Herbal Action Index

ADAPTOGENIC
Astragalus, Eleuthero, Gotu Kola, American Ginseng, Asian Ginseng, JiaoGuLan, Rhodiola, Schisandra, Ashwagandha, Suma, Tulsi

ADRENAL TONIC
Licorice, Rehmannia

ANALGESIC
California Poppy, Cloves, Corydalis, Devil’s Claw, Pasque Flower, Peppermint (topically), Willow Bark

ANAPHRODISIAC
Hops

ANDROGENIC
Tongkat Ali, Velvet Bean

ANTACID
Meadowsweet

ANTHELMINTIC
Andrographis, Black Walnut, Cloves, Feverfew, Garlic, Myrrh, Wormwood

ANTIAGEING
Japanese Knotweed, JiaoGuLan, Fo-Ti, Spirulina

ANTIALLERGIC
Albizia, Baical Skullcap, Evening Primrose, Feverfew, Peony, Nettle Leaf

ANTIANAEMIC
Ashwagandha, Dong Quai

ANTIANDROGENIC
Hops, Saw Palmetto (possibly)

ANTIARRHYTHMIC
Corydalis, Dong Quai, Hawthorn, Tienchi Ginseng

ANTlASTHMATlC
Black Haw, Epimedium

ANTIBACTERIAL
Barberry, Chanca Piedra, Elecampane, Garlic, Golden Seal, Graviola, Green Tea, Myrrh, Pau d’Arco, Propolis, Rhubarb Root, Thyme

ANTICARIOGENIC
Green Tea, Licorice

ANTlCATARRHAL
Golden Rod, Golden Seal, Irish Moss, Tulsi

ANTICOAGULANT
Dan Shen

ANTICONVULSANT
Brahmi (mild), Peony

ANTIDEPRESSANT
Lavender, Schisandra (mild), St John’s Wort, Tulsi

ANTIDIABETIC
See also Hypoglycemic
Cinnamon, Gymnema

ANTl DIARRHOEAL
Raspberry Leaf, Shatavari

ANTIEMETIC
Barberry, Ginger, Globe Artichoke, Peppermint

ANTlFIBROTlC
Dan Shen, Gotu Kola

ANTIFUNGAL
Garlic, Pau d’Arco, Propolis, Thuja, Thyme

ANTIHAEMORRHAGIC
Golden Seal, Horsetail, Ladies Mantle, Rehmannia, Tienchi Ginseng

ANTIHYPERHIDROTIC
Sage

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY TOPICALLY
Chamomile, Evening Primrose Oil, Licorice, Myrrh, Oregon Grape

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY GASTROINTESTINAL
Baical Skullcap, Bilberry, Chamomile, Fenugreek, Licorice, Meadowsweet

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY MUSCULOSKELETAL
See also Antirheumatic
Boswellia, Cat’s Claw, Devil’s Claw, Ginger, Juniper, Japanese Knotweed, Turmeric, Willow Bark, Ashwagandha, Yucca

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AGAINST IMMUNE MEDIATED INFLAMMATION
See also Antiallergic, Immune depressant
Baical Skullcap, Bupleurum, Chanca Piedra, Echinacea Root, Feverfew, Gotu Kola, Rehmannia, Sarsaparilla

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, OTHER
Uva Ursi, Butcher’s Broom, Chanca Piedra, Crataeva, Dong Quai, Golden Rod, Golden Seal, Horsechestnut, Ladies Mantle, Peony, Pygeum, Rhubarb Root, Saw Palmetto, Tienchi Ginseng, Velvet Bean, Wild Yam

ANTILITHIC
Chanca Piedra, Crataeva, Pygeum, Stone Root, Hydrangea

ANTIMICROBIAL
See also Antibacterial, AntIfungal, Antiparasitic, Antiseptic, Antiviral
Aniseed, Barberry, Calendula, Cloves, Fennel, Golden Seal, Mugwort, Myrrh, Oregon Grape, Peppermint (internally and topically), Rosemary, Sage, St John’s Wort, Thuja, Thyme

ANTIOBESITY
Bladderwrack, Coleus, Gymnema

ANTIOEDEMATOU5
Bilberry, Butcher’s Broom, Horsechestnut

ANTIOXIDANT
Brahmi, Bilberry, Cat’s Claw, Garlic, Ginkgo, Grape Seed, Green Tea, Hawthorn, Olive
Leaf, Japanese Knotweed, Fo-Ti, Rhodiola, Rosemary, Sage, Schisandra, Thyme, Tulsi, Milk Thistle, Turmeric

ANTI-PAF
Ginkgo

ANTIPARASITIC
Barberry, Euphorbia, Garlic, Pau d’Arco, Propolis, Wormwood

ANTIPLATELET
Coleus, Dan Shen, Dong Quai, Garlic, Ginger, Turmeric

ANTIPROSTATIC
Hydrangea, Nettle Root, Saw Palmetto, Epilobium

ANTIPROTOZOAL
See Antiparasitic

ANTIPRURITIC
Peppermint (topically)

ANTIPYRETIC
Kudzu, Rehmannia, Rhubarb Root, Willow Bark

ANTIRHEUMATIC
Black Cohosh, Chamomile, Dandelion Root, Devil’s Claw, Epimedium, Nettle Leaf, Sarsaparilla, Wild Yam, Willow Bark

ANTISEPTIC
See Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Urinary Antiseptic

ANTISPASMODIC
See Spasmolytic

ANTITHYROID
Bugleweed

ANTITUMOUR
Boswellia, Cordyceps, Graviola, Pau d’Arco, Japanese Knotweed, Red Clover (traditional use), Rhodiola, Spirulina, Suma

ANTITUSSIVE
Bupleurum, Licorice, Peppermint, Schisandra

ANTIULCER PEPTIC
Chamomile

ANTIURAEMIC
Rhubarb Root

ANTIVIRAL
Catuaba, Chanca Piedra, Green Tea (topically), Lemon Balm (topically), Propolis, St John’s Wort, Thuja

ANXIOLYTIC
Brahmi, California Poppy, Lavender, Passionflower, Valerian

APHRODISIAC
Catuaba, Epimedium, Shatavari, Suma, Tongkat Ali, Tribulus Leaf, Velvet Bean

AROMATIC DIGESTIVE
Cinnamon, Cloves, Coleus, Ginger

ASTRINGENT
See also Antidiarrhoeal and Vulnerary
Uva Ursi, Cinnamon, Cramp Bark, Cranberry, Grape Seed, Green Tea, Hawthorn (mild), Horsetail, Ladies Mantle, Meadowsweet, Myrrh, Propolis, Raspberry Leaf, Sage, Squaw Vine

BITTER TONIC
Also known as a Bitter
Barberry, Dandelion Root, Devil’s Claw, Gentian, Globe Artichoke, Golden Seal, Hops, Mugwort, Olive Leaf, Fo-Ti, White Horehound, Wormwood

BLADDER TONIC
Pygeum, Crataeva

BRONCHOSPASMOLYTlC
Coleus, Elecampane

CANCER PREVENTATIVE
See also Antitumour
Asian Ginseng

CARDIOPROTECTIVE
Dan Shen, Hawthorn, Arjuna, Tienchi Ginseng

CARDIOTONIC
Astragalus, Coleus, Hawthorn (mild), American Ginseng, Asian Ginseng

CARMINATIVE
Aniseed, Cayenne, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Cloves, Fennel, Ginger, Juniper, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Peppermint, Rosemary, Tulsi

CHOLAGOGUE
Barberry, Blue Flag, Cloves, Dandelion Root, Gentian, Globe Artichoke, Peppermint, Yellow Dock

CHOLERETIC
Andrographis, Barberry, Dandelion Root, Globe Artichoke, Golden Seal, Milk Thistle, Mugwort, Turmeric

CIRCULATORV STIMULANT
Cayenne, Ginger (peripheral), Ginkgo, Rosemary

CNS STIMULANT
Caffeine, Guarana

COGNITION ENHANCING
Brahmi, Ginkgo, American Ginseng, Asian Ginseng, Peony

COLLAGEN STABILISING
Grape Seed, Hawthorn

COUNTERIRRITANT
Cayenne

DEMULCENT
See also Urinary demulcent
Fenugreek, Irish Moss, Kudzu, Licorice, Marshmallow (root & leaf)

DEPURATlVE
Black Walnut, Blue Flag, Burdock, Clivers, Echinacea Root, Globe Artichoke, Golden Seal. Hemidesmus, Nettle Leaf, Oregon Grape, Pau d’Arco, Red Clover, Sarsaparilla, Thuja, Yellow Dock

DIAPHORETIC
Angelica Root. Bupleurum, Cayenne, Chamomile, Elecampane, Ginger, Golden Rod, Hemidesmus, Lemon Balm, Lime Flowers, Peppermint, Pleurisy Root (mild)

DIURETIC
Astragalus, Chanca Piedra, Dandelion Root, Globe Artichoke, Golden Rod, Stone Root, Green Tea, Horsetail, Hydrangea, Juniper (mild), Caffeine, Shatavari

DIURETIC DEPURATIVE
Burdock, Clivers, Globe Artichoke, Stone Root

DOPAMINERGIC AGONIST
Chaste Berry

EMMENAGOGUE
Blue Cohosh, Feverfew (in high doses)

EMOLLIENT
See also Demulcent
Marshmallow, Irish Moss

EXPECTORANT
Elecampane, Fennel, Irish Moss, Licorice, Thyme, Tulsi, White Horehound

FEMALE TONIC
Dong Quai

GALACTAGOGUE
Aniseed, Chaste Berry, Fennel, Fenugreek, Shatavari, Tulsi

HEALING PROMOTER
Gotu Kola

HEPATOPROTECTIVE
Andrographis, Bupleurum, Chanca Piedra, Dan Shen, Globe Artichoke, JiaoGuLan, Milk Thistle, Rosemary, Schisandra, Arjuna

HEPATOTROPH0RESTORATIVE
Globe Artichoke, Milk Thistle

HYPNOTIC
California Poppy, Corydalis, Hops, Passionflower, Valerian

HYPOCHOLESTEROLEMIC
See also Hypolipidaemic
Albizia, Fenugreek, Garlic, Globe Artichoke, Green Tea, Gymnema, Fo-Ti, Arjuna, Tienchi Ginseng

HYPOGLYCAEMIC
Fenugreek, Gymnema,

HYPOLIPIDAEMIC
See also Hypocholesterolemic
Cordyceps, Fenugreek, Globe Artichoke, Gymnema, Turmeric

HYPOTENSIVE
See also Peripheral vasodilator
Astragalus, Coleus, Cramp Bark, Dan Shen, Evening Primrose, Garlic, Graviola, Hawthorn, Olive Leaf

IMMUNE DEPRESSANT
Hemidesmus

IMMUNE ENHANCING
Andrographis, Astragalus, Cat’s Claw, Echinacea Root, Suma, Pau d’Arco

IMMUNE MODULATING
Cordyceps, Echinacea Root, American Ginseng, Asian Ginseng, Reishi, Eleuthero, Ashwagandha, Tulsi

LAXATIVE
Blue Flag, Cascara, Damiana (mild), Dandelion Root, Dong Quai (mild), Irish Moss, Licorice (mild), Rhubarb Root, Senna Pods, Triphala, Yellow Dock (mild)

LOCAL ANAESTHETIC
Cloves

LYMPHATIC
Blue Flag, Clivers, Echinacea Root, Myrrh

MALE TONIC
Asian Ginseng, Saw Palmetto, Suma,

METABOLIC STIMULANT
Cayenne

MUCOPROTECTIVE
Licorice, Meadowsweet

MUCOUS MEMBRANE TROPHORESTORATIVE
Golden Seal

NERVINE TONIC
Brahmi, Catuaba, Damiana, Gotu Kola, Pasque Flower, Fo-Ti, Schisandra, Skullcap, St John’s Wort, Velvet Bean

NEUROPROTECTIVE
Ginkgo

NUTRITIVE
Alfalfa, Chlorella, Evening Primrose, Flax Seed, Irish Moss, Maca, Spirulina, Yacon

OESTROGEN MODULATING
Alfalfa, Aniseed, Black Cohosh, Fennel, Hops, Peony, Wild Yam

OREXIGENIC
Fennel, Fenugreek

OVARIAN TONIC
Blue Cohosh

OXYTOCIC
Blue Cohosh, Schisandra

PARTURIFACIENT
See also Oxytocic
Raspberry Leaf, Squaw Vine

PARTUS PREPARATOR
Raspberry leaf, Squaw Vine

PERIPHERAL VASODILATOR
Cramp Bark, Epimedium, Hawthorn, Lime Flowers

PROGESTEROGENIC
Chaste Berry (indirectly)

PROLACTIN INHIBITOR
Chaste Berry

PUNGENT
Cayenne, Ginger

REFRIGERANT
Kudzu

RUBEFACIENT
See also Counterirritant
Thyme

SEDATIVE MILD
Bugleweed, California Poppy, Chamomile, Cramp Bark, Corydalis, Hops, Lemon Balm, Lime Flowers, Passionflower, Peppermint, Skullcap, Valerian, Ashwagandha

SEXUAL TONIC
Cordyceps, Epimedium, Shatavari

SIALAGOGUE
Echinacea Root, Gentian

SKELETAL MUSCLE RELAXANT
Peony (mild)

SPASMOLYTIC
Aniseed, Black Cohosh, Blue Cohosh , Cayenne, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Cloves, Coleus, Corydalis, Cramp Bark, Elecampane, Fennel, Hops, JiaoGuLan, Kudzu, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Lime Flowers, Mugwort, Peony, Pasque Flower, Passionflower, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage, Saw Palmetto, Shatavari, Skullcap, Squaw Vine, Thyme, Valerian, Velvet Bean, White Horehound, Wild Yam

STYPTIC HAEMOSTATIC
See also Vulnerary
Horsetail. Nettle Leaf, Rhubarb Root

THYMOLEPTIC
Caffeine, Damiana

THYROID STIMULANT
Brahmi, Bladderwrack

TISSUE PERFUSION ENHANCING
Ginkgo

TONIC
Also known as general body tonic See also other specific body tonics
Astragalus, Damiana, American Ginseng, Asian Ginseng, JiaoGuLan, Reishi, Rhodiola, Shatavari, Tribulus Leaf, Suma, Ashwagandha

TSH ANTAGONIST
Lemon Balm

URINARY ANTISEPTIC
Uva Ursi, Juniper, Meadowsweet (mild)

URINARY DEMULCENT
Corn Silk, Marshmallow

UTERINE ANTIHAEMORRHAGIC
See also Antihaemorrhagic
Ladies Mantle, Tienchi ginseng

UTERINE SPASMOLYTIC
Black Cohosh, Blue Cohosh, Cramp Bark, Peony, Pasque Flower, Wild Yam

UTERINE TONIC
Black Cohosh, Blue Cohosh

VASOPROTECTIVE
Bilberry, Grape Seed

VENOTONIC
Butcher’s Broom, Grape Seed, Horsechestnut

VULNERARY
See also Antiulcer. Astringent, Demulcent
Chamomile, Dan Shen, Echinacea Root, Golden Seal, Gotu Kola (topically), Irish Moss, Myrrh, Propolis, St John’s Wort


References

The Ultimate Herbal Compendium: A Desktop Guide for Herbal Prescribers Kerry Bone. 2007. ISBN 978-0-646-47602-5