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| contain tannin. Examples: bayberry bark, witch hazel bark, wild oak bark, uva ursi, cranesbill. |
| BITTER: Herb with a sharp, bitter taste that stimulates the digestive system through a reflex via the taste buds. Examples: centaury, gentian, horehound, wormwood. |
| CARMINATIVE: Aromatic herb containing volatile oils that stimulate peristalsis, relax the stomach, relieve intestinal cramping, help prevent gas from forming in the intestines and also help expel it. Examples: allspice, angelica, aniseed, basil, caraway, cardamom, calamus, cayenne, celery seed, chamomile, cinnamon, cloves, dill seed, fennel seed, ginger, nutmeg, peppermint. |
| DEMULCENT: Herb that has mucilaginous properties that soothe and protect irritated or inflamed surfaces and tissues. Important in formulas. Many are also antacids. Examples: agar agar, aloe vera gel, comfrey, fenugreek seed, flaxseed, Iceland moss, Irish moss, licorice root, mallow, marshmallow, oatmeal, psyllium husk powder, slippery elm bark. |
| HEPATIC: Herb that promotes the well-being of the liver and increases the secretion of bile. Liver tonic. Examples: agrimony, dandelion, goldenseal, wahoo, wild yam root, yellow dock. |
| LAXATIVE: Herb that promotes evacuation of the bowels. Laxatives are more gentle than cathartics, purgatives or drastics, which cause violent evacuation. Laxatives are best used in small doses or infrequently. Examples: cascara sagrada, flaxseed, senna, rhubarb root. |
| SIALAGOGUE: Herb that promotes the flow of saliva and aids digestion. Examples: black pepper, cayenne pepper, gentian, ginger, horseradish, licorice root, mustard. |
| The Digestive Herbs |
| Note: Many of the following descriptions include brewing instructions for tea. For convenience, measurements are given for one cup of tea, but in most cases you will want to |
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