Herbs

Most claims about asparagus benefits fall into two piles: a short list that solid nutrition science backs, and a much longer list handed down from folk medicine that modern research …

Fucus vesiculosus is a highly recommended algae for treating obesity and cellulitis, both ailments common in the developed world. Algae are water plants with chlorophyll or other coloring substances. Their …

Kelp health benefits have been known for centuries. Algae is an essential ingredient of traditional Chinese and Japanese cuisine and is becoming increasingly commonly used in Western countries. Several kelp …

Orthosiphon tea, also sold as Java tea, is a traditional herbal infusion brewed from the dried leaves of Orthosiphon aristatus — a plant native to Indonesia that has been used …

The inner surface of the Rosa canina or brier hip fruit is covered by a layer of blonde, rigid hair, popularly called “itch-scratch),” that the great Font Quer said “incites …

The nasturtium plant is native to Peru, and like potatoes, tomatoes, and corn, it was one of the best gifts America gave to Europe. The Spanish Conquistadores were astonished when …

The ancient Greeks knew about mugwort as early as the 1st century. Dioscorides, the father of phytotherapy, discussed this plant. Andres de Laguna, a famous Spanish physician of the 16th …

The red berries of the winter cherry plant possess an exquisite sweet-and-sour flavor, and some people preserve them in syrup or vinegar. In some places, wine is fermented with these …

White currant is highly regarded in northern European countries, and some cultivated varieties yield significant, tasteful fruits. These fruits are used to prepare jellies and marmalades, which have medicinal properties. …

The Hottentots of South Africa already knew about the benefits of buchu leaves before the arrival of the Europeans. Its excellent virtues in combating urinary organ inflammation have led it …