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Blood-Influencing Categories of the Materia Medica

11/20/2016

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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.
Fever
few
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
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