Reishi is the glossy "mushroom of immortality" of Chinese and Japanese tradition, prized for over 2,000 years as a calming, strengthening tonic. Here's what traditional medicine uses it for, what the research says so far, and who should be careful with it.
Ginseng has been the prized "root of strength" in Chinese medicine for centuries, and American ginseng was a woodland medicine of Indigenous peoples before it became a major export to China. Here's how the two ginsengs differ in tradition, what modern studies show for energy and fatigue, and who should be careful with it.
Nettle stings on the trail, but it has been a spring food, a joint remedy, a fibre plant and a "strengthening and cleansing" tea for peoples across Europe, North Africa and North America. Here's how tradition uses the leaf and the root, what the research shows for joints, the prostate and urination, and who should skip it.
Valerian has been the classic "sleep root" since the days of Hippocrates and Galen, and it's still one of the most-used herbs for restless nights and nervous tension. Here's how tradition uses it, what the research on sleep really shows, why it can take a few weeks to work, and who should skip it.
Peppermint has settled stomachs and freshened breath since ancient Egypt, and today it's one of the few herbs with solid research behind it, especially for an irritable gut. Here's how tradition uses the leaf and the oil, what the studies show, and who should skip it.
For more than two thousand years, lemon balm has been the herb people reach for to “gladden the heart” and calm a racing mind. Here's how tradition uses it for nerves, sleep, digestion and cold sores, what the research shows, and why people with thyroid conditions should check first.
Called the "miracle tree" across Asia and Africa, moringa is both a food and a traditional medicine, and its leaves are packed with plant nutrients. Here's what tradition uses it for, what the studies show, and who should be careful with it.
For nearly 2,000 years hawthorn has been Europe's best-known heart herb, and in Chinese medicine its tart red fruit is a classic digestive. Here's what tradition uses it for, what the studies show, and why anyone on heart medicine needs to check before taking it.
A dark purple berry that European households have cooked into syrups for generations at the first sign of a cold. Today it's one of the most popular herbal supports for the cold and flu season.
A small black seed that has been a kitchen spice and a household remedy across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia for centuries. Members use the seeds and cold-pressed oil for digestion, breathing, skin and everyday wellness.
