Remedies

The cacao plant (Theobroma cacao) is the tropical tree behind cocoa, chocolate, and cocoa butter — and behind a long list of health claims, some solid and most not. The …

The giant reed (Arundo donax) is a tall Mediterranean grass that has been used in folk medicine for over two thousand years, most often as a mild diuretic and to …

White birch earns most of its health reputation from one modest, well-documented job: it makes you urinate more. The leaves of the white birch tree (Betula pendula) are brewed into …

Agave is sold as a natural, better-for-you sweetener, but the honest picture is mixed. Most claims about agave plant health benefits come down to three very different things: the syrup …

The arbutus plant stands with the bear in Madrid’s shield, the capital of Spain: this is the city’s symbol. Dioscorides already knew about the plant in the 1st century A.D. …

Nature lovers would appreciate knowing that the radii that form the umbels of the bishop’s weed, once dry, make excellent toothpicks. Moreover, they have the advantage of a pleasant aroma. …

Some brooms are made with the fibrous roots of couch grass, which some peasants regard as a weed. However, couch grass performs the most efficient sweeping in the blood and …

The hedge garlic plant has a smell similar to garlic and shares many of its virtues. Experts recommend using the fresh plant since it loses some properties when dried. Some …

The bearberry plant was a favorite food among bears living in the European mountains. The bears enjoyed the tiny berries that resembled small apples. Although the berries are edible, the …

The most useful thing to know about the grapevine is that its parts do not do the same job. The leaf has been tested in randomized trials for heavy, swollen …