These herbs have a generally exciting and stimulating action on the body. Many people think of stimulants for weight loss, and energy, but herbs act in a holistic way. some such as black pepper and ginger act mainly on the digestive system, increasing the amount of energy you get from food. Mints like basil and peppermint are stimulating in large amounts and calming in small amounts. Use a light hand when trying any new herb, until you are comfortable with the level of stimulation it has on your system.
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Angelica |
Angelica archagelica |
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roots, stems,seeds, leaves :
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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 ...
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Anise Seed |
Pimpinella anisum |
Aniseed |
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Seeds, essential oil :
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Anise's phytochemicals, including creosol and alpapinene, are apparent and well-established in preparations to break up congestion, ease coughing, an ...
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Balsam, Peru |
Myroxylon pereirae |
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Peru balsam is collected from wild trees along the coast of El Salvador. A large and beautiful tree with a valuable wood like ...
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Basil |
Ocimum basilicum |
Sweet Basil |
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leaves, essential oil :
Greek :
Like other herbs in the mint family basil is carminative and disinfectant. The fresh picked leaves make a stimulating and refreshing tea. Basil has al ...
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Bay Laurel |
Laurus nobilis |
Sweet Bay, True Laurel |
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Leaves, fruit, oil :
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It is the source of the ancients' crowns and wreaths for heroes ...
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Black Pepper |
Piper nigrum |
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dried peppercorns :
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Black peppers are culitivated in malabar, Java, Sumatra, and Penang. Black pepper oil is hot, warming and very yang ...
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Blessed Thistle |
Carbenia benedictus |
Holy thistle, St. Benedict's thistle |
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Root, aerial parts and seeds :
Medieval :
Medieval monks held this plant in high esteem, as the name suggests and considered it a cure for everything from smallpox to ...
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Cacao |
Theobroma cacao L. |
Chocolate, cocoa |
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seeds :
Aztec :
Mexicans named the pounded seeds Chocolate, an Aztec word used to describe a number of raw and processed products that ...
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Camphor |
Cinnamomum camphora |
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Essential oil steam distilled from wood :
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Camphor is present in every part of the tree, but is usually taken from the wood of mature trees by steam distillation ...
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Coffee |
Coffea arabica |
java, joe |
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beans :
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Coffee is probably the most popular drug in the world, Americans consume the equivalent of 500 cups per person ...
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Coleus Forskohlii |
Plectranthus barbatus |
Forskolin, Indian Coleus, False Boldo |
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root :
Ayurvedic :
Traditional Ayurevedic medicinal plant used to treat high blood pressure, help in losing weight, improving digestion and nutrient absorption, fighting ...
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Copaiba Balsam |
Copaifera Officinalis |
balsam, copaiva, Jesuit's balsam, copal, palo de aceite, capivi |
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oleoresin obtained from the trunk :
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Copaiba is used topically to relieve inflammation and help heal athlete's foot, eczema and psoriasis, and heals damaged skin with minimal scarring. ...
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Damiana |
Turnera aphodisiaca |
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Leaves :
South America :
The Mayans and Aztecs used it as a sexual stimulant and as a treatment for respiratory disorders. ...
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Dong Quai |
Angelica sinensis |
Chinese Angelica, Dang-gui |
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root :
China :
In traditional Chinese medicine, only ginseng is more esteemed. ...
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Ephedra |
Ephedra sinica |
Ma Huang |
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stems :
China :
Ma Huang has a 5,000 year history of use in Chinese medicine as an asthma treatment. The whole herb, which can still be purchased legally, is used to ...
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Garcinia Fruit |
Garcinia cambogia |
Brindleberry, Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA), Gambooge |
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Fruit :
Ayurvedic :
Both Garcinia cambogia and the extracted acid HCA are widely used in weight control formulas. ...
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Garlic |
Allium sativum |
Poor Man's Treacle, Bawang, Bauang |
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bulb :
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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 ...
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Geranium |
Pelargonium graveolens |
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Leaves :
Africa :
Many people still call pelargoniums by their common name, scented geraniums ...
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Ginger |
Zingiber officinale |
Luyang Dilaw |
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Root :
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Perhaps no other herb, except garlic, crosses all barriers, foods versus medicine, Western versus Oriental, scientific versus folk tradition. Ginger i ...
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Ginger, Wild |
Asarum canadense |
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North America :
Wild ginger is a native Amercan plant whose medicinal qualities were known to many Indian tribes. ...
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Ginseng |
Panax ginseng |
Ren-shen, X-yang-shen |
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root :
China :
Ginseng is one the best known and widely prescribed herbs in Chinese medicine as a general adaptogenic and restorative tonic. ...
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Ginseng, Siberian |
Eleutherococcus senticosus |
Eleuthero ginseng, Ci-wu-jia, Wu Jia Shen Jing |
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root :
China :
Siberian ginseng has been used in Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years, to increase energy and vitality and to treat respiratory and other infections ...
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Grapefruit |
Citrus paradisi |
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rind of fruit, seeds :
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Grapefruit is not only a great breakfast item, but the extracts from the seeds, pulp and inner rind can be helpful. ...
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Guarana |
Paulinia Cupana |
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Guarana is made from the seeds of the world famous Paulinia Cupana plant. ...
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Kava-Kava |
Piper methysticum |
Ava. Intoxicating Peper |
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rhizome :
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Kava kava can be used as a mild sedative for nervous tension and stress. The active constituents in the roots, kava lactones, have relaxing and intoxi ...
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Kola Nut |
Cola acuminata |
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Nuts :
Africa :
Kola nuts contain caffine, which may explain their popular use in energy tonics. Native to Africa ...
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Lobelia |
Lobelia inflata |
Indian-Tobacco. Pukeweed. Asthma Weed. |
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Ariel parts,Flowers, seeds :
Europe, N. America :
The plant was known to the Penobscot Indians and was widely used in New England long before the time of Samuel Thomson, who ...
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Mate |
Ilex paraguariensis |
yerba mate, matte |
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leaves :
South America :
Containing 196 active compounds, nutrients, and amino acids, Yerba mate is touted as the new healthy alternative to coffee. ...
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Myrtle |
Myrtus communis |
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Leaf and berries :
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The leaves of the myrtle tree are very aromatic and the plant has a number of medicinal uses. ...
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Nutmeg |
Myristica fragrans |
Mace |
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essential oil, spice :
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Nutmeg oil provides a warming, activating action, without the potentially irritating effects of other spice oils. Use nutmeg powder in teas and sprin ...
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Oolong Tea |
Camellia sinensis |
Wu Long, Wu Yi Tea |
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leaves :
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It is true that Oolong/Wu Long tea not only boosts metabolism and suppresses sugar cravings, but it may also burn fat. ...
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Oregano |
Origanum vulgare |
Wild Marjoram |
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leaves, stems, essential oil :
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Oregano has a very ancient reputation and has been used in both the kitchen and the sickroom since the time of the ancients. ...
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Peppermint |
Mentha piperita |
Yerba Buena |
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whole herb :
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Of all the mints, peppermint is now probably the most widely used of all, due to its high content of menthol. ...
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Rhodiola |
Rhodea rosiola |
Golden Root, Roseroot, Aaron's Rod |
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Root :
Russian, Tibetan, Chinese :
Rhodiola is an adaptogen, and acts in a similar fashion as ginseng ...
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Rooibos |
Aspalathus linearis |
Redbush Tea, Red tea |
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Leaves :
Africa :
Rooibos is naturally caffeine free and therefore suitable for children, infants and breast-feeding mothers ...
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Rosemary |
Rosmarinus officinalis |
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Leaves, stems and flowers :
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Rosemary is an extremely useful herb, with many culinary, medicinal and aromatherapy attributes. The essential oil is distilled from the fresh flower ...
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Spearmint |
Mentha spicata |
Spear mint |
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Leaves, essential oil :
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Spearmint has much the same properties as peppermint, but is milder and good for use with children's complaints ...
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Suma Root |
Pfaffia paniculata |
Brazilian ginseng |
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root :
South Amercian :
Suma root has the ability to act as an adaptogen, helping the body to cope with stress, increasing energy levels and resisitence to disease. ...
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Tansy |
Tanacetum vulgare |
Bitter Buttons |
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The leaves and tops. The plant is cut off close above the root, when first coming into flower in August. :
Europe, N. America :
Tansy was a popular strewing herb because it's clean, camphorous scent repelled flies and other pests. It is still customary ...
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Tea |
Camellia sinensis |
Green Tea, Black tea |
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leaves :
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Black tea, Oolong/Wu long tea and green and white teas are all from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. ...
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Tribulus terrestris L |
Tribulus terrestris, |
Burra Gookeroo, Burra Gokhru, puncture vine, |
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seeds :
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Native to India, the role of Tribulus Terrestris in Eastern European folk medicine for muscle strength and sexual potency ...
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Wintergreen |
Gaultheria procumbens |
Teaberry, Mountain Tea, Spice Berry, Checker-berry, Partridge-berry |
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Leaves :
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The volatile oil obtained by distillation and to which all the medicinal ...
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