What is Vervain? Vervain (Verbena officinalis) is an herb well-known in folk medicine. Also known as  herb of the cross, Simpler’s joy, herba veneris, and countless other names, Vervain is native to the Mediterranean region, but it has also spread to Asia and North America. Vervain grows to about a metre tall, and produces small […]

What is Mugwort? Mugwort is one of the common names for the plant Artemisia vulgaris which belongs to the Daisy Family (Compositae). Some other common names include chrysanthemum weed, Damong Maria in Tagalog, Erbaka in Ilocano, Helbas in Bisaya, and St. John’s plant. While closely related, Artemisia absinthium is a true common wormwood and it

What is Cordyceps Mushroom? The term Cordyceps technically refers not to one mushroom, but to an entire genus of mushrooms within which over 400 species are classified. The genus Cordyceps is comprised of parasitic fungi that grow on or in various insects, and sometimes on other fungi. The most common medicinal Cordyceps species are Cordyceps

What is Maqui Berry? Maqui Berry, also known as Aristotelia chilensis, Chilean wineberry, or Chilean blackberry, is native to the ecologically unique and ancient temperate rainforest on the coast of southern Chile, extending slightly into Patagonian Argentina. It is an evergreen, dioecious (separate male and female plants), thin-trunked tree of 4-5 meters (13-16 feet) in

What is Poria? Poria also known as Fu Ling (茯苓) and WolfiPoria Extensa, is a fungal growth that is widely used throughout Asia for its medicinal properties. In China, the fungus is known as fu ling and its usage in Chinese traditional medicine dates back over 2000 years. Poria is a ‘wood decay’ fungus with

What is Mucuna Pruriens? Mucuna pruriens, also known as velvet bean, cowhage, or cowitch, is a legume that grows in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. It is a climbing shrub that produces white or purple flowers, and forms bean pods that create intense itching upon physical contact due to a protein called mucunain on their

What is Lion’s Mane Mushroom? Hericium erinaceus, also known as Lion’s Mane, yamabushitake, satyr’s beard, monkey’s head, bearded tooth (and various other names that refer to its peculiar appearance) is a medicinal and culinary mushroom that grows in North America, Europe, and Asia. Lion’s Mane grows on decaying hardwood trees and logs, gradually decomposing the

What is Turkey Tail Mushroom? Turkey Tail Mushroom is the common name for a fungus called Tramates versicolor, Coriolus versicolor, or sometimes Polyporus versicolor, which is an older name. You may also find Turkey tail under its Chinese and Japanese names, yun zhi and kawaritake, respectively. Turkey tail is one of the most-studied medicinal mushrooms

What is Estafiate? “Estafiate” is one of the many common names for Artemisia ludoviciana, which is also known as white sagebrush, prairie sage, Mexican wormwood, and Louisiana sage, among other names. Despite its Latin name ludoviciana, which means Louisiana, subspecies of Estafiate can be found all over North America. Estafiate usually grows from 1-2 feet

What is Skullcap? Skullcap is a flowering plant from the mint family, it can be found worldwide, but it grows predominantly in temperate zones. Skullcap flowers are usually blue or pink, but they can be found in a variety of colors and are said to resemble a type of medieval helmet, hence the common name.