Although often called root, Ginger is not a root but the underground stem or rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale. It has a firm, striated texture and its flesh can be yellow, white, or red, depending upon the variety. It is covered with a brownish skin which is thin when the plant was harvested young, and thick when the plant was harvested mature. In Asian countries, Ginger has been used as a medicine and culinary spice since ancient times. As a medicine it was used to treat conditions like stomach upsets, diarrhea, nausea, arthritis, and heart conditions. Today, Ginger is most widely used to treat nausea and vomiting in pregnancy and motion sickness, but also as a digestive aid, to relieve colds, headaches and painful menstrual periods.

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a perennial plant of the lily family, closely related to onions, leeks, chives, and shallots. Its edible bulb or „head“ grows underground and is made up of sections called cloves which have a strong distinctive flavor. Throughout all of recorded history, garlic has been used for medicinal and culinary purposes. The ancient Egyptians worshipped garlic, in Rome and Greece garlic was used to treat a wide variety of conditons, from bladder infections and dog bites to leprosy and asthma. Athletes used carlic to stimulate performance, and in the Middle Ages, garlic was believed to combat the plague. The most famous garlic folklore is that it can ward off vampires. In America and Great Britain, garlic was frowned upon for a long time and only recently its culinary and medicinal values have been recognized.

Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens), also known as Grapple plant and Wood spider, is native to South Africa. Its name comes from the characteristic large, hooked and claw-like fruit. In Africa, the root of Devil’s Claw has been used for thousands of years for rheumatoid arthritis, skin conditions, stomach and kidney diseases, fever, as well as to stimulate digestion. In the early 1900’s, European colonists brought Devil’s Claw to Europe where it was mainly used to treat arthritis.

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale), also known as Common Comfrey, Blackwort, Bruisewort, Knitbone, Slippery root, and Gum plant (among others), is a perennial herb of the family Boraginaceae. It is native to Europe, growing in damp grassy places on the banks of rivers and ditches. In the Middle Ages, Comfrey was not only a well-known remedy for broken bones but was used to treat a wide variety of ailments, from arthritis and bronichial problems to gastric ulcers and wound-healing. One of the constituents in Comfrey is allantoin which stimulates cell proliferation and thereby accelerates wound-healing, both internally and externally.

Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa), also known as hawk’s claw, is a tropical vine that grows in the rainforest areas of South America. In Peru, the plant is protected as it is considered a valuable medicinal resource. The natives of South America have been using Cat’s Claw for hundreds of years for a broad spectrum of conditions, including all types of infection, but also as a cure for cancer. Modern scientific studies suggest that Cat’s Claw may be beneficial in the treatment of arthritis, allergies, bursitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, herpes, intestinal disorders, menstrual irregularities, organic depression, and as an adjunctive treatment for cancer and AIDS.

Calendula (Calendula officinalis), also known as marigold or pot marigold, is an annual plant that is native to the Mediterranean countries but now grows throughout the world. It has many traditional culinary and herbal uses, as well as magical ones. The dye obtained from the flowers was used to flavor and color foods like rice, custards, butter, stews, and soups. An infusion made from the crushed petals was used for its cleansing and antiseptic properties, and extracts and ointments were used to treat jaundice, to induce menstruation, to produce sweat during fevers, and also as a remedy for digestive disorders.

Buchu (Agathosma betulina formally called Barosma betulina) is a small shrubby plant that is native to South Africa. The Hottentots call the plant bookoo and that is where its name comes from. The leaves which have a strong aromatic taste and a peppermint-like odor are mixed with oil and used as a perfume. Buchu is part of the cultural heritage of the Khoi and San people and has long been known at the Cape, where it is infused in Brandy and known as Buchu Brandy, as a stimulant tonic and remedy for stomach problems. Today, Buchu is mainly used to relieve complaints of the genito-urinary tract. It is often combined with Uva Ursi for treatment of water retention and urinary tract infections.

Black cohosh (Cimicifua racemosa, Actaea racemosa), also known as Black snakeroot, Bugbane, Bugwort, Rattleweed, and Rattleroot, is a perennial plant that is a member of the buttercup family and is native to North America. Native Americans used it for a variety of conditions, such as gynecological and kidney disorders, rheumatism, malaria, fever, and even depression. Today, Black cohosh is mainly used as an alternative to hormonal therapy in the treatment of climacteric symptoms, such as hot flashes, mood disturbances, and vaginal dryness.

Agnus Castus (Vitex Agnus Castus), also known as Chaste Tree or Monkspepper, is a member of the Verbenaceae family and is native to the Mediterranean. The name Agnus Castus is Greek and means chaste lamb. Agnus Castus has been used for gynecological conditions since the days of Hippokrates. It has a balancing effect on female hormones and has shown to be effective in a wide range of symptoms, such as PMS, breast tenderness, irregular cycle, anxiety and other psychological symptoms, as well as problems in connection with menopause.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) also known as All-Heal, Garden Heliotrope, Amantilla, and Setwall, is native to Europe and Northern Asia. It is a perennial plant with sweetly scented pink or white flowers and grayish brown roots that have a pungent odor and that can be made into juice or powder to be used as a remedy for insomnia, anxiety, and nervous restlessness. Valerian brings also relief to menstrual and stomach cramps, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, and restlessness that comes with the attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. It has also been recommended to treat epileptic convulsions, however, that has not been supported by modern research so far.

Uva Ursi (Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi), also known as Bearberry, Arberry, Bear Grape, Kinnikinnick, Mealberry, Mountain Cranberry, or Sandberry, is an evergreen shrub that grows over the greater part of the Northern Hemisphere and also in elevations of about 6,000 feet. It has been used since ancient times to treat a wide range of complaints. Native Americans used it with tobacco and other herbs in religious ceremonies, they used the tea to treat inflammation of the urinary tract, to treat venereal diseases, back sprains, or to ward off obesity. The leaves were powdered and applied to sores. But the medical uses of Uva Ursi were also recognized by the early Romans. In the 13th century, Marco Polo described that the Chinese used Uva Ursi to treat kidney and urinary problems. In the London Pharmacopoeia it first appeared in 1788, and in Poland and other countries, Uva Ursi leaves are still used medicinally today.

Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva), also known as Red Elm, Indian Elm, or Moose Elm, is a deciduous tree native to North America and Canada. For therapeutic use, the inner bark is collected from trees that are at least 10 years old. Native Americans traditionally used it as a poultice for wounds, boils, ulcers, or as an eye wash. Internally, they used it to treat coughs, colds and fevers and soothe the digestive tract, which is also one of its main uses today. The name „Slippery Elm“ refers to the texture of the herb with its large mucilage content, the mucilage being responsible for the healing and soothing action. Slippery Elm bark is also very nutritious. It is ground into a gruel and used for the weak and convalescent, but also as a baby food.

Schizandra (Schisandra chinensis), also known as Schisandra, Wu Wei Zi, Chinese Mock-Braberry, or Lemonwood, is a creeping vine in the Magnoliaceae family, native to China and Japan. Schizandra has a long history of medical use in raditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Its fruit has a sour, bitter, sweet, acrid, and salty taste which explains its Chinese name wu wei zi meaning „five flavored fruit“. It is used to treat a variety of medical conditions, such as lung and liver disorders, depression and stress, coughs, insomnia and night sweats, irritation, palpitation, and dyspnea, as a sedative, to relieve fatigue, to increase stamina, and for skin disorders. Besides, it is widely known as a longevity herb and aphrodisiac.