Castor Oil has a long history of use around the world! Sourced from the seeds of the plant Ricinus communis- which consist of 40-60% oil – documentation of Castor Oil use reaches back many centuries in Egypt, the Mediterranean, Eastern Africa and India. In ancient Rome, the oil was known as Palma Christi (“hand of…
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) is a small fan palm tree that is the most common type of palm in the United States. It is named for the fine, sharp teeth or spines along each frond’s petiole (where the leaf joins the stem) that can easily break the skin. Native to: Southeastern United States and Mexico …
Chastetree (Vitex agnus-castus) is a deciduous member of the mint family and can grow up to 16 feet tall or be maintained as a shrub. It bears spikes of lavender coloured flowers that attract pollinators. While the fruit it bears are referred to as “berries”, they are drupes—bearing a single seed. Native to the Mediterranean…
Welcome to St. Francis Herb Farm! Plant medicines have been used for thousands of years across the world to treat common ailments, health issues, and specific conditions! Long before pharmaceutical products – there were herbs! Today, herbal medicine is the culmination of long-established global healing systems, traditional knowledge and the wisdom from many generations of…
Nettle (Urtica dioica) is named from the Latin word “uro” meaning “to burn”. Named such for the stinging effect the plant can have on those who handle them. Nettles have tiny, hollow hairlike spikes called trichomes that contain chemicals on their leaves and stem that can cause redness, swelling, and/or itching upon contact. Native to: Europe, northern…
Zingiber officinale. A flowering plant that is a member of the Zingiberaceae family, along with galangal and turmeric. It is said that the name ginger traces back to Sanskrit words for “horn” and “body” in reference to the shape of the root. Native to: Ginger is thought to have originated in tropical rainforests of Maritime…
In herbal medicine, there are terms that describe herbs’ specific effects or actions on the body. Often, these terms aren’t immediately recognizable – one of them being “expectorant”. An expectorant is an agent that promotes the discharge or expulsion of mucus from the lungs and respiratory tract. The term come from the Latin word for…
Astragalus membranaceus – “Astragalus” comes from the Greek word for the anklebones or knucklebones of sheep. It is a member of the Fabaceae family, along with peas, legumes and beans, bearing similar characteristics of fern-like foliage and seed pods typical of this plant family. Native to: Mongolia, Korea, and the northern and eastern regions of…
Verbascum thapsus- The name Verbascum is derived from Latin word meaning “barbascum” or beard, referring to the fine, beard-like filaments on the leaves. The biennial plant bears a single tall stem up to 2m tall and wide, woolly leaves. Native to: Europe, Northern Africa, and Asia. Modern distribution: North America, South America, and Australia. Common Names: Candlewick…
Silybum marianum – member of Asteraceae family, which also includes sunflowers and daisies Native to: Mediterranean, Europe, Central Asia & India, Parts of Africa Modern distribution: North America, Parts of South Pacific, and South America Common Names: Mediterranean Milk Thistle, Blessed Milk Thistle, St. Mary’s Thistle, Holy Thistle, Virgin Thistle, Christ’s Crown, variegated thistle. Parts…
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