Lotions and Potions
G through R

 

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P.O. Box 258
Dayton, NJ 08810

Phone:
732-208-6111

 
Garlic
COMMON NAME: Garlic
LATIN NAME: Allium sativum L, is a species in the onion family Alliaceae.
SOURCE: It may have originated in Asia, but varieties are found world-wide.
USES: Medicinal: In 1789 some physicians used it to treat smallpox, and others thought it cured some dropsies. Early in the 20th century, it was sometimes used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. It was and still is widely used to treat the common cold. There are some studies that suggest garlic can protect arteries from cholesterol buildup. It may help regulate blood-sugar levels. Culinary use: it is widely used as flavoring in foods.
CAUTIONS: People taking insulin should not consume medicinal amounts of garlic without consulting a physician.
 
Heliotrope

COMMON NAME: Cherry pie plant, largely due to the flower’s smell.
LATIN NAME: Heliotropium, a genus of plants in the family Boraginaceae, containing 250 to 300 species. Heliotrope, Helios is Greek for sun, tropein means turn, deriving from the H. arborescens plant turning its leaves to the sun.
DESCRIPTION: This compact, bushy 18 inch plant carries deep green veined leaves with a purplish cast and very large clusters of cherry pie or vanilla scented deep violet flowers.

 

SOURCE: H. arborescens was originally from Peru. It is hardy in zone 8 and above.

USES: Medicinal: In homoeopathic medicine a tincture of the whole fresh plant was used for a sore throat. It was also used for uterine displacement.

Hyssop

COMMON NAME: Hyssop

LATIN NAME: The Hyssop of commerce is Hyssopus officinalis. Hyssop is a name of Greek origin. The Hyssopos of Dioscorides was named from azob (a holy herb), because it was used for cleaning sacred places.

DESCRIPTION: It is an evergreen, bushy herb, growing 1 to 2 feet high, with square stem, linear leaves and flowers in whorls, six- to fifteen-flowered. There are three varieties, known respectively by their blue, red and white flowers, which are in bloom from June to October.

SOURCE: Is a native of Southern Europe not indigenous to Britain, though naturalized there. Plants do best in a warm area and in a light, rather dry soil. USES: Culinary uses: As a kitchen herb, it is mostly used for broths, occasionally for salad. The leaves, stems and flowers of H. officinalis possess a highly aromatic odor and yield by distillation an essential oil of, much used in perfume. It is also much used to make liqueurs, forming an important constituent in Chartreuse . Medicinal: For medicinal use the flower-tops should be cut in August. Its flower-tops are steeped in water to make an infusion, sometimes employed as an expectorant.. The volatile oil is used medicinally. It is usually given as a warm tea, taken frequently and may be mixed with Horehound. Hyssop Tea is sometimes boiled in soup and given for asthma. The tea made with the fresh green tops, drunk several times daily, is an old fashioned country remedies for rheumatism.

Jack in the Pulpit

Jack in the Pulpit

COMMON NAME: Wake Robin, Jack in the Pulpit, Brown dragon, Indian turnip, wild turnip.

LATIN NAME: Arisaema triphyllum

DESCRIPTION: Jack-in-the-Pulpit is an herbaceous perennial. Leaves are trifoliate; and are sometimes confused with poison ivy.  It flowers from April to June.  The fruit are smooth shiny red berries.

SOURCE: Native to eastern North America.  It can be found in moist woodlands and tickets from Nova Scotia to Minnesota and south to Florida.

USES: Medicinal: A preparation of the root was reported to have been used by Native Americans as a treatment for sore eyes. Preparations were also made to treat rheumatism, bronchitis, and snakebites, as well as to induce sterility.

CAUTION: The corms of the plant contain an unidentified volatile acrid principle, calcium oxalate crystals, and possibly an alkaloid. The corms are gathered, dried, and sold by drug collectors.

Lavender

COMMON NAME: Lavender, , or inaccurately, "English" Lavender

LATIN NAME: LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLA (also Lavandula spica or Lavandula vera; formerly L. officinalis) Lavender is a flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae.

DESCRIPTION:  Lavender is a shrub about 12 to 36 inches tall with evergreen leaves.  The flowers are pinkish purple.

SOURCE: Lavender is native to the western Mediterranean, primarily in northern Spain. It is not native to England, although called 'English lavender.’

USES: In addition to its use as an ornamental plant, the flowers and leaves are also used as an herbal medicine, either in the form of lavender oil or as an herbal tea. The flowers are also used as a culinary herb.   Products for home use including lotions, massage oils, bath oils, which are used to promote relaxation.

Prickly Pear leaves

COMMON NAME: Prickly Pear

LATIN NAME: Opuntia is a genus in the cactus family Cactaceae

SOURCE: Both prickly pears and chollas are included in this genus of about 250 species distributed throughout most of the New World. The type species of the genus is the Indian Fig Opuntia, Opuntia ficus-indica (most culinary uses of the term 'prickly pear' refer to this Opuntia species).

Parts used:  Pick young pads.  The peeled pads can also be sliced thin and boiled (twice boiled works best) or eaten raw. The peeled and sliced green pads can also be dried.

USES: Some physicians treated whooping cough with prickly pear.

 
Prickly Pear

Rose
COMMON NAME: ROSE
LATIN NAME: ROSA
 With the introduction of roses from China and the Damask Rose, rose hybridization exploded in Europe during the 19th century.


USES: Perfumes: Since earliest times roses were important in hand lotions, cosmetics, and perfumes. Today, almost all women's perfumes and 40 percent of men's fragrances contain rose oil. About 60,000 flowers are required to produce 1 oz. of rose oil. Damask roses are typically used. Most rose oil comes from Bulgaria.  Antique roses are fragrant.

Culinary Uses: Rose water, made from rose oil, is used to flavor candy, desserts,  and syrups.  Rose hips are used both in cooking and for medicinal purposes.   Rose hips are the red or nearly black berry-like fruits of the rose bush.


Medicinal Uses: Rose hips of some species, especially the Dog Rose (Rosa canina) and Rugosa Rose (Rosa rugosa), are a rich source of vitamin C. With one to two percent vitamin C, by dry weight, rose hips have a higher content than citrus fruit.  The dried petals of the rose varieties, Rosa gallica and R. x centifolia, rich in astringent tannins, are used in mouth rinses to treat mild inflammations. 

In 77 of the present era, the Roman writer Pliny recorded 32 disorders that responded to treatment with rose preparations.   The anti-inflammatory properties of rose hips have recently been shown to be useful in the treatment of patients suffering from knee or hip osteoarthritis. Rosehips contain high levels of antioxidant flavonoids with known anti-inflammatory properties.


RESEARCH: Rose hips also contain carotenoid pigments, plant sterols, tocotrienols and a very high level of compounds thought to protect against cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The rose hips have been used in the treatment of influenza-like infections, diarrhea, and various urinary tract disorders. No side effects are known when rose hips are used in the normal amounts.

Rose
Rosemary

Rosemary

COMMON NAME: Rosemary

LATIN NAME: Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

DESCRIPTION: The plant takes its name from rosmarinus, a Latin term meaning "sea dew." It is an evergreen shrub that can grow to a height of six and a half feet, with long, linear, needle-like leaves. The small flowers are pale blue. The leaves and parts of the flowers contain oil.

SOURCE: Native to the Mediterranean area, rosemary is now cultivated widely in other parts of the world, but thrives in a warm and dry climate.

PARTS USED: The leaves and twigs of the rosemary plant are used.

USES: Traditionally, rosemary has been used by herbalists to improve memory, relieve muscle pain and spasm, stimulate hair growth, and support the circulatory and nervous systems. It is also believed to affect the menstrual cycle, act as an abortifacient (inducing miscarriage), relieve cramps and reduce kidney pain.

CAUTIONS: Studies found rosemary extract increased the effectiveness of doxorubicin in treating human breast cancer cells. Meanwhile, those taking doxorubicin should consult with a healthcare practitioner before taking rosemary.

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Introduction
Cosmetic Lotions and Potions
Medicinal Lotions and Potions
Plants A through F
Plants G through R
Plants S through Z
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