Read the full description of the plant in the plant list with all caution notes where applicable.

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.

• 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)

Tonic - Bear Garlic; Bedstraw, Sweetscented; Blackberry, Shrubby; Cattail, Broadleaf; Chestnut, European; Cinquefoil, Silverweed; Cleavers; Daisy, Lawn; Dandelion; Dock; Filbert, Common; Fireweed; Hop, Common; Nettle, Stinging; Oak; Quackgrass; Queen of the Meadow; Raspberry; Rose, Dog; Strawberry; Whortleberry
Stimulant - Angelica Angelica archangelica; Bear Garlic; Dandelion; Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea (aerial parts); Horseradish Armoracia rusticana (tap root); Peppermint Mentha piperita (aerial parts); Raspberry; Shepherd's Purse; Spoonwort; Yarrow

Detox

see also: Kidney, Bladder; Liver, Gallbladder, Spleen

Depurative - Bear Garlic; Blackberry, Shrubby; Blackthorn; Burdock; Chickweed; Cleavers; Clover, Red; Daisy, Lawn; Dandelion; Dock; Figwort, Woodland Scrophularia nodosa (aerial parts); Knotweed, Japanese; Nettle, Stinging; Plantain; Quackgrass; Queen of the Meadow; Reed, Common; Rose, Dog; Shepherd's Purse; Sorrel; Strawberry
Diaphoretic - Bear Garlic; Bedstraw, Sweetscented; Birch; Blackthorn; Burdock; Cleavers; Deadnettle, Purple; Elderberry, Black; Filbert, Common; Mustard, Garlic; Queen of the Meadow; Yarrow

Decongestant - Oak; Raspberry
Deobstruent - Plantain
Antispasmodic - see Cramps

see also: Cardiovascular System; Wounds, Burns, Ulcers

General - Dock; Nettle, Stinging

Cholesterol

Anticholesterolemic - Bear Garlic
also - plants containing saponins (see caution note: saponins) - Campion, Bladder Silene vulgaris (leaves, shoots); Chestnut, Horse Aesculus hippocastanum (seeds [conkers] - ripe, cooked ); Chickweed, Common; leaves from plants of the Goosfoot Family (see caution notes about the Goosefoot family [Chenopodiaceae] ): Good King Henry Chenopodium bonus-henricus; Goosefoot, Red Chenopodium rubrum ; Lambsquarters Chenopodium album

Cleansing

see General Health and Wellbeing – Detox

Reduce Bleeding

Astringent - Bear Garlic; Birch; Blackberry, Shrubby; Blackthorn; Cattail, Broadleaf; Chestnut, European; Chickweed, Common; Cinquefoil, Silverweed; Cleavers; Deadnettle, Purple; Dock; Filbert, Common; Fireweed; Horsetail, Field; Maple, Sycamore; Nettle, Stinging; Oak; Plantain; Queen of the Meadow; Raspberry; Reed, Common; Rose, Dog; Shepherd's Purse; Sorrel; Strawberry; Whortleberry; Woodsorrel, Common; Yarrow
Haemostatic - Cattail, Broadleaf; Cinquefoil, Silverweed; Horsetail, Field; Nettle, Stinging; Oak; Plantain; Shepherd's Purse; Yarrow

Sugar Level

Bitter - Birch; Yarrow
Glucoquinones - Nettle, Stinging; Whortleberry
glucose-modulatory - Burdock; Dandelion

Thinning

Anticoagulant - Bedstraw, Sweetscented; Cattail, Broadleaf

see also: Gut, Bowel - Gut Flora

Anticancer - Cattail, Broadleaf; Cleavers; Clover, Red; Daisy, Lawn; Dandelion; Knotweed, Japanese.; Shepherd's Purse
Resveratrol - Knotweed, Japanese
Rutin - Elderberry, Black; Hawthorn; Hop, Common

see also: Blood

General - Nettle, Stinging; Queen of the Meadow; Yarrow
Anthocyanin - Blackberry, Shrubby; Blackcurrant, European; Elderberry, Black; Whortleberry
Anthocyanosides - Blackberry, Shrubby; Blackcurrant, European; Cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccus (berries); Raspberry; Whortleberry
Cardiac - Bedstraw, Sweetscented; Hawthorn; Raspberry
Resveratrol - Knotweed, Japanese
Rutin - Elderberry, Black; Hawthorn; Hop, Common
Vasodilator - Bear Garlic; Burdock; Hawthorn; Shepherd's Purse; Whortleberry; Yarrow
Vasoconstrictor - Shepherd's purse

Arteriosclerosis

Dandelion; Hawthorn; Queen of the Meadow; Shepherd's Purse

High Blood Pressure

Hypotensive - Bear Garlic; Nettle, Stinging; Shepherd's purse
Vasodilator - Bear Garlic; Burdock; Hawthorn; Shepherd's Purse; Whortleberry; Yarrow

Varicose Veins

Bedstraw, Sweetscented; Shepherd's Purse; Whortleberry

Strawberry

Antispasmodic - Bear Garlic; Bedstraw, Sweetscented; Cinquefoil, Silverweed; Daisy, Lawn; Fireweed; Hawthorn; Hop, Common; Mustard, Hedge; Valerian, Garden Valeriana officinalis (root); Yarrow

see also: Gut, Bowel; Liver, Gallbladder, Spleen

General - Plantain

Appetite, Digestion

Bitter - Birch; Yarrow
Sialagogue - Currant, Cultivated
Stomachic - Blackthorn; Burdock; Dandelion; Filbert, Common; Hop, Common; Knotweed, Japanese; Mustard, Hedge; Queen of the Meadow
Digestive - Nettle, Stinging; Yarrow
Indigestion - Bear Garlic; Cinquefoil, Silverweed

Gastritis

Rose, Dog

Nausea

Antiemetic - Queen of the Meadow; Reed, Common

Ophthalmic - Chickweed, Common; Daisy, Lawn; Plantain; Raspberry; Rose
also - Elderberry, Black; Maple, Sycamore; Plantain; Raspberry

Night Vision

Anthocyanin - Blackberry, Shrubby; Blackcurrant, European; Elderberry, Black (berries); Whortleberry
Anthocyanosides - Blackberry, Shrubby; Blackcurrant, European; Cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccus; Whortleberry

Febrifuge - Bear Garlic; Beech; Bindweed, Hedge; Blackthorn; Cleavers; Elderberry, Black; Filbert, Common; Hop, Common; Knotweed, Japanese; Reed, Common; Sorrel; Woodsorrel, Common
Refrigerant - Cattail, Broadleaf; Chickweed, Common; Currants; Plantain; Raspberry; Reed, Common

Anti-fungal - Burdock; Nettle, Stinging

see also: Digestive Tract

Cleanse (scour)

Plantain

Constipation

Aperient - Blackthorn; Burdock; Cleavers; Currant, Cultivated; Quackgrass; Spoonwort
Laxative - Birch; Blackthorn; Chickweed, Common; Daisy, Lawn; Dandelion; Dock; Fireweed; Knotweed, Japanese; Mustard, Hedge; Plantain; Rose, Dog; Sorrel; Strawberry; Whortleberry;
Purgative - Bindweed, Hedge; Daisy, Lawn; Deadnettle, Purple; Elderberry, Black

Diarrhoea

Anti-diarrhoea - Hop, Common; Nettle, Stinging
Astringent - Bear Garlic; Birch; Blackberry, Shrubby; Blackthorn; Cattail, Broadleaf; Chestnut, European; Chickweed, Common; Cinquefoil, Silverweed; Cleavers; Deadnettle, Purple; Dock; Filbert, Common; Fireweed; Horsetail, Field; Maple, Sycamore; Nettle, Stinging; Oak; Plantain; Queen of the Meadow; Raspberry; Reed, Common; Rose, Dog; Shepherd's Purse; Sorrel; Strawberry; Whortleberry; Woodsorrel, Common; Yarrow

Flatulence

Carminative - Bear Garlic; Burdock; Chickweed; Horsetail, Field; Rose, Dog; Yarrow

Gut Flora

Lactobacilli – in roots like Burdock, Dandelion, and probably others

Haemorrhoids

Cinquefoil, Silverweed; Dock; Nettle, Stinging; Oak; Shepherd's Purse; Whortleberry

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Fireweed

Worms and other Parasites

Anthelmintic - Bear Garlic; Filbert, Common; Sorrel; Tansy Tanacetum vulgare (aerial parts); Wormwood Artemisia absinthium
Vermifuge - Bear Garlic; Hop, Common; Mustard, Garlic; Plantain; Quackgrass; Rose, Dog

Aid Childbirth

Oxytoxic - Raspberry; Shepherd's Purse

Candida

Blackberry, Shrubby; Chickweed; Dandelion; Fireweed; Horsetail, Field

Milk Flow

Galactagogue - Cattail, Broadleaf; Chickweed; Elderberry, Black; Horsetail, Field; Nettle, Stinging

Prevent Pregnancy

anti-fertility - Shepherd's Purse

Menopause

Clover, Red

Menstruation

Emmenagogue - Cattail, Broadleaf; Chickweed; Cinquefoil, Silverweed; Daisy, Lawn; Nettle, Stinging; Raspberry; Shepherd's Purse; Woodsorrel, Common; Yarrow

Vaginitis

Cattail, Broadleaf; Oak

see also: Pain

General - Bedstraw, Sweetscented; Nettle, Stinging
Nervine - Hop, Common
Sedative - Bedstraw, Sweetscented; Bishop's Goutweed; Cattail, Broadleaf; Cinquefoil, Silverweed; Clover, Red; Hawthorn; Hop, Common; Primroas, Cowslip Primula veris (root, petals); Reed, Common; Spruce; St. John's Wort Hypericum perforatum (aerial parts); Valerian, Garden Valeriana officinalis (root)

General - Burdock; Rose, Dog
Antibacterial - Burdock; Dandelions; Whortleberry
Anti-fungal - Burdock; Nettle, Stinging
Antimicrobial - Quackgrass
Antiseptic - Bear Garlic; Beech; Hop, Common; Horsetail, Field; Mustard, Garlic; Oak; Plantain; Queen of the Meadow; Spruce; Whortleberry; Yarrow
Detergent - Clover, Red

Colds, Influenza

Rose, Dog; Yarrow

see also: Infections; Rheumatic Conditions; Wounds

Anti-inflammatory - Bedstraw, Sweetscented; Blackberry, Shrubby; Burdock; Cattail, Broadleaf; Chestnut, European; Cinquefoil, Silverweed; Cleavers; Fireweed; Hop, Common; Mustard, Garlic; Nettle, Stinging; Quackgrass; Queen of the Meadow; Raspberry; St. John's Wort Hypericum perforatum (aerial parts); Yarrow
Demulcent - Bindweed, Hedge; Chickweed; Daisy, Lawn; Fireweed; Mallow, Common Marsh Althaea officinalis (leaves, flowers); Plantain; Quackgrass;
Emollient - Chickweed, Common; Comfrey Symphytum officinale (leaves, root); Daisy, Lawn; Fireweed; Knotweed, Japanese; Mallow, Common Marsh Althaea officinalis (leaves, flowers); Quackgrass;
Quercetin - Hawthorn
Resveratrol - Knotweed, Japanese

see also: Headache, Stress

General - Bedstraw, Sweetscented; Cleavers; Hawthorn; Hop, Common; Queen of the Meadow
Hypnotic - Hop, Common; Valerian, Garden Valeriana officinalis (root)

see also: Rheumatic Conditions; Inflammations

Bishop's Goutweed; Chestnut, European; Currant, Cultivated; Daisy, Lawn; Elderberry, Black

General - Daisy, Lawn; Plantain; Quackgrass; Shepherd's Purse; Yarrow
Diuretic - Bear Garlic; Bindweed, Hedge; Birch; Bishop's Goutweed; Blackberry, Shrubby; Blackthorn; Burdock; Cattail, Broadleaf; Chickweed, Common; Cinquefoil, Silverweed; Cleavers; Dandelion; Deadnettle, Purple; Elderberry, Black; Hawthorn; Hop, Common; Horsetail, Field; Knotweed, Japanese; Mustard, Hedge ; Nettle, Stinging; Plantain; Quackgrass; Queen of the Meadow; Raspberry; Reed, Common; Rose, Dog; Shepherd's Purse; Sorrel; Spoonwort; Strawberry; Whortleberry; Woodsorrel, Common; Yarrow
Lithontripic - Birch; Cattail, Broadleaf; Nettle, Stinging; Parsley Piert Aphanes arvensis (aerial parts); Quackgrass; Queen of the Meadow; Reed, Common

Cystitis

Birch; Blackberry, Shrubby; Blackthorn; Cattail, Broadleaf; Cleavers; Cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccus (fruit); Hop, Common; Horsetail, Field; Nettle, Stinging; Quackgrass; Queen of the Meadow

Bedwetting

Horsetail, Field; Nettle, Stinging

General - Daisy, Lawn; Quackgrass; Strawberry
Bitter - Birch; Yarrow
Cholagogue - Bear Garlic; Burdock; Dandelion; Dock; Yarrow
Hepatic - Bedstraw, Sweetscented; Cleavers; Dandelion; Dock; Hop, Common; Sorrel, Garden; Yarrow

Chickweed, Common

see also: Cardiovascular System - vasodilator

Anthocyanin - Blackberry, Shrubby; Blackcurrant, European; Elderberry, Black (berries); Whortleberry

Toothache

see also: Pain

Odontalgic - Beech; Cinquefoil, Silverweed; Goldenrod Solidago virgaurea (chew root); Reed, Common; Yarrow

Ulcers

Daisy, Lawn; Fireweed; Whortleberry

Analgesic - Cinquefoil, Silverweed; Queen of the Meadow; St. John's Wort Hypericum perforatum (aerial parts)
Anodyne - Daisy, Lawn; Horsetail, Field; Hop, Common; Woodsorrel, Common

Antidote - Reed, Common
Emetic - Elderberry, Black

Fireweed; Horsetail, Field; Nettle, Stinging

see also: Infections – Colds, Influenza

Pectoral - Catsear; Elderberry, Black

Asthma

Anti-asthmatic - Bear Garlic; Mustard, Garlic; Nettle, Stinging; Reed, Common

Bronchitis

Bear Garlic; Mustard, Garlic; Reed, Common

Cough

see also: Blockages

General - Blackberry, Shrubby; Burdock; Chestnut, European; Clover, Red; Hop, Common; Horsetail, Field
Antitussive - Beech; Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara (leaves); Daisy, Lawn; Reed, Common
Demulcent - Bindweed, Hedge; Chickweed, Common; Daisy, Lawn; Plantain; Fireweed; Mallow, Common Marsh Althaea officinalis (leaves, flowers); Quackgrass;
Expectorant - Bear Garlic; Beech; Chestnut, European; Chickweed, Common; Cinquefoil, Silverweed; Daisy, Lawn; Elderberry, Black; Mustard, Hedge; Spruce; Woodsorrel, Common; Yarrow

Throat Infections

Cinquefoil, Silverweed; Cleavers

Voice

Antiaphonic - Blackberry, Shrubby; Horsetail, Field; Mustard, Hedge

see also: Inflammation; Kidney, Bladder; Joints, Muscles, Bones

Anti-rheumatic - Birch; Bishop's Goutweed; Blackthorn; Chestnut, European; Currant, Cultivated; Daisy, Lawn; Dandelion; Elderberry, Black; Hawthorn; Hop, Common; Horsetail, Field; Nettle, Stinging; Queen of the Meadow; Strawberry
Rubefacient - Bear Garlic; Horseradish Armoracia rusticana; Nettle, Stinging; Peppermint Mentha piperita (aerial parts)

see also: Inflammation; Wounds, Burns; Warts

General - Beech; Birch; Cleavers; Clover, Red; Dandelion; Dock; Hawthorn; Horsetail, Field; Maple, Sycamore; Mustard, Garlic; Nettle, Stinging; Oak; Sorrel, Common; Yarrow

Bites, Stings, Rashes

General - Bishop's Goutweed; Dock; Plantain
Antihistamine - Plantain
Emollient - Chickweed; Comfrey Symphytum officinale (leaves, root); Daisy, Lawn; Fireweed; Knotweed, Japanese; Mallow, Common Marsh Althaea officinalis (leaves, flowers); Quackgrass

Boils, Splinters

Bindweed, Hedge; Burdock; Cattail, Broadleaf; Daisy, Lawn; Hawthorn; Quackgrass; Sorrel, Common; Spruce; Whortleberry; Woodsorrel, Common

Psoriasis

General - sunshine; Cleavers; Dock
Fumaric acid - Fumitory, Drug Fumaria officinalis; Shepherd's Purse

Warts

Antiviral - Dandelion

see Kidney, Bladder – diuretic

see also: Blood - Reduce Bleeding; Infections; Inflammation; Skin

Antiseptic - Bear Garlic; Beech; Hop, Common; Horsetail, Field; Mustard, Garlic; Oak; Plantain; Queen of the Meadow; Spruce; Whortleberry; Yarrow
Astringent - Bear Garlic; Birch; Blackberry, Shrubby; Blackthorn; Cattail, Broadleaf; Chestnut, European; Chickweed, Common; Cinquefoil, Silverweed; Cleavers; Deadnettle, Purple; Dock; Filbert, Common; Fireweed; Horsetail, Field; Maple, Sycamore; Nettle, Stinging; Oak; Plantain; Queen of the Meadow; Raspberry; Reed, Common; Rose, Dog; Shepherd's Purse; Sorrel; Strawberry; Whortleberry; Woodsorrel, Common; Yarrow
Detergent - Clover, Red
Emollient - Chickweed; Comfrey Symphytum officinale (leaves, root); Daisy, Lawn; Fireweed; Knotweed, Japanese; Mallow, Common Marsh Althaea officinalis (leaves, flowers); Quackgrass
Vulnerary - Bishop's Goutweed; Blackberry, Shrubby; Burdock; Cattail, Broadleaf; Chickweed; Cleavers; Elderberry, Black; Horsetail, Field; Knotweed, Japanese; Mallow, Common Marsh Althaea officinalis (leaves, flowers); Maple, Sycamore; Mustard, Garlic; Plantain; Shepherd's Purse; St. John's Wort Hypericum perforatum (aerial parts); Yarrow

Ulcers

Spoonwort, Common; Strawberry, Wild