Glossary of Herbs: A & B

A-B

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa): Alfalfa has many medicinal uses to help improve your health. It can detoxify the body. It is a diuretic, reduces inflammation, balances hormones and lowers cholesterol. It contains an antifungal agent also and contains natural fluorides. It is known to be used for bone and joint disorders, skin disorders, ulcers, anemia, and arthritis.

Aloe Vera (Aloe barbaderis): Aloe vera is one of the most widely known herbs and can be used internally or externally. Externally aloe helps with any type of skin problem such as burns, sunburns, cuts, rashes and scrapes. Internally aloe can be taken for stomach irritation, as a laxative and to promote healing.

Angelica (Angelica sinensis): Angelica helps regulate menstruation, is a diuretic, an expectorant for coughs, bronchitis and pleurisy, relieves gas, can help stimulate appetite and helps the skin eliminate toxins.

Anise (Pimpinella anisum): Anise will aid in digestion, fight infection, clear mucus from the body, help with indigestion and can help with menopausal symptoms.

Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus): Astragalus can protect the immune system. It increases metabolism, promotes healing, increases energy and stamina and supports the production of interferons (proteins our cells produce to fight out viral infections).

Barberry (Berberis vulgaris): Barberry nourishes the liver and gallbladder and helps the bile to flow freely. It helps remove toxins from the bowels by stimulating intestinal movement. It also slows breathing and heart rate, reduces bronchial constriction and kills bacteria on the skin.

Bayberry (Myrica ceriferea): Bayberry is good for the eyes and the immune system. It can help clear congestion, aid in circulation reduce fever and stop bleeding. Bayberry is an excellent blood purifier and detoxifier.

Bdellium gum (Commiphora mukul): Bdellium gum has many positive effects such as lowering cholesterol levels, reducing tissue inflammation, promoting balance in the thyroid gland, and lowering body weight.

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus): Bilberry can help control insulin levels, act as a diuretic, reduce inflammation, stress, anxiety, night blindness and assist in thinning the blood. It also lowers blood pressure, reduces clotting and improves blood supply to the nervous system.

Birch (Betula alba): Birch is useful externally for boils and sores. It can also be used to reduce inflammation, relieve pain and act as a diuretic.

Bissy nut (Cola acuminate): Bissy nut is know to help relieve inflammation in disorders such as rheumatism and gout. It also is used as a diuretic, and contains metabolism-enhancing properties.

Black Cohosh (Cimacifuga racemosa): Black cohosh has many natural uses. It can assist in balancing hormones, reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, induce labor and regulate contractions, treat snakebites, nourish the respiratory system, calm the nervous system and reduce mucus production.

Black Haw (Viburnum prunifolium): Black haw is known to benefit the female reproductive system and help prevent miscarriage as it contains uterine muscle relaxants.

Black Walnut (Juglans nigra): Black walnut can be used in gargles for sore throat, aids in digestion, cleanses the body of parasites, and lowers blood pressure. It has antifungal properties and is said to promote bowel regularity.

Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus): Blessed thistle acts as a general tonic to the female reproductive system, as well as helping to balance the hormones. It also aids in digestive problems, including gas, constipation, and stomach upset, and for liver and gallbladder diseases.

Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalactroides): Blue cohosh nutritionally supports the female reproductive system. It is an antispasmodic which means it is useful for relieving menstrual cramps, reducing uterine inflammation, and helps prevent miscarriage.

Blue Vervain (Verbena hastate): Blue vervain nourishes the digestive, nervous and respiratory systems. It helps the body ward off flu, coughs and colds. This herb acts as a diaphoretic, which means that it helps the body eliminate toxins through the pores by stimulating perspiration.

Boneset (Eupatorium perfolatum): Boneset is a diaphoretic, helps reduce fevers, relieves congestion, reduces fever, calms the body and reduces inflammation.

Borage (Borago officinalis): Borage is good for balancing your glands, lowering fevers and aids in proper cardiovascular function and can improve the health of your skin and nails.

Buchu (Barosma betulina): Buchu is a diuretic and aids in controlling bladder and kidney problems. It helps heal infections of the bladder, kidneys and prostrate gland. It decreases inflammation and helps control diabetes and disgestive disorders.

Burdock (Arctium lappa): Burdock stimulates the appetite and digestion, reduces arthritic pain, purifies the blood, stimulates the immune system and can help relieve skin disorders. Burdock is a natural blood purifier and detoxifier.

Butcher’s Broom (Ruscus aculeatus): Butcher’s Broom is a well known herb for reducing inflammation. It is used for carpal tunnel syndrome, edema, varicose veins and vertigo.

Butternut Bark (Juglans cinera): Butternut Bark is known to eliminate intestinal worms and is a mild laxative.

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