Pennsylvania Smartweed

Pennsylvania Smartweed – polygonum pensylvanicum – smartweed is used to treat wounds, diarrhoea, and inflammations. The leaves are astringent, and can be applied, in a wash or poultice to wounds, sores and inflammations. The seed is diuretic, carminative and stimulant. This herb is used in homeopathic rememdies to treat excessive menstrual bleeding and hemorrhoids.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Used to treat wounds, diarrhoea, and inflammations. Homepathically used to treat menstrual problems and piles.

Pennyroyal

Forms Available: essential oil

Pennyroyal – mentha pulegium – The essentiao oil should be used with extreme caution. Its scent is herbaceous and minty. It is a well known emmenagogue; do not use during pregnancy. Has some use in menstrual difficulties, often used to bring on menstruation. It’s valuable in repelling insects on animals. Can be diluted either in alcohol or vinegar as a rub to kill fleas. Many aromatherapists will not use this oil. It blends well with cedarwood and peppermint.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: It is a well known emmenagogue; do not use during pregnancy. Has some use in menstrual difficulties, often used to bring on menstruation. It’s valuable in repelling insects on animals. Can be diluted either in alcohol or vinegar as a rub to kill fleas.

Peony

Peony – paeonia offinalis – The peony flower is used to scent tea and lotions, creams and perfumes. The root is antispasmodic, sedative, and diuretic. The peony root is a wonderful muscle relaxant, it relieves many types of cramps such as: abdominal, limb muscles, menstrual, and the spasms of epilepsy. It also reduces blood pressure and has been used as an analgesic. This herb induces menstruation and has been used to relieve childbirth pains.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Relieves cramps of many kinds – abdominal, limb muscles, menstrual, and others. Reduces blood pressure, relieves hemorrhoids, induces menstruation.

Pepper, Black

Forms Available: essential oil, ground, peppercorn/berry

Pepper, Black – piper nigrum – fresh, dry-woody, warm and spicy scent. It’s analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, diuretic, laxative and stomachic. There’s the possibility of skin irritation. Black pepper is very stimulating to the mind, gives stamina where there’s frustration. Its rubefacient and analgesic properties make it useful for muscular aches and pains and muscular stiffness as it assists with dilation of local blood vessels. Assists with rheumatoid arthritis and temporary limb paralysis. Warming in event of cold and flu. Stimulates appetite. Expels wind, calms vomiting. Its stomachic effect increases flow of saliva and stimulates appetite, expels wind, encourages peristalsis and is useful in bowel problems; restores tone to colon muscles. Blends well with basil, bergamot, cypress, grapefruit, lemon, and sandalwood.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, diuretic, laxative and stomachic. There’s the possibility of skin irritation. Black pepper is very stimulating to the mind, gives stamina where there’s frustration.

Perilla Seed Oil

Perilla seed oil – perilla frutescens – The efficacy of perilla oil is well known in Korea for heart and liver protection, skin rejuvenation and relieving children’s dry cough. This oil would make a wonderful carrier oil for dry, mature and/or damaged skin applications as well as an ingredient in massage blends, body scrubs, bath salts and creams. Many consider this oil to have antibacterial properties and suitable for acneic conditions.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: this oil makes a good carrier oil

Periwinkle

Periwinkle – vinca minor – The leaves of this plant have been used to treat internal bleeding, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, mouth ulcers and excessive menstrual bleeding – they are astringent. They can also be applied externally to wounds to slow bleeding and cleanse. This plant is used by pharmaceutical companies in vasodilator and cerebral stimulant preparations. The root can be used to lower blood pressure.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Used to treat internal bleeding, excessive menstrual bleeding, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, mouth ulcers. Astringent, cleansing, sedating.

Persimmon Tree

Persimmon Tree – diospyros virginiana – a plant used in alot of edible ways – the fruit: breads, cakes, puddings etc, the seeds: an oil and a coffee substitute, the leaves: a tea. Medicinally, the persimmon has been used as an astringent – A decoction of the unripe fruit has been used as a treatment for bloody stools and, of the inner-bark, as a rinse to treat sore throats and thrush.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Astringent. A decoction of the unripe fruit has been used as a treatment for bloody stools and, of the inner-bark, as a rinse to treat sore throats and thrush.

Pigweed

Pigweed – amaranthus albus – The leaf and seed are edible, the leaf – cooked and the seed – either raw or cooked.