Poria is a unique fungus that grows on the roots of pine trees and were originally thought to be a part of the trees themselves. In North American it was known as “Tuckahoe” and “Indian bread” and eaten in times of food scarcity. This fungus is valued in Traditional Chinese Medicine, where it is known as Fu ling and is sometimes referred to as the “four-season miracle herb”, offering health…
Shatavari is a botanical medicine native to Africa and Southeast Asia and a member of the asparagus family. The root system consists of many tubers, that can reach up to one metre in length. Traditionally, these tuberous roots were used to support women’s health across the reproductive years and were prepared as a topical wash among aboriginal Northern Australians to treat colds and other sicknesses. Classified in…
“Season miracle herb”, offering health benefits to both body and mind. The medicinal part is the dried root, referred to as Bai Shao and it is used extensively in Traditional Chinese Medicine for supporting mood, balancing the liver, nourishing blood and promoting healthy blood flow. The herb is supportive to women’s hormonal health, as it naturally contains phytoestrogens, especially beneficial for PMS and the perimenopausal/ menopausal stage of…
Also known as “sponge gourd”, luffa grows throughout India, parts of Africa and Asia. When harvested young, the gourd can be eaten, but at full ripeness it becomes too fibrous to eat and becomes the tough, structured sponge we know in the western world as a “loofah”. It is widely used in tradition medicine in India, and…
Moro, Tarocco and Sanguinello are specific varieties of Sicilian blood oranges that grow in the Etna valley surrounding Mount Etna volcano. Their deep red flesh colour is the result of their adaptation to the valley’s unique temperature variations where they have developed a rich pigment, called anthocyanins. A complex derived from these unique citruses, known as Red Orange Complex™, has been found in clinical trials to be exceptionally potent in antioxidants, helping to prevent free radical damage from oxidative…
Also known as black cumin and black caraway, black seed plants are native to Western Asia and Eastern Europe and are harvested from plants that bear delicate, pale blue and white flowers. It has been used for culinary purposes for thousands of years, in Egypt, Turkey and India, where it was also revered in Ayurvedic medicine. Black seed was found in King Tutankhamun’s tomb – it is believed by some that…
Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus) is a perennial herb native to Europe and Western Asia, now widespread in North America. It has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to support liver and digestive health. The plant’s roots contain anthraquinones, which have laxative effects, and tannins, which are astringent. Indigenous peoples and early settlers used yellow…
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a flowering plant native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Its use dates back to ancient times, with Greek mythology attributing its discovery to Achilles, who used it to treat soldiers’ wounds. The plant has a long history of use in European, Native American, and Chinese traditional medicine. Yarrow contains…
Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is a perennial herb native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia. It has been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine to treat digestive disorders, parasites, and fevers. The ancient Egyptians and Greeks valued wormwood for its medicinal and spiritual properties. The plant contains thujone, a compound that can be…
Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa) is a perennial vine native to North America. Indigenous peoples used the root to treat various ailments, including menstrual cramps, inflammation, and digestive issues. Early settlers adopted its use, and wild yam became a common remedy for women’s health issues. The root contains diosgenin, a compound that can be converted into…
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