Alternate Names: Lucerne, Purple Medic, Buffalo Grass, Chilean Clover

Family: FABACEAE

Parts Used: Sprouts, leaves, flowers.

Properties: Anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Galactagogue, Nutritive, Stomach Tonic, Phytoestrogenic, Tonic.

Internal Uses: Anemia, Arteriosclerosis, Arthritis, Cancer, Celiac Disease, Colitis, Convalescence, Edema, Fatigue, Halitosis, High Cholesterol, Hyperestrogenism, Hypoestrogenism, Jaundice, Menopause, Menstrual Problems, Obesity, Ulcers, Varicose Veins

Internal Applications: Tea, Capsules, Tincture

Topical Uses: Wounds

Topical Applications: Use as a bath herb, facial steam, hair rinse. Also, use as a poultice on wounds. The root can be peeled, dried and frayed (by hitting with a hammer) to be used as a toothbrush.

Culinary uses: The young leaves and flowers may be eaten as a salad or pot herb. After the seeds sprout, they are eaten as a salad vegetable.

Energetics: Salty, Neutral, Moist.

Chemical Constituents: Chlorophyll, vitamin C, vitamin K, folic acid, calcium, copper, phosphorus, manganese, iron, zinc, fluorine, electrolytes, isoflavones, coumrains, betaine, alkaloids (stachydrine), phytoestrogens antioxidant (tricin).

Contraindications: The herb is considered very safe, however there has been some concern about the safety of eating large amounts of the sprouts which contain the alkaloid, conavanine. Those with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis should avoid eating Alfalfa sprouts; however the leaves and flowers are perfectly safe for everyone.

Comments: The name Alfalfa is derived from the arabic al-fac-facah and means ‘father of all foods’. The genus name, Medicago, refers to Medea in North Africa from where this plant is thought to have originated. The species name, sativa, means ‘with a long history of cultivation’. Alfalfa was an important crop to the Arabs who fed it to their racehorses.

Where Alfalfa grows wild, it is an indicator of rich soil. It is planted by farmers and turned under to fix nitrogen and enrich the soil. When cows consume it, it increases their milk production. Alfalfa is an excellent nutritive food for people convalescing. It is a commercial source of chlorophyll.

Alternate Names: Piment, Jamaican Pepper, Pimento, Clove Pepper

Family: MYRTACEAE

Parts Used: Dried, unripe fruit.

Properties: Anesthetic, Antioxidant, Antiseptic, Aperitive, Aromatic, Bitter Tonic, Carminative, Digestive Tonic, Stomach Tonic, Stimulant

Internal Uses: Chills, Colic, Diarrhea, Dysmenorrhea, Dyspepsia, Flatulence, Frostbite, Hyperglycemia, Indigestion, Muscle Soreness, Pain, Rheumatism

Internal Applications: Tea, Tincture, Capsules.

Topical Uses: Rheumatism

Topical Applications: The essential oil can be applied to the area of a toothache as a natural anesthetic. Bath herb for sore muscles. Mixed with other herbs as a rheumatism poultice. Sitz bath for dysmenorrhea. Compress or liniment to treat rheumatism. Cosmetically, the essential oil is used in perfumes, men’s cologne and mouthwash.

Culinary uses: Cakes, chutneys, curries, custards, fruit, jam, pickles, pies, stews

Energetics: Pungent, Warm.

Chemical Constituents: Essential oil (eugenol, cineole, phellandrene), vitamins C, B-1, B-2 and beta carotene.

Contraindications: Avoid excessive use during pregnancy. Moderate culinary use is permitted.

Comments: The common name Piment is derived from Spanish, in which it means ‘pepper’, because the shape is similar to a peppercorn. Before the arrival of Europeans, Allspice was one of the most common culinary herbs of the Caribbean. The best Allspice comes from Jamaica. It is known as Allspice because its flavor resembles that of a combination of Cinnamon, Cloves and Nutmeg. Its wood was once in such demand for the making of walking sticks that the tree became endangered and was nearly driven to extinction. Allspice is sometimes added to commercial medicines to improve their flavor.

The common name Allspice includes the species Pimenta officinalis, which is used interchangeably with Pimenta dioica.

Alternate Names: Water Plantain, Marsh Drain, Ze Xie (Chinese)

Family: ALISMATACEAE

Parts Used: Rhizome.

Properties: Antibacterial, Antitumor, Diuretic, Febrifuge, Hypotensive, Kidney Tonic, Liver Cleanser, Parturient, Refrigerant, Urinary Stimulant.

Internal Uses: Allergies, Cancer, Diarrhea, Dysentery, Edema, Epilepsy, Hypertension, Infertility, Kidney Stones, Labor, Lumbago, Sexual Debility, Tinnitus, Urinary Burning, Vertigo

Internal Applications: Tea, Tincture, Capsules.

Alisma helps to improve kidney function and thus alleviates burining urine, inability to urinate and excess fluid retention. Being a kidney tonic, it improves conditions associated with the kidneys, such as low sex drive, infertility, and ringing in the ears.

Culinary uses: Bulb can be cooked as a vegetable.

Energetics: Sweet, Bitter, Cold.

Chemical Constituents: Triterpenoids (alisol, epiasol), asparagine, essential oil (furfuraldehyde) alkaloids, biotin, lecithin, stigmasterol, potassium.

Contraindications: Not for cold damp conditions such as leukorrhea or spermatorrhea. Very safe.

Comments: Ancient Chinese classics say of Alisma, ‘if taken for a long time, the eye and ear become acute, hunger is not felt, life is prolonged, the body becomes light, the complexion radiant, and one can walk upon water (referring to spiritual enhancement).’