Remedies and Nutritive Support
Plants which are featured in the main plant list with a detailed profile are listed here as the common name appears in the profile. For details see the plant profile. Other plants will also include the botanical name and state which part is used. Names of the most important plants are in bold type.
For an explanation of medicinal terms see the glossary below.
Caution - important - please read
Also read the general safety notes.
These remedies are for minor ailments or injuries, or may help in a survival situation. Always consult a trained medical professional for medical advice.
Keep samples of plants consumed. In case of adverse reaction seek medical attention immediately, taking along the samples.
The information is given in good faith, but is by no means complete. Absence of information on toxicity or danger is not indicative of a plant's safety. Consumption is at the reader's own risk and discretion.
Some guidance may reduce the risk in a survival situation, but it is best to err on the safe side when medical help is available.
Glossary
- analgesic: relieves pain
- anodyne: eases pain (milder than an analgesic)
- anthocyanin: antioxidant, mostly in skin of dark blue fruit or red leaves; improves night vision, circulation, memory
- anthocyanosides: antioxidant; strengthens capillaries/connective tissue; may improve night vision
- antiaphonic: for loss of voice
- anti-asthmatic: treats asthma
- antibacterial: kills bacteria
- anticancer: used in the treatment of cancer
- anticholesterolemic: prevents build up of cholesterol
- anticoagulant: retards or prevents blood clotting
- anti-diarrhoea: treats diarrhoea - see also astringent
- antidote: counters poisoning
- antiemetic: prevents nausea and vomiting
- anti-fertility: may help prevent pregnancy
- anti-fungal: inhibits or destroys fungi
- antihistamine: inhibits the effects of histamine; reduces itching and swelling
- anti-inflammatory: reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc. (see also demulcent, emollient)
- anti-lithic: see lithontripic
- antimicrobial: helps the body destroy or resist pathogens (see also antibacterial and antiseptic)
- anti-periodic: prevents the return of or recurring illnesses (e.g. Malaria)
- antiphlogistic: see anti-inflammatory
- antipyretic: see febrifuge
- anti-rheumatic: treats rheumatism
- antiscorbutic: prevents scurvy, contains Vitamin C
- antiseptic: prevents putrefaction (applied to wounds)
- antispasmodic: prevents or eases spasms or cramps
- antitumor: see anticancer
- antitussive: prevents or relieves coughing
- antivirus, antiviral: treats viral infections
- aperient: mild laxative
- astringent: causes localised contraction of blood vessels and tissue, reducing the flow of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
- bitter: bitter-tasting; stimulates appetite, increases bile flow (essential for aiding the digestion of fat and neutralising stomach acid), regulates insulin and glycogen
- cardiac: has effect on the heart
- carminative: prevents or eases effects of flatulence
- cathartic: strong laxative (less violent than purgative)
- cholagogue: increases flow of bile
- decongestant: relieves congestion (see also expectorant and antitussive)
- demulcent: rich in mucilage, soothes or protects irritated or inflamed tissue (especially mucosa)
- deobstruent: clears obstructions, opens natural passages of body
- depurative: eliminates toxins and purifies the system, especially the blood
- detergent: cleans wounds etc.; removes dead and diseased matter
- diaphoretic: promotes perspiration, aids the skin in elimination of toxins
- digestive: aids digestion
- diuretic: increases secretion and elimination of urine
- emetic: causes vomiting (mostly when taken in high doses)
- emmenagogue: stimulates or normalises menstrual flow, in early pregnancy may induce an abortion
- emollient: applied to the skin softens, soothes, protects (externally, as demulcents do internally)
- expectorant: removes excess amount of mucus from respiratory system (see also decongestant)
- febrifuge: reduces fever; use only for dangerously high temperature; a raised temperature is the body's way of burning up the pathogen
- fumaric acid: - the ionised form is used by cells to produce energy from food. Used to treat psoriasis. Excess may cause kidney or gastrointestinal disorders, and skin flushing. Prolonged use may cause decreased count of white blood cells. Produced in human skin by exposure to sunlight. Used as mordant for dye.
- galactagogue: stimulates the production of breast milk or increases milk flow
- glucoquinones: reduce blood sugar levels
- glucose-modulatory: the ability to help maintain normal blood glucose levels
- haemostatic: controls bleeding (see astringent)
- hepatic: acts upon the liver
- hypnotic: induces sleep
- hypolipidemic: decreases circulating fats in the bloodstream
- hypotensive: reduces blood pressure
- lactobacilli: beneficial microorganism present in the gut and vagina. May be anti-inflammatory and anticancer, especially for liver, colon, bladder, and breast cancer. May boost immune system.
- laxative: evacuates the bowels or softens stools
- lithontripic: helps prevent and removes stones from kidneys, bladder etc.
- nervine: restores nerves to their natural state
- nutritive: nourishing to the body
- odontalgic: treats toothache (temporarily) and other problems of the teeth and gums
- ophthalmic: treats eye complaints
- oxytoxic/oxytocic: stimulates the contraction of the uterus aiding childbirth
- pectoral: treats chest and lung complaints
- purgative: produces evacuation of the bowels (more severe than aperients or laxatives)
- quercetin: antioxidant; anti-inflammatory (inhibits the production and release of histamine); may protect against cancer and cardiovascular disease
- refrigerant: produces a feeling of coolness
- resveratrol: an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral; may protect against cancer and cardiovascular disease
- rubefacient: applied to the skin to stimulate local irritation and dilate capillaries to increase circulation in the skin and relieve internal pains, e.g. rheumatic joints
- rutin: antioxidant; strengthens capillaries; may protect against cancer and heart disease
- sedative: calms the nervous system and reduces stress
- sialagogue: stimulates secretion of saliva
- soporific: see hypnotic
- stimulant: enlivens physiological functions of the body, without giving a false sense of well-being
- stomachic: treats stomach disorders
- styptic: see astringent
- sudorific: see diaphoretic
- suppurative: forms or discharges pus
- tonic: improves general health, bringing steady improvement
- vasoconstrictor: narrows blood vessels, increasing blood pressure
- vasodilator: widens blood vessels, reducing blood pressure
- vermifuge: expels worms from the body (see also anthelmintic)
- vulnerary: promotes healing of wounds (applied externally)
General Health and Wellbeing
Tonic - Bilberry; Bramble; Bulrush; Chestnut, Sweet; Cleavers; Couchgrass; Daisy; Dandelion; Dock; Hazel; Hop; Meadowsweet; Nettle, Stinging; Oak; Ramson; Raspberry; Rose, Dog; Silverweed; Strawberry; Willowherb, Rosebay; Woodruff, Sweet
Stimulant - Angelica Angelica archangelica; Dandelion; Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea (aerial parts); Horseradish Armoracia rusticana (tap root); Peppermint Mentha piperita (aerial parts); Ramson; Raspberry; Scurvy-grass; Shepherd's Purse; Yarrow
Detox
see also: Kidney, Bladder; Liver, Gallbladder, Spleen
Depurative - Blackthorn; Bramble; Burdock; Chickweed; Cleavers; Clover, Red; Couchgrass; Daisy; Dandelion; Dock; Figwort, Common Scrophularia nodosa (aerial parts); Knotweed, Japanese; Meadowsweet; Nettle, Stinging; Plantain; Ramson; Reed, Common; Rose, Dog; Shepherd's Purse; Sorrel; Strawberry
Diaphoretic - Ash; Birch; Blackthorn; Burdock; Cleavers; Deadnettle, Red; Elder; Hazel; Meadowsweet; Mustard, Garlic; Ramson; Woodruff, Sweet; Yarrow
Blockages
Deobstruent - Plantain
Antispasmodic - see Cramps
Blood
see also: Cardiovascular System; Wounds, Burns, Ulcers
General - Dock; Nettle, Stinging
Cholesterol
Anticholesterolemic - Ramson
also - plants containing saponins (see caution note: saponins) - Campion, Bladder Silene vulgaris (leaves, shoots); Chestnut, Horse Aesculus hippocastanum (seeds [conkers] - ripe, cooked ); Chickweed; leaves from plants of the Goosfoot Family (see caution notes about the Goosefoot family [Chenopodiaceae] ): Fat Hen Chenopodium album; Good King Henry Chenopodium bonus-henricus; Goosefoot, Red Chenopodium rubrum
Cleansing
see General Health and Wellbeing – Detox
Reduce Bleeding
Astringent - Ash; Bilberry; Birch; Blackthorn; Bramble; Bulrush; Chestnut, Sweet; Chickweed; Cleavers; Deadnettle, Red; Dock; Hazel; Horsetail, Field; Meadowsweet; Nettle, Stinging; Oak; Plantain; Ramson; Raspberry; Reed, Common; Rose, Dog; Shepherd's Purse; Silverweed; Sorrel; Strawberry; Sycamore; Willowherb, Rosebay; Wood-sorrel; Yarrow
Haemostatic - Bulrush; Horsetail, Field; Nettle, Stinging; Oak; Plantain; Shepherd's Purse; Silverweed; Yarrow
Sugar Level
Bitter - Ash; Birch; Yarrow
Glucoquinones - Bilberry; Nettle, Stinging
glucose-modulatory - Burdock; Dandelion
Thinning
Anticoagulant - Bulrush; Woodruff, Sweet
Cancer
Anticancer - Bulrush; Cleavers; Clover, Red; Daisy; Dandelion; Knotweed, Japanese.; Shepherd's Purse
Resveratrol - Knotweed, Japanese
Rutin - Elder; Hawthorn; Hop
Cardiovascular System
see also: Blood
General - Meadowsweet; Nettle, Stinging; Yarrow
Anthocyanin - Bilberry; Currant, Black; Bramble; Elder
Anthocyanosides - Bilberry; Currants, Black; Bramble; Cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccus (berries); Raspberry
Cardiac - Hawthorn; Raspberry; Woodruff, Sweet
Resveratrol - Knotweed, Japanese
Rutin - Elder; Hawthorn; Hop
Vasodilator - Bilberry; Burdock; Hawthorn; Ramson; Shepherd's Purse; Yarrow
Vasoconstrictor - Shepherd's purse
Arteriosclerosis
Dandelion; Hawthorn; Meadowsweet; Shepherd's Purse
High Blood Pressure
Hypotensive - Nettle, Stinging; Ramson; Shepherd's purse
Vasodilator - Bilberry; Burdock; Hawthorn; Ramson; Shepherd's Purse; Yarrow
Varicose Veins
Bilberry; Shepherd's Purse; Woodruff, Sweet
Chilblains
Cramps
Digestive Tract
see also: Gut, Bowel; Liver, Gallbladder, Spleen
General - Plantain
Appetite, Digestion
Bitter - Ash; Birch; Yarrow
Sialagogue - Currants, Red
Stomachic - Blackthorn; Burdock; Dandelion; Hazel; Hop; Knotweed, Japanese; Meadowsweet; Mustard, Hedge
Digestive - Nettle, Stinging; Yarrow
Indigestion - Ramson; Silverweed
Gastritis
Rose, Dog
Nausea
Antiemetic - Reed, Common; Meadowsweet
Ear Ache
Eyes
Ophthalmic - Chickweed; Daisy; Plantain; Raspberry; Rose
also - Elder; Plantain; Raspberry; Sycamore
Night Vision
Anthocyanin - Bilberry; Currant, Black; Bramble; Elder (berries)
Anthocyanosides - Bilberry; Currants, Black; Bramble; Cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccus
Fever, Heat
Febrifuge - Ash; Beech; Bindweed, Hedge; Blackthorn; Cleavers; Elder; Hazel; Hop; Knotweed, Japanese; Ramson; Reed, Common; Sorrel; Wood-sorrel
Refrigerant - Bulrush; Chickweed; Currants; Plantain; Raspberry; Reed, Common
Fungal Infections
Gut, Bowel
see also: Digestive Tract
Cleanse (scour)
Plantain
Constipation
Aperient - Blackthorn; Burdock; Cleavers; Couchgrass; Currant, Red; Scurvy-grass
Cathartic - Ash
Laxative - Ash; Bilberry; Birch; Blackthorn; Chickweed; Daisy; Dandelion; Dock; Knotweed, Japanese; Mustard, Hedge; Plantain; Rose, Dog; Sorrel; Strawberry; Willowherb, Rosebay
Purgative - Ash; Bindweed, Hedge; Daisy; Deadnettle, Red; Elder
Diarrhoea
Anti-diarrhoea - Hop; Nettle, Stinging
Astringent - Ash; Bilberry; Birch; Blackthorn; Bramble; Bulrush; Chestnut, Sweet; Chickweed; Cleavers; Deadnettle, Red; Dock; Hazel; Horsetail, Field; Meadowsweet; Nettle, Stinging; Oak; Plantain; Ramson; Raspberry; Reed, Common; Rose, Dog; Shepherd's Purse; Silverweed; Sorrel; Strawberry; Sycamore; Willowherb, Rosebay; Wood-sorrel; Yarrow
Flatulence
Carminative - Ash; Burdock; Chickweed; Horsetail, Field; Ramson; Rose, Dog; Yarrow
Gut Flora
Lactobacilli – in roots like Burdock, Dandelion, and probably others
Haemorrhoids
Bilberry; Dock; Navelwort; Nettle, Stinging; Oak; Shepherd's Purse; Silverweed
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Willowherb, Rosebay
Worms and other Parasites
Anthelmintic - Hazel; Ramson; Sorrel; Tansy Tanacetum vulgare (aerial parts); Wormwood Artemisia absinthium
Vermifuge - Couchgrass; Hop; Mustard, Garlic; Plantain; Ramson; Rose, Dog
Gynaecological
Aid Childbirth
Oxytoxic - Raspberry; Shepherd's Purse
Candida
Bramble; Chickweed; Dandelion; Horsetail, Field; Willowherb, Rosebay
Milk Flow
Galactagogue - Bulrush; Chickweed; Elder; Horsetail, Field; Nettle, Stinging
Prevent Pregnancy
anti-fertility - Shepherd's Purse
Menopause
Clover, Red
Menstruation
Emmenagogue - Bulrush; Chickweed; Daisy; Nettle, Stinging; Raspberry; Shepherd's Purse; Silverweed; Wood-sorrel; Yarrow
Vaginitis
Bulrush; Oak
Headache, Stress
see also: Pain
General - Nettle, Stinging; Woodruff, Sweet
Nervine - Hop
Sedative - Bulrush; Clover, Red; Cowslip Primula veris (root, petals); Ground Elder; Hawthorn; Hop; Reed, Common; Silverweed; Spruce; St. John's Wort Hypericum perforatum (aerial parts); Woodruff, Sweet; Valerian, Common Valeriana officinalis (root)
Infections
General - Burdock; Rose, Dog
Antibacterial - Bilberry; Burdock; Dandelions
Anti-fungal - Burdock; Nettle, Stinging
Antimicrobial - Couchgrass
Antiseptic - Beech; Bilberry; Hop; Horsetail, Field; Meadowsweet; Mustard, Garlic; Oak; Plantain; Ramson; Spruce; Yarrow
Detergent - Clover, Red
Colds, Influenza
Rose, Dog; Yarrow
Inflammation
see also: Infections; Rheumatic Conditions; Wounds
Anti-inflammatory - Bramble; Bulrush; Burdock; Chestnut, Sweet; Cleavers; Couchgrass; Hop; Meadowsweet; Mustard, Garlic; Nettle, Stinging; Raspberry; Silverweed; St. John's Wort Hypericum perforatum (aerial parts); Willowherb, Rosebay; Woodruff, Sweet; Yarrow
Demulcent - Bindweed, Hedge; Chickweed; Couchgrass; Daisy; Plantain; Willowherb, Rosebay; Mallow, Marsh Althaea officinalis (leaves, flowers)
Emollient - Couchgrass; Daisy; Knotweed, Japanese; Willowherb, Rosebay; Chickweed;
Comfrey Symphytum officinale (leaves, root); Mallow, Marsh Althaea officinalis (leaves, flowers)
Quercetin - Hawthorn
Resveratrol - Knotweed, Japanese
Insomnia
General - Cleavers; Hawthorn; Hop; Meadowsweet; Woodruff, Sweet
Hypnotic - Hop; Valerian Valeriana officinalis (root)
Joints, Muscles, Bones
Chestnut, Sweet; Currants, Red; Daisy; Elder; Ground Elder
Kidney, Bladder
General - Couchgrass; Daisy; Plantain; Shepherd's Purse; Yarrow
Diuretic - Ash; Bilberry; Bindweed, Hedge; Birch; Blackthorn; Bramble; Bulrush; Burdock; Chickweed; Cleavers; Couchgrass; Dandelion; Deadnettle, Red; Elder; Ground Elder; Hawthorn; Hop; Horsetail, Field; Knotweed, Japanese; Meadowsweet; Mustard, Hedge ; Navelwort; Nettle, Stinging; Plantain; Ramson; Raspberry; Reed, Common; Rose, Dog; Scurvy-grass; Shepherd's Purse; Silverweed; Sorrel; Strawberry; Wood-sorrel; Yarrow
Lithontripic - Birch; Bulrush; Couchgrass; Meadowsweet; Nettle, Stinging; Parsley Piert Aphanes arvensis (aerial parts); Reed, Common
Cystitis
Birch; Blackthorn; Bramble; Bulrush; Cleavers; Couchgrass; Cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccus (fruit); Hop; Horsetail, Field; Meadowsweet; Nettle, Stinging
Bedwetting
Horsetail, Field; Nettle, Stinging
Liver, Gall bladder, Spleen
General - Couchgrass; Daisy; Strawberry
Bitter - Ash; Birch; Yarrow
Cholagogue - Burdock; Dandelion; Dock; Ramson; Yarrow
Hepatic - Dandelion; Cleavers; Dock; Hop; Sorrel, Common; Woodruff, Sweet; Yarrow
Liver and Spleen Inflammation
Navelwort
Lymphatic System
Memory, Concentration
Anthocyanin - Bilberry; Currant, Black; Bramble; Elder (berries)
Mouth
Toothache
see also: Pain
Odontalgic - Beech; Reed, Common; Silverweed; Goldenrod Solidago virgaurea (chew root); Yarrow
Ulcers
Bilberry; Daisy; Willowherb, Rosebay
Pain
Anodyne - Daisy; Horsetail, Field; Hop; Wood-sorrel
Poisoning
Emetic - Elder
Prostate Gland
Respiratory System and Voice
see also: Infections – Colds, Influenza
Pectoral - Catsear; Elder
Asthma
Anti-asthmatic - Mustard, Garlic; Nettle, Stinging; Ramson; Reed, Common
Bronchitis
Mustard, Garlic; Ramson; Reed, Common
Cough
see also: Blockages
General - Bramble; Burdock; Chestnut, Sweet; Clover, Red; Hop; Horsetail, Field
Antitussive - Beech; Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara (leaves); Daisy; Reed, Common
Demulcent - Bindweed, Hedge; Chickweed; Couchgrass; Daisy; Plantain; Willowherb, Rosebay; Mallow, Marsh Althaea officinalis (leaves, flowers)
Expectorant - Beech; Chestnut, Sweet; Chickweed; Daisy; Elder; Mustard, Hedge; Ramson; Silverweed; Spruce; Wood-sorrel; Yarrow
Throat Infections
Cleavers; Silverweed
Voice
Antiaphonic - Bramble; Horsetail, Field; Mustard, Hedge
Rheumatic Conditions
Anti-rheumatic - Ash; Birch; Blackthorn; Chestnut, Sweet; Currant, Red; Daisy; Dandelion; Elder; Ground Elder; Hawthorn; Hop; Horsetail, Field; Meadowsweet; Nettle, Stinging; Strawberry
Rubefacient - Horseradish Armoracia rusticana; Nettle, Stinging; Peppermint Mentha piperita (aerial parts); Ramson;
Skin
see also: Inflammation; Wounds, Burns; Warts
General - Beech; Birch; Cleavers; Clover, Red; Dandelion; Dock; Hawthorn; Horsetail, Field; Mustard, Garlic; Nettle, Stinging; Oak; Sorrel, Common; Sycamore; Yarrow
Bites, Stings, Rashes
General - Dock; Ground Elder; Plantain
Antihistamine - Plantain
Emollient - Chickweed; Comfrey Symphytum officinale (leaves, root); Couchgrass; Daisy; Knotweed, Japanese; Willowherb, Rosebay; Mallow, Marsh Althaea officinalis (leaves, flowers)
Boils, Splinters
Bilberry; Bindweed, Hedge; Bulrush; Burdock; Couchgrass; Daisy; Hawthorn; Sorrel, Common; Spruce; Wood-sorrel
Psoriasis
General - sunshine; Cleavers; Dock
Fumaric acid - Fumitory Fumaria officinalis; Shepherd's Purse
Warts
Antiviral - Dandelion
Water Retention
Wounds, Burns, Ulcers
see also: Blood - Reduce Bleeding; Infections; Inflammation; Skin
Antiseptic - Beech; Bilberry; Hop; Horsetail, Field; Meadowsweet; Mustard, Garlic; Oak; Plantain; Ramson; Spruce; Yarrow
Astringent - Ash; Bilberry; Birch; Blackthorn; Bramble; Bulrush; Chestnut, Sweet; Chickweed; Cleavers; Deadnettle, Red; Dock; Hazel; Horsetail, Field; Meadowsweet; Nettle, Stinging; Oak; Plantain; Ramson; Raspberry; Reed, Common; Rose, Dog; Shepherd's Purse; Silverweed; Sorrel; Strawberry; Sycamore; Willowherb, Rosebay; Wood-sorrel; Yarrow
Detergent - Clover, Red
Emollient - Couchgrass; Daisy; Knotweed, Japanese; Willowherb, Rosebay; Chickweed; Comfrey Symphytum officinale (leaves, root); Mallow, Marsh Althaea officinalis (leaves, flowers); Navelwort
Vulnerary - Bramble; Bulrush; Burdock; Chickweed; Cleavers; Elder; Ground Elder; Horsetail, Field; Knotweed, Japanese; Mallow, Marsh Althaea officinalis (leaves, flowers); Mustard, Garlic; Plantain; Shepherd's Purse; St. John's Wort Hypericum perforatum (aerial parts); Sycamore; Yarrow
Ulcers
Scurvy-grass, Common; Strawberry, Wild