Ginkgo has been cultivated in China and other Asian countries for thousands of years, and it has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for almost as long. For nearly 2800 years, ginkgo has been used to treat a wide variety of ailments. Ginkgo is derived from the tree of the same name, and the tree … Read more
Astragalus is native to the continent of Asia, and it has been one of the most popular energy tonics in Oriental medicine for many years. Astragalus, known to science as astragalus membranaceus, is actually a member of the legume family, and it has been safely used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. This plant … Read more
Ginseng is native to the Siberian plain and to many parts of Asia. Ginseng has long been used as an energy tonic in traditional Chinese medicine, and its use dates back thousands of years. Major benefits of ginseng While the many health benefits of ginseng have long been known to the world of traditional Chinese … Read more
The herb that has come to be known as St John’s Wort is known to science as hypericum perforatum, and it was of course named in honor of St. John the Baptist. The golden flowers of St. John’s Wort traditionally bloom in June, which was the month of St. John the Baptist’s birth. The term … Read more
The herb, Echinacea, also called the purple coneflower, actually consists of nine distinct species, but only three varieties are used in herbal medicine. Those three varieties are: Engustifolia Pallida Purpurea It is native to the plains of the North American continent, and it has been cultivated for many years and used in traditional medicine and … Read more
The bilberry is known to the world of science as actinium myrtillus, and it is a member of the blueberry family. Like the blueberry, it is blue in color and sweet in taste. The bush is a shrubby perennial that grows wild in the meadows and forests of many places in Europe and Western Asia, … Read more
Licorice, known to science as glycyrrhizin glabra, is a member of the pea family that is widely cultivated throughout Greece and Turkey. The key therapeutic compound contained in licorice is glycyrrhizin, and this compound is found in the underground stem of the tall purple flowered shrub. In addition to the glycyrrhizin, licorice contains hundreds of … Read more
Mint has long been grown in many places around the world, from Europe to the Middle East to India, and this herb has been enjoyed for its medicinal, aromatic and culinary properties alike. Mint is an herb with a very long history indeed, and it is even celebrated in a famous Greek myth in which … Read more
The spice known as cinnamon is one of the oldest in the entire world. In fact, cinnamon is mentioned several times in the Bible and it was used throughout ancient Egypt for a number of purposes. In addition to its use as a flavoring for various beverages and as a medicine, cinnamon was used as … Read more
The herb known as oregano is native to northern Europe, but it grows throughout many regions of the world. Oregano has long been prized for its aroma and its strong taste, and the ancient Greeks and Romans used the herb as a symbol of happiness and joy. Oregano was held in such high esteem that … Read more
The herb known as thyme is native to Asia, southern Europe and the Mediterranean region. In addition to these traditional growing places, it is also widely cultivated throughout North America. It has been valued for thousands of years for its aromatic, culinary and medicinal uses. Thyme was even used by those in ancient Egypt as … Read more
While basil is now grown throughout the world, it is native to India, Africa and Asia, and basil is widely used in a variety of world cuisines, including Thai cooking, Italian cuisine, Vietnamese culture and Laotian cuisine. The name basil comes from an old Greek word “basilikohn”, which translates to royal. This name origin reflects … Read more