Herb File

Herb of the Month

Herb of the month - Devil's claw

Medical herbalist Dee Atkinson talks us through the benefits of devil’s claw.

"We started using devil’s claw capsules, and the results were impressive."

Rhodiola rosea

Medical herbalist Dee Atkinson tells us why she loves rhodiola.

"It is one of the herbs that sparked my interest in herbal medicine and has remained one of my favourite herbs ever since."

Black Cohosh

Medical herbalist Dee Atkinson tells us why she loves black cohosh.
More recently black cohosh has become a favourite with practitioners for treating menopause symptoms, in particular hot flushes.

Also called vitex, chaste berry or monk’s pepper, agnus castus is a large shrub native to southern Europe. The plant produces small, fragrant white or lilac coloured flowers in the height of summer and after pollination develops dark reddish-brown-to-black fruits about the size of peppercorns.

Artichoke

Artichoke is one of nature’s best-kept secrets when it comes to looking for a cure for digestive problems, high cholesterol and liver and kidney problems.

Camomile

Camomile Chamomilla recutitia can be found growing all over Britain and Europe and has a long historical use in herbal medicine. The medicinal use of camomile can be traced back to the Egyptians who believed it could cure ‘ague’ and dedicated it to one of their gods, through to the ‘strewing herb’ of the Middle Ages. It used to be considered as the plant’s physician and was often grown in gardens to improve the health of all the plants.

Devil's Claw

Devil’s claw is a perennial shrub that grows wild in the desert countries of Southern Africa, most notably in the Kalahari sands of Namibia. After heavy rain it develops luscious leaves and beautiful red-violet trumpet-shaped flowers.

Echinacea

Echinacea was used for centuries by Native American Indians to heal septic wounds and snake bites. The plant also became a favourite among European pioneers in America and their doctors for treating infections.

Elderflower

Elder has been used medicinally since the days of ancient Rome when Hippocrates recommended it to encourage vomiting and purging. And many medieval herbals cite it as ‘nature’s cure-all’.

Evening Primrose

The plant and its root have been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments including bruises, haemorrhoids, sore throats and stomach aches, but it wasn’t until the 1970s that its seed oil, which contains gamma linolenic acid (GLA) (also known as gamolenic acid), started to be recognised for its healing properties.

Feverfew

A member of the same family as camomile, feverfew bears similar clusters of daisy-like flowers throughout the summer. It is sometimes also known as featherfew or febrifuge.

Ginseng

Medical herbalist Dee Atkinson tells us why she loves ginseng.

Historically, the ginseng root was such a highly prized herb and was so costly that it was kept under lock and key and only dispensed by the herbalist himself.

Milk Thistle

Milk thistle is the prickliest thistle I have ever picked. Its thorns or needles remind me of sewing needles but are even thinner and sharper. You need to wear extra thick leather gloves when handling this plant. But despite it sharpness, it is a beautiful thistle.

Panax ginseng

Ginseng (Panax ginseng), also called Asian, Chinese or Korean ginseng has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years to enhance both the longevity and the quality of life. Another species American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is found primarily in America, while Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) comes from Siberia and is distantly related to the other two. Panax is the most widely available and extensively studied form of this herb.

Passionflower

Passionflower was valued by Native Americans mainly for its ability to heal bruises and wounds. Later herbal practitioners valued the plant for its calming, sedative and pain- relieving actions and it has been used over the years for anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, muscle spasms, seizures, hysteria and hyperactivity in children.

Pelargonium

Medical herbalist Dee Atkinson tells us why she loves pelargonium. Pelargonium sidoides is used in South Africa as a natural antibiotic. Known as ‘Umckaloabo’, it has been used for thousands of years by the Zulu, Basuto, Xhosa and Mfenfi people.

Pelargonium sidoides

A member of the geranium family, pelargonium is native to South Africa and grows throughout the Eastern Cape. The long-stalked leaves of this rosette-like plant are mildly aromatic, heart-shaped and velvety.

Rhodiola

Rhodiola is thought to help boost physical and mental health and such are its reputed powers that it is recognised as an official medicine in Russia and Scandinavia for treating fatigue, memory loss and poor concentration.

Sage

Native to the Balkan and Mediterranean, sage is a member of the mint family and its bluish-purple flowers and greyish-green leaves are a familiar sight in many of our UK gardens.

Saw Palmetto

Growing wild in North America, this small scrubby palm tree, gets its name from the spiny saw-toothed stems that lie at the base of each of its leaves. With a lifespan of over 700 years, it can resist draught, fire and insect infestation.

St John's Wort

Growing wild in many parts of the world including Europe, Asia and the US, this bushy perennial plant has lovely yellow flowers. It is named after St John the Baptist as it was traditionally collected on St John’s Day, June 24th.

Turmeric

With its yellow flowers, turmeric is a member of the ginger family. It is probably best known as the spice that gives curry blends their yellow colour, but due to its active ingredient curcumin, it also has amazing healing properties.

Valerian

Sometimes described as nature's tranquilliser, valerian grows wild in North America and Europe although it is also cultivated for medicinal purposes. It boasts pinkish flowers that grow from a tuberous rootstock or rhizome. It has a distinctive rather unpleasant smell and was aptly called phu by the Greek physician Galen.

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