Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)

Blue cohosh is an upright perennial herb reaching 3 feet in height, with large three-lobed leaves, yellow to purple flowers, and striking blue berries. It grows wild in much of eastern North America from Manitoba to Alabama, preferring woodland valleys and damp, north-facing slopes. The name 'cohosh' comes from the Algonquin language, and the plant was a popular remedy among many Native American tribes. Though taken by both sexes for genitourinary issues, it was primarily valued as a women's herb, and that tradition continues in modern herbal practice.

White peony is an upright perennial growing to 6.5 feet with large white flowers and divided, dark green leaves. Its history of medicinal use in China stretches back at least 1,500 years, most notably as one of the herbs in 'Four Things Soup,' a renowned female tonic. Traditionally, it is believed that women who take the herb regularly become as radiant as the flower itself. The plant is cultivated throughout northeastern China and Inner Mongolia, propagated from seed in spring or from root cuttings in winter. The root of 4- or 5-year-old plants is harvested in spring or autumn and valued as a hormonal tonic.

Devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) is a trailing perennial native to southern Africa, named for its hooked, woody fruits. For millennia, indigenous peoples have relied on its tuber to treat pain, fever, and digestive ailments. In modern herbalism, devil’s claw is best known for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, frequently employed to support joint health and reduce arthritic or lower back pain. It also acts as a bitter tonic to stimulate digestion.

Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum), also called linseed, is a slender annual plant growing up to about 3 ft (1 m). It produces narrow leaves, delicate blue flowers, and spherical seed capsules containing shiny, flat seeds. Long cultivated in the Middle East and beyond, flaxseeds are rich in beneficial fatty acids (particularly alpha-linolenic acid), protein, fiber, mucilage, and lignans (phytoestrogens). These constituents make flaxseed valuable for heart health, inflammatory conditions, and supporting estrogen balance.

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is a distinctive, long-lived deciduous tree that can grow up to about 100 ft (30 m). It has fan-shaped leaves with radiating veins, often turning bright yellow in autumn. Ginkgo is widely revered for its benefits to circulation, especially in the brain, where it can help improve memory, concentration, and support cognitive function.

Goji berry (Lycium barbarum) is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to about 13 ft (4 m), bearing bright green leaves and vivid scarlet berries. A key tonic in Traditional Chinese Medicine, goji berries are believed to support longevity, with references stretching back to the 1st century ce. Both the berries (rich in vitamins, polysaccharides, and carotenoids) and the root have diverse medicinal applications.

Gravel root is an erect perennial growing to 5 feet with whorls of pointed oblong leaves and clusters of purple-pink florets. Native to eastern North America, the root is unearthed in autumn. The plant's alternative name, Joe Pye weed, honors the Native American said to have used it to cure New Englanders of typhus. Native Americans valued the herb as a diuretic and remedy for genitourinary conditions, and the root was listed in the Pharmacopoeia of the United States from 1820 to 1842, attesting to its recognized medicinal importance.

Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata) is an evergreen plant about 8 in (20 cm) tall, with glossy, wedge-shaped leaves and small, pinkish-white flowers in flat-topped clusters. A close relative of uva ursi, pipsissewa shares urinary antiseptic properties and is notably gentler on the kidneys.