Plants For A Future
THE FIELD, PENPOL, LOSTWITHIEL, CORNWALL, PL22 0NG
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Database Intro.
Main Search page.
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We are not experts on the medicinal uses of plants and
much of the information has been taken from other sources.
You should talk to someone who knows what
they are on about before using any of these plants.
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects
from the use of plants.
To make it easy to search the database for plants which
fulfill a specific use, a table has been created which
indexes the different plants by their medicinal uses.
You can select one of the uses shown below and then do a
search to find all plants with that use.
More detailed on the uses is contained in the
medical uses field in the
main database table. You can click on a use to show those plants with a given use,
numbers refer to the number of plants listed with that use.
General categories:
Ear Nose and Throat and Eyes,
Chest and Lungs, Heart and Blood,
Liver, Kidneys, and other internal bits,
Stomach, Bowles and Bladder,
Nerves and Muscles, Bones,
Skin, Hands and Feet, Sex and Repoduction.
Treatment of Wounds,
Pain Relief,
Fevers,
Infectious Diseases,
Bites and stings,
Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi and Parisites,
Cancer.
Alternative and Complementary Medicine,
General Well Being,
Whole Body,
Other medicinal uses not covered by above
Alphabetical listing of all medicinal uses
Bits of The Body
- All
- Antiaphonic
(3)
- Restores the voice.
- Antihalitosis
(11)
- Treats bad breath
- Decongestant
(11)
- Removes phlegm and mucous, especially from the respiratory system.
- Demulcent
(175)
- Soothes, lubricates and softens irritated tissues, especially the mucous
membranes.
- Errhine
(3)
- Produces sneezing.
- Mouthwash
(7)
- Treats problems such as mouth ulcers.
- Odontalgic
(81)
- Treats toothache (temporary measure only) and other problems of the teeth
and gums.
- Sternutatory
(16)
- Promotes sneezing and nasal discharges.
- Mydriatic
(9)
- Dilates the pupils of the eyes.
- Ophthalmic
(159)
- Treats eye complaints.
- Sialagogue
(43)
- Stimulates the secretion of saliva.
- All
- Expectorant (412)
- Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.
- Pectoral (110)
- Relieves respiratory diseases, a remedy for chest diseases.
- Antiasthmatic (76)
- Treats asthma.
- Antitussive (132)
- Prevents or relieves coughing.
- Decongestant (11)
- Removes phlegm and mucous, especially from the respiratory system.
- Demulcent (175)
- Soothes, lubricates and softens irritated tissues, especially the mucous membranes.
- All
- Anticholesterolemic (44)
- Prevents the build up of cholesterol.
- Anticoagulant (21)
- Removes blood clots.
- Blood purifier (21)
- Purifies the blood.
- Blood tonic (21)
- Is this any different to a blood purifier?
- Cardiac (91)
- Used in the treatment of heart problems.
- Cardiotonic (136)
- A tonic for the heart.
- Depurative (174)
- Eliminates toxins and purifies the system, especially the blood.
- Haemolytic (10)
- Breaks down red blood corpuscles to separate haemoglobin.
- Haemostatic (100)
- Controls internal bleeding.
- Hypoglycaemic (64)
- Reduces the levels of sugar in the blood.
- Hypotensive (138)
- Reduces blood pressure, it is used in the treatment of high blood pressure
- Vasoconstrictor (24)
- Narrows the blood vessels, thereby increasing blood pressure.
- Vasodilator (77)
- Widens the blood vessels, thereby reducing blood pressure.
- Styptic (76)
- An astringent that stops bleeding by contracting the blood vessels.
- All
- Antacid (1)
- Counters excess acidity in the stomach.
- Stomachic (338)
- Aids and improves the action of the stomach.
- Digestive (128)
- Aids digestion.
- Antiemetic (29)
- Prevents vomiting.
- Emetic (190)
- Induces vomiting.
- Anthelmintic (173)
- Expels parasites from the gut.
- All
- Aperient (63)
- A mild laxative.
- Cathartic (66)
- A strong laxative but less violent than a purgative.
- Laxative (242)
- Stimulates bowel movements in a fairly gentle manner.
- Purgative (155)
- A drastic laxative causing a cleansing or watery evacuation of the bowels, usually with a griping pain.
- Astringent (725)
- Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
- Carminative (310)
- Reduces flatulence and expels gas from the intestines.
- Antihaemorrhoidal (7)
- Treats haemorrhoids (piles). This would probably be best added to another heading.
- Diuretic (892)
- Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
- Hydrogogue (8)
- A purgative that causes an abundant watery discharge.
- All
- Antibilious (7)
- Corrects the secretions of bile.
- Cholagogue (130)
- Increases the flow of bile and its discharge from the body.
- Diuretic (892)
- Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
- Kidney (39)
- Used in the treatment of kidney diseases
- Lithontripic (46)
- Removes stones from the kidney, bladder etc.
- Hepatic (55)
- Acts on the liver (for better or worse!).
- Haemostatic (100)
- Controls internal bleeding.
- All
- Antiarthritic (8)
- Treats arthritis.
- Antiinflammatory (178)
- Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc.
See also Antiphlogistic.
- Plaster (6)
- Used in the treatment of broken bones.
- Antirheumatic (169)
- Treats rheumatism.
- All
- Acrid (11)
- Causes heat and irritation when applied to the skin.
- Antidandruff (20)
- Treats dandruff.
- Antidermatosic (1)
- Prevents or cures skin complaints.
- Antipruritic (25)
- Treats itching of the skin.
- Emollient (114)
- Softens the skin, causing warmth and moisture.
- Foot care (5)
- Plants that are used in various ways to treat foot problems.
- Poultice (214)
- A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.
- Rubefacient (69)
- A counter-irritant and external stimulant, it produces inflammation and redness of the skin.
- Salve (53)
- Soothes and heals damaged skin.
- Skin (162)
- Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.
- Vesicant (9)
- A blistering agent.
- Warts (46)
- Used in the treatment of warts, corns etc.
- All
- Antispasmodic (351)
- Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.
- Nervine (98)
- Stimulates and calms the nerves.
- All
- Abortifacient (41)
- Causes an abortion.
- Anaphrodisiac (8)
- Reduces sexual desire.
- Aphrodisiac (80)
- Increases the sexual appetite.
- Birthing aid (61)
- Used in facilitating birth, but not just to cause uterine contrctions.
- Galactofuge (12)
- Stops or reduces the flow of milk in a nursing mother.
- Galactogogue (86)
- Promotes the flow of milk in a nursing mother.
- Contraceptive (49)
- Prevents fertilization occurring in females.
- Infertility (16)
- Used in treating problems of human fertility.
- VD (52)
- Used in the treatment of venereal disease
- Emmenagogue (241)
- Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion.
- Oxytoxic (27)
- Hastens parturition and stimulates uterine contractions.
- Uterine tonic (10)
- A tonic for the uterus.
- Women's complaints (66)
- A very vague title, it deals with a miscellany of problems peculiar to the female sex.
Aliments
- All
- Antiecchymotic (8)
- Prevents or treats bruising.
- Antiseptic (302)
- Preventing sepsis, decay or putrefaction, it destroys or arrests the growth of micro-organisms.
- Detergent (21)
- A cleansing agent, used on wounds etc. It removes dead and diseased matter.
- Disinfectant (22)
- Used for cleaning wounds.
- Plaster (6)
- Used in the treatment of broken bones.
- Poultice (214)
- A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.
- Salve (53)
- Soothes and heals damaged skin.
- Styptic (76)
- An astringent that stops bleeding by contracting the blood vessels.
- Vulnerary (180)
- Promotes the healing of wounds.
- All
- Anaesthetic (23)
- Numbs the feeling in a local or general area of the body.
- Analgesic (143)
- Relieves pain.
- Anodyne (263)
- Relieves pain, it is milder than an analgesic.
- Narcotic (76)
- Relieves pain, induces drowsiness and gives a sense of well-being.
- Lenitive (16)
- Soothing, palliative.
- All
- Antipyretic (54)
- Treats fevers.
- Febrifuge (513)
- Reduces fevers.
- All
- Antiperiodic (73)
- Counteracts recurring illnesses such as malaria.
- Antiscrophulatic (15)
- Counteracts scrofula. (TB, especially of the lymph glands)
- TB (12)
- Plants used in the treatment of tuberculosis
- VD (52)
- Used in the treatment of venereal disease
- All
- Antidote (128)
- Counters poisoning.
- Stings (41)
- Used in the treatment of stings and insect bites.
- All
- Antibacterial (220)
- Kills bacteria.
- Antibiotic (20)
- An agent that inhibits or destroys a living organism. It usually refers to bacteria or other micro-organisms and is probably synonymous with Antibacterial
- Antifungal (41)
- An agent that inhibits or destroys fungi. Used in the treatment of various fungal problems such as candida.
- Antiviral (20)
- Treats virus diseases
- Warts (46)
- Used in the treatment of warts, corns etc.
- Parasiticide (44)
- Treats external parasites such as ringworm This should perhaps be joined with Parasiticide in 'Other Uses'.
- Vermifuge (144)
- Expels and kills internal parasites.
- Anthelmintic (173)
- Expels parasites from the gut.
- All (400)
- Antitumor (43)
- Preventing, or effective against, tumors, it is used in the treatment of cancer.
- Cancer (289)
- Used in the treatment of cancer.
- Cytostatic (12)
- Slows or controls the growth of tumours.
- Cytotoxic (8)
- Destroys body cells. Used in the treatment of diseases such as cancer, where it is targeted against the cancer cells.
- Resolvent (43)
- Breaks down tumors. This might be placed under antitumor.
Alternatives
- All
- Alterative (124)
- Causes a gradual beneficial change in the body, usually through improved nutrition and elimination, without having any marked specific action.
- Aromatherapy (37)
- Plants whose essential oils are used in Aromatherapy.
- Bach (38)
- Plants used in the Bach flower remedies.
- Homeopathy (129)
- A plant used in homeopathic treatments.
- All
- Antiscorbutic (79)
- A plant rich in vitamin C that is used to counteract scurvy.
- Balsamic (13)
- A healing and soothing agent.
- Nutritive (38)
- A food for convalescents to help restore strength.
- Tonic (627)
- Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.
- All
- Adaptogen (17)
- Helps the body 'rise' to normal stress situations, thus preventing the many chronic degenerative diseases.
- Deobstruent (46)
- Clears obstructions from the natural ducts of the body.
- Depurative (174)
- Eliminates toxins and purifies the system, especially the blood.
- Antidandruff (20)
- Treats dandruff.
- Antihydrotic (4)
- Reduces perspiration.
- Antiphlogistic (114)
- Reduces inflammation.
- Antivinous (10)
- Treats addiction to alcohol
- Appetizer (52)
- Improves the appetite
- Aromatic (84)
- Having an agreeable odour and stimulant qualities.
- Astringent (725)
- Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
- Bitter (76)
- Increases the appetite and stimulates digestion by acting on the mucous membranes of the mouth. Also increases the flow of bile, stimulates repair of the gut wall lining and regulates the secretion of insulin and glucogen.
- Deodorant (23)
- Masks smells. Is this medicinal?
- Diaphoretic (394)
- Induces perspiration.
- Enuresis (4)
- Treats bed wetting.
- Emollient (114)
- Softens the skin, causing warmth and moisture.
- Hallucinogenic (23)
- Causes the mind to hallucinate.
- Hypnotic (68)
- Induces sleep.
- Irritant (25)
- Causes irritation or abnormal sensitivity in living tissue.
- Miscellany (153)
- Various medicinal actions that need more clarification.
- Refrigerant (59)
- Cools the body.
- Restorative (15)
- Restores consciousness or normal physiological activity.
- Rubefacient (69)
- A counter-irritant and external stimulant, it produces inflammation and redness of the skin.
- Sedative (285)
- Gently calms, reducing nervousness, distress and irritation.
- Stimulant (281)
- Excites or quickens activity of the physiological processes. Faster acting than a tonic but differing from a narcotic in that it does not give a false sense of well-being.
- Abortifacient (41)
- Causes an abortion.
- Acrid (11)
- Causes heat and irritation when applied to the skin.
- Adaptogen (17)
- Helps the body 'rise' to normal stress situations, thus preventing the many chronic degenerative diseases.
- Alterative (124)
- Causes a gradual beneficial change in the body, usually through improved nutrition and elimination, without having any marked specific action.
- Anaesthetic (23)
- Numbs the feeling in a local or general area of the body.
- Analgesic (143)
- Relieves pain.
- Anaphrodisiac (8)
- Reduces sexual desire.
- Anodyne (263)
- Relieves pain, it is milder than an analgesic.
- Antacid (1)
- Counters excess acidity in the stomach.
- Anthelmintic (173)
- Expels parasites from the gut.
- Antiaphonic (3)
- Restores the voice.
- Antiarthritic (8)
- Treats arthritis.
- Antiasthmatic (76)
- Treats asthma.
- Antibacterial (220)
- Kills bacteria.
- Antibilious (7)
- Corrects the secretions of bile.
- Antibiotic (20)
- An agent that inhibits or destroys a living organism. It usually refers to bacteria or other micro-organisms and is probably synonymous with Antibacterial
- Anticholesterolemic (44)
- Prevents the build up of cholesterol.
- Anticoagulant (21)
- Removes blood clots.
- Antidandruff (20)
- Treats dandruff.
- Antidermatosic (1)
- Prevents or cures skin complaints.
- Antidote (128)
- Counters poisoning,
see also Stings.
- Antiecchymotic (8)
- Prevents or treats bruising.
- Antiemetic (29)
- Prevents vomiting.
- Antifungal (41)
- An agent that inhibits or destroys fungi. Used in the treatment of various fungal problems such as candida.
- Antihaemorrhoidal (7)
- Treats haemorrhoids (piles). This would probably be best added to another heading.
- Antihalitosis (11)
- Treats bad breath
- Antihydrotic (4)
- Reduces perspiration.
- Antiinflammatory (178)
- Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc.
See also
Antiarthritic,
Antirheumatic,
Antiphlogistic
- Antiperiodic (73)
- Counteracts recurring illnesses such as malaria.
- Antiphlogistic (114)
- Reduces inflammation.
- Antipruritic (25)
- Treats itching of the skin.
- Antipyretic (54)
- Treats fevers.
See Febrifuge.
- Antirheumatic (169)
- Treats rheumatism.
- Antiscorbutic (79)
- A plant rich in vitamin C that is used to counteract scurvy.
- Antiscrophulatic (15)
- Counteracts scrofula. (TB, especially of the lymph glands)
- Antiseptic (302)
- Preventing sepsis, decay or putrefaction, it destroys or arrests the growth of micro-organisms.
- Antispasmodic (351)
- Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.
- Antitumor (43)
- Preventing, or effective against, tumors, it is used in the treatment of cancer. Probably synonymous with Cytotoxic.
See also
Cancer,
Cytostatic,
Cytotoxic.
- Antitussive (132)
- Prevents or relieves coughing.
- Antivinous (10)
- Treats addiction to alcohol
- Antiviral (20)
- Treats virus diseases
- Aperient (63)
- A mild
Laxative.
See also
Cathartic,
Purgative.
- Aphrodisiac (80)
- Increases the sexual appetite.
- Appetizer (52)
- Improves the appetite
- Aromatherapy (37)
- Plants whose essential oils are used in Aromatherapy.
- Aromatic (84)
- Having an agreeable odour and stimulant qualities.
- Astringent (725)
- Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
- Bach (38)
- Plants used in the Bach flower remedies.
- Balsamic (13)
- A healing and soothing agent.
- Birthing aid (61)
- Used in facilitating birth, but not just to cause uterine contractions.
- Bitter (76)
- Increases the appetite and stimulates digestion by acting on the mucous membranes of the mouth. Also increases the flow of bile, stimulates repair of the gut wall lining and regulates the secretion of insulin and glucogen.
- Blood purifier (21)
- Purifies the blood.
- Blood tonic (21)
- Is this any different to a blood purifier?
- Cancer (289)
- Used in the treatment of cancer.
See also
Antitumor,
Cytostatic,
Cytotoxic.
- Cardiac (91)
- Used in the treatment of heart problems.
- Cardiotonic (136)
- A tonic for the heart.
- Carminative (310)
- Reduces flatulence and expels gas from the intestines.
- Cathartic (66)
- A strong
Laxative
but less violent than a
Purgative.
See also
Aperient.
- Cholagogue (130)
- Increases the flow of bile and its discharge from the body.
- Contraceptive (49)
- Prevents fertilization occurring in females.
- Cytostatic (12)
- Slows or controls the growth of tumours.
See also
Cancer,
Cytotoxic,
Antitumor.
- Cytotoxic (8)
- Destroys body cells. Used in the treatment of diseases such as cancer, where it is targeted against the cancer cells.
See also
Cancer,
Cytostatic,
Antitumor.
- Decongestant (11)
- Removes phlegm and mucous, especially from the respiratory system.
- Demulcent (175)
- Soothes, lubricates and softens irritated tissues, especially the mucous membranes.
- Deobstruent (46)
- Clears obstructions from the natural ducts of the body.
- Deodorant (23)
- Masks smells. Is this medicinal?
- Depurative (174)
- Eliminates toxins and purifies the system, especially the blood.
- Detergent (21)
- A cleansing agent, used on wounds etc. It removes dead and diseased matter.
- Diaphoretic (394)
- Induces perspiration.
- Digestive (128)
- Aids digestion.
- Disinfectant (22)
- Used for cleaning wounds.
- Diuretic (892)
- Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
- Emetic (190)
- Induces vomiting.
- Emmenagogue (241)
- Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion.
- Emollient (114)
- Softens the skin, causing warmth and moisture.
- Enuresis (4)
- Treats bed wetting.
- Errhine (3)
- Produces sneezing.
- Expectorant (412)
- Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.
- Febrifuge (513)
- Reduces fevers.
See also
Antipyretic
- Foot care (5)
- Plants that are used in various ways to treat foot problems.
- Galactofuge (12)
- Stops or reduces the flow of milk in a nursing mother.
- Galactogogue (86)
- Promotes the flow of milk in a nursing mother.
- Haemolytic (10)
- Breaks down red blood corpuscles to separate haemoglobin.
- Haemostatic (100)
- Controls internal bleeding.
- Hallucinogenic (23)
- Causes the mind to hallucinate.
- Hepatic (55)
- Acts on the liver (for better or worse!).
- Homeopathy (129)
- A plant used in homeopathic treatments.
- Hydrogogue (8)
- A purgative that causes an abundant watery discharge.
- Hypnotic (68)
- Induces sleep.
- Hypoglycaemic (64)
- Reduces the levels of sugar in the blood.
- Hypotensive (138)
- Reduces blood pressure, it is used in the treatment of high blood pressure
- Infertility (16)
- Used in treating problems of human fertility.
- Irritant (25)
- Causes irritation or abnormal sensitivity in living tissue.
- Kidney (39)
- Used in the treatment of kidney diseases
- Laxative (242)
- Stimulates bowel movements in a fairly gentle manner.
See also
Aperient,
Cathartic,
Purgative.
- Lenitive (16)
- Soothing, palliative.
- Lithontripic (46)
- Removes stones from the kidney, bladder etc.
- Miscellany (153)
- Various medicinal actions that need more clarification.
- Mouthwash (7)
- Treats problems such as mouth ulcers.
- Mydriatic (9)
- Dilates the pupils of the eyes.
- Narcotic (76)
- Relieves pain, induces drowsiness and gives a sense of well-being.
- Nervine (98)
- Stimulates and calms the nerves.
- Nutritive (38)
- A food for convalescents to help restore strength.
- Odontalgic (81)
- Treats toothache (temporary measure only) and other problems of the teeth and gums.
- Ophthalmic (159)
- Treats eye complaints.
- Oxytoxic (27)
- Hastens parturition and stimulates uterine contractions.
- Parasiticide (44)
- Treats external parasites such as ringworm This should perhaps be joined with Parasiticide in 'Other Uses'.
- Pectoral (110)
- Relieves respiratory diseases, a remedy for chest diseases.
- Plaster (6)
- Used in the treatment of broken bones.
- Poultice (214)
- A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.
- Purgative (155)
- A drastic
Laxative
causing a cleansing or watery evacuation of the bowels, usually with a griping pain.
See also
Aperient,
Cathartic,
Purgative.
- Refrigerant (59)
- Cools the body.
- Resolvent (43)
- Breaks down tumors. This might be placed under antitumor.
- Restorative (15)
- Restores consciousness or normal physiological activity.
- Rubefacient (69)
- A counter-irritant and external stimulant, it produces inflammation and redness of the skin.
- Salve (53)
- Soothes and heals damaged skin.
- Sedative (285)
- Gently calms, reducing nervousness, distress and irritation.
- Sialagogue (43)
- Stimulates the secretion of saliva.
- Skin (162)
- Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.
See also Antipruritic,
- Sternutatory (16)
- Promotes sneezing and nasal discharges.
- Stimulant (281)
- Excites or quickens activity of the physiological processes. Faster acting than a tonic but differing from a narcotic in that it does not give a false sense of well-being.
- Stings (41)
- Used in the treatment of stings and insect bites.
See also Antidote
- Stomachic (338)
- Aids and improves the action of the stomach.
- Styptic (76)
- An astringent that stops bleeding by contracting the blood vessels.
- TB (12)
- Plants used in the treatment of tuberculosis
- Tonic (627)
- Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.
- Uterine tonic (10)
- A tonic for the uterus.
See also Oxytoxic.
- Vasoconstrictor (24)
- Narrows the blood vessels, thereby increasing blood pressure.
- Vasodilator (77)
- Widens the blood vessels, thereby reducing blood pressure.
- VD (52)
- Used in the treatment of venereal disease
- Vermifuge (144)
- Expels and kills internal parasites.
- Vesicant (9)
- A blistering agent.
- Vulnerary (180)
- Promotes the healing of wounds.
- Warts (46)
- Used in the treatment of warts, corns etc.
- Women's complaints (66)
- A very vague title, it deals with a miscellany of problems peculiar to the female sex.
Depression
Stomach Ache
Headache
Diarrhoea
Leprosy
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Last Update: Feb 2000.
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