Common name: Lavender
Arabic name: خزامى
TCM name: Xun Yi Cao
Family: Lamiaceae
Parts Used: Flowers
Actions:
Nervine
Anxiolytic
Carminative
Antispasmodic
Circulatory Stimulant
Antibacterial
Antidepressant
Taste: Bitter (mild).
Energy: Drying, cooling.
Native To: Mediterranean region, southern Europe, and parts of northern Africa, northeast India, and southeast Asia.

Geographic Distribution: Mediterranean, Europe, United States, Australia.

Botanical Description: Perennial shrub with up to 3 feet tall spikes holding whorls of blue to violet small flowers. Leaves are small and diverse, ranging from simple to pinnate to pinnate-toothed, to multiple pinnate, and dissected. Leaves are typically covered in fine hairs.

History and folklore: The name lavender comes from the Latin word lavare, “to wash,” originating from the Romans who used lavender to scent their baths. Lavender has long been used for cleansing purposes, and was strewn about households to ward off plague and tucked into cupboards and drawers to repel insects.

Uses: Lavender’s volatile oils are antibacterial and are effective against staph, enterococcus, streptococcus, and pneumonia. Lavender's strong scent is repellent to flies, mosquitos, and moths, and it effectively kills lice and parasites. Due to its antibacterial and antiseptic properties, lavender is useful for disinfecting cuts, wounds, and sores while it soothes pain and aids healing. It also soothes the itch and pain of insect bites. As a burn treatment, lavender essential oil reduces the severity and scarring of the burn and speeds healing. Lavender really shines as a nervine tonic for treatment of nervous system complaints such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, and headache. In an anxious or stressful situation, inhaling the scent of lavender or drinking its tea can calm and relax the anxious mind, bringing perspective and enabling the clearer thinking necessary to ease the situation. Several scientific studies suggest lavender alleviates anxiety and depression. By relaxing tension, lavender also may bring relief to headache sufferers. Rubbing lavender essential oil mixed with a carrier oil on the temples often brings quick relief. Lavender is a gentle tonic for strengthening the nervous system in the case of nervous debility or exhaustion. The sweet spirit of lavender uplifts and balances emotions, eases mild depression and restores strength and vitality. It’s like a mother’s hand on your back, gentle and loving yet strong and supportive. As such, it can also be an ally during grieving. Lavender acts as a mild sedative to resolve insomnia.

Safety: Some sensitivity reactions and have occurred with the essential oil.

Common name: Lion’s mane, bear’s head, monkey’s head, comb tooth, bearded tooth mushroom, satyr's beard, bearded hedgehog mushroom, pom-pom mushroom, bearded tooth fungus.
TCM name: Hóu tóu gū
Family: Hericiaceae
Parts Used: Fruiting bodies, mycelium
Actions: Antibiotic
Anticarcinogenic
Antidepressant
Antifatigue
Antihypertensive
Anti-inflammatory
Antimicrobial
Antioxidative
Antisenescence
Anxiolytic
Cardioprotective
Cognitive support
Hepatoprotective
Immunomodulant
Neuroregenerative
Nephroprotective
Neuroprotective
Taste: Bland, slightly sweet, slightly savory
Energy: Sweet, neutral
Native To: North America, Europe, China, and Japan.

Geographic Distribution: China, Japan, Europe, North America, Australia.

Botanical Description: Hericium erinaceus is a pale white to light beige toothed fungi that naturally grows on dying wood in forests and tends to grow in a single clump of dangling spines that form round mushroom bodies. Lion's mane has no stipe, commonly called a stalk, and no distinct cap, and it always grows on wood. The spore print of Hericium erinaceus is white. The spines of lion’s mane hang evenly in a continuous clump rather than off of a branched structure. The globose clumps of spines will typically be between 3-12 inches broad and tall.

History and folklore: The Japanese name for Hericium erinaceus, yamabushitake, means “those who sleep in the mountains.” The name relates to a garment which is both billowy and light in color which is worn by hermit monks of the Shugendo sect of ascetic Buddhism. In China, the name shishigashira means “lion’s head.” The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) name hóu tóu means “baby monkey,” perhaps for its furry exterior and arboreal habitat. The French culinary name is pom pom du blanc, for the light color and shape, which resembles the decorative pom-pom

Uses: In terms of the Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective and philosophy it is said that Hóu tóu gū: Strengthens the stomach, regulates Qi, tonifies the spleen, promotes digestion, calms the shen, and strengthens the brain”. The most fundamental traditional herbal use for lion’s mane is for gastrointestinal (GI) support. In Chinese medicine it is highly regarded as both a safe and nutritive food and is indicated for stomach ailments. Traditional use suggests that lion’s mane has the potential to repair and protect gastrointestinal tissue, particularly the stomach in the case of ulcers. In China the mycelium is used to make pills which are used for these purposes. Additionally, some Native American tribes have a history of using lion’s mane as a styptic to stop bleeding of minor cuts and wounds. In traditional use, this mushroom has also been revered as a longevity tonic for the mind. Lion’s mane’s reputation has to do with preserving normal cognition and possibly promoting better mood in adults, particularly those who are middle-aged and older. There has been additional research on the specific mechanisms by which lion’s mane may have unique activity on the nervous system. Lion’s mane extracts as well as the isolated constituents hericenones and erinacines are said to increase nerve growth factor (NGF), which is associated with nerve repair and growth in the brain.

Safety: No known safety issues.