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Belladonna
COMMON NAME: Known as deadly nightshade or belladonna; Devils' herb.
LATIN NAME: Atropa belladonna. Solanum nigrum. It is in the nightshade
family (Solanaceae), which it shares with potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants,
jimsonweed, tobacco, and chili peppers.
DESCRIPTION: Belladonna is a shrub, with highly toxic leaves and berries. |
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SOURCE:
Belladonna is native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia, but
has become naturalized in parts of North America. Belladonna can be
found in shady, moist areas with a limestone rich soil.
USES: Sometimes very small amounts of belladonna are found in cold
and flu medications because it works like pseudoephedrine in opening
nasal passages. In homeopathy, belladonna has been used to treat sore
throat. Eye doctors use atropine in small doses to dilate the eye
for eye examinations. Historically, women used belladonna to dilate
their eyes, which was thought to make them attractive.
CAUTION: Belladonna is one of the most toxic plants included here.
Reportedly, children have been poisoned by eating as few as three
berries. Ingestion of a leaf of the Belladonna can be fatal to an
adult. It is toxic to dogs and cats. All parts of the plant contain
tropane alkaloids. Because the berries are sweet tasting, they are
a hazard to children and animals. Some symptoms of poisoning are dilated
pupils, blurred vision, loss of balance, a sense of being suffocated,
a rash, dry throat and confusion. The antidote is the same as for
atropine poisoning.
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Bergamot
Common
Name(s) Oswego Tea, or Crimson Beebalm Bergamot, Scarlet beebalm,
Scarlet Monarda,) Its name is derived from its odor which is considered
similar to that of the bergamot orange.
Latin Name: Monarda didyma in the family Lamiaceae. The scientific
name comes from Nicolas Monardes, who described the first American
flora in 1569. |
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DESCRIPTION:
Bergamot is an aromatic herb. The Perennial plant grows to 0.7-1.5
m in height, with the stems square in cross-section. The leaves are
opposite and has ragged, bright red, pink, lavender, or purple tubular
flowers 3-4 cm long. It grows in dense clusters along stream banks,
thickets and ditches, flowering from July to late August, depending
on the zone.
SOURCE: It is native to North America, and found from Maine to Ohio,
and south to northern Georgia. It is now found in parts of Europe
and Asia. It will tolerate light shade, but prefers full sun, and
moist, well-drained soil.
USES: It resembles in flavor the bergamot orange (Citrus aurantium
subsp. bergamia), a small and roughly pear-shaped citrus fruit. Bergamot
oranges are used to flavor Earl Grey tea. Native Americans treated
skin disorders and inflammations with poultices made from various
species of Monarda. They also used teas and steam inhalants made from
the leaves to treat respiratory difficulties. Herbalists recommend
bee balm tea for sore throats, coughs, nausea, and menstrual cramps.
The essential oil of bergamot/bee balm also has antibacterial and
antiseptic applications. Monarda didyma and M. punctata contain thymol,
which has shown to be effective in repelling intestinal parasites
and in destroying bacteria.
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Bethroot
COMMON NAME: bethroot, Indian Shamrock. Birthroot.
Lamb's Quarters. Wake-Robin. Indian Balm. Ground Lily.
LATIN NAME: Trillium pendulum or Trillium erectum (LINN.)
Family: N.O. Liliaceae
SOURCE: Middle and Western United States. All the seventeen species
of the genus are North American plants.
DESCRIPTION: Trillium erectum or T. pendulum, perennial, smooth
herb, has an erect stem of from 10 to 15 inches in height, bearing
three broad leaves, and single flowers. It grows in the rich soil
of damp and shady woodlands, flowering in May and June.
Parts Used: The dried root and rhizome and the leaves.
USES: Medicinal Action and Uses: Native Americans and early settlers
of North America used this plant. It is antiseptic, astringent and
tonic expectorant, being used principally for lung ailments, to
promote parturition, and externally, usually in the form of a poultice.
The leaves, boiled in lard, are sometimes applied to ulcers and
tumors.
Other Species---Most of the genus Trillium have medicinal properties,
especially T. erythrocarpum, T. grandiflorum, T. sessile, and T.
nivale. The acrid species have been used in fevers and chronic affections
of the air-passages.
Cautions: From Alternative Medicine: The drosgenin component
of Bethroot has uterine stimulant properties and may lead to preterm
labor if consumed during pregnancy. Its use is not recommended for
any pregnant woman.
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Bloodroot
COMMON NAME: Bloodroot
LATIN NAME: This is the only species of the genus Sanguinaria.
SOURCE: While sometimes locally abundant, this plant is generally
somewhat rare. It is found in areas in America that have been little
disturbed usually on hills and mountains.
PARTS USED: A blood red juice can be extracted from the reddish orange
root, actually a rhizome, hence the name bloodroot.
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USES:
The juice from the root was used as a body paint and dye by Native
Americans. Warriors painted their faces with it and maidens their
bodies. The root juice has been used as a dye for fabrics producing
a yellow orange color that is very fast. It has also been used as
a charm. Applying the root or juice to the skin is a questionable
activity as the plant is known to contain a substance that kills tissue.
See warnings below. Medical Uses: Native Americans, early settlers
and herbal practitioners have prescribed Bloodroot for many medical
conditions from skin cancers to sore throats. It was used to treat
conditions of the skin such as ringworm, warts, polyps, and fungal
growths. Researchers are investigating the root's value in cancer
treatment. An extract has long been used in toothpaste and mouthwash
to fight plaque and gingivitis and this use is now sanctioned by the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The root has been used internally,
in very small doses, to stimulate the digestive system and as an emetic.
CAUTIONS: Self medication should be avoided, as the plant can be toxic.
Even small doses can produce unwanted effects such as visual distortions.
The FDA considers Bloodroot "unsafe". |
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Blackberries
COMMON NAME: Blackberry
LATIN NAME: Genus Rubus, Family Rosaceae
DESCRIPTION: It grows to 3 m (10 ft) and producing a soft-bodied fruit
popular for use in desserts, jams, seedless jellies and sometimes
wine. The blackberry grows in woods, scrub, hillsides and hedgerows,
colonizing large areas in a relatively short time. It will tolerate
poor soil. It often flowers in April or May and fruits in late June
or July.
SOURCE: The blackberry (or bramble raspberry) is a widespread and
well known shrub in Europe and the United States and Canada.
USES: The blackberry is known to contain polyphenol antioxidants,
naturally occurring chemicals that can improve certain beneficial
metabolic processes in mammals.
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Chestnut
leaves
COMMON NAME: The Sweet Chestnut LATIN NAME: Castanea vesca or Fagus
castanea
SOURCE: A native of Asia Minor, and was probably introduced into England
by the Romans. It spread over the greater part of temperate Europe.
Once common in New Jersey, a disease in the early 1900s killed most
of the chestnut trees.
DESCRIPTION: A tree with narrow leaves, which are large and glossy,
somewhat leathery in texture. The flowers appear after the leaves,
in late spring or early summer, arranged in long catkins. A thick
leathery hull covers the ripening seeds. The fruit hangs in clusters.
USES: The meal of the Chestnut has also been used for whitening linen
cloth and for making starch. The best contain 15 percent sugar, and
can yield a thick syrup.
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Citronella
COMMON NAME: citronella
LATIN NAME: Both types probably originated from Mana Grass of Ceylon,
which occurs today in wild forms--Cymbopogon nardus var. linnae (typicus)
and C. nardus var. confertiflorus.
SOURCE: At present, the world production of citronella oil is approximately
7,000 tons, mostly produced in Taiwan, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia,
Brazil, China, Sri Lanka, India, Argentina, Ecuador, Madagascar, Mexico
and the West Indies.
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USES:
Citronella oil is one of the essential oils. The oil is used extensively
as a source of perfumery chemicals such as citronellal, citronellol
and geraniol. These chemicals find extensive use in soap, perfumery,
cosmetic and flavouring industries throughout the world. As an alternative
to DEET, citronella oil is used in many products to repel insects.
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Flag
COMMON NAME: blue flag iris English family name: iris
LATIN NAME: Iris versicolor L.
French Common name: clajeux Botanical family name: Iridaceae
SOURCES: Blue flag (Iris versicolor) is a native plant found in eastern
and central Canada and the Eastern United States. It grows in moist
soils near rivers, lakes, and marshes.
PARTS USED: rhizome
USES: Native Americans used the root for dropsy and as a cathartic
and emetic. Leaves have been used externally for burns and sores.
Herbal medicine claimed it was useful for syphilis, low-grade scrofula
and skin afflictions, and as a diuretic.
CAUTIONS: This plant has been mentioned as causing poisoning in humans
and animals, but case reports have not been found. The plant juice
can cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals. The toxic chemical
it contains is iridin.
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