Allspice

Allspice – pimento officinalis, – Tropical evergreen with aromatic bark, leaves, and berries and bunches of greenish white flowers with a pervading scent. The berries, picked when mature but still green, are dried and ground to create the familiar spice.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Has been used as a poultice to relieve arthritis pain.

Other Uses: Herb and Oil – Burn for prosperity, courage, healing/health, luck, determination, magical power, energy, strength.

Aloe

Aloe – aloe vera, aloe barbadensis miller, aloe ssp. – This plant has remarkable qualities. Two parts are used: the clear, gel-like central leaf pulp, and the yellow-green juice from the green part of the leaf. The gel is used in creams to soothe, heal, and moisturize the skin, and in shampoos for dry, itchy scalps. It cools the skin, protects it from airborne infections and fungi, and reduces scarring. It speeds cell regeneration, and so treats radiation burns, coral wounds, and dermatitis. It can be scraped from split leaves for first aid treatment of small burns, cuts, chapped skin, sunburn, eczema and Poison Ivy rash. Compounds in the leaf juice are added to sunscreens from protection against UV rays and have shown anticancer activity.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: A wonderful burn treatment – apply the juice from the leaf directly to the burn. Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, decoagulant, emmollient.

Other Uses: A protective house plant. It guards against evil influences and prevents household accidents. In Africa, the aloe is hung over houses and doors to bring good luck and drive away evil.

Althea

Althea – althea officinalis – More commonly known as Marshmallow. A perennial plant that grows in damp places. The root is used as a vegetable, the flowers make a tea and the leaves are used as a herb. Althea relieves inflammations of mucous membranes throughout the body internally. It can also be added to a salve for sores and skin erruptions. The root relieves peptic ulcers, gastritis and excess stomach acid. Althea is diuretic, emollient, somewhat laxative, demulcent, and antitussive.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Soothes mucous membranes, relieves gastritis and peptic ulcers. Reduces external skin inflammations.

Alum Root

Alum Root – heuchera americana – an evergreen. This root is very astringent. When dried and ground, is used externally on wounds. Internally it has been used for treating cancer, diarrhoea, dysentry and stomach ulcers. CAUTION: overuse is not advised as it can irritate the stomach and damage the kidneys and/or liver.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: An astringent. Used in cancer treatment, on external wounds, for internal treatment of diarrhoea, stomach ulcers, dysentery.

Amaranth

Amaranth – amaranthus retroflexus, amaranthus hypocondriacus – This is an annual plant. The leaves and seed can both be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves are a source of iron and vitamins A and C. Amaranth leaves are astringent and a tea made from these leaves is used to alleviate internal bleeding, excessive menstruation and diarrhoea.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Amaranth leaves are astringent and a tea made from these leaves is used to alleviate internal bleeding, excessive menstruation and diarrhoea.

American Centaury

American Centaury – sabatia angularis – This plant, in an infusion, is an antiperiodic: it has been used to treat period pains.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: This plant, in an infusion, is an antiperiodic: it has been used to treat period pains.

Anise Hyssop

Anise Hyssop – agastache foeniculum – An infusion of the leaves of this plant can be used to treat colds, fevers and weak hearts. Also, an external poultice made from the leaves and stems helps to alleviate burns. Fresh leaves can be added to salads. The leaves make refreshing tea. Also, the essential oil is used to flavor liqueurs and root beer.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: The leaves of this plant are cardiac and diaphoretic. Also, an external poultice made from the leaves and stems helps to alleviate burns.