The following list of Herb Simples is for general guidance. Herb Simples include flowers, barks, and the whole plant, depending on the part(s) generally used as a medicine. There are about 500 Herb Simples available and these are generally supplied in weight (per ounce or pound).
AGRIMONY--A tonic, mildly astringent. Used for coughs, relaxed bowels and looseness of the bowels.
ANGELICA--A stimulant and aromatic. Used for kidneys and to induce perspiration.
ASH LEAVES--Used in gouty conditions, arthritis, etc.
AVENS HERB--Tonic and styptic. Used in looseness of bowels, etc.
BALM--Cooling in fevers and inducing mild perspiration.
BALMONY--Anti-bilious, tonic and detergent. Used in cases of chronic constipation, indigestion, jaundice, and worms in children.
BLACKBERRY LEAVES--A tonic, useful in cases of bowel looseness.
BLACKCURRANT LEAVES--A refrigerant, used in cases of sore throat, coughs, catarrh.
BLADDERWRACK--used in a bath for arthritis and rheumatic conditions.
BLUE MALLOW--Pectoral. For coughs and colds generally.
BONESET--Mild laxitive, tonic; relieves fever and pains in the bones.
BORAGE--Useful in chest complaints.
BROOM--Used in some bladder complaints, especially in gall stones.
BUCHU--A stimulant used in urinary infections and inflammation of the bladder.
BUCKBEAN--A good tonic, used for liver troubles and skin diseases. Also for arthritis, etc.
BUGLOSS--Expectorant and tonic, used in cases of inflammation.
BURDOCK--Used for purifying the blood.
BURR MARIGOLD--For gouty conditions
GREATER CELANDINE--For eye infections, also cases of jaundice.
CHAMOMILE--Used in cases of nervous hysteria and all nervous complaints in women.
CLEAVERS--(sometimes called "Clivers")-- A tonic and refrigerant. Is cooling in fevers. Used in gravel and gallstones
CLOVES--The oil of cloves is a remedy for sluggish digestion. Two drops on a teaspoon of sugar is the best dose. As a cure for toothache pain, it is a specific remedy. The area should be painted with the oil.
COLTSFOOT--For all asthmatic complaints. A smoking mixture made with it, mixed with other herbs, is useful for asthma.
DAMIANA--A tonic for nervous and debilitated persons; also used as a sexual stimulant.
DANDELION ROOT--generally dried. The leaves can be eaten in salads. The white juice from the stem cures warts and warty growths in a short time. The root, baked and ground, makes good coffee.
ELDER LEAVES--Used in urinary troubles and as treatment for colds. The berries are used with other herbs for colds and coughs (dried berries are often used instead of currants).
EYEBRIGHT--Used for weak eyes and as a general tonic for the eyes. Frequently used as a compound.
GOLDEN SEAL--A wonderful catarrh remedy and tonic. The tincture should be used with care and should only be taken in one-drop doses, with water only.
GROUND IVY--Whilst not really an ivy (common name of which is Alehoof), this is a good remedy for rheumatism, indigestion, and kidney complaints.
LUNGWORT--For coughs and all chest affections.
MARIGOLD--This is another remedy that should be in every home. As an ointment it will cure many skin troubles; as a tincture it is far better than iodine to hasten the healing process. The flowers and leaves can be used in salads.
MOUSE EAR--A good remedy for whooping cough.
NETTLES--(the well-known stinging nettles)--used for purifying the blood.
PILEWORT--As its name suggests, for the treatment of piles. Often used with Witch Hazel. Its common name is Lesser Celandine, though it has no relation to the Greater Celandine.
PLANTAIN--A cooling herb. Fresh leaves can be used as a relief from insect bites, if applied at once. Used a lot with other herbs for blood medicines.
RASPBERRY LEAVES--A very well known-method of bringing about easy childbirth. Blackberry and Strawberry leaves have similar properties but Raspberry leaves are considered the best.
SENNA LEAVES--These act in a similar fashion to Senna Pods. The leaves are usually taken with ginger to cure constipation.
SLIPPERY ELM--Used as a skin cleanser and tonic. A special invalid food is made from the bark, which can be digested by the weakest digestive organs and cannot be vomited back up. In soap, it is an excellent skin soother.
TANSY--The fresh leaves can be used in a salad. The dried herb is used for hysteria, morning sickness, and for the expulsion of worms in children.
VALERIAN--The root is used to cure insomnia without a drugging effect. Also, used for curing pains in many parts of the body.
VIOLET--Can also be used in salads. Thought to be a cure for cancerous growths of tumors when used with red clover heads.
WITCH HAZEL--Used for checking bleeding piles and bleeding from wounds. The prepared liquid is used for most things and can certainly be used on all cuts, scrapes, sprains, bruises, etc.
The above list is a short one but should be of use. It is obviously impossible to give an all-encompassing coverage here to the thousands of herbs that exist.
Herb Simples
