Tastes: bitter

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  • Pueraria montana (lobata)

    Botanical Overview Pueraria montana (lobata) belongs to the Fabaceae family and is commonly known as Kudzu, Japanese arrowroot, or Lobed kudzu. The plant is native to East and Southeast Asia and has naturalized in parts of North America. The parts used medicinally include the root, leaf, and flower. Energetics Temperature: cooling Moisture: moistening Tastes: bitter,…


  • Hamamelis virginiana

    Botanical Overview Hamamelis virginiana, commonly known as witch hazel or American witch-hazel, belongs to the family Hamamelidaceae. It is native to Eastern North America. The medicinal parts used include the bark, leaves, twigs, and leaf-distilled water. Witch hazel is well recognized for its use in topical preparations for skin and circulatory conditions. Energetics This herb…


  • Nepeta cataria

    Botanical Overview Nepeta cataria, commonly known as Catnip, Catmint, Catswort, or Catnep, is a member of the Lamiaceae family. Native to Europe and Asia and naturalized in North America, the plant’s aerial parts, leaves, and flowers are traditionally used medicinally. Energetics Catnip is considered cooling and moistening in energetic quality with a bitter and minty…


  • Piper cubeba

    Botanical Overview Piper cubeba, commonly known as Cubeb, Cubeb pepper, or Tailed pepper, belongs to the family Piperaceae. The medicinally used part is the fruit, widely harvested from regions in South Asia, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia. Energetics Cubeb fruit has warming temperature and drying moisture energetics. It possesses bitter and pungent tastes, with an ascending…


  • Psidium guajava

    Botanical Overview Psidium guajava, commonly known as guava leaf, is a member of the Myrtaceae family. It is native to tropical regions of the Americas and widely naturalized in Southeast Asia, India, and parts of Africa. Only the leaves (folia) are used medicinally, prized for their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Common names include guava leaf…


  • Cymbopogon citratus

    Botanical Overview Latin Name: Cymbopogon citratus Family: Poaceae Parts Used: Leaf Common Names: Lemongrass Energetics Temperature: warming; Moisture: drying; Tastes: bitter, pungent, sour; Directionality: descending, outward; Tonicity: relaxing; Qi/Blood/Fluid: qi. Primary Actions Antimicrobial Anti-inflammatory Antispasmodic Carminative Diaphoretic Diuretic Sedative Indications Western Indigestion Flatulence Colic Common cold Headache Fever Syndromes Gastrointestinal spasms Mild infections Mild anxiety…


  • Cyperus rotundus

    Botanical Overview Cyperus rotundus, commonly known as Nut grass or Purple nutsedge, belongs to the Cyperaceae family. The rhizome and root parts of this plant are predominantly used in herbal medicine. It is native to Asia, Africa, the Mediterranean, and grows widely in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Energetics This herb is considered warm and…


  • Ligusticum porteri

    Botanical Overview Ligusticum porteri, commonly known as Osha or Chuchupate, belongs to the Apiaceae family. It is native to the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. The root is the primary part used medicinally. Energetics This herb is considered warming and drying in nature, with pungent and bitter tastes. Its action is ascending and outward,…


  • Pausinystalia johimbe

    Botanical Overview Pausinystalia johimbe, commonly known as Yohimbe or Johimbe, is a member of the Rubiaceae family native to Central and West Africa. The bark is the part traditionally used for medicinal purposes. Energetics This plant has warming and drying energetic qualities, characterized by a bitter taste. It is considered tonifying but directionality and qi/blood/fluid…


  • Nardostachys jatamansi

    Botanical Overview Nardostachys jatamansi (Family: Caprifoliaceae), commonly known as Spikenard, Indian spikenard, or Jatamansi, is a perennial herb native to the Himalayan regions of India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. The medicinal parts used are primarily the root and rhizome, which have historically been valued for their calming and restorative properties. Energetics Nardostachys jatamansi exhibits a…