Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana)

Eucalyptus, a traditional Aboriginal remedy, is a powerful antiseptic used all over the world for relieving coughs and colds, sore throats, and other infections. It is warming and stimulating, and for many people its scent conjures up days spent in bed during childhood with eucalyptus and other oils smothered on the chest. Eucalpytus is a common ingredient in many over-the-counter cold remedies.

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a bulbous perennial in the onion family, recognized for its sharp flavor and characteristic odor. Highly valued for both culinary and medicinal purposes, crushed fresh garlic contains allicin, which has potent antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Regular garlic intake supports immunity, respiratory health, and circulatory function.

Gentian (Gentiana lutea) is a robust, upright perennial growing to about 4 ft (1.2 m), with bright yellow, star-shaped flowers and oval leaves. Known for its exceptionally bitter constituents (particularly gentiopicroside and amarogentin), gentian has long been a key ingredient in aperitifs and digestifs, stimulating gastric juices and improving the efficiency of the digestive tract.

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) is a low-growing North American perennial, recognized by its thick yellow root and a short erect stem up to about 1 ft (30 cm). Renowned in the 19th century as a panacea, it is now valued for its potent antibacterial action, particularly on mucous membranes in the respiratory, digestive, and urinary tracts.

Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea), sometimes called “alehoof,” is a creeping perennial growing to about 6 in (15 cm), with long rooting runners, scallop-edged kidney-shaped leaves, and purple-blue whorled flowers. Mildly bitter and astringent, it has a history of traditional use in respiratory, digestive, and ear-nose-throat complaints.

Pau d'arco is an evergreen tree that can reach 100 feet in height, producing pink flowers. The bark of this South American tree has been treasured for centuries in traditional medicine for its extensive health benefits. Indigenous peoples including the Incas and the Callawaya valued it as a cure-all. The tree grows in both mountainous terrains high in the Andes and in low-lying areas of Paraguay and Brazil. The prized inner bark is collected from wild-growing trees throughout the year.

Triphala is not a single herb but a traditional Ayurvedic blend of three fruits: haritaki (Terminalia chebula), bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica), and amalaki or Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis). Haritaki has balanced energy with five flavors (bitter, sour, astringent, salty, and sweet), acting as a mild laxative that tones intestinal membranes, lubricates tissues, and relaxes muscle spasms. Bibhitaki is pungent, warming, antispasmodic, and serves as an expectorant and decongestant for respiratory conditions. Amalaki also has balanced energy with five flavors (sour, astringent, sweet, pungent, and bitter), containing small amounts of anthraquinones while being astringent, thus both laxative and bowel-toning, correcting both constipation and diarrhea.