Secret Herbal Formulas - Herb Listings

Illustrated herbal encyclopedia

H - Herb Listings

Alphabetical Herb Listing

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Hawthorn Berries

Crataegus species

Parts Used & Dosage

Common Names: English Hawthorn, May Bush, May Tree, Quickset, Thorn-apple Tree, Whitethorn.

Properties and Uses: Antispasmodic, cardiac, sedative, vasodilator. Used to normalize blood pressure by regulating the heart's action. Used over a long period of time it will lower blood pressure, or raise blood pressure, depending on which problem is present. It strengthens aged hearts, used to treat myocaditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), for arteriosclerosis, and nervous heart problems. It is also good for other conditions brought on by nerves such as insomnia.

Heal All Herb

Prunella vulgaris

Parts Used & Dosage

Common Names: Wound Wort, Hercules Wound Wort, Panay, All Heal, Self-heal, Prunella, Hook-Heal, Brunella, Heart of the Earth, Blue Curls, Blue Curls, Brownwort, Carpenter's Herb, Carpenter's Weed, Hercules Woundwort, Hock-heal, Sicklewort.

Properties and Uses: Antispasmodic, astringent, bitter tonic, diuretic, styptic, vermifuge, vulnerary. Use for internal wounds, as a gargle for throat ailments, pharyngitis, stomatitis, thrush, hemorrhage, diarrhea, convulsions, and to expel worms, to clean foreign matter from wounds. It is said to make and excellent ingredient in healing salves.

Henna Leaf

Lawsonia inermis

Parts Used & Dosage

Common Names: Alcanna, Egyptian Privet, Jamaica Mignonette, Mignonette Tree, Reseda.

Properties and Uses: Astringent. The decoction is used as a gargle, for skin problems, and headaches.

Hibiscus Flowers

Hibiscus sabdariffa

Parts Used & Dosage

Common Names: Musk Seed Plant, Rose Mallow, Syrian Mallow, Target-leaved Hibiscus, Water Mallow.

Properties and Uses: Antispasmodic, nervine, stomachic. The emulsion made from the seed is used for spasmodic ailments; made with milk it is used for itching. The seeds are used for chewing to relieve stomach ailments, soothe nerves, and to sweeten the breath, and as an aphrodisiac.

Hop Flowers

Humulus lupulus

Parts Used & Dosage

Properties and Uses: Anodyne, diuretic, febrifuge, hypnotic, sedative, tonic. Used for calming the nerves, nervous diarrhea, insomnia, restlessness, to stimulate the appetite, stop flatulence, intestinal cramping. When combined with fragrant valerian, it is used for coughs and nervous spasmodic ailments. The cold tea is used for digestion, taken 1 hour before meals. It aids in eliminating water from the body, as well as excess uric acid. It is included in sleep pillows used to treat insomnia.

Horehound Herb

Marrubium vulgare

Parts Used & Dosage

Common Names: Hoarhound, Marrubium, White Horehound.

Medicinal Parts: Herb.

Properties and Uses: Diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, stimulant, tonic. Use for coughing, chronic bronchitis, hoarseness, typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, to restore the normal secretion balance of many organs and glands, for nervous heart ailments, to calm the heart's action, as a stomach tonic when taken cold, externally for persistent skin ailments.

Horseradish Root

Armoracia rusticana

Parts Used & Dosage

This herb is used as a digestive stimulant to expel gas and cramping. Also used in the early stages for colds to encourage circulation, as an inhalant in steam to loosen up tight mucus in the lungs.

Horsetail Herb

Equisetum arvense

Parts Used & Dosage

Common Names: Field Horsetail, Bottlebrush, Pewterwort, Scouring Rush, Pewterwort.

Properties and Uses: Diuretic, astringent, emmenagogue used for dropsy, gravel, and kidney infections, acidity of the stomach, dyspepsia, hemorrhage, cystic ulceration and ulcers in the urinary passages, and to stop bleeding of wounds and speed healing and ease swelling. Because of its high silica content it is used in emphysema, asthma, and kidney disorder as it stabilizes scar tissue. It is said to strengthen tissues high in elastin properties in the lungs and kidneys, as well as reduce wrinkles.

Hydrangea Root

Hydrangea arborescens

Parts Used & Dosage

It is said this herb will help prevent gravel and stones in the kidney and help dissolve hard deposits in the urinary system and veins, as well as infections like cystitis. Used also for enlarged or inflamed glands.

Hyssop Herb

Hyssopus officinalis

Parts Used & Dosage

Of Greek origin, hyssop was used to purify sacred places, and is alluded to in the Holy Bible: "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean."

Properties and Uses: Astringent, carminative, emmenagogue, expectorant, stimulant, stomachic, tonic. Used for poor digestion, coughs, nose and throat infections, intestinal catarrh, flatulence, dropsy, jaundice, to relieve inflammations, as a wash for burns, bruises, skin irritations, as a gargle for sore throat or chronic catarrh. The crushed leaves are good to apply to bruises, wounds, promote healing and cure infection. Said to be an anti-viral which will produce sweating during illness when the skin is dry and feverish, and a relaxing nervine for states of anxiety.

Disclaimer:

Everything written in this book is for for educational purposes only and is not intended as treatment, diagnosis, or prescription of any kind. What the individual who reads this information does with that information, is solely that individual's responsibility.