Corydalis (Corydalis yanhusuo)

Lobelia is an annual herb growing to 20 inches with lance-shaped leaves and pale blue, pink-tinged flowers. A powerful antispasmodic used for respiratory and muscle disorders, it was a traditional Native American remedy for many conditions. It was used as a 'puke weed' to induce vomiting, as a remedy for worms and venereal disease, and as an expectorant. Lobelia was also smoked as a substitute for tobacco and was reputed to share some of its magical qualities. Indigenous to North America, especially eastern parts of the United States, it grows by roadsides and in neglected areas, preferring acid soil. The aerial parts are harvested in early autumn when the seed capsules are most numerous and are carefully dried. Its use was later championed by the American herbalist Samuel Thomson (1769–1843), who made the herb the mainstay of his therapeutic system, mainly using it to induce vomiting.

Angelica (Angelica archangelica) is a large, aromatic biennial herb growing up to about 6½ ft (2 m), with ridged hollow stems, bright green divided leaves, and greenish-white flowers arranged in umbrella-like clusters (umbels). It has a warm, tonic character and is often compared to dong quai (Chinese angelica) for its usefulness in supporting women’s health and circulation. Traditional sources note its warming action on the stomach, spleen, and intestines.

Arnica is an aromatic perennial, usually about 1 ft (30 cm) high, with downy, oval-shaped leaves and bright yellow daisy-like flowers. Well-known for reducing swelling, bruising, and pain from injuries, it is frequently used as a homeopathic remedy (both internally and topically) for bruises, sprains, and sore muscles. Higher-dose tinctures have a stronger anti-inflammatory action and may serve as a cardiac tonic by improving blood flow to the coronary vessels, but such usage must be closely supervised.

Bacopa, also known as Water Hyssop or Brahmi, is a creeping succulent perennial that can grow to about 20 inches. It features spatula-shaped fleshy leaves and pale blue or white flowers on slender stalks. Thriving in marshlands and along the edges of mangrove swamps in warmer temperate and tropical climates—especially southern Asia—it develops into dense mats on mudflats. This herb has been a cornerstone of Ayurvedic medicine for supporting cognitive function and treating various nervous system disorders, and it is increasingly recognized in Western herbalism for its brain-enhancing properties.

Bitter melon is an annual climbing vine reaching about 6.5 feet, characterized by deeply lobed leaves, yellow flowers, and distinctive orange-yellow fruit. Native to southern Asia and now common throughout tropical regions worldwide, it is harvested year-round. The plant's unripe fruit, ripe fruit, leaves, seeds, and seed oil all have medicinal applications, and it has been a traditional remedy for diabetes symptoms in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for centuries.

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.

Calendula (Calendula officinalis), with its bright orange daisy-like flowers, is among the most versatile herbs in Western herbal medicine. Its petals contain antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and vulnerary properties, making it excellent for speeding tissue repair in wounds, burns, bruises, and various skin irritations. Calendula is also used internally for gastrointestinal inflammation (e.g., Crohn’s disease, colitis, gastritis).

Caraway is an aromatic annual herb growing to 2 feet with a ridged stem, feathery leaves, and umbels of white flowers in midsummer. Exploding capsules release two small narrow seeds. It grows wild in Europe, North Africa, and Asia, preferring sunny sites up to 6,600 feet above sea level. Cultivated in Europe, Russia, North Africa, and the United States, the seeds are harvested ripe in late summer. Caraway has been valued since ancient times for its digestive and respiratory benefits, and the seeds are commonly used in cooking.