Medicinal Herbs

The use of 'culinary' herbs as medicinal and medicinal herbs as 'culinaries' is older than written language. The earliest record I know of being the "Eber's Papyrus" originally written in hieroglyphics on the walls of the Physicians Pyramid in ancient Egypt. This manuscript describes the medicinal properties of parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme, with and without the use of honey. These uses maintained popularity until the present time even though the original hieroglyphics were not translated into a European language until the mid-nineteenth century. Such long usage, about 8,000 years, by common folk justifies the use of the term 'traditional usage' as a scientific description.

The traditional uses were gathered from many sources, all of them well known works on the history of medicinal herbs. These are listed in the bibliography at the end.

The common kitchen name for these herbs is given in bold bold face print. The part of the plant used follows. After this comes the list of properties used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (referred to as TCM hereafter) appearing in italic print face. The lists of ailments follows in ordinary type face.

ANISE, seed - pungent, sweet, warm, dry, enters lung, heart and spleen meridians. Circulates Qi, relaxes nerves, frees spasm, relieves pain, dries mucous damp, heart palpitations, dry cough,wheezing, colic, indigestion, irregular menses, menstrual cramps, nausea. distended gurgling abdomen, pain of gout, rheumatism, neuralgia, pain of childbirth, increases Qi, restores lung and heart, creates strength, benefits vision, fatigue, short breath, chronic illness, congealed breast milk, not enough sperm, deficient eyesight, copious white phlegm in lungs, coughing, asthmatic breathing, antidotes poison, restrains infection, animal bites.

ASPARAGUS, root, rhizome, leaves, and young stem, sweet, salty, warm, moist, enters kidney, liver and small intestine meridians. Nourishes, replenishes and restores blood and essence, strengthens and benefits vision, benefits sinews, premature senility, week knees, dry eyes, hazy vision, limbs numb, twitching, dry skin or hair, dry vagina, pale lips nails and eyelids, shallow breathing, heart palpitations, fatigue, scanty menses, convalescence, childbirth recovery, restores urogenital organs, enhances sexual desire, weak knees and legs, impotence, lower back ache, clears toxins, promotes urination, softens stones, intermittent pain, chronic rashes,gout, rheumatism, arthritis, acid blood, generalized water weight, nausea, obstructed urination, scanty frequent dripping urination, kidney stones, dry constipation, dry mouth and tongue, helps diabetes.

BASIL, leaf and flowers, pungent, sweet, bitter, warm, dry, enters kidney and lung meridians. Yang deficiency, depression, restores nerves brain and adrenals, weakness, fear of cold, complacency, dull thinking, numbness, paralysis, shock, fainting, coma, epilepsy, adrenal deficiency, no stamina, frees spasms, promotes menses, sexual desire, fertility, settles stomach, vomiting, scanty delayed menses, menstrual cramps, infertility impotence, lower back pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal camps, copious white phlegm in lungs, wheezing, chilliness, bronchitis, spasmodic asthma, whooping cough, common cold with white mucous, loss of smell, restrains infections, antidotes poison, animal and insect bites, insect repellent.

BLACK PEPPER, seed, very pungent, hot, dry, enter spleen, kidney and heart meridians. Intestines cold with chilliness, no appetite, gas, colic, nausea, gurgling guts, fatigue, backaches, impotence, hemorrhoids, prolapsed uterus, awakenss appetite, edema, heart palpitations, causes sweating, white mucous in nose, neuralgia, rheumatism, weakness, Yang deficiency, vertigo, poor vision in deficiency, infections especially on skin, food and herb poisoning, animal bites, NOT to be used during fevers, inflammations and red faces.

CARAWAY, seed and leaves, almost identical to FENNEL.

CARDAMOM, seeds and pods, pungent, bitter, sweet, dry, enters lung and spleen meridians. Increases Qi, restores lung spleen and nerves, strengthens, rids depression, fatigue, stupor, loose stool, no appetite, shallow breathing, dizziness, poor memory, listlessness, gurgling guts, epigastric pain and distention, nausea and vomiting with cold stomach, lots of white mucous in lungs, chronic bronchitis, common cold with white mucous, poisonous stings.

CAYENNE, seed pod, very pungent, hot, dry, enters lung and spleen meridians. Cold limbs and weakness, depression, shock, cold sweat, cold limbs, causes sweating, common cold if used early, low fevers in typhoid scarlet fever and diphtheria, increases appetite, nausea, indigestion, pale face, dysentery, fresh wounds, muscular pains, sprains, bruises, bursitis, hair loss,bronchitis, nose blocked by mucous, cleans lymph, Yang deficiency. NOT to be used during fevers, inflammations and red faces.

CELERY, seed, stalk and root, bitter, sweet, cool, moist, enters kidney, liver and bladder meridians, conception and governing vessels. Detoxifies, arthritis, sciatica, rheumatism, neuralgia, skin rashes, fatigue, poor appetite, edema, urinary stones, arteriosclerosis, frequent dribbling urination, thirst, acute urinary infections, remittent and tidal fevers both Shao Yang and Shao Yin, no appetite, gas, poor painful digestion, delayed painful menses, postpartum weakness, insufficient breast milk, weakness, adrenal insufficiency, impotence, chronic exhaustion, hoarseness.

CINNAMON, bark of twigs or trunks, astringent, sweet, hot, dry, enters lung, spleen, and kidney meridians. Yang deficiency fatigue, short of breath, heart palpitations, melancholy, cold limbs hands and feet, exhaustion due to overwork, onset of common cold, thick mucousy flu, acute neuralgia, rheumatism, nausea, no appetite, diarrhea, abdominal distention with gas, low vitality, lumbar pain, morning diarrhea, impotence, frigidity, vaginal yeast, absent or delayed menses with cramps, stops bleeding in lungs intestines bladder and uterus, inter-menstrual bleeding, chronic infectious diseases. NOT for fevers, hot bodies, sore throats or red faces.

FENNEL, seed, pungent, sweet, warm, dry, enters kidney bladder and spleen meridians, Conception and Governing vessels. Frequent scanty urination, bedwetting, peeing at night, lumbar backaches, stinky orange urine, headache, poor appetite, kidney stones, black spots in vision, eyes inflamed, menstrual cramps, menstrual clots, estrogen insufficiency, no menses, no breast milk, breast lumps, curdled milk, stomach ulcers, belching sour fluid, no appetite, gurgling abdomen, colic, nausea, coughing with thin white phlegm, wheezing, hoarseness, voice loss, preventative in flu epidemics, mushroom and food poisoning, intestinal parasites, loose spongy gums, deafness, bruises, contusions, sprains.

GARLIC, Bulb flower and bulbil, very pungent, sweet, salty, hot, very dry, disperses Qi, enters lung spleen heart and liver meridians. Immunity, infections, detoxifies, parasites, tissue repair, causes sweating, coughing up white thin mucous, bronchial asthma, wheezing bronchitis, bronchial asthma, tuberculosis, emphysema, chills, heart palpitations, cold extremities, stabbing cardiac pain, short breath, blue lips and face, high or low blood pressure, weakness, fatigue, timidity, depression, spontaneous sweating, debility, irregular bowel movements, gas. loose moucusy stool, enteritis, imbalanced intestinal flora, fat from waist down (water weight, edema) skin rashes, stinky stools, gout, rheumatism, arthritis, clots, varicose veins, tumors, etc, etc... A marvelous herb about which many books have been written. Use at least one clove a day or prevention always.

GINGER, rhizome, pungent, sweet, hot, dry, enters lung spleen stomach meridians, disperses Qi. Causes sweating, mucous, No appetite, loose stool, chilliness, enteritis, dysentery, irritable stomach, stomach ulcers, digestion painful, belching sour fluid, gas, nausea, vomiting, sea and air sickness, delayed scanty or no menses, menstrual cramps, impotence sometimes, painful ovulation, infections, poisoning from herbs or foods, scurvy, tonsillitis, laryngitis. NOT for fevers or red faced people. This is the primary herb that sent Europeans to the Orient in the 15th century.

KELP, dried leaves, salty, cool, moist, enters liver, stomach kidney and bladder meridians. Weakness, fatigue, heart palpitations, pale eyelids, anemia, poor digestion, dry constipation, slow development in children, rickets, skin eruptions, rheumatism, arthritis, water retention, overweight, Arsenic and Mercury poisoning, cellulite, obesity, skin conditions, fibrous tumors, arteriosclerosis, painful urination, swollen lymph glands, hormonal imbalance, thyroid in sufficiency, hormonal imbalance, thyroid insufficiency, menopause, high blood pressure,asthma.

MARJORAM (Origanum marjoram only), leaves and stem, bitter pungent, sweet, astringent, both warming and cooling, enters heart lung spleen kidney meridians, Conception and Governing vessels. Circulates Qi, Nervous tension, anxiety, heart palpitations, coughing, whooping cough, delayed menses, menstrual cramps, no menses, nausea, agitated depression, vertigo, tinnitus, insomnia. muscle cramps. convulsions, facial paralysis, hemiplegia, agitation, genital discharges, dizziness, blurred vision, no appetite, diarrhea, colic, iliosecal valve syndrome, scanty urine, lower back pain, kidney stones, vaginal yeas, infertility, scanty menses, painful menses, bedwetting, premature senility, premature grayness (under 65 for men and 49 for women),

OREGANO (Origanum vulgare, ssp.) leaves and flowers. Almost identical to Marjoram but also treats: mucous in lungs, restrains infections, antidotes poison. A hot tea helps rashes erupt and produces sweating.

PARSLEY, seed root and leaves, bitter, pungent, dry, enters bladder kidney liver meridians. Circulates Qi, painful urination, colicky pains, gas, painful cramping menses, migraine, high blood pressure, jaundice, water retention, nausea, skin rashes, stinky stool, clotted menses, prostatitis, chronic infections, wounds, curdled breast milk, head lice (essential oil is best). NOT for use during pregnancy.

ROSEMARY, leaves, bitter, pungent, warm, dry, enters lung spleen heart, liver meridians, Conception and Governing vessels. Yang deficiency, weakness, cold limbs, depression, shyness, complacency, mental stupor, chills, dizziness, anemia, low blood pressure, rheumatism, pain, neuralgia, spontaneous sweating, heart palpitations, short breath, fainting, headache, loss of speech vision or memory. arteriosclerosis, paralysis, poor appetite, anxiety, disturbing dreams, exhaustion, long illness, sinusitis, dripping nose, coughing with white frothy phlegm, fatigue, bronchitis, bronchial asthma, whooping cough, swollen gurgling abdomen, enteritis, colitis, weak knees, lumbar pain, low sex energy, impotence, sterility, scanty or copious clear urine, delayed painful menses, no menses, vaginal yeast, right hip sore, alternating constipation and diarrhea, frontal headache, jaundice, colecystitis, liver chirrosis, gallstones, poor vision, gout, high cholesterol, activates immunity, infections, body lice, NOT with fevers or red faces.

RUE, leaves, pungent, bitter, warm, dry, enters lung small intestine liver meridians, Conception and Governing vessels. Circulates Qi, delayed painful menses, skin rashes, depression, constipation, poor vision, coughing with mucus, nausea, belching sour fluid, indigestion, diarrhea, alternating loose and hard stool, parasites, colicky pain, irritability, asthmatic breathing, spasms of muscles, tremors, convulsions, epilepsy, neuralgia, gout, arthritis, rheumatism, activates immunity, boils, carbuncles, abscesses , ulcers, varicose veins, swollen glands, scaly skin, detoxifies. NOT for use during pregnancy.

SAGE, leaves, pungent, bitter, astringent, cool, dry, enters spleen and liver meridians, Conception and Governing vessels. Increases Qi, exhaustion, excessive daytime sweating, short breath, no appetite, indigestion, diarrhea, vertigo, nervous exhaustion, poor memory, coma, paralysis, immune deficiency, pituitary deficiency, low blood pressure, weakness, lung tuberculosis, night sweats, rickets, loose moucusy stools, fatigue, chronic enteritis, mucous colitis, vaginal yeast, uretheritis, scanty urine, sinusitis, excessive sweating, weaning babies, cough with thin white phlegm, bronchitis, bronchial asthma, cramps and gas from emotional causes, nervous, agitated depression, lumbar pain, irregular painful menses, tremors, cramping of limbs, strokes, dry skin, dry vagina, estrogen insufficiency, no menses, infertility, sterility, menopause, activates immunity. chronic wounds, ulcers and sores, mouth infections, loose teeth, eczema. hair loss, sore muscles. NOT for use during pregnancy.

THYME (mother-of-thyme, common thyme ssp.), leaves, pungent, bitter, astringent, warm and cool, dry, enters lung spleen meridians Increases Qi, fatigue, shallow breathing, pale complexion, immune deficiency, no appetite, loose stool, bulging abdomen, anemia, low blood pressure, weakness, nervous exhaustion, depression, low adrenal energy, cough with thin white phlegm, chilliness, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, tuberculosis of the lungs, dry cough, difficult breathing, coughs up plugs of phlegm, obsessive thinking, allergies, asthma, whooping cough, causes sweating, aches and pains and stiff muscles, chills and fatigue and dripping nose, sinusitis, winter flu with sore throat, rheumatism, watery stool with undigested food, colic, gas, nausea, slow digestion, gurgling abdomen, enteritis, mucous colitis, none or delayed menses, cramps, vaginal yeast, lack of sexual desire, low white blood cell count, infections of all kinds, skin infections, contusions, pussy wounds, intestinal parasites esp. tape worms, poisonous animal bites, AIDS. NOT for use during pregnancy or hyperthyroidism.

WALNUT, hulls leaves nut-meats, astringent, a bit bitter and pungent, neural (leaf), enters large intestine spleen kidney meridians. Detoxifies, dry skin, skin rashes, tiredness, eczema, extreme itching, impetigo, herpes, ringworm, syphilis, tuberculosis, chronic swollen lymph glands, gout, rheumatism, osteoarthritis, tumors of all kinds, abdominal distention and pain, constipation chronic and during pregnancy, fatigue, weakness, pale complexion, anemia, demineralization, debility, chronic fatigue syndrome, debility, lower back knee leg weakness, slow physical and mental development in infants and children, bone sinew and cartilage weakness, bone diseases, rickets, scoliosis, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, osteoma, weak hair, brittle hair, hair loss, dry skin, intestinal dysbiosis, alternating diarrhea and constipation, gastroenteritis, dysentery, mucous colitis, peptic ulcer, candidiasis, leucorrhea, vaginal yeast infections, hemmorhage anywhere, excessive sweating especially from palms of hands and feet, intestinal parasites, tapeworms, roundworms. fatigue, vaginal prolapse, hemorrhoids, diabetes-supportive, wounds, ulcers, cervical erosion, boils, abscesses, acne, varicose veins, inflammations of mouth gums throat and eyes, wrinkles, dandruff, freckles, bacterial and fungal skin infections, bone degeneration, bone swelling, dental cavities. This nut when eaten in the afternoon regularly can increase sperm count. This is an ancient use indicated in the Latin name of the species Juglans which literally translates as Jupiter's penis-head.

WINTER SAVORY, leaves. almost identical to BASIL. In addition: enhances immunity, anti-microbial, stimulates pituitary, infections.

WORMWOOD (Artemisia absinthium - absinthe), leaves, very bitter, a bit pungent, astringent, cool, dry, sinking movemeent, enters stomach spleen liver meridians, Conception and Governing vessels. Fevers, bitter taste in mouth, vomiting, swollen abdomen, chronic constipation, belching sour fluid, stomach ulcers, jaundice, hepatitis, nausea, motion sickness, headaches, urinary and kidney inflammations, anemia, weakness, convalescence, swelling below waist, delayed painful menses, difficult painful labor, activates immunity, food poisoning ulcers, boils, abscesses, thread-worms, roundworms, parasites in gut, tumors, cancer, bruises, contusions, earache, arthritis, rheumatism. NOT for use during pregnancy.