Urban Herbs

Bamboo: dried sap taken for cough with copious yellow mucus, shavings taken for cough with copious sputum or sour stomach with vomiting, young shoots eaten as a vegetable

Black Cohosh:root taken for menopausal syndrome, PMS, colds, early stage measles, oral infections

Burdock:seeds taken for sore throat, root for fevers, skin diseases, boils, gout, root wash used externally for dandruff, burns, skin irritations, and wounds, mature root eaten as carrot-like vegetable

Black-Eyed Susan: root taken for worms and colds, root wash used externally for sores, snakebites, swelling, juice used topically for earaches

Castor Bean: seed oil taken as a laxative and to induce labor, seed oil used externally for ringworm, itching, piles, sores, abscesses

Chicory: rosted root taken for liver inflammation and constipation, leaf poultice used topically for eye inflammation and pimples, roasted root as coffee substitute, leaves nutritious edible

Chickweed: aerial parts taken for coughs, aerial parts used topically as poultice or salve for inflammatory, itchy, or dry skin conditions, aerial parts are nutritious edible

Cleavers: aerial parts taken as blood purifier, diuretic for bladder and kidney inflammation, edema, and kidney stones

Dandelion: whole plant taken for infections, leaves taken for urinary issues and edema, root taken as blood purifier and for liver disorders, jaundice, constipation, latex used topically for freckles and warts, whole plant used topically for infections, leaves are nutritious edible, good for anemia

Dogwood: inner bark of native species taken for diarrhea and malarial fevers, quinine substitute, non-native kousa dogwood species has edible fruits

Echinacea: root taken for pathogen exposure and low immunity, lymphatic congestion, swelling of the prostate, root used topically as a wash for burns and herpes, juice of root used topically for acne, infections, swollen lymph glands, pain, insect bites, root poultice used topically for bites and stings, enlarged glands, mumps, rheumatic swellings, root decoction used as a douche for chronic yeast infections, root chewed for toothaches and bleeding gums

Evening Primrose: stems and leaves taken for irritated intestines, diarrhea, nervous indigestion, colic, asthma, spasmodic coughs, oil taken for dry, itchy skin issues and poor wound healing, poultice of stems and leaves used topically to soothe skin eruptions, oil used topically for eczema, psoriasis, skin irritations, acne, dry skin, itchy skin, rosacea, poor wound healing

Fennel: seeds taken for coughs, muscular cramping, intestinal gas and abdominal pain, root eaten as a vegetable, seed used as a culinary spice

Fleabane: whole plant taken for diarrhea, kidney stones, painful urination, bleeding

Forsythia: seed taken for colds, fevers, sore throat, abscesses, sores

Ginkgo: leaf taken for poor memory, alzheimer's, dementia, nut taken for chronic coughs, cough with copious sputum, wheezing., urinary and vaginal infections

Goldenrod: flowering tops taken for bladder and kidney ailments, fevers, diarrhea, dysentery, snakebites, antihistamine for nasal congestion and inflammation, rhinitis, and seasonal allergies, leaf taken for menstrual regulation, root taken for kidney ailments, leaf poultice used topically for wounds, root poultice used topically for burns, lesions, rashes, wounds, snakebites

Ground Cherry: edible fruit

Ground Ivy: leaf taken for lung ailments, asthma, jaundice, kidney ailments, and as blood purifier, wash of leaves used externally for backaches, bruises, and plies

Holly: leaf taken for measels, cold, flu, pneumonia, wash of leaves used externally for sore eyes, sores, and itching

Honeysuckle: flower buds taken for infections, colds, heat stroke, urinary infections, bacterial dysentery, laryngitis, enteritis, flu and fevers, wash of flower tea used externally for scabies, sores, rheumatism, and tumors

Hops: flower taken as sedative for insomnia, cramps, coughs, fevers, urinary retention, wash of flowers used externally for boils, bruises, inflammation, and rheumatism

Japanese Knotweed: whole plant taken for urinary infections with painful dribbling, intestinal parasites, damp or weepy skin, rashes, small shoots 6-8 inches eaten as a vegetable

Jewelweed: stem and leaf juice used topically as an antidote for poison Ivy rashes and insect bites, whole young plants edible as a vegetable

Joe-Pye Weed: root taken for kidney stones, urinary incontinence, edema, gout

Kudzu: root taken for colds with stiff neck and shoulders, rashes not fully expressed (like measles), excessive thirst due to acidic stomach, diabetes, alcohol withdrawal, high blood pressure, and eye swelling related to glaucoma

Lamb's Quarters: leaves internally for stomach aches, leaf poultice for burns and insect bites, edible leaves, seeds boiled as cereal or dried and ground as flour

Lavender: essential oil topically for burns, wounds, eczema, acne, rosacea, herpes, insect bites, stretch marks, scars, infections, asthma, spasmodic coughs, influenza, bronchitis, muscle spasms, muscle and nerve pain, menstrual pain, irritability, insomnia, stress, hypertension, anxiety, depression, headaches, migraines, flower tea taken for acne, headaches, psoriasis, insomnia, stress, muscle spasms, stomach upset, excess intestinal gas, flowers added to baths as a treatment for yeast infections

Lily: root taken forr chronic, dry coughs, edible flowers, shoots and tubers

Lupine: leaves taken for nausea and internal hemorrhage

Magnolia: flower buds taken for nasal congestion or obstruction, sinus headaches, and diminished or absent sense of smell

Mayapple: root taken as a purgative and as a treatment for cancer, red ripe fruits are edible

Mimosa: bark and flowers are taken for depression and insomnia

Mulberry: leaf taken for dry coughs, and red, sore or painful eyes, fruit taken for constipation due to dryness

Mullein: leaf taken as expectorant, demulcent, and antispasmodic for coughs, asthma, bronchitis, sore throat, respiratory congestion, fevers, leaf boiled with honey and used as cough syrup, root taken for diarrhea with blood, leaves smoked for wet coughs, asthma, healing lungs after quitting smoking cigarettes, flowers soaked in olive oil with garlic cloves used topically for ear infections, leaves used topically as a compress for wounds, hemorrhoids, bloodshot eyes, pain, swellings, bruises, sprains, swollen glands, abscesses, sores, arthritic joints, earaches, toothaches, cuts

Nettles: leaf taken for allergies, kidney and bladder infections, osteoarthritis, hemorrhaging, and as a blood purifier, leaf poultice applied topically for arthritis, leaves are edible and high in iron and protein

Oak: bark for diarrhea, dysentery, chronic mucous discharge, bleeding, anal prolapse, and hemorrhoids, bark decoction gargled for sore throat

Queen Ann's Lace: tea of seeds and root taken as a diuretic, worm expellant, morning after contraception

Persimmon: inner bark taken as a gargle for sore throat and thrush, edible fruits, sweetest after first frost

Plantain: leaf infusion for coughs, bloody urine, diarrhea, leaves used topically as poultice for stings, burns rashes, inflammatory skin disorders, sores, blisters, ulcers, swelling

Poke weed: berries taken for for rheumatism, arthritis and dysentery, root poultice used topicallu for rheumatism, nerve damage pain, and bruises, young leaves are edible if boiled in several changes of water

Purslane: whole plant taken for infectious diarrhea, urinary infections, carbuncels, vaginal infections, whole plant poultice used topically for pain and swelling of of wasp stings and snakebites, aerials part are edible and very high in omega 3 fatty acids

Raspberry: leaf and roots taken for diarrhea, dysentery, for strengthening uterus in preparation for birth and for painful menstruation

Red Bud: inner bark taken for diarrhea and dysentary, flowers and young seed pods are edible

Red Clover: -flowers taken for irregular hormone cycles, menopausal symptoms, dry coughs, ulcers, sores, and burns, leaves and flowers are edible

Rose: flower buds taken for menstrual pain, rose hips taken for vitamin C

Rosemary: leaf taken for mental clarity, memory, sinus congestion, exhaustion, leaves used as culinary spice

Self-Heal: leaf taken for fevers, diarrhea, whole plant taken for conjunctivitis, boils, scrofula, and as a diuretic for kidney ailmnets, leaf tea used topically as a gargle for sore throats and mouth sores and as a wash for ulcers, wounds, bruises, sores

Service Berry: root bark taken for diarrhea and excessive menstrual bleeding, berries are edible

Smartweed: leaf taken for fevers, chills, internal bleeding, and painful or bloody urination, leaf poultice used topically for pain and piles

Spring onion: whole plant taken for very early stages of colds, root and leaves edible as vegetable

Strawberry: leaf taken for diarrhea, laryngitis, coughs, and as a uterine tonic during pregnancy, whole plant used topically sa a poultice or wash for abscesses, boils, burns, stings, eczema, ringworm, rheumatism, and traumatic injuries

Sweet Gum: fruit taken for epigastric pain, menstrual irregularities, and arthritis, -gum chewed as a topical treatment for sore throats and used in salves for sores, ulcers, wounds, itching, bruises, parasites

Thistle: leaf taken as a tonic and diuretic, root taken for dysentery and diarrhea, leaf tea used externally as a wash for skin eruptions, skin ulcers, and poison ivy rash

Tulip Poplar: bark taken for indigestion, dysentery, rheumatism, pinworm, fevers, bark tea used as a wans externally for fractures and wounds, boils, snakebites, ointment of nectar used topically for burns and inflammation

Violet: flowers and leaves taken as blood purifier, for lung congestion and infections, red swollen, eyes, swollen painful throat, sores, abscesses, edible leaves and flowers, leaf poultice for skin irritations, small wounds, rashes, sores and abscesses

Wild Sumac: leaves used as culinary spice and smoked with tobacco, flowering tops infused as tea

Willow: inner barkfor diarrhea, fevers, pain, arthritis, rheumatism, bark poultice for corns, cuts, ulcers, poison ivy, contains salacilic acid, precursor to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)

Wood Sorrel: yields green dye, edible, high in vitamin C, fresh leaves applied as poultice for tumors, sores and ulcers, chewed for nausea, moth sores, and sore throat, leaf tea for fevers, urinary infections and scurvy

Yarrow: poultice topically to stops bleeding and pain, essential oil inhaled for colds and flu virus, infusion of flowering tops for pain, infections, and as appetite stimulant

Yellow Dock: root decoction promotes urination and bowel movements., purifies blood, treats liver diseases and chronic skin conditions, young leaves are edible and high in vitamins A and C, yields black dye

Yucca: edible flowers, root as soap and fish poison, fibers made into rope