Absinthe | Adder's
Tongue | Adderwort | Agrimony | Allspice | Almond | Alpine
Gentian | Aloe
Anemone | Angelica | Anise | Arnica | Arrowroot | Autumn
Crocus | Avens
Note: This
information is not intended as medical advice, and should not be
relied upon as a substitute for consultation with your doctor who
is familiar with your medical needs.
Absinthe See Wormwood
Back to Top Adder's Tongue (Ophio glossum vulgatum) 15-30 cm (6-12 ins).
A fern, one leaf which opens out and produces a dented flower stalk,
yellowish-green colour, just like an adder's tongue.
Grows in damp places in early spring, found in April or May, wilts in
heat.
Bulb and leaf used medicinally as a poultice for skin problems and internally
to induce vomiting.
Back to Top Adderwort see Bistort
Back to Top Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) (Liverwort, Stickwort) 30-40 cm (15-18
ins)
Yellow star-shaped flowers, smelling like apricots, on a spiky stem,
long indented leaves green at top greyish underneath, with little hairs
and growing directly from the stalk.
Found in hedgerows and rough grassland.
Medicinally once used as tea made from flowers as gargle for mouth inflammations
and sometimes recommended for gall bladder problems.
Back to Top Allspice (Pimenta officinalis) 7-13 m (20-40 ft)
Tree, small white flowers in clusters, leathery oblong leaves.
Central and South America.
Fruit fleshy sweet berry, purplish-black when ripe. Berry, dried and
ground used medicinally as a laxative and stimulant. Aromatic.
Back to Top Almond (Prunus amygdalus) 3-6 m (10-20 ft)
Tree growing in Mediterranean countries and S. California, finely serrated
leaves on thorny branches, large rose and whitish flowers.
Culinary use as common nut and as butter alternative to peanut butter.
Bitter oil once used as cough remedy and as external soothing agent.
Cosmetic use of ground kernels and oil as cleansing cream.
Back to Top Alpine Gentian (Gentiana lutea) 100-125 cm (3-4 ft)
Large bright yellow flowers (after root is about ten years old), bright
green leaves up to 30 cm long and 15 cm
wide, simple erect stem, thick crinkled root.
Found in mountainous areas of S. and Cent. Europe and W. Turkey.
Roots used medicinally for lack of appetite and digestion problems.
Used in food industry for bitter beverages.
Back to Top Aloe (Aloe vera) 1-1.5 m (3-4.5 ft)
Yellow to purplish drooping flowers. long narrow whitish-green leaves
with spiny teeth, strong fibrous root.
Found in E. and S. Africa and West Indies.
Medicinal use of leaves as powder or juice. "Aloes" is dried
juice used as purgative.
Back to Top Anemone (Anemone nemorosa) (Wood anemone) 30 cm
(12 ins).
White, red or blue flowers, deeply cut leaves on hairy stalk, tuberous
root.
Whole plant once used for healing of wounds, but could be irritating
and cause depression.
Back to Top Angelica (Angelica archangelica) 1-2 m (3-7 ft).
Greenish-white flowers in large terminal compound umbels- honey-like
odour, leaves grow from dilated sheathes that surround stemwhich is
round, grooved, hollow and branched near top.
Found in damp meadows and along river banks, flowers June to August.
Medicinal use of roots and seeds for digestive problems and to stimulate
appetite as tea.
Culinary use of raw roots with butter, and young stems as celery also
in confectionery.
Back to Top Anise (Pimpinella anisum) (Aniseed) 30-45 cm (12-18
ins).
Small white flowers in compound umbels, heart-shaped leaves, round grooved
branched stem.
Flowers July and August, fruit ripens by September. Found wild but can be grown
from seed.
Oil from seeds as drug to stimulate gland secretion and for many other uses.
Whole plant has fragrant odour oil used as aromatic.
Back to Top
Arnica (Arnica montana) (Leopards Bane) 30-70 cm
(12-24 ins).
Yellow daisy-like flower heads June-August, petals notched at outer tips.
Slightly hairy, lightly branched stem, horizontal dark brown root.
Found in mountain areas of Europe.
Used once in the promotion of healing and sometimes as a cardiac agent.
Dangerous.
Back to Top Arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) 2 m (6 ft).
White flowers, leaves with long narrow sheaths and large spreading blades,
slender much-branched stem, creeping root giving off fleshy tubers.
Found in tropics, particularly West Indies and Guiana.
Cultivated largely for the high quantity of edible starch found in the
fleshy tubers.
Medicinal use of starch today in medicine to calm the stomach and reduce
vomiting.
Back to Top Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale) 20-50 cm (6-18
ins).
Lilac or purple, crocus like flowers in autumn followed by smooth, narrow,
dark green leaves from base.
Grows from large dark brown bulb.
Found in damp meadows.
Medicinal use to relieve gout pain but is extremely poisonous containing colchicine.
Experiments in the treatment of cancer.
Dangerous.
Back to Top
Avens (Geum urbanum) 30-6 cm (12-24 ins).
Bright yellow, star-shaped drooping flowers June-August, leaves in serrated
lobes, erect hairy stem red at bottom.
Found in hedgerows and in deciduous forests in temperate regions.
Medicinally once used as a gargle for gum problems and halitosis.
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