Medicinal plants from A to Z

Alant root (inulae hellenii rhizoma)

Boiling point: 130 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• cough-suppressing and expectorant for coughs, colds and pharyngitis
• calming and antidepressant for insomnia and menstrual cramps

Note: Drink plenty of water during use. Hypersensitivity can cause allergies!

Ashwagandha root (withaniae somniferae radix)

Boiling point: 190 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• tonic in kidney and bladder diseases
• antidepressant for insomnia
• antidepressant and toning in menstrual disorders
• tonic in heart disease

Note: A good substitute for sleeping pills, especially in conjunction with valerian. The common name for Ashwaganda is Schlafbeere.

Valerian Root (valerianae radix)

Boiling point: 235 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• calming in insomnia

Note: Tried and tested home remedy. Good effect in mixtures with ashwaganda, lemon balm and hawthorn.

Basil herb (basilici herba)

Boiling point: 130 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• Cough-suppressing cough, colds and pharyngitis

Note: Especially effective in combination with sage.

Damiana (turnera diffusae herba)

Boiling point: 190 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• tonic in kidney and bladder diseases
• calming in insomnia
• tonifying, soothing for menstrual cramps
• soothing in heart disease

Note: In treatment (at least 1 week) Damiana is attributed a strong aphrodisiac effect.

Dream herb (caleae zacatechichii herba)

Boiling point: 190 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• soothing, diuretic in kidney and bladder diseases
• calming in insomnia

Verbena (verbenae herba)

Boiling point: 130 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• diuretic in kidney and bladder diseases

Note: Well-tried home remedy, also in combination with willow bark. Strongly detoxifying.

Eucalyptus leaves (eucalypti folium)

Boiling point: 130 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• disinfectant for gastrointestinal disorders
• disinfecting and expectorant for coughs, colds and pharyngitis

Note: Tried and tested home remedy. Some patients are hypersensitive to high dosage.

Cloves (caryophylli flos)

Boiling point: 130 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• disinfecting, analgesic for stomach and intestinal disorders
• disinfectant, vasodilator, analgesic for cough, colds and pharyngitis

Note: Proven remedies throughout the Orient. In Indonesia clove cigarettes. In India for aromatherapy in fumigation.

Ginkgo leaves (ginko folium)

Boiling point: 130 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• Vasodilator for cough, colds and pharyngitis
• tonifying in insomnia
• vasodilator, toning during menstrual cramps
• Vasodilator in renal and bladder diseases
• tonic in heart disease

Note: Goethe’s tonic. Well known and proven.

Guarana (guarana herba/pasta guarana)

Boiling point: 190 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• stimulating with drive weakness

Note: Traditional stimulant from South America.

Hemp (cannabis herba)

Boiling point: 190 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• antispasmodic, appetizing for stomach and intestinal disorders
• Diuretic in kidney and bladder diseases
• antidepressant, hypotensive in insomnia
• antidepressant, stimulant for menstrual complaints

Note: Illegally in Germany! However, there are possibilities for patients to legally obtain cannabis extracts such as dronabinol or marinol. Inquiries to ACM e.V.

Hops glands (lupuli strobuli)

Boiling point: 130 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• calming in insomnia
• tonifying and calming for depression

Note: Tried and tested home remedy. With Ashwaganda against sleep disorders.

St. John’s Wort (hyperici herpa)

Boiling point: 190 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• calming, antidepressant for insomnia
• calming, toning, antidepressant for menstrual cramps

Note: Attention! Increases the UV radiation sensitivity. Do not sunbathe after use!

Chamomile flowers (matricariae flos)

Boiling point: 130 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• anti-inflammatory in gastrointestinal disorders
• anti-inflammatory, cough suppressant for cough, colds and pharyngitis
• anti-inflammatory for menstrual disorders

Note: Tried and tested home remedy. Valued as a steam bath.

Lavender flowers (lavendulae flos)

Boiling point: 130 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• antidepressant, soothing in insomnia
• antidepressant, toning during menstrual cramps
• tonic in heart disease
• Anti-inflammatory for cough, colds and pharyngitis

Note: Tried-and-tested home remedies also in aromatherapy.

Linden blossoms (tiliae flos)

Boiling point: 130 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• anti-inflammatory, sweaty for cough, colds and pharyngitis
• stimulating, tonifying heart disease

Note: Tried and tested home remedy.

Lobelia herb (lobeliae inflatae herba)

Boiling point: 130 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• antispasmodic in gastrointestinal disorders
• Cough-suppressing, antispasmodic, stimulant for cough, colds and pharyngitis
• stimulant in heart disease

Note: If the dosage is too high, nausea may occur! Stop treatment immediately!

Yerba mate (ilex paraguinense folium)

Boiling point: 190 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• stimulating, toning with drive weakness

Note: In South America for asthmatics and coffee substitutes.

Lemon balm leaves (melissae folium)

Boiling point: 130 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• antispasmodic in gastrointestinal disorders
• antispasmodic, soothing for menstrual cramps
• soothing in sleep disorders

Note: Tried and tested home remedy. Especially effective in mixtures: with clary sage in menstrual disorders, with ashwaganda, valerian and melissa in sleep disorders.

Clary sage flowers ( salvia sclareae flos )

Boiling point: 190 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• antispasmodic in gastrointestinal disorders
• antispasmodic, toning for cough, colds and pharyngitis
• tonifying in insomnia
• antidepressant, antispasmodic, toning during menstrual cramps

Note: Basis for many mixtures. Very strong antispasmodic. Overdoses can lead to intoxication. Caution is advised!

Parsley fruits (petroselini fructus)

Boiling point: 130 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• antispasmodic in gastrointestinal disorders
• disinfectant for cough, colds and pharyngitis
• Diuretic in kidney and bladder diseases

Note: As kidney and bladder medicine traditionally in Europe. In aromatherapy also as a disinfectant. Do not use during pregnancy!

Peppermint leaves (menthae piperitae folium)

Boiling point: 130 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• antispasmodic in gastrointestinal disorders
• antispasmodic, toning for cough, colds and pharyngitis
• antispasmodic, tonic during menstrual cramps
• antispasmodic, tonifying in heart diseases

Note: Tried and tested home remedy.

Quebracho bark (cortex quebracho blanco)

Boiling point: 190 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• vasodilator, expectorant for cough, colds and pharyngitis
• vasodilator in heart disease

Note: In the Andes of South America Quebracho is estimated as an aphrodisiac. At too high dosages nausea and vomiting have been observed.

Rosemary leaves (rosmarini folium)

Boiling point: 130 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• stimulating, tonic during menstrual cramps
• stimulating, tonifying heart disease
• stimulating, toning with drive weakness

Note: Latin American home remedy. Do not use with pregnancy!

Sweet vernal grass (anthoxanti odorati herba)

Boiling point: 235 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• anti-inflammatory, cough suppressant for cough, colds and pharyngitis

Note: In Europe as a spice, in aromatherapy a long-proven medicinal herb.

Sage leaves (salviae folium)

Boiling point: 190 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• antispasmodic in gastrointestinal disorders
• antispasmodic in gastrointestinal disorders…

Note: Tried and tested home remedy. If pregnant, ask the doctor!

Yarrow flowers (millefolii flos)

Boiling point: 190 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• anti-inflammatory in gastrointestinal disorders
• anti-inflammatory in gastrointestinal disorders…

Note: Tried and tested home remedy. There are allergic reactions, especially with fresh plant material known.

Snake root roots (rauwolfiae radix)

Boiling point: 130 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• antidepressants for insomnia
• antidepressants for menstrual cramps
• Hypotensive in heart disease

Note: Tried and tested home remedy. Long-term high-dose use may cause anxiety and depression.

Coneflower root (echinacea angustifoliae radix)

Boiling point: 130 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• anti-inflammatory in gastrointestinal disorders
• anti-inflammatory, disinfectant for cough, colds and pharyngitis
• anti-inflammatory in renal and bladder diseases
• antidepressant for insomnia
• anti-inflammatory, antidepressant for menstrual disorders
• antidepressive for heart disease

Note: Used by the North American Indians for millennia.

Steppe rue seeds (peganum harmalae semen)

Boiling point: 190 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• calming in insomnia
• antidepressant, soothing for menstrual cramps

Note: The active ingredient Harmalin is a MAO inhibitor! Therefore do not use with medication together!

Labrador tea herb (ledum palustris herba)

Boiling point: 190 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• antispasmodic in gastrointestinal disorders
• antispasmodic, vasodilator, cough suppressant for cough, colds and pharyngitis
• anticonvulsant in menstrual disorders
• anticonvulsant, vasodilator in heart disease

Note: Already mentioned by Hildegard von Bingen. Hypersensitivity reactions have been observed at high doses.

Tea leaves (thea nigra folium)

Boiling point: 190 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• stimulating with drive weakness

Note: When using, drink plenty of water.

Thyme herb (thymi herba)

Boiling point: 190 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• disinfectant for gastrointestinal disorders
• disinfectant, cough suppresses cough, colds and pharyngitis
• Hypotensive in heart disease

Note: Well-tried home remedy, in many bronchial mixtures.

Tulasi herb (ocimum sancti herba)

Boiling point: 190 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• cough-suppressing cough, colds and pharyngitis
• stimulating with drive weakness

Vanilla grass herb (hierochloe odoratae herba)

Boiling point: 130 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• analgesic in gastrointestinal disorders
• analgesic, anti-inflammatory for cough, colds and pharyngitis
• analgesic, anti-inflammatory for menstrual cramps

Juniper berries (juniperi fructus)

Boiling point: 190 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• diuretic in kidney and bladder diseases

Willow bark (salicis cortex)

Boiling point: 235 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• analgesic in gastrointestinal disorders
• analgesic for cough, colds and pharyngitis
• analgesic for menstrual cramps

Note: The bark contains a previously widely used febrifuge, salicin, the raw material for aspirin ™.

Hawthorn flowers (crataegus monogynae flos)

Boiling point: 190 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• tonic in heart disease

Note: As a cure reliable heart strengthening.

Vermouth herb mexican (artemisia mexicanae herba)

Boiling point: 190 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• disinfectant for gastrointestinal disorders
• disinfectant, toning for coughs, colds and pharyngitis
• disinfecting kidney and bladder diseases

Wild lettuce leaves (lactucae virosae folium)

Boiling point: 190 °C

Effect(s) of symptom(s):

• analgesic in gastrointestinal disorders
• analgesic, soothing for coughs, colds and pharyngitis
• analgesic in renal and bladder diseases
• calming in insomnia

Note: Contains Laktuarin, a plant milk related to opium juice.