cultures from the ancient Romans and Celtic cultures to the American Indians. ... Detail White Peony Paeonia albiflora herbaceous perennial : Root : Chinese : The white peony is one of the oldest remedies in traditional Chinese medicine ... Detail White Willow Salix Alba tree : Bark : : White willow has been used to combat fevers and pain for thousands of years, it may be the oldest herb known to treat pain an ... Detail Wild Cherry Prunus serotina : bark : N. America : Black cherry is an very effective herbal cough remedy. The main use of the bark main use is to still irritated, nagging coughs. ... Detail Yarrow Achillea millefolium herb : aerial parts, essential oil : Europe, N. America : Yarrow is one of the best-known herbal remedies for fevers, and bleeding. The chemical makeup of yarrow is complex, and it contains many active medici ...