Gastroenterology Herbs
Gastroenterology Herbs by Action
Anti-emetic
Cannabis sativa (marijuana)
Matricaria recutita (chamomile)
Mentha piperita (peppermint)
Zingiber officinalis (ginger)
Emetic
Cephaelis ipecacuanha (ipecac)
Lobelia inflata (lobelia)
Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot)
Antiparasitic
Allium sativum (fresh garlic)
Artemisia absinthium (wormwood)
Artemisia annua (sweet Annie or qing hao)
Berberis aquifolium (Oregon grape)
Berberis vulgaris (barberry)
Chenopodium ambrosioides (epazote)
Digenia simplex (red algae)
Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal)
Inula helenium (elecampane)
Juglans nigra (fresh black walnut)
Origanum vulgare (oregano)
Ruta graveolens (rue)
Syzygium aromaticum (clove)
Tanacetum vulgare (tansy)
Thuja occidentalis (cedar)
Thymus vulgaris (thyme)
Zingiber officinale (ginger)
Astringent
Acacia arabica (acacia bark)
Achillea millefolium (yarrow)
Aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut)
Agrimonia spp. (agrimony)
Alchemilla vulgaris (ladies mantle)
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (uva-ursi)
Aspidosperma quebrachoblanco (quebracho)
Camellia Sinensis (green tea)
Capsella bursa-pastoris (shepherd’s purse)
Cinnamomum spp. (cinnamon)
Collinsonia canadensis (stone root)
Crataegus spp. (hawthorn leaves)
Equisetum arvense (horsetail)
Euphrasia officinalis (eyebright)
Filipendula ulmaria (meadowsweet)
Geranium maculatum (geranium or cranesbill)
Hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel)
Hydrastis officinalis (goldenseal)
Male fern roots/rhizomes
Myrica cerifera (bayberry)
Plantago spp. (plantain)
Prunus spp. (wild cherry bark)
Punica granatum (pomegranate rind)
Quercus alba (oak)
Rosa spp. (red rose petals)
Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary)
Rubus idaeus (raspberry)
Rubus villosus (blackberry)
Salvia officinalis (sage)
Solidago spp. (goldenrod)
Syzygium aromaticum (cloves)
Tilia spp. (linden)
Ulmus spp. (slippery elm)
Verbascum thapsus (mullein)
Vinca spp. (periwinkle)
Mucilage
Avena sativa (oat)
Althea officinalis (marshmallow)
Linum usitatissimum (flax seed)
Plantago spp. (plantain)
Symphytum officinalis (comfrey)
Ulmus spp. (slippery elm)
Zea mays (corn silk)
Sialagogue
Echinacea spp. (echinacea)
Spilanthes acmella (paracress)
Zanthoxylum clava-herculis (prickly ash)
Bitter
Strong Bitters:
Achillea millefolium (yarrow) (Affects almost all systems)
Acorus calamus (calamus)
Artemisia absinthium (wormwood) (GI)
Artemisia vulgaris (mugwort) (GI)
Eupatorium perfoliatum (boneset)
Gentiana spp. (gentian) (GI)
Harpagophytm procumbens (devil’s claw) (GI, MSK)
Humulus lupulus (hops)
Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal) (GI, derm, EENT, immune, etc.)
Leonurus cardiaca (motherwort) (Female repro)
Marrubium vulgare (horehound) (Female repro)
Matricaria recutita (chamomile)
Menyanthes trifoliata (bogbean)
Momordica charantia (bitter melon) (Endocrine)
Nepeta cataria (catnip)
Picorrhiza kurroa (bitter root)
Rumex crispus (yellow dock) (GI)
Ruta graveolens (rue)
Mild Bitters:
Arctium lappa (burdock) (GI, derm)
Berberis (Mahonia) aquifolium (Oregon grape) (GI, derm, EENT, immune, etc.)
Berberis vulgaris (mugwort)
Bupleurum chinense (bupleurum)
Chelidonium majus (greater celandine) (GI)
Chionanthus virginicus (fringe tree) (GI)
Cynara scolymus (artichoke) (GI, CV)
Cnicus benedictus (blessed thistle)
Inula helenium (elecampane)
Taraxacum officinalis (dandelion) (GI, GU)
Verbena officinalis (vervain) (Female repro, CNS)
Carminative
Pure/Cooling Carminatives:
Artemisia absinthium (wormwood)
Foeniculum vulgare (fennel)
Matricaria recutita (chamomile)
Melissa officinalis (lemon balm)
Mentha piperita (peppermint)
Warming/Aromatic Carminatives:
Angelica archangelica (angelica)
Capsicum spp. (cayenne)
Carum carvi (caraway)
Cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamon)
Inula helenium (elecampane)
Juniperus communis (juniper)
Pimpinella anisum (anise)
Zingiber officinale (ginger)
Cholagogue/Choleretic
Arctium lappa (burdock)
Baptisia tinctoria (wild indigo)
Berberis (Mahonia) aquifolium (Oregon grape)
Berberis vulgaris (barberry)
Chelidonium majus (greater calandine)
Chelone glabra (balmony)
Chionanthus virginicus (fringetree bark)
Cynara scolymus (artichoke)
Dioscorea spp. (wild yam)
Eupatorium perfoliatum (boneset)
Gentiana lutea (gentian)
Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal)
Iris versicolor (blue flag)
Leptandra virginica (culver’s root)
Peumus boldus (boldo)
Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary)
Rumex crispus (yellow dock)
Salvia officinalis (sage)
Taraxacum officinalis (dandelion)
Hepatic
Arctium lappa (burdock)
Berberis (Mahonia) aquifolium (Oregon grape)
Berberis vulgaris (barberry)
Bupleurum spp. (bupleurum)
Ceanothus americanus (red root or New Jersey tea)
Chelidonium majus (celandine)
Chionanthus virginicus (fringe tree)
Curcuma longa (turmeric)
Cynara scolymus (artichoke)
Ganoderma lucidum (reishi)
Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice)
Picrorhiza kurroa (picrorhiza)
Rumex crispus (yellow dock)
Schisandra Chinensis (schisandra or wu wei zi)
Silybum marianum (milk thistle)
Taraxacum officinale (dandelion root)
Laxative
Bulking Laxatives:
Aloe vera (aloe gel)
Althea officinalis (marshmallow root)
Avena sativa (oat seed or bran)
Linum usitatissimum (flax)
Plantago psyllium (psyllium seed or husks)
Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek)
Ulmus spp. (slippery elm bark)
Cathartic Laxatives:
Aloe vera (aloe sap/resin/latex)
Cassia angustifolia (Senna alexandrina) (senna)
Rhamnus frangula (Frangula purshiana) (buckthorn)
Rhamnus purshiana (cascara)
Ricinus communis (castor oil, orally)
Stool Moisteners:
Water
Mucilaginous herbs:
Aloe vera (aloe gel)
Linum usitatissimum (flax)
Plantago psyllium (psyllium seed or husks)
Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek)
Stimulating Laxatives:
Strong Stimulating Laxatives:
Aloe vera (aloe sap/resin/latex)
Cassia angustifolia (Senna alexandrina) (senna)
Rhamnus frangula (buckthorn)
Rhamnus purshiana (cascara)
Rheum officinalis (rhubarb)
Mild Stimulating Laxatives:
Berberis (Mahonia) aquifolium (Oregon grape root)
Rumex crispus (yellow dock)
Taraxacum officinalis (dandelion)
