"On Herbal Actions - the First Step In Learning Herbs"This page is a reference that describes the different types of herbal actions, so that you will better understand how herbs work. *Use this page to look up terms you see on this site that you are unfamiliar with. For each action, a list of relevant herbs is given. The first on our list of herbal actions are herbs that are adaptogenic. Adaptogenic Herbs are herbs that help the body better adapt to stress. Aswagandha, Ginkgo, Gotu Kola, Ho-Shou-Wu, Licorice, Reishi, Schisandra, Shiitake, Siberian Ginseng, Suma This type of herb helps to restore normal body functioning. They are sometimes considered to be blood purifiers. Alfalfa, Black Cohosh, Blue Vervain, Boneset, Burdock, Chaparral Leaf, Chickweed, Cleavers, Cornsilk, Dong Quai, Echinacea, Garlic, Gentian Root, Goldenseal, Gotu Kola, Ho-Shou-Wu, Irish Moss, Kelp, Licorice, Mandrake , Nettles, Oregon Grape, Pau d'Arco, Prickly Ash, Red Clover, Red Raspberry, Rhubarb, St. John’s Wort, Sarsaparilla, White Willow, Yarrow, Yellow Dock, Yerba Santa, Yucca. Herbs that are analgesic are pain relievers. Blue Vervain, Catnip, Chamomile, Dong Quai, Feverfew, Ginger, Jamaican Dogwood, Hops, Kava Kava, Lobelia, Passion Flower, Pau d’arco, Reishi, Safflower, Scullcap, St. John’s Wort, Valerian, White Willow, Yarrow The next of our herbal actions refers to herbs that help to destroy bacteria. Blessed Thistle, Cloves, Echinacea, Garlic, Kelp, Licorice, Myrrh, Pau d'Arco, Reishi, St. John’s Wort, Scullcap, Yucca This category of herbs is concerned with herbs that help to rid the body of excess bile, a digestive juice secreted by the liver and is stored in the gallbladder. Barberry, Dandelion, Goldenseal, Mandrake, Vervain, Wild Yam, Wormwood These are herbs that help rid the body of excess mucus and phlegm. Boneset, Echinacea, Elder, Garcinia, Garlic, Goldenseal, Hyssop, Marshmallow, Oregon Grape, Sage, Saw Palmetto, Uva Ursi, Wild Yam, Yarrow This herbal action identifies herbs that help to prevent nausea and vomiting Barberry, Cloves, Elecampane, Fennel, Ginger, Oregon Grape, Red Raspberry, Wild Yam This term references herbs that prevent or decrease the secretion of milk. Black Walnut, Sage Antihelmintic herbs help to destroy parasites that are found in the digestive system. Black Walnut, Chaparral Leaf, Garlic, Wormwood This herbal action relates to an herb's ability to fight inflammation. Aswagandha, Butcher’s Broom, Cat's Claw, Chamomile, Chaparral Leaf, Devil's Claw, Eyebright, Feverfew, Gentian Root, Horehound, Licorice, Mugwort, Sheep Sorrel, St. John’s Wort, White Willow, Witch Hazel, Yarrow, Yucca This type of herbal action is concerned with herbs that remove stones from the urinary system. Gravel Root, Hydrangea, Stone Root, Uva Ursi This category of herb helps the body to destroy microorganisms. Calendula, Cat's Claw, Cloves, Echinacea, Eucalyptus, Feverfew, Juniper, Licorice, Myrrh, Olive Leaf, Pau d’arco, Red Clover, Rose Hips, St. John’s Wort Uva Ursi, Wormwood. This action refers to herbs that help prevent the development of tumors in the body. Chaparral Leaf, Cleavers, Red Clover, Reishi, St. John’s Wort, Shiitake The next of our herbal actions refer to herbs that are topical, and can be applied directly to the skin to help prevent bacterial growth. Bilberry, Black Walnut, Chamomile, Chaparral Leaf, Echinacea, Elecampane, Eyebright, Gentian Root, Goldenseal, Guggui, Horseradish, Myrrh, Oregon Grape, Parsley, Queen of the Meadow, Red Clover, Sage, Sarsaparilla, Thyme, Uva Ursi, Schisandra, White Oak Bark, White Willow, Witch Hazel, Wormwood, Yarrow, Yellow Dock This type of herb helps to prevent or minimize muscle spasms. Black Cohosh, Blue Cohosh, Blue Vervain, Boneset, Calamus, Chamomile, Cramp bark, Dill, Dong Quai, Fennel, Garlic, Guggui, Hope, Hyssop, Lady’s Slipper, Licorice, Lobelia, Motherwort, Mullein, Oat Straw, Passion Flower, Pennyroyal, Pleurisy Root, Red Clover, St. John’s Root, Scullcap, Thyme, Valerian, Wild Yam, Yarrow These are herbs that have a strong, pleasant odor, and can stimulate the digestive system. Angelica, Anise Seed, Catnip, Celery Seed, Chamomile, Cloves, Fennel, Feverfew, Garlic, Ginger, Ho-Shou-Wu, Juniper, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage, Sarsaparilla, Thyme, Valerian, Yerba Santa Astringent herbs cause tissues to contract and can reduce discharges and secretions. Agrimony, Bayberry, Bilberry, Blessed Thistle, Blue Vervain, Butcher’s Broom, Calendula, Cleavers, Coltsfoot, Comfrey, Cordyceps, Cramp bark, Cyani Flowers, Eyebright, Garcinia, Goldenseal, Guggui, Hops, Male Fern, Muira Puama, Myrrh, Nettle Leaf, Periwinkle, Saw Palmetto, Queen of the Meadow, Schisandra, Slippery Elm, St. John’s Wort, Squawvine, Stone Root, Suma, Uva Ursi, White Oak Bark, Wild Cherry Bark, Witch Hazel, Wood Betony, Yarrow, Yellow Dock, Yucca. These herbs have a bitter taste and stimulate the digestive system. Barberry, Blessed Thistle, Burdock, Catnip, Chamomile, Chaparral Leaf, Coltsfoot, Elecampane, Eyebright, Feverfew, Gentian Root, Goldenseal, Guggui, Hops, Ho-Shou-Wu, Hydrangea, Schisandra, Wormwood, Yellow Dock. Cardiac tonics are herbs that help to strengthen the heart muscle. Cayenne , Cat's Claw, Guggui, Hawthorn, Hops, Kelp, Motherwort, Myrrh, Reishi, Siberian Ginseng This type of herbal action deals with herbs that help to expel gas from the digestive system. Angelica, Catnip, Chamomile, Cloves, Dill, Elecampane, Fennel, Feverfew, Garlic, Ginger, Guggui, Hops, Hyssop, Juniper, Motherwort, Pennyroyal, Pleurisy Root, Prickly Ash, Queen of the Meadow, Thyme, Valerian, Wild Yam, Wormwood, Yarrow, Yerba Santa This category of herbal action help to clean out your digestive system. Barberry, Cascara Sagrada, Hydrangea, Mandrake, Rhubarb, Senna, Yellow Dock This type of herb helps to stimulate the release of bile from your gallbladder. Barberry, Calendula, Dandelion, Gentian Root, Goldenseal, Mandrake, Milk Thistle, Oregon Grape, Wild Yam, Yellow Dock Demulcent herbs are herbs that contain mucilage that function to soothe and protects damaged mucous membranes. Chickweed, Coltsfoot, Comfrey, Cornsilk, Fenugreek, Garcinia,Guggui, Kelp, Irish Moss, Licorice, Marshmallow, Milk Thistle, Mullein, Oat Straw, Psyllium, Pumpkin Seeds, Slippery Elm, Suma Herbs demonstrating depurative qualities function to remove impurities from the blood. Black Walnut, Blessed Thistle, Burdock, Dandelion, Elderberry, Garlic, Gotu Kola, Pau d'Arco, Red Clover, Sarsaparilla, Watercress, Yarrow, Yellow Dock This type of herb helps the body eliminate toxins through increased perspiration. Angelica, Blessed Thistle, Black Cohosh, Blue Vervain, Boneset, Butcher’s Broom, Calendula, Catnip, Chamomile, Elecampane, Fennel, Garlic, Ginger, Passion Flower, Peppermint, Pleurisy Root, Prickly Ash, Sage, Sarsaparilla, White Willow, Yarrow Diuretics help the body eliminate toxins by increasing urine flow. Alfalfa, Astragalus, Bilberry, Blue Vervain, Buchu, Burdock, Butcher’s Broom, Cleavers, Cornsilk, Cyani Flowers, Dandelion, Dill, Dong Quai, Elecampane, False Unicorn, Fennel, Goldenseal, Gotu Kola, Gravel Root, Hawthorn, Juniper, Marshmallow, Nettles, Parthenium ,Parsley, Pleurisy Root, Prickly Ash, Red Clover, Safflower, Sarsaparilla, Saw Palmetto, Squawvine, Uva Ursi, White Willow, Yarrow Emetic herbs cause the body to vomit when taken in large doses. Calamus, Elecampane, False Unicorn, Lobelia, Mandrake, Poke root This herbal action refers to herbs that help a woman regulate her menstrual flow. Black Cohosh, Blessed Thistle, Blue Cohosh, Blue Vervain, Butcher’s Broom, Calendula, Catnip, Chamomile, Cramp Bark, Dong Quai, False Unicorn, Fennel, Fenugreek, Feverfew, Ginger, Goldenseal, Guggui, Hope, Lobelia, Motherwort, Myrrh, Pennyroyal, Prickly Ash, Squawvine, St. John’s Wort, Valerian, Vitex, Wormwood, Yarrow This category concerns herbs that are applied to the skin to soothe and protect. Coltsfoot, Comfrey, Fenugreek, Flaxseed, Irish Moss, Kelp, Marshmallow, Mullein, Slippery Elm Expectorant herbs help the body to expel mucus from the respiratory system. Anise Seed, Blue Vervain, Calamus, Chaparral Leaf, Chickweed, Coltsfoot, Comfrey, Cordyceps, Elecampane, Fennel, Fenugreek, Garlic, Goldenseal, Horehound, Hyssop, Licorice, Marshmallow, Mullein, Ma Huang, Myrrh, Nettles, Pleurisy Root, Red Clover, Reishi, Schisandra, Slippery Elm, Thyme, Wild Cherry Bark, Yarrow, Yerba Santa This type of herbal action pertains to herbs that help the body reduce fevers. Angelica, Blessed Thistle, Boneset, Calendula, Cayenne, Gotu Kola, Lobelia, Peppermint, Prickly Ash, Rose Hips, Sage, Scullcap, White Willow, Wormwood, Yarrow this category of herb refers to herbs that help women that are breast-feeding increased their flow of milk. Blessed Thistle, Blue Vervain, Dill, Fennel, Fenugreek, Horsetail, Marshmallow, Milk Thistle, Nettles, Vervain This type of herb helps to regulate liver function and causes increased production of bile. Barberry, Cascara Sagrada, Celery Seed, Cleavers, Dandelion, Fennel, Goldenseal, Mandrake, Milk Thistle, Motherwort, Oregon Grape, Prickly Ash, Wild Yam, Wormwood, Yarrow, Yellow Dock This herbal action refers to herbs that help you sleep. Hops, Passion Flower, Lady’s Slipper, Scullcap, Valerian This herbal action is concerned with herbs that help to lower blood pressure. Astragalus, Cat's Claw, Hawthorn, Hops, Reishi, Valerian, Yarrow These are herbs that help to promote normal bowel movements. Barberry, Boneset, Burdock, Butcher’s Broom, Cascara Sagrada, Cleavers, Dandelion, Goldenseal, Licorice, Oregon Grape, Senna, Rhubarb, Yellow Dock This herbal action references herbs that have a smooth, slippery texture. These herbs are frequently applied to the skin as they have a soothing effect. Fenugreek, Flax Seed, Irish Moss, Kelp, Marshmallow, Parthenium, Psyllium, Slippery Elm This category of herb helps to calm the nervous system, and functions to relieve anxiety. Black Cohosh, Blue Cohosh, Blue Vervain, Catnip, Chamomile, Cramp Bark, Damiana, Feverfew, Ginkgo, Ginseng, Hops, Jamaican Dogwood, Lady’s Slipper, Motherwort, Oat Straw, Passion Flower, Periwinkle, Red Clover, Scullcap, Valerian, Wild Cherry Bark, Wormwood This type of herb stimulates contraction of the uterus. Blue Cohosh, Dong Quai, Goldenseal, Red Raspberry, Squaw Vine This herbal action pertains to an herb's ability to kill parasites either in the digestive system or on the skin. Black Walnut, Blue Vervain, Chaparral Leaf, Cloves, Elecampane, Feverfew, Gentian Root, Pumpkin Seeds, Wormwood This type of herb has a healing and strengthening effect on the respiratory system. Angelica, Chickweed, Coltsfoot, Comfrey, Elecampane, Goldenseal, Licorice, Marshmallow, Mullein, Slippery Elm Purgative herbs can have a very strong laxative effect causing evacuation of the bowels. Aloe Vera, Cascara Sagrada, Rhubarb, Senna, Yellow Dock This type of herb stimulates circulation when applied to the skin. Capsicum, Cloves, Fennel, Ginger, Horseradish, Nettles, Peppermint, Prickly Ash These are herbs that help to relax the nervous system. Black Cohosh, Bugleweed, Catnip, Celery Seed, Chamomile, Cramp Bark, Hops, Kava Kava, Lady’s Slipper, Lobelia, Motherwort, Passion Flower, Periwinkle, Red Clover, Saw Palmetto, Scullcap, St. John’s Wort, Valerian, Wild Yam This type of herb stimulates the production of saliva by the salivary glands. Cayenne, Gentian Root, Ginger, Horseradish, Licorice, Prickly Ash, Rhubarb This category of herb is one that stimulates normal physiological functioning of the body. Angelica, Bayberry, Calamus, Calendula, Catnip, Cayenne, Cloves, Dandelion, Elecampane, False Unicorn, Fennel, Feverfew, Ginger, Ginkgo, Ma Huang, Muira Puama, Myrrh, Prickly Ash, Sarsaparilla, Schisandra, Valerian, Wild Yam, Wormwood, Yarrow This herbal action refers to herbs that strengthen the functioning of the digestive system. Catnip, Chamomile, Chickweed, Cloves, Elecampane, Fennel, Gentian Root, Ginger, Goldenseal, Papaya, Peppermint, Red Raspberry, Rhubarb, Wood Betony, Yarrow, Yerba Santa This type of herbal action helps to strengthen the entire body or specific organs. Alfalfa, Angelica, Ashwagandha, Astragalus, Black Cohosh, Black Walnut, Boneset, Burdock, Calendula, Cat's Claw, Cayenne, Cleavers, Coltsfoot, Cordyceps, Cyani Flowers, Damiana, Dandelion, Echinacea, Elecampane, Fenugreek, Garlic, Ginger, Siberian Ginseng, Goldenseal, Gotu Kola, Hawthorn, Hops, Ho-Shou-Wu, Hydrangea, Licorice, Male Fern, Milk Thistle, Motherwort, Muira Puama, Myrrh, Nettles, Oregon Grape, Poke root, Prickly Ash, Red Raspberry, Sarsaparilla, Saw Palmetto, Schisandra, Sheep Sorrel, Skullcap, Squawvine, Spirulina, Suma, Uva Ursi, Watercress, Wild Yam, Yarrow, Yellow Dock, Yohimbe The last of our herbal actions is concerned with the healing of external wounds and cuts. Aloe Vera, Calendula, Chickweed, Comfrey, Elder Flower, Goldenseal, Horsetail, Hyssop, Male Fern, Marshmallow, Mullein, Myrrh, Plantain, Rhubarb, Sage, St. John’s Wort, Slippery Elm, Wood Betony, Yarrow This includes our overview of the different categories of herbal actions. By becoming aware of how different herbs function, you will be better prepared to make decisions as to which ones are best for you. Remember, be sure to consult your physician before taking any herb, as there may be potential drug interactions with any medicines you may be taking. *Source
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