Hericium spp.
Hericium Mushroom
Hernaria glabra
Herniawort
Hibiscus spp.
Hibiscus
Hieracium pilosella
Mouse Ear
Humulus lupulus
Hops
Hydrangea arborescens
Hydrangea
Hydrastis canadensis
Goldenseal
Hydrocotyle asiatica
Gotu Kola (old name for Centella)
Hypericum perforatum
St. John’s Wort (can cause sun sensitivity)
Hyoscyamus niger
Witch’s Hat (toxic; homeopathic only)
Hyssopus officinalis
Hyssop
Ignatia amara
St. Ignatia’s Bean (exotic toxic; homeopathic)
Ilex aquifolium
English Holly
Ilex paraguariensis
Yerba Mate
Illicum verum
Star Anise (cousins have mild toxicity)
Inonotus obliquus
Chaga Mushroom
Inula helenium
Elecampane
Ipecacuanha (see Cephaelis ipecacuanha)
Iris versicolor
Blue Flag
Isatis tinctoria
Indigo
Jeffersonia diphylla
Twinleaf
Juglans cinerea
Butternut (purgative)
Juglans nigra
Black Walnut (purgative)
Juglans regia
English Walnut (purgative)
Juniperus communis
Juniper
Krameria triandra
Krameria, Ratanhia
Lactuca virosa
Wild Lettuce
Lamium spp.
Dead Nettle
Larix laricina
Larch, Tamarack
Larrea divaricata
Chaparral (not approved by FDA; moderate doses)
Lavandula spica
Lavender
Ledum groenlandica, L. palustris
Labrador Tea
(Note: Ledums above were recently renamed Rhododendrum groenlandicum, R. tomentosum.)
Lentinula edodes
Shiitake Mushroom
Leonurus cardiaca
Motherwort
Lepidium meyenii
Maca
Levisticum officinale
Lovage
Liatris spicata
Corn Snakeroot
Ligusticum porteri
Osha
Lilium candidum
Madonna Lily (interchangeable with the following)
Lilium longiflorum, L. brownii
Easter Lily
Lilium tigrinum
Tiger Lily
Linum usitatissimum
Flaxseed (the fresh seed is ground to make a poultice or for internal consumption; the refrigerated fresh oil is taken internally; the oxidized or aged oil, called linseed oil in the United States, is toxic; the name linseed can mean flaxseed in other countries)
Liriodendron tulipifera
Tulip Tree
Liriosma ovata
Muira Puama
Lithospermum officinale
Gromwell
Lobelia inflata
Lobelia
Lomatium dissectum
Bear Root
Lonicera spp.
Honeysuckle (flowers; berries are toxic)
Lycium chinensis
Goji, Lycii Berry
Lycopodium clavatum
Wolf’s Foot Club Moss (homeopathic, occasionally herbal)
Lycopus virginicus, L. americanus, L. europaeus
Bugleweed
Lysimachia nummularia
Moneywort
Mahonia spp.
Oregon Grape Root
Majorana hortensis
Marjoram (also Origanum majorana)
Malus spp.
Crab Apple
Malva neglecta
Low Mallow
Marrubium vulgare
White Horehound
German Camomile (see Chamomilla)
Medicago sativa
Alfalfa
Melaleuca alternifolia
Tea Tree, Cajeput
Melilotus officinalis
Yellow Clover
Melissa officinalis
Lemon Balm
Menispermum canadense
Moonseed
Mentha arvensis
Wild Mint
Mentha piperita
Peppermint (long-term use not advised)
Mentha pulegium
English Pennyroyal
Mentha spicata
Spearmint
Menyanthes trifoliata
Bogbean, Bog Trefoil
Mitchella repens
Partridge Berry
Momordica charantia
Bitter Melon
Monarda fistulosa
Wild Bergamot
Monarda punctata
Horse Mint
(Note: The two Monardas above are not identical in action.)
Monotropa uniflora
Ghost Pipe
Myrica cerifera
Bayberry
Myristica fragrans
Nutmeg
Nepeta cataria
Catnip
Nepeta hederacea (see Glechoma hederacea)
Nigella sativa
Black Cumin
Nuphar lutea
Yellow Water Lily
Nux vomica
(exotic toxic; homeopathic)
Nymphaea odorata
White Water Lily
Ocimum sanctum, O. tenuiflorum
Holy Basil
Oenothera biennis
Evening Primrose
Olea europaea
Olive (leaf and oil)
Ononis spinosa
Restharrow
Onosmodium spp.
False Gromwell
Oplopanax horridus
Devil’s Club
Opuntia spp.
Opuntia, Prickly Pear
Origanum majorana (see Majorana hortensis)
Origanum vulgare
Oregano
Osmorhiza longistylis
American Sweet Cicely
Osmunda regali
Royal Fern
Oxydendrum arboreum
Sourwood
Paeonia lactiflora
White Peony
Panax ginseng
Chinese Ginseng, Red Ginseng
Panax notoginseng
Tienchi Ginseng
Panax quinquefolius
American Ginseng
Papaver somnifera
Opium Poppy (flowers and seeds only; latex is illegal)
Parietaria officinalis
Pellitory-of-the-Wall
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Virginia Creeper (see Ampelopsis hederacea)
Passiflora incarnata
Passionflower
Pedicularis spp.
American Betony
Persicaria maculosa (see Polygonum persicaria)
Petasites officinalis
Butterbur
Petroselinum sativum
Parsley
Peumus boldus
Boldo
Pfaffia paniculata
Suma
Phaseolus spp.
Bean (pod)
Phyllitis scolopendrium (see Scolopendrium vulgare)
Phytolacca decandra
Poke Root (toxic; small or homeopathic dosage)
Picraena excelsa
Quassia
Pilocarpus jaborandi
Jaborandi (toxic; small dose)
Pimpinella anisum
Anise
Pinus strobus
White Pine
Piper cubeba
Cubeb
Piper methysticum
Piper nigrum
Black Pepper
Piscidia erythrina, P. piscipula, P. communis
Jamaica Dogwood
Plantago major, P. lanceolata
Plantain
Plantago psyllium, P. ovata
Psyllium (seed, husk)
Platanus occidentalis
Sycamore
Pleurotus ostreatus
Oyster Mushroom
Podophyllum peltatum
Mayapple (toxic; small or homeopathic dose)
Polemonium reptans
Jacob’s Ladder
Polygala senega
Seneca Snakeroot
Polygonatum spp.
Solomon’s Seal
Polygonum aviculare
Knotgrass
Polygonum bistorta, P. bistortoides
Bistort
Polygonum hydropiperoides, P. punctatum
Knotweed, Smartweed
Polygonum japonica
Japanese Knotweed
Polygonum multiflorum
Ho Shu Wu
Polygonum persicaria
Peach-leaved Knotweed (now Persicaria maculosa)
Polymnia uvedalia
Bear’s Foot
Populus gileadensis
Balm of Gilead
Populus tremuloides
Trembling Aspen
Potentilla tormentilla, P. erecta
Tormentil
Primula veris
Cowslip
Propolis
Bee Secretion
Prunella vulgaris
Self-Heal, Heal-All
Prunus domestica
Plum, Prune
Prunus persica (see Amygdalus persica)
Prunus pygeum
Pygeum
Prunus serotina
Wild Cherry
Prunus spinosa
Blackthorn
Pseudognaphalium (see Gnaphalium)
Psilocybe spp.
Psilocybin Mushroom (illegal)
Ptelea trifoliata
Wafer Ash
Pulmonaria officinalis
Lungwort
Pulsatilla vulgaris
Pulsatilla (old name but official in U.S. Homeopathic Pharmacopeia)
Ranunculus bulbosus
Bulbous Buttercup
Ranunculus ficaria (see Ficaria verna)
Figwort
Raphanus sativa
Black Radish (leaf)
Rauwolfia serpentaria
Rauwolfia (prescription only)
Rehmannia glutinosa
Rehmannia
Rhamnus frangula, R. cathartica (purgative; substitutes for the following)
Rhamnus purshiana
Cascara Sagrada (purgative)
Rheum officinale, R. palmatum, R. rhaponticum
Rhubarb (purgative)
Rhodiola spp.
Rose Root
Rhododendrum groenlandicum, R. tomentosum (see Ledum groenlandicum and L. palustre)
Rhus aromatica
Fragrant Sumach
Rhus coriaria
Kurdish Sumach
Rhus glabra
Smooth Sumach
Rhus typhina
Staghorn Sumach
(Note: All above are fairly interchangeable, and are identified as Rhus spp. They are not to be mistaken with R. toxicodendrum, poison ivy, which is only used in homeopathic form.)
Rhus toxicodendron
Poison Ivy (homeopathic only)
Ribes nigrum
Black Currant
Ricinus communis
Castor Oil
Rosa spp.
Rose, Wild Rose (hips, petals, seeds)
Rosmarinus officinalis
Rosemary
Rubia tinctoria
Dyer’s Madder
Rubus canadensis, R. idaeus, R. strigosus
Raspberry
Rubus fruticosus, R. villosa
Blackberry (root bark, leaf)
Rumex acetosella
Sheep Sorrel
Rumex crispus
Yellow Dock, Curly Dock
Ruscus aculeatus
Butcher’s Broom
Ruta graveolens
Rue
Quercus alba
White Oak
Sabal serrulatum (Serenoa repens)
Saw Palmetto
Saccharum officinarum
Refined White Sugar
Salix alba
White Willow
Salix nigra
Black Willow
Salvia apiana
White Sage
Salvia miltorrhiza
Chinese or Red Root Sage
Salvia officinalis
Sage
Salvia sclarea
Clary Sage
Sambucus ebulus
Dwarf Elder
Sambucus nigra, S. canadensis
Elder
Sanguinaria canadensis
Bloodroot (excoriative, extremely active; small or homeopathic dose only)
Sanguisorba officinalis, S. minor
Salad Burnet
Sanicula europaea
Sanicle
Saponaria officinalis
Soapwort
Sarothamnus scoparius (see Scoparium cytisus, Cytisus scoparius)
Sassafras albidum
Sassafras
Satureja hortensis
Summer Savory
Satureja montana
Winter Savory
(Note: S. hortensis and S. montana are interchangeable)
Saxifraga pensylvanica
Saxifrage
Schisandra chinensis
Schizandra
Scolopendrium vulgare
Hart’s Horn Fern (see Asplenium scolopendrium)
Scoparium cytisus
Broom Tops (active) (see Sarothamnus)
Scrophularia nodosa,
Figwort, Pilewort (S. marilandica, other S. spp.)
Scutellaria laterifolia
Skullcap
Selenicereus grandiflorus
Queen of the Night Cactus
Senecio aureus
Life Root (pyrrolizidine alkaloids; small or homeopathic dose)
Senecio jacobaea
Common Ragwort (pyrrolizidine alkaloids; small or homeopathic dose)
Senega (see Polygala senega)
Sepia officinalis
Squid ink (homeopathic)
Serenoa (see Sabal)
Sesamum indicum
Sesame Seed
Sida acuta
Wiregrass
Silphium integrifolium
Compass Plant
Silybum marianum
Milk Thistle
Sinapis alba
White Mustard
Sinapis nigra
Black Mustard
Smilacina racemosa
False Solomon’s Seal (recently Maianthemum racemosum)
Smilax spp.
Sarsaparilla
Solanum dulcamara
Bittersweet Nightshade (toxic; small or homeopathic dose)
Solidago virga-aurea S. canadensis, S. spp.
Goldenrod
Spongia tosta (homeopathic)
Toasted Sponge
Squilla maritima
Siberian Squills (small dose only)
Stachys officinalis
Wood Betony (formerly Betonica officinalis)
Stachys palustris
Woundwort
Stellaria media
Chickweed
Stillingia sylvatica
Queen’s Delight
Stramonium
Datura (see Datura stramonium; toxic, homeopathic only)
Styrax spp.
Gum Benzoin
Symplocarpus foetidus
Skunk Cabbage
Syzygium cumini
Jambul
Tabebuia
Pau d’Arco (see Handroanthus)
Tanacetum balsamita
Costmary
Tanacetum parthenium
Feverfew
Taraxacum officinalis
Dandelion
Teucr
ium chamaedrys
Germander