A

Artemisia absinthium

Wormwood (Artemisia spp.)

Used for: stomach problems, "liver insufficiency", blood circulation, deworming, topical anesthesia, pain relief,<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-theherbbook-7"> and vaginal steaming (A. absinthium, absinthe); Traditional Chinese medicine (A. annua, sweet wormwood, 青蒿)
Claimed to:

Prevent intestinal worms (but is not effective).<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-ww-221">
Wormwood has been used to treat uncomplicated malaria; like all known chemical treatments for malaria, it can cause resistance.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-222"> In , Tu Youyou was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her discovery and development of artemisinin, a chemical derived from A. annua, in the treatment of malaria.

Harmful effects:

Harmful effects: Side effects of large doses may include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, headache, dizziness, seizures, numbness of the legs and arms, delirium, paralysis, and kidney and liver failure.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-ww-221">
Wormwood contains thujone (e.g. as it occurs in small amounts in absinthe<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-223">), which is neurotoxic above the threshold so caution should be exercised for therapeutic usage.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-224">

Aconitum anthora

Aconite (Aconitum spp. )

Also called: aconitum, monkshood, wolfsbane, leopard's bane, mousebane, women's bane, devil's helmet, Queen of all Poisons, blue rocket
Usage

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM): many species are used as a general panacea, including as a diaphoretic, diuretic, arthritic, sedative, alterative, and deobstruent,<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-stuart-5"> and for rheumatism, bruises, arthritis, acute hypothermia, diarrhea, impotence, and yang imbalance.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-6">
In Western herbal medicine: (A. napellus) for pain relief, fever reduction, sedation.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-theherbbook-7">

There isn't enough evidence to know if it's good for anything.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-8">

Harmful effects:

Aconite is very poisonous, and ingestion may lead to nausea, vomiting, weakness, sweating, breathing problems, heart problems, and death.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-aconite-9">(Indeed, aconite was,<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-10"> and sometimes is,<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-11"> used as a poison.)
Topical use can also cause severe side effects.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-aconite-9">

Aloe vera

Aloe (Aloe vera)

Also called: Aloë, true aloe, in TCM: lúhuì (蘆薈)<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-read-12">
Usage'

In TCM: although not native to China, it is used as an anthelmintic, stomachic, and laxative, and for ecsema.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-stuart-5">
In Western herbal medicine: softening and smoothing skin (topical), purgative (oral), and wound healing (topical)<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-theherbbook-7">

Beneficial effects: It is effective for topical application to treat minor burns and some skin problems, but may possibly be too dangerous to use internally as a laxative for constipation.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-aloe-13"> Aloe was formerly promoted by some CAM practitioners as a cancer treatment, but it is ineffective, and some patients died after receiving aloe injections.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-aloe-13">
Harmful effects: A cancer study of aloe vera extract in rats and mice found that it "caused cancers of the large intestine in male and female rats and also caused hyperplasia of the large intestine, small intestine, stomach, and lymph nodes in male and female rats. Aloe vera extract also caused hyperplasia of the large intestine in male and female mice and hyperplasia of the mesenteric lymph node in male mice and hyperplasia of the stomach in female mice."<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-14">

Arnica montana

Arnica (Arnica montana, also known as "Leopard's Bane" or "Dog's Bane")

Claimed to: Help skin problems (not effective),<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-arnica-18">, induce perspiration, diuresis, expectoration, wound healing, and be a stimulant<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-theherbbook-7">
Harmful effects:

Topical arnica is generally safe, but "repeated use can cause skin reactions, severe inflammation, itching, blisters, skin ulcers, and other allergy-related skin problems," especially when used on broken skin.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-arnica-18">
Arnica is extremely toxic when ingested and shouldn't be taken internally.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-arnica-18">

Areca catechu

Betelnut (Areca catechu )

Also called: areca nut, paan; in TCM: bīnláng (檳榔)<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-read-12">
Preparation: Areca nuts are usually wrapped with Piper betel leaves and/or slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) and/or tobacco. The concoction is ingested.
Usage: traditional Chinese medicine for deworming, antiparasitic, malaria prophylaxis, and "foul-smelling" diseases.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-stuart-5"> Used in Southeast Asia to colourblacken teeth. It's also apparently "widely used in Ayurveda".<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-28">
Harmful effects:

Prolonged use can lead to mouth, liver, cervical, stomach, prostate, lung, and sweat gland cancer.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-betel-29"><wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-30"><wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-31"><wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-32">
Other side effects of betel nut/leaf include skin color changes, dilated pupils, blurred vision, wheezing/difficulty breathing, increased breathing rate, salivation, increased tearing, incontinence, sweating, diarrhea, fever, confusion, problems with eye movement, psychosis, amnesia, stimulant effects, and a feeling of euphoria.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-betel-29"> It can also cause dependence, and withdrawal can cause anxiety or memory lapse.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-betel-29"> Betel nut chewing can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, high or low blood pressure, and irregular heart beats.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-betel-29">
Usage may be associated with other diseases (HIV/AIDS, dengue fever, tuberculosis, and typhoid) due to immunosuppression, injury to the oral mucosa, and associated fecal-oral contamination of the betel quid ingredients.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-33">

A. californica

Birthwort (Aristolochia spp.)

See the main article on this topic: Aristolochia

Also called: pipevine, Dutchman's pipe
Usage: Ninety-nine species have been documented to be used ethnobotanically worldwide,<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-34"> so usage would tend to be that of a panacea overall. Some of the main usages are:

Traditional Chinese Medicine for various things, including eczema<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-35">
Ayurveda (A. indica)<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-36">
Western herbal medicine, particularly A. clematitis for promoting sweating, menstruation, reducing fever, inducing childbirth, and stimulation.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-theherbbook-7">

Harmful effects:

It contains aristolochic acid, (AA) which is a known human carcinogen, and causes kidney failure and upper urinary tract cancer.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-pnas-37">
Birthwort is considered to be a significant cause of kidney failure and upper urinary tract cancer in Taiwan,<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-pnas-37"> because of the popularity of herbal medicine there (approximately % of Taiwan's herbal medicine prescriptions contain aristolochic acid,<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-pnas-37"> and AA has been ingested by approximately % of Taiwan's population.)<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-38">The Taiwanese Department of Health banned its use in cosmetics and commercial skincare preparations in .<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-39">
In Belgium, a weight loss spa using TCM herbs gave its clients herbal supplements containing birthwort, and as a result, more than out of of its patients developed kidney failure, and several also developed urothelial and bladder cancers. Because Traditional Chinese Medicine allows for the substitution of identically or similarly named plants, plants that are botanically unrelated may be substituted. In this case, the relatively safe Stephania tetrandra (漢防己, Han Fang Ji) was intended for the clients, but the lethal Aristolochia fangchi (廣防己, Guang Fang Ji) was given to the clients.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-40">
European birthwort (Aristolochia clematitis) is also used as a medicinal plant and contains aristolochic acid. It has been linked to thousands of cases of kidney failure (Balkan endemic nephropathy ) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Serbia.
The true number of cases of aristolochic acid nephropathy (usually fatal) is unknown and is probably underestimated.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-41">

Actaea racemosa

Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa)

Also called: black bugbane, black snakeroot, fairy candle
Claimed to: reduce spasms, contract tissues, increase urination, increase menstruation, increase mucous, and be a sedative<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-theherbbook-7">
Harmful effects: may include stomach upset, cramping, headache, rash, a feeling of heaviness, vaginal spotting or bleeding, and weight gain.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-46">

Angelica sinensis

Dong quai (Angelica sinensis); 當歸

Usage: traditional Chinese medicine.
Harmful effects: It may be dangerous to take dong quai in large amounts for a long time because it contains carcinogens.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-dq-85"> Dong quai can cause skin to be more sensitive to sunlight, thus possibly increasing the risk of skin cancer.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-dq-85"> It may or may not act like estrogen in the body.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-dq-85"> It can slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding, and so should not be taken less than weeks before surgery.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-dqmc-86"> Dong quai may increase the risk of miscarriage.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-dqmc-86">

Allium sativum

Garlic (Allium sativum)

In traditional Chinese medicine: It is known as suàn (蒜).<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-read-12"> "The medicinal virtues of garlic are considered to be many. It is thought to have a special influence upon the spleen, stomach, and kidneys, acting as a sedative and removing poisons. It is supposed to correct the unwholesomeness of water, to destroy the noxious effect of putrid meat and fish, and to prevent goitre and pestilential diseases."<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-stuart-5">
In Western herbal medicine: Used for constipation, poor digestion, intestinal worms, dysentery, cholera, typhoid and paratyphoid.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-theherbbook-7"> Lowers blood cholesterol and blood pressure,<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-theherbbook-7"> Lowers blood sugar. Reduces risk of certain cancers. Fights minor viral infections such as cold and sore throat.<wiki/Help:References" title="Help:References">
Truth:

Known antimicrobial effect in vitro, tests suggest some effect on throat infections in greater-than-typical amounts.
Cancer claims based on large-scale statistics of incidence and diet, probably bullshit.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-100">
A meta-analysis showed consistent evidence that garlic powder intake reduces the cardiovascular disease risk factors of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and blood pressure.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-101">
Garlic consumption increases cellular hydrogen sulfide (HS) production.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-102"> Increased production of cellular HS is likely behind the life-extension effects of caloric restriction in animals.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-103"><wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-104">
Seductive effect on body odor well-documented and conclusive. Freshens breath for up to twelve hours.

Side effects:

Bad breath, a burning sensation in the mouth or stomach, heartburn, gas, nausea, vomiting, body odor, diarrhea, and an increased risk of bleeding.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-Garlic-105">
"Asthma has been reported in people working with garlic, and other allergic reactions are possible."<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-Garlic-105">

Aesculus hippocastanumfruit and nut

Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)

Used for: varicose veins, skin ulcers, hemorrhoids, neuralgia and sunburn.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-theherbbook-7">
Standardized horse chestnut seed extract is good for varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency, and symptoms of poor blood circulation.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-horse-130">
Standardized, esculin-free horse chestnut seed extract is mostly safe, with side effects including dizziness, headache, stomach upset, and itching.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-horse-130"> It may lower blood sugar.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-horse-130"><wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-131"> Raw horse chestnut seed, leaf, bark, and flower, on the other hand, are toxic and can be lethal.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-horse-130">

Artemisia vulgaris

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)

In TCM: ai (艾) refers to A. vulgaris.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-read-12"> Other species of Artemisia are also used.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-stuart-5"> A. vulgaris is used in moxibustion, and is regarded as a panacea.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-stuart-5">
Used for: improving appetite and digestion, laxative, menstrual regulation, gout, rheumatism, tired legs,<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-theherbbook-7"> vaginal steaming, homeopathy, and moxibustion.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-ACS-161">
Claimed to: to treat everything under the sun.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-ACS-161">
Side effects: the allergenic qualities of American ragweed. Mugwort and can cause hay fever, rashes, and other irritations. It also appears to be related to some food allergies.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-ACS-161">
Benefits: No evidence that it does anything useful.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-ACS-161">

Mu Tong (Aristolochia manshuriensis or Akebia spp.)

"Mu tong" (木通) is a conflation of two unrelated genera, one highly dangerous (Aristolochia spp.) and one not so dangerous (Akebia spp.). For the dangerous one, see Birthwort.

Used in: traditional Chinese medicine for "relieving excess fire" and "stimulating the secretion of milk".<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-162">
Harmful effects: May cause fatal kidney failure because all Aristolochia species contain aristolochic acid.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-163">

Azadirachta indica

Neem (Azadirachta indica)

Not known to be effective for anything.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-neem-164"> Also used non-medicinally as a pesticide.
Safe when taken short-term by adults.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-neem-164"> Neem is contraindicated for children, because it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, blood disorders, seizures, loss of consciousness, coma, brain disorders, and death.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-neem-164"> High-dose or long-term internal use by adults is dangerous, and can harm the kidneys and liver, lower blood sugar, and cause infertility and miscarriages.<wiki/List_of_medicinal_plants#cite_note-neem-164">

Latest News

Popular

A