We have discussed re-working the "Emmenagogue" category of the Herbal Apprenticeship Materia Medica. Here is a look at the list with consideration of categories' influence on blood and circulation.
HERBAL CLINIC MATERIA MEDICA
WARMING DIAPHORETICS / SURFACE-RELIEVING HERBS / CIRCULATORY STIMULANTS
Ephedra - Banned, but an important first aid remedy.
Angelica - more here
Lovage - Good herb for the garden.
Scallions - Fresh on soup.
Hyssop - A great herb for the garden. more here
Sage - Paradoxically, also containing anti-diaphoretic properties.
Oregano - Herb used more as culinary, but often nearby (cabinet or garden). Essential oil is very potent and effective.
Basil - Mostly known as a culinary herb.
Osha - One of the most important herbs from the West. more here
Ginger - Generally, we consider fresh root to belong here (while dried is categorized as a blood-moving herb).
Sassafras - Also banned, but wild and commonly used in folk medicine more here. & more here
Cinnamon - In Chinese medicine, the twig is the part used here. more here
Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) - This is the tree, not Poison Hemlock. more here
Pine - We have a few different species, but mostly White Pine and Pitch Pine. more here & here & here & here & here & here & here & here & ...
Camphor
COOLING DIAPHORETICS / SURFACE-RELIEVING HERBS
Horsemint - Though not commonly found in the clinic, it is commonly cultivated.
Peppermint
Catnip
Lemon Balm
Elderberry - The flowers are the part used here.
Feverfew
Chrysanthemum - A favorite herb in Chinese medicine.
Boneset - more here
Horsetail - Also source of silica.
Blue Vervain
Yarrow
Pleurisy Root
Bupleurum - Chinese herb for liver. more here
Kudzu - Not in our area, but abundant in the south.
Burdock - Generally, the seed is the part used here. more here
BLOOD-CLEANSING LAXATIVES
Rhubarb
Cascara Sagrada - Common in commerce, but not in our wilds - instead we have Buckthorn as analogue.
Buckthorn
Senna
Black Walnut
Aloe
Castor
Pokeweed - more here
Mayapple - Poisonous.
Elder - The bark is the part used here.
BLOOD-CLEANSING HERBS / HEAT-CLEARING HERBS (including BITTERS & DIURETICS)
Self-Heal - A primary heat-clearing herb and lymphatic. more here
Bittersweet - I do not use, but include because it is a plant of interest due to it being a common "weed".
Violet - Yin tonic and cooling. pictures: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Reed Grass (Phragmites)
Figwort - Relatively common in the wild, but often not abundant.
Echinacea - Important garden herb.
Red Clover - Common herb of farms.
White Clover - Used like Red Clover. more here
Blue Flag - Toxic (low-dose) when fresh. I do not use, but native plant of interest - some Native Americans used as cure all.
Chaparral - Not in our area, but common in the South West.
Burdock - Generally, the root is the part used for cleaning the blood. more here
Dandelion
Yellow Dock
Sarsaparilla - more abundant down south, we have a couple species locally. more here
Pulsatilla
Baptisia
Honeysuckle
Purslane
St. John's Wort
Gotu Kola
Willow
Poplar
Gentian - A common ingredient of Digestive Bitters.
Goldenseal - Secondary to the following for environmental reasons, but common to commerce.
Barberry
Hibiscus
Borage
Mung
Jewelweed - Best used fresh. more here
Poria
Dandelion
Parsley
Coriander
Plantain (Plantago spp.)
Gravel Root
Cleavers
Hydrangea
Wild Carrot
Uva Ursi - Not really local but very common out West and common to commerce. Also known as Kinnickinick.
Pipsissewa - Not local but common further South.
Adzuki - Bean water used here.
Corn - Silk is used here.
Kelp
Chickweed
Horehound
ANTIRHEUMATICS (including AROMATIC CIRCULATORY STIMULANTS)
Polypody - more here
Wintergreen
Black Cohosh
Yucca
Chinese Quince
Kava Kava
Birch - more here
Meadowsweet
Pine
Mulberry - Not common in the upper Delaware region, but found easily further south.
CIRCULATORY STIMULANTS (including AROMATICS)
Cayenne
Black Pepper
Fennel
Prickly Ash
Ginger
Anise
Star Anise
Cloves
Cinnamon
Aconite - Poisonous.
Horse Radish
Cardamon
Caraway
Patchouli
Dill
Magnolia
Orange
Sedge (Cyperus)
Rose
Cumin
Bay
Eucalyptus
Thyme
Mustard
Radish - Common garden varieties and Daikon.
Wild Cherry
Apricot
HEMOSTATICS / STYPTICS (including ASTRINGENTS & BLOOD-REGULATING HERBS)
Bulrush - Also used as emetic.
Raspberry - Leaf, etc. Blackberry root is often available as well. Berries tonify yin and build blood.
Agrimony - Commonly available in apothecaries. Not locally abundant- the previous and following are good analouges.
Cinquefoil - Common "weed".
Mugwort - more here
Thuja -
Cattail - Pollen is collected in early summer. more here
Thistle - Many species, including many invasives. Also liver healing benefits.
Shepherd's Purse - Usually considered best fresh, or tincture from fresh herb.
Tienchi Ginseng - Very important blood-regulating herb from Chinese medicine.
Cayenne - Another blood-moving herb used to stop bleeding.
Nettles
Crane's Bill
Witch Hazel
Oak
Horse Chestnut
Blackberry
Huckleberry
Purple Loosestrife
Sumac
White Pond Lily
Yellow Water Lily
Ephedra - Currently banned, but an important first aid herb to know about.
Rose
Lotus
Eyebright
Lady's Mantle
Ginkgo
Nutmeg
Schizandra
EMMENAGOGUES
Angelica - more here
Lovage -
Vervain -
Corydalis -
Turmeric -
Motherwort -
Bugleweed -
Peach -
Safflower -
Saffron -
Calendula -
Frankincense -
Myrrh -
Wild Ginger -
Pennyroyal -
Tansy -
Blue Cohosh -
Rose -
Chaste Tree -
Rue -
Collinsonia -
CHI TONICS (including STIMULANTS; used with BLOOD-NOURISHING HERBS)
Ginseng
American Ginseng
Codonopsis - The "Poor Man's Ginseng" of Chinese medicine. It can be cultivated here.
Astragalus
Atractylodes
Licorice
Yam
Elecampane - read more
Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
YANG TONICS / STIMULANTS
Walnuts - more here
Fenugreek
Damiana
Yohimbe
Saw Palmetto
Garlic
Teasel
Calamus
Pumpkin - The seeds are the part used here.
BLOOD TONICS / BLOOD-NOURISHING HERBS
Hawthorn - European tradition's top cardiovascular tonic.
Yellow Dock
Nettle
Dong Quai
Peony
Rehmannia
Gogi
Mulberry
Blackberry
Raspberry
Huckleberry
Black Currant
Grape
Mulberry
Molasses
YIN TONICS (used with BLOOD-NOURISHING HERBS)
Asparagus - The root is the part used, called Shatavari in Ayurveda.
Tiger Lily
Solomon's Seal
Marshmallow
Common Mallow
Slippery Elm
Comfrey - Currently banned for internal use, but a stellar topical herb.
Privet
Black Sesame
Ophiopogon
Devil's Club
Lugwort
SEDATIVES / CIRCULATORY RELAXANTS / ANTISPASMODICS (including CARDIAC TONICS)
Valerian
Scullcap
Hops
Passion Flower
California Poppy
Chamomile
Lily of the Valley - Toxic.
Wild Yam
Black Haw
Cramp Bark
Lobelia
Datura - Poisonous.
Jack-in-the-Pulpit - Must be prepared properly.
Bloodroot - Low dose herb.
Mullein
Coltsfoot - more here
PARASITICIDES
Black Walnut
Garlic
Wormwood
Mugwort
Wood Fern - more here
WARMING DIAPHORETICS / SURFACE-RELIEVING HERBS / CIRCULATORY STIMULANTS
Ephedra - Banned, but an important first aid remedy.
Angelica - more here
Lovage - Good herb for the garden.
Scallions - Fresh on soup.
Hyssop - A great herb for the garden. more here
Sage - Paradoxically, also containing anti-diaphoretic properties.
Oregano - Herb used more as culinary, but often nearby (cabinet or garden). Essential oil is very potent and effective.
Basil - Mostly known as a culinary herb.
Osha - One of the most important herbs from the West. more here
Ginger - Generally, we consider fresh root to belong here (while dried is categorized as a blood-moving herb).
Sassafras - Also banned, but wild and commonly used in folk medicine more here. & more here
Cinnamon - In Chinese medicine, the twig is the part used here. more here
Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) - This is the tree, not Poison Hemlock. more here
Pine - We have a few different species, but mostly White Pine and Pitch Pine. more here & here & here & here & here & here & here & here & ...
Camphor
COOLING DIAPHORETICS / SURFACE-RELIEVING HERBS
Horsemint - Though not commonly found in the clinic, it is commonly cultivated.
Peppermint
Catnip
Lemon Balm
Elderberry - The flowers are the part used here.
Feverfew
Chrysanthemum - A favorite herb in Chinese medicine.
Boneset - more here
Horsetail - Also source of silica.
Blue Vervain
Yarrow
Pleurisy Root
Bupleurum - Chinese herb for liver. more here
Kudzu - Not in our area, but abundant in the south.
Burdock - Generally, the seed is the part used here. more here
BLOOD-CLEANSING LAXATIVES
Rhubarb
Cascara Sagrada - Common in commerce, but not in our wilds - instead we have Buckthorn as analogue.
Buckthorn
Senna
Black Walnut
Aloe
Castor
Pokeweed - more here
Mayapple - Poisonous.
Elder - The bark is the part used here.
BLOOD-CLEANSING HERBS / HEAT-CLEARING HERBS (including BITTERS & DIURETICS)
Self-Heal - A primary heat-clearing herb and lymphatic. more here
Bittersweet - I do not use, but include because it is a plant of interest due to it being a common "weed".
Violet - Yin tonic and cooling. pictures: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Reed Grass (Phragmites)
Figwort - Relatively common in the wild, but often not abundant.
Echinacea - Important garden herb.
Red Clover - Common herb of farms.
White Clover - Used like Red Clover. more here
Blue Flag - Toxic (low-dose) when fresh. I do not use, but native plant of interest - some Native Americans used as cure all.
Chaparral - Not in our area, but common in the South West.
Burdock - Generally, the root is the part used for cleaning the blood. more here
Dandelion
Yellow Dock
Sarsaparilla - more abundant down south, we have a couple species locally. more here
Pulsatilla
Baptisia
Honeysuckle
Purslane
St. John's Wort
Gotu Kola
Willow
Poplar
Gentian - A common ingredient of Digestive Bitters.
Goldenseal - Secondary to the following for environmental reasons, but common to commerce.
Barberry
Hibiscus
Borage
Mung
Jewelweed - Best used fresh. more here
Poria
Dandelion
Parsley
Coriander
Plantain (Plantago spp.)
Gravel Root
Cleavers
Hydrangea
Wild Carrot
Uva Ursi - Not really local but very common out West and common to commerce. Also known as Kinnickinick.
Pipsissewa - Not local but common further South.
Adzuki - Bean water used here.
Corn - Silk is used here.
Kelp
Chickweed
Horehound
ANTIRHEUMATICS (including AROMATIC CIRCULATORY STIMULANTS)
Polypody - more here
Wintergreen
Black Cohosh
Yucca
Chinese Quince
Kava Kava
Birch - more here
Meadowsweet
Pine
Mulberry - Not common in the upper Delaware region, but found easily further south.
CIRCULATORY STIMULANTS (including AROMATICS)
Cayenne
Black Pepper
Fennel
Prickly Ash
Ginger
Anise
Star Anise
Cloves
Cinnamon
Aconite - Poisonous.
Horse Radish
Cardamon
Caraway
Patchouli
Dill
Magnolia
Orange
Sedge (Cyperus)
Rose
Cumin
Bay
Eucalyptus
Thyme
Mustard
Radish - Common garden varieties and Daikon.
Wild Cherry
Apricot
HEMOSTATICS / STYPTICS (including ASTRINGENTS & BLOOD-REGULATING HERBS)
Bulrush - Also used as emetic.
Raspberry - Leaf, etc. Blackberry root is often available as well. Berries tonify yin and build blood.
Agrimony - Commonly available in apothecaries. Not locally abundant- the previous and following are good analouges.
Cinquefoil - Common "weed".
Mugwort - more here
Thuja -
Cattail - Pollen is collected in early summer. more here
Thistle - Many species, including many invasives. Also liver healing benefits.
Shepherd's Purse - Usually considered best fresh, or tincture from fresh herb.
Tienchi Ginseng - Very important blood-regulating herb from Chinese medicine.
Cayenne - Another blood-moving herb used to stop bleeding.
Nettles
Crane's Bill
Witch Hazel
Oak
Horse Chestnut
Blackberry
Huckleberry
Purple Loosestrife
Sumac
White Pond Lily
Yellow Water Lily
Ephedra - Currently banned, but an important first aid herb to know about.
Rose
Lotus
Eyebright
Lady's Mantle
Ginkgo
Nutmeg
Schizandra
EMMENAGOGUES
Angelica - more here
Lovage -
Vervain -
Corydalis -
Turmeric -
Motherwort -
Bugleweed -
Peach -
Safflower -
Saffron -
Calendula -
Frankincense -
Myrrh -
Wild Ginger -
Pennyroyal -
Tansy -
Blue Cohosh -
Rose -
Chaste Tree -
Rue -
Collinsonia -
CHI TONICS (including STIMULANTS; used with BLOOD-NOURISHING HERBS)
Ginseng
American Ginseng
Codonopsis - The "Poor Man's Ginseng" of Chinese medicine. It can be cultivated here.
Astragalus
Atractylodes
Licorice
Yam
Elecampane - read more
Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
YANG TONICS / STIMULANTS
Walnuts - more here
Fenugreek
Damiana
Yohimbe
Saw Palmetto
Garlic
Teasel
Calamus
Pumpkin - The seeds are the part used here.
BLOOD TONICS / BLOOD-NOURISHING HERBS
Hawthorn - European tradition's top cardiovascular tonic.
Yellow Dock
Nettle
Dong Quai
Peony
Rehmannia
Gogi
Mulberry
Blackberry
Raspberry
Huckleberry
Black Currant
Grape
Mulberry
Molasses
YIN TONICS (used with BLOOD-NOURISHING HERBS)
Asparagus - The root is the part used, called Shatavari in Ayurveda.
Tiger Lily
Solomon's Seal
Marshmallow
Common Mallow
Slippery Elm
Comfrey - Currently banned for internal use, but a stellar topical herb.
Privet
Black Sesame
Ophiopogon
Devil's Club
Lugwort
SEDATIVES / CIRCULATORY RELAXANTS / ANTISPASMODICS (including CARDIAC TONICS)
Valerian
Scullcap
Hops
Passion Flower
California Poppy
Chamomile
Lily of the Valley - Toxic.
Wild Yam
Black Haw
Cramp Bark
Lobelia
Datura - Poisonous.
Jack-in-the-Pulpit - Must be prepared properly.
Bloodroot - Low dose herb.
Mullein
Coltsfoot - more here
PARASITICIDES
Black Walnut
Garlic
Wormwood
Mugwort
Wood Fern - more here
