Common name: Astragalus
Latin name: Astragalus membranaceus
Family name: Fabaceae
Actions: Immune enhancing, enhancing tonic, apoptogenic, cardiotonic, diuretic, hypotensive, antioxidant.
Constituents: Triterpenoid saponins (astragalosides), polysaccharides, and flavonoids.
Contraindications/Safety: Not advisable to prescribe in acute infections (based on traditional knowledge). The in vivo data indicates astragalus can decrease the effectiveness of immunosuppressive agents (Mills and Bones, 2010).
Common name: Bladderwrack
Family name: Fucaceae
Latin name: Fucus vesiculosus
Actions: Stimulant, anti-obesity, mucilaginous, antihypothyroid, antirheumatic, antiaging, anticancer, anticoagulant, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, urinary tract tonic. Used for thyroid disorders, iodine deficiency, and pulmonary (Peterson, 2020).
Constituents: Polysaccharide alginic acid, sodium, potassium, mucilage, 1% volatile oils, soda and iodine, and bromine compounds (Peterson, 2020).
Contraindications/Safety: Could increase bleeding when used with plants that impact plantlet aggregation (examples include angelica, clove, fenugreek, clove, ginger). Not recommended for individuals with hyperthyroidism, goiter,or myxedma. Potentially higher heavy metal content due to the alginate which binds to strontium and therefore not recommended when pregnant or breastfeeding (Peterson, 2020).
Common name: Calendula flower
Latin name: Calendula officinalis
Actions: Vulnerary, anti-inflammatory, lymphatic, styptic, antimicrobial
Constituents: Essential oil, sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, saponins, triterpene, alcohols, carotenoids, and sterols
Contraindications/Safety: Contraindicated in those with a known sensitivity to calendula. No known herb-drug interactions (Mills & Bones, 2010).
Common name: California poppy
Latin name: Eschscholzia californica (Cham.)
Family name: Papaveraceae
Plant parts used: Aerial parts
Actions: Anxiolytic, mild sedative, and analgesic (Mills & Bones, 2010).
Constituents: Isoquinoline alkaloids (californide, eschscholtzine, alocryptopine, protopine, sanguinarine, and chelerythrine). The most dominate alkaloid is californide (Mills & Bones, 2010).
Contraindications/Safety: Do not use during lactation without professional advice. Prescribe with caution with children (Mills & Bones, 2010). California poppy is not advised for individuals taking SSRIS and MAOIs (Ulbricht, 2010).
Plant drug interactions: Do not prescribe with other strong analgesics (Mills & Bones, 2010).
Common name: Chamomile
Latin name: Matricaria chamomilla
Family name: Asteraceae
Actions: Anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, vulnerary, antimicrobial, mild sedative, diaphoretic (Mills & Bones, 2010).
Constituents: Chamazulene, alpha-bisabol, trans-en-yn-dicycloethers and flavonoids such as apigen (Mills and Bones, 2010).
Contraindications/Safety: Avoid if there is a known chamomile allergy, it can cause dermatitis with topical use for some. Some have reported anaphylaxis with chamomile. To be avoided if there is a known allergy. Pregnancy category A, safe with breastfeeding (Mills and Bones, 2023).
Common name: Cinnamon
Family name: Lauraceae
Latin name: Cinnamomum burmannii
Actions: Stomachic (American College of Health Care Science, 2023). Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer, lipid-lowering, cardiovascular, and it is noted to have potential therapeutic actions against neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases (Rao & Gan, 2014).
Constituents: The essential oil contains cinnamaldehyde and trans-cinnamaldehyde (Cin). Cinnamon also contains procyanidins and catechins (Rao & Gan, 2014).
Contraindications/Safety: No known contraindications (Gu et al., 2022).
Common name: Dandelion
Family name: Compositae
Latin name: Taraxacum officinale
Actions: Diuretic, choleretic, mild laxative, antirheumatic (Mills & Bones, 2010). Hepatic (American College of Health Care Science, 2023)
Constituents: Germacranolide, sesquiterpene lactones, triterpenes, phytosterols, flavonoids, potassium, taraxalisin (Mills & Bones, 2010).
Contraindications/Safety: Cation is advised if gallstones are present. Avoid if known sensitivity to members of the Compositae family. Some research dandelion could increase the half-life of some medications (Mills & Bones, 2010).
Common name: Echinacea root
Family name: Asteraceae
Latin name: Echinacea angustifolia
Actions: Immune modulating, immune enhancing, depurative, anti-inflammatory, vulnerary, lymphatic and sialagogue (Mills and Bones, 2010). Antiseptic and antimicrobial (American College of Health Care Sciences, 2023).
Constituents: Polysaccharides, caffeic acid derivatives, and lipophilic compounds such as alkylamines and polyacetylenes (Mills and Bones, 2010).
Contraindications/Safety: Contraindicated in individuals taking immunosuppressant medications (such as transplant patients). Safe in pregnancy (Category A for pregnancy) compatible with breastfeeding (Mills and Bones, 2010).
Common name: Elderflower
Latin name: Sambucus nigra
Family name: Caprifoliaceae
Actions: Diaphoretic anticatarrhal
Constituents: Flavonoids, phenolic acids, triterpenes and essential oil
Contraindications/Safety: In large doses can result in nausea. Safe with pregnancy and breastfeeding (Mills & Bones, 2010).
Common name: Ginger
Latin name: Zingiber officinale
Family name: Zingiberaceae
Actions: Carminative, antiemetic, spasmolytic, peripheral circulatory stimulant, anti-inflammatory, digestive stimulant (Mills & Bones, 2010).
Constituents: Monoterpenes such as geranial and neral. Sesquiterpenes such as B-sesquiphellandrene, B-bisabolene, ar-curcumene, and a-zingerbrene (Mills and Bones, 2010).
Contraindications/Safety: Contraindicated in patients with gallstones. Compatible with breastfeeding. Category A for pregnancy. Large doses with pregnancy should be consulted with a professional (Mills and Bones, 2010).
Common name: Ginkgo
Latin name: Ginkgo biloba (L)
Family name: Ginkgoaceae
Actions: Antioxidant, neuroprotective, circulatory stimulant, anti-platelet activating factor (Mills & Bones, 2010).
Constituents: The constituents of ginkgo include flavanol glycosides, terpene lactones, bioflavonoids, and traces (around 100ppm) of alkphenonols (Mills & Bones, 2010).
Contraindications/Safety: Ginkgo is contraindicated for anyone with a known sensitivity to ginkgo. Caution is advised when administering ginkgo with anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication (Mills & Bones, 2010).
Common name: Kelp
Family name: Laminariaceae
Latin name: Laminaria digitata
Actions: Stimulant, anti-obesity, anticancer, anticoagulant, antioxidant, antiviral, hypotensive and laxative (Peterson, 2020).
Constituents: Alginate, lamine, histamine, laminarin, iron, potassium, and iodine (Peterson, 2020).
Contraindications/Safety: Avoid if experiencing hyperthyroidism; arsenic poisoning is a risk. Avoid the use of potassium supplements as it increases the risk of hyperkalemia (Peterson, 2020).
Common name: Reishi
Latin name: Ganoderma lucidum
Family name: Gandodermataceae
Actions: Immunomodulating, glucose regulation, antiplatelet, immunomodulating (Gardener & McGuffin, 2013). Apoptogenic.
Constituents: Polysaccharides, alkaloids, and triterpenoids such as ganoderic acids, ganoderenic acids, ganoderol, ganoderiol, lucidenic acids). Also contains sterols and proteins. As well as nucleosides adenosine, inosine, and uridine, and nucleotides guanine and adenine (Ahmad et al., 2021).
Contraindications/Safety: None known, no information regarding safety during pregnancy or lactation (Gardener & McGuffin, 2013).
Common name: Spearmint
Family name: Lamiaceae
Latin name: Mentha spicata L.
Actions: Stomachic (American College of Health Care Science, 2023). Antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, larvicidal activity, and antigenotoxic (Mahendran et al., 2021).
Constituents: Phenolic acids, flavonoids and lignans (Mahendran et al., 2021).
Contraindications/Safety: No known contraindications (Gardner & McGuffin, 2013).
Common name: St. John’s Wort
Family name: Guttiferae
Latin name: Hypericum perforatum L.
Actions: Antidepressant, nervine tonic, antiviral, vulnerary, and antimicrobial when used topically (Mills and Bones, 2010).
Constituents: Naphthodianthrones hypericin and pseudohypercicin. Flavonoids and phenolic compounds (Mills and Bones, 2010).
Contraindications/Safety: Not a suitable treatment for severe depression. Contraindicated with cyclosporin, digoxin, HIV nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and other protease inhibitors and anticoagulation drugs. Proceed with caution if taking photosensitizing agents and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI), serotonergic agents, low dose oral contreceptives, dexofenadine, midazolam, theophylline, simvastatin, and phenytoin (Mills and Bones, 2010).
Common name: Lavender
Latin name: Lavendula angustiolia
Family name: Lamiaceae
Actions: Carminative, spasmolytic, antidepressant, and anxiolytic
Constituents: Essential oil containing linalyl acetate and linalool.
Contraindications/Safety: None known (Mills & Bones, 2010).
Common name: Oat Straw
Latin name: Avena sativa
Family name: Poaceae
Actions: Anti-inflammatory, detoxifying (Kim et al., 2021).
Constituents: Avena sativa contains protein, fiber, calcium, vitamins (B, C, E, and K), amino acids, and antioxidants (beta-carotene, polyphenols, chlorophyll, and flavonoids). β-glucan and avenanthramides (Kim et al., 2021).
Contraindications/Safety: No known contraindications. Can cause contact dermatitis (Gardner & McGuffin, 2013).
Common name: Schisandra berry
Latin name: Schisandra chinensis
Family name: Schisandraceae
Actions: Hepatoprotective, antioxidant, adaptogenic, nervine, tonic, antitussive
Constituents: Dopenzocycloctene lignans (such as scisandrin and gomisin), and essential oil
Contraindications/Safety: Contraindications in the early stages of cough or rash, epileptic seizure, hypertension, and has been shown to induce labor and strengthen uterine contractions. Schisandra may accelerate the clearance of other drugs from the body based on its hepatic metabolism (Mills & Bones, 2010).
Common name: Tulsi, Holy Basil
Latin name: Ocimum tenuiflorum
Family name: Lamiaceae
Actions: Glucose regulation (Gardener & McGufflin, 2013). Broad spectrum anti-microbial, adaptogen, tonic, anxiolytic, and anti-depressant properties (Cohen, 2014).
Constituents: Phytochemicals eugenol, rosmarinic acid, apigenin, myretenal, luteolin, β-sitosterol, and carnosic acid. Flavanoids, orintin, and vicenin (Baliga et al., 2013).
Contraindications/Safety: None known, not advised for use in pregnancy (Gardener & McGuffin, 2013).