Monarda fistulosa
Wild bergamot or Bee Balm[1] (Monarda fistulosa) is a wildflower in the mint family (Lamiaceae) widespread and abundant as a native plant in much of North America.[2] This plant, with showy summer-blooming white flowers, is often used as a honey plant, medicinal plant, and garden ornamental.[3] The species is quite variable, and several subspecies or varieties have been recognized within it.
Uses
Wild bergamot was considered a medicinal plant by many Native Americans including the Menominee, the Ojibwe, and the Winnebago (Ho-Chunk). It was used most commonly to treat colds, and was frequently made into a tea. Today, many families still use wild bergamot during the cold and flu season. The tea may be sweetened with honey, as it tends to be quite strong.[16]


The species of Monarda that may go under the common name "bee balm," including M. fistulosa, have a long history of use as a medicinal plant by Native Americans, including the Blackfoot. The Blackfoot recognized the plant's strong antiseptic action, and used poultices of the plant for skin infections and minor wounds.[citation needed] A tea made from the plant was also used to treat mouth and throat infections caused by dental caries and gingivitis.[citation needed] Bee balm is the natural source of the antiseptic thymol, the primary active ingredient in modern commercial mouthwash formulas. The Winnebago used a tea made from bee balm as a general stimulant.[citation needed] Bee balm was also used as a carminative herb by Native Americans to treat excessive flatulence.[17] Leaves were eaten boiled with meat and a concoction of the plant was made into hair pomade. The herb is considered an active diaphoretic (sweat inducer).

The essential oil of Monarda fistulosa was analyzed using mass spectrometry and arithmetical retention indices, and was found to contain p-cymene (32.5%), carvacrol (24.0%), thymol (12.6%), an aliphatic aldehyde (6.3%), the methyl ether of carvacrol (5.5%), α-pinene (3.5%), β-pinene (2.9%), sabinene hydrate (1.9%), α-terpinene (1.7%), citronellyl acetate (1.6%), and β-caryophyllene (1.1%).[18]

Patchouli

Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth; also patchouly or pachouli) is a species from the genus Pogostemon and a bushy herb of the mint family, with erect stems, reaching two or three feet (about 0.75 metre) in height and bearing small, pale pink-white flowers. The plant is native to tropical regions of Asia, and is now extensively cultivated in China, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Mauritius, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as West Africa.


The heavy and strong scent of patchouli has been used for centuries in perfumes, and more recently in incense, insect repellants, and alternative medicines. The word derives from the Tamil patchai (Tamil: பச்சை) (green), ellai (Tamil: இலை) (leaf).[1] In Assamese it is known as xukloti.

Pogostemon cablin, P. commosum, P. hortensis, P. heyneasus and P. plectranthoides are all cultivated for their oils and all are known as 'patchouli' oil, but P. cablin is considered superior.

Uses
In several Asian countries, such as Japan and Malaysia, patchouli is used as an antidote for venomous snakebites. The plant and oil have many claimed health benefits in herbal folk-lore and the scent is used to induce relaxation. Chinese medicine uses the herb to treat headaches, colds, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Patchouli oil can be purchased from mainstream Western pharmacies and alternative therapy sources as an aromatherapy oil.

 

Aconitum carmichaelii

Aconitum carmichaelii is a flowering plant species native to East Asia, particularly in China and Japan. It is commonly known as (traditional Chinese: 烏頭附子; pinyin: Wu-tou Fu-zi) in Chinese, and 鳥兜 (トリカブト Torikabuto) in Japanese.
Medicinal uses
Mandarin 'Fu Zi' =daughter root, lateral root 'Wu Tou'= tuberous mother root,root truber. Wu tou is an effective anesthetic and analgesic It is considered a medicinal herb by some and the root is most commonly used to effect circulation, restore yang and expel cold. It is sometimes used topically in Dit Da Jow liniment. If not prepared properly by a trained person, it is deadly when taken internally.^{[citation needed]}The whole plant is highly toxic^[1].

Acmella oleracea

Acmella oleracea, also known under its old names Spilanthes oleracea and Spilanthes acmella and commonly referred to as Spilanthes Extract, is a flowering herb in the plant family Asteraceae, also known as toothache plant or paracress as the leaves and flower heads contain an analgesic agent spilanthol used to numb toothache. It is native to the tropics of Brazil, and is grown as an ornamental (and occasionally as a medicinal) in various parts of the world. A small, erect plant, it grows quickly and sends up gold and red flower inflorescences. It is frost-sensitive but perennial in warmer climates.
Medical uses and effects
A decoction or infusion of the leaves and flowers is a traditional remedy for stammering, toothache, stomatitis,[1] and throat complaints.[citation needed]


Acmella oleracea extract has been tested against various yeasts and bacteria and was essentially inactive.[3]

Acmella oleracea has been shown to have a strong diuretic action in rats.[4]

Spilanthes extract has been discovered to aid in saliva stimulation for people suffering from dry mouth (xerostomia). Its properties provide relief to dry mouth by enhancing saliva production.[citation needed]

Acmella oleracea extract is reported to reduce muscle tension when applied topically, and as such it aids to decrease facial lines and wrinkles that are partially caused by tense or contracted facial muscles. Application of Acmella extract is reported to result in more relaxed facial muscle, and in turn in a decrease of visible wrinkles, ageing lines, "crows feet", etc. Some people[who?] compare it to Botox, but without the toxic effects and without the need to inject it under the skin; a cheap and easy to apply herbal Botox replacement.

Masterwort

Masterwort typically refers to the plant Peucedanum ostruthium or Imperatoria ostruthium in the family Apiaceae, and not to be confused with great masterwort, Astrantia major, in the same family.
Use
The roots, collected in the spring of fall, have been known to hold many medicinal proprieties such as tonic, antiseptic, emmenagogue and diuretic.


They are used for flatulence problems, asthma, kidney and bladder stones and water retention. Masterwort tea can help in relieving migraines and stimulating the immune system.

Warburgia salutaris

Warburgia salutaris (Muranga, Pepper Bark Tree, peperbasboom in Afrikaans, isiBaha in Zulu) is a species of tree in the Canellaceae family. It is found in Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and other African nations. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is a popular medicinal plant and is overharvested in the wild, another reason for its endangerment.^[1]
Medicinal uses


This plant is used medicinally by the Maasai people to treat malaria.^[4] It is used as a snuff or smoked for respiratory complaints such as common cold and cough.^[2] The bark can be purchased at markets in Tanzania,^[5] and elsewhere.^[6] Extracts of the bark of the tree show antimicrobial activity.^[3]



Urginea maritima

The plant Urginea maritima (syn. Scilla maritima, Urginea scilla, Drimia maritima or Urginea pancration) has the common names red squill, sea squill, sea onion, ein sit, and ada sogani. The name red squill may be reserved for a variety of the plant which has red-tinted flowers instead of the more common white. It may be placed in family Hyacinthaceae with squills of genus Scilla or included in family Liliaceae, depending on which classification system is used.
Uses
It has been used for medicinal purposes. The bulb contains cardiac glycosides which stimulate the heart and act as diuretics in moderate doses, and are emetic and poisonous in larger doses. The juice of the bulb causes blisters when put in contact with skin. The plant has been used as a rodenticide and may show promise as an insecticide. The most active compounds in the plant are scillirosides, especially proscillaridine A. In the past, it has also been used as an abortifacient. This particular use is rarely seen today as it has been shown to be dangerous and largely ineffective.