The Complete Herbal Tutor. Anne Mcintyre

       Cholagogue

      Barberry, Blue flag, Gentian, Globe artichoke, Peppermint, Yellow dock.

       Demulcent

      Stellaria, Fenugreek, Liquorice, Marshmallow, Mullein, Ribwort, Slippery elm.

       Diaphoretic

      Angelica root, Bayberry, Boneset, Cayenne, Chamomile, Elder flower, Elecampane, Ginger, Goldenrod, Hemidismus, Hyssop, Lemon balm, Lime flowers, Peppermint, Pleurisy root, Prickly ash, Vervain, Yarrow.

       Diuretic

      Astragalus, Buchu, Celery seed, Corn silk, Couch grass, Dandelion leaf and root, Globe artichoke, Goldenrod, Gravel root, Horsetail, Shatavari.

       Emetic

      Lemon balm, Boneset, Catnip, Elder flowers.

       Emmenagogue

      Beth root, Black cohosh, Black haw, Blessed thistle, Chamomile, Chaste tree, Cramp bark, Fenugreek, Gentian, Ginger, Golden seal, Marigold, Motherwort, Mugwort, Pasque flower, Peppermint, Raspberry, Rosemary, St John's wort, Thyme, Valerian, Vervain, Wormwood, Yarrow.

       Emollient

      Borage, Chickweed, Elecampane, Fenugreek, Liquorice, Marshmallow, Mullein, Plantain, Rose petals, Slippery elm.

       Expectorant

      Angelica root, Elecampane, Fennel, Ground ivy, Hyssop, Liquorice, Marshmallow, Mullein, Pleurisy root, Thyme, Vervain, White horehound.

       Febrifuge

      Lemon balm, Blessed thistle, Boneset, Cayenne, Elder flower, Hyssop, Marigold, Peppermint, Plantain, Pleurisy root, Prickly ash, Raspberry, Thyme, Vervain.

       Galactagogue

      Chaste tree, Fennel, Fenugreek, Goat's rue, Shatavari, Vervain.

       Hepatic

      Agrimony, Aloes, Andrographis, Balm, Barberry, Blue Flag, Celery, Cleavers, Dandelion, Elecampane, Fennel, Genetian, Golden seal, Globe artichoke, Hyssop, Motherwort, Prickly ash, Rosemary, Schisandra, Wild yam, Wormwood, Yarrow, Yellow dock.

       Hypnotic

      Californian Poppy, Hops, Mistletoe, Passionflower, Skullcap, Valerian.

       Laxatives

      Aloes resin, Barberry, Blue flag, Burdock, Cleavers, Dandelion leaf and Root, Dong quai, Liquorice, Senna, Slippery elm, Yellow dock.

       Mucilage

      Comfrey, Fenugreek, Marshmallow, Slippery elm.

       Nervine

      Bacopa, Black cohosh, Chamomile, Cramp bark, Ginseng, Gotu cola, Hops, Lavender, Lemon balm, Mistletoe, Motherwort, Oats, Pasque flower, Passion Flower, Peppermint, Polygonum multiflorum, Red clover, Rosemary, Schisandra, Skullcap, St. John's wort, Thyme, Valerian, Vervain, Wormwood.

       Oxytoxic

      Beth root, Golden seal, Schisandra.

       Pectoral

      Chinese angelica, Elder, Elecampane, Garlic, Golden seal, Horehound, Hyssop, Liquorice, Marshmallow, Mullein, Pleurisy root, Vervain.

       Rubefacient

      Cayenne, Garli, Ginger, Nettle, Peppermint, Rosemary.

       Sedative

      Black cohosh, Black haw, Bladderwrack, Chamomile, Cramp bark, Hops, Motherwort, Pasque flower, Passion flower, Red clover, Saw palmetto, Skullcap, St. John's wort, Valerian, Wild yam.

       Sialagogue

      Blue flag, Cayenne, Gentian, Ginger, Prickly ash.

      Soporific induces sleep, see Hypnotic.

       Stimulant

      Chinese angelica, Bayberry, Bladderwrack, Cardamom, Cayenne, Cinnamon, Dandelion, Garlic, Gentian, Ginseng, Gravel root, Ground ivy, Horehound, Marigold, Peppermint, Prickly ash, Rosemary, Wild yam, Wormwood, Yarrow.

       Styptic

      Calendula, Horsetail, Nettle leaf, Witch hazel Leaf, Yarrow.

       Tonic

      Agrimony, Chinese angelica, Balm, Bayberry, Bearberry, Beth root, Bistort, Boneset, Buchu, Burdock, Cayenne, Chamomile, Cleavers, Couch grass, Cranesbill, Dandelion, Echinacea, Elecampane, Eyebright, False unicorn root, Garlic, Gentian, Ginseng, Golden seal, Gravel root, Ground ivy, Hawthorn, Horse chestnut, Hydrangea, Hyssop, Liquorice, Marigold, Mistletoe, Motherwort, Mugwort, Myrrh, Nettle, Oats, Poke root, Raspberry, Red clover, Rue, Sarsaparilla, Skullcap, Thyme, Vervain, Wild yam, Wood betony, Yarrow.

       Vulnerary

      Aloe, Bistort, Burdock, Cleavers, Elder, Elecampane, Fenugreek, Garlic, Golden seal, Horsetail, Hyssop, Marigold, Marshmallow, Mullein, Myrrh, Plantain, Poke root, Slippery elm, St. John's wort, Thyme, Witch hazel, Wood betony, Yarrow.

       The Herbal Consultation

      Before you make a diagnosis, prescribe remedies and prepare herbal medicines, it is important to understand the concepts of holism and homeostasis, and how plants can enhance the body's own innate healing processes. Treating underlying causes and not simply addressing symptoms forms the basis of a herbalist's practice, and every consultation, treatment plan and herbal prescription is tailored to each individual patient's needs, with the aim of bringing positive and lasting results.

      Healing the Whole Person

      Modern medical herbalism is a synthesis of ancient and modern theories and practices. Its underlying philosophy is that health is intimately connected to the harmony of body, mind and spirit, which enables a balance of natural forces in the body. In a clinical context the herbalist will interpret symptoms of ill health as a disturbance of this balance, and consider them in the context of the patient as a whole, their lives, both inner and outer.

      As Dr Edward Bach, famed for his flower remedies, said: “…disease of the body itself is nothing but the result of the disharmony between the soul and mind” and “…health is therefore the true realisation of what we are; we are perfect; we are children of God.”

      The now familiar World Health Organisation's definition of health as: “The condition of perfect bodily, spiritual and social well-being, and not solely the absence of disease and injury,” is a lofty aim, but certainly one that the herbal practitioner aspires to. We are not here solely to relieve symptoms. Bearing this in mind, ideally herbs are prescribed not only to redress specific imbalances but also to attend to the deeper causes of imbalance within a framework of life-affirming lifestyles and eating habits.

      In their “holistic” approach, the herbalist recognises that our bodies are made up of a complex organisation of tissues and cells that operate on a molecular level, and yet the human organism is so much more than this. Behind the physical manifestation that is the body is the existence of subtle energy, which is recognised by mythology and religion, but largely denied by modern science. It is known throughout the world by different names – life-force, vital-force, qi, and prana. We can neither see it nor define it, but it is there, and we are animated by this living force on every level of existence: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

      Through this we have an inherent ability to regulate the functions of the