Author: waldoherbs

Botanical name: Acorus calamus

Family: Araceae

Energetics: warm, dry, relaxant

Taste: bitter, pungent, aromatic

Parts used: rhizome

Affinities: digestive and nervous systems

Actions: dispersive, diffusive, carminative, cholagogue, antispasmodic, emmenagogue, diaphoretic, expectorant, nervine

Preparations: tea/ decoction, tincture

Cautions: Typically, a safe herb to use. 

Therapeutic Uses:

• Aids in digestion and digestive issues including gas, stomach upset, digestive spasm, heartburn, and leaky gut.
• As an expectorant, it helps break up and expel mucus from the lungs. 
• Useful for uterine cramping.
• Calamus is helpful when you are feeling cold and stuck emotionally including addictive behaviors. 

**This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness or disease. It is for educational purposes only.

Botanical Name – Rubus fruticosus & villosus

Family: Rosaceae

Energetics: cool, dry, tonifying

Taste: astringent, sour

Parts used: root, leaves, berries

Affinities: lower digestive and urinary systems

Actions: astringent, diuretic, antispasmodic, antioxidant, alterative, hypoglycemic

Preparations: tea/ decoction, tincture, wine infusion, 

Cautions: Typically, a safe herb to use. It is a powerful astringent so large doses, especially of the root, can cause stomach cramping.

Therapeutic Uses:

• Extremely useful for diarrhea. 
• Helps to flush out excess fluids in the body such as edema and gout. 

**This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness or disease. It is for educational purposes only.

Botanical Name – Withania somnifera

Family: Solanaceae

Energetics: warm, dry, relaxant

Taste: bitter, pungent, sweet

Parts used: root

Affinities: endocrine and immune systems

Actions: adaptogen, nervous trophorestorative, digestive, alterative, antispasmodic, immune modulator, cardioprotective

Preparations: tea/ decoction, honey infusion, tincture, capsule

Cautions: Avoid if you have sensitivities to nightshades. Avoid during pregnancy. 

Therapeutic Uses:

• Ashwagandha helps the adrenals and other endocrine organs better deal with stress. 
• Mildly bitter, it gently stimulates digestion.
• When your circadian rhythm is out of whack, ashwagandha will help you reset. It’s extremely useful if you have been staying up late due to work, school, stress, etc. and you just need to get back on a good sleep schedule. 
• Supportive for the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest).

**This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness or disease. It is for educational purposes only.

Botanical Name – Angelica archangelica

Family: Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)

Energetics: warm, dry, tonifying

Taste: bitter, pungent, aromatic

Parts used: root

Affinities: digestive, respiratory, and reproductive systems

Actions: Diffusive, circulatory stimulant, carminative, emmenagogue, diaphoretic, expectorant, nervine, anti-microbial

Preparations: tea/ decoction, honey infusion, tincture, oil infusion

Cautions: Best to avoid angelica the week before menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, and during lactation. Can cause photosensitivity. 

Therapeutic Uses:

• Angelica is a warming bitter which helps with digestion and assimilation especially when digestion is cold and stagnant. It helps get things moving including blood circulation. 
• Helps clear waste from the liver and the body in general. 
• Increases blood flow to the reproductive organs which can help with menstrual cramping. 
• Calming to both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

**This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness or disease. It is for educational purposes only.