Remedies

German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is one of the most-studied calming herbs on the market — and one of the most oversold. The research holds up best for two things: mild-to-moderate …

Onions are worth eating. They cost almost nothing, they make plain food taste like cooking, and they carry a real load of fibre, vitamin C and plant compounds — quercetin …

The most common variety of blue spirulina, Spirulina maxima, is native to the salt lakes of the Mexican plains, such as the Totalcingo and Texcoco lakes. In their waters, there …

Rhubarb means two different things depending on which part of the plant — and which tradition — you’re asking about. In North American and European kitchens, it’s the tart, pink-to-green …

The remains of the pomegranate tree have been found in Egyptian tombs that are over 4000 years old. Israelites appreciated this fruit, too. Greeks regarded pomegranates as the symbol of …

Five finger grass usually refers to creeping cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans), a low-growing member of the rose family. It has been used traditionally for diarrhea, mouth and throat rinses, and minor …

Alder buckthorn bark is a stimulant laxative. Dried, aged, and used now and then, it can relieve a bout of constipation. Used the way old herbals describe it — taken …

The psyllium plant is best known as the source of a gel-forming fiber used in many over-the-counter constipation products. When psyllium seed or husk is mixed with enough water, it …

An apple a day won’t cure dysentery, dissolve a kidney stone, or replace blood pressure medication — despite what some older herbal guides claim. What apples actually do is more …

Guanabana benefits are most credible when the fruit is treated as food, not medicine. Also called soursop or graviola, guanabana provides fiber, vitamin C, carbohydrates, and several minerals. One small …