Shea Oil

Forms Available: oil, butter

Shea Oil – butyrospermum parkii – Shea is well known to assist cutaneous dryness, dermatitis and dermatoses, eczema, solar erythema and burns. In Europe this oil is used in foods and confections to replace fats and to enhance food texture and flavor. The oil is golden in color. Suggested uses: Use from 3% to 20% in creams and lotions, soaps and balms, or 100% pure as a moisturizing serum or massage oil. Use it in lip balms, body butters, soap and other toiletries where you might prefer a liquid oil rather than solid shea butter. This oil can be used straight as a massage oil or can become part of a massage oil blend.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Shea is well known to assist cutaneous dryness, dermatitis and dermatoses, eczema, solar erythema and burns.

Sheep Sorrel

Sheep Sorrel – rumex acetosella – The leaves of the sorrel are high in vitamin C and have diuretic, cooling and laxative properties. If eaten raw, the leaves will cool off fevers and reduce thirst. The leaf tea can be drunk as an appetite stimulant and it has laxative properties. The root is also diuretic but not recommended as it is somewhat toxic.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Diuretic and antiseptic. The leaves, raw, alleviate thirst and cool down fevers. A tea, made from the leaves, acts as and appetite stimulant and a laxative. The root is diuretic but toxic.

Shepherd’s Purse

Shepherd’s Purse – capsella bursapastoris – This herb is used to stop hemorrhages. It treats: nose bleeds, blood in urine, excessive menstruation, after chilbirth bleeding, bleeding from the lungs, and bleeding from the stomach. The reason it is so powerful a bloodclotter is because it has a high content of vitamin K. Shepherd’s purse can also be used, in a sitz bath, to sooth hemorrhoids.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Stops bleeding – nose bleeds, blood in urine, excessive menstruation, after childbirth bleeding, bleeding from the lungs. Use in sitz bath for hemorrhoids.

Shiitake Mushroom

Shiitake Mushroom – lentinula edodes – The shitake mushroom improves health and stimulates the immune system. It helps the fight agains high blood pressure and heart disease, helps to control cholesterol levels, and stimulates the immune system to fight various cancers. It may also help people with hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, chronic fatigue syndrome and lyme disease. It helps the body build resistance against infections and viruses. Shitake is eaten raw or cooked. NOTE: do not ingest RAW shitake mushroom if you are suffering cancer of the bladder as one of the chemicals in the shitake can cause this disease.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Prevents high blood pressure and heart disease by controlling cholesterol levels. Immune system stimulating potentially aiding the battle against cancers by activating the immune systems cells that fight particular cancers.

Showy Skullcap

Showy Skullcap – scutellaria serrata –

Soapwort Gentian

Soapwort Gentian – gentiana saponaria – A herb used for digestive disorders, stimulates the digestive system. This root is also used to treat the gall bladder, liver, and indigestion.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Used to treat the gall bladder, liver, indigestion, and gastric disorders.

Soapwort

Soapwort – saponaria officinalis – A perennial plant, 2 foot or more in height. American colonists brought the soapwort with them and used it as a cleaning agent. Internally, soapwort is laxative, expectorant and a diuretic. It is prescribed as a treatment for bronchitis, some asthmas, and coughs as the expectorant properties of soapwort help in the loosening and shifting of phlegm. It is also used to relieve some of the pains associated with rheumatism and arthritis. Externally, in a wash, decoction, or poultice, soapwort relieves acne, eczema, boils, psoriasis, poison ivy, poison oak, and other itchy skin issues.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: An expectorant plant, loosens and shifts phlegm. Treats bronchitis, some asthmas, and coughs. Externally, relieves eczema, poison ivy, poison oak and other itchy skin issues.

Solomon’s Seal

Solomon’s Seal – polygonatum biflorum – This plant is both laxative and sedative. The root makes a laxative tea. It has also been used to treat excessive menstruation, lung ailments and indigestion. Externally, a poultice or decoction of this plant treats bruises, sores and cuts.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: A laxative tea can be made from the root. A folk remedy for rheumatism, skin irritations and piles. Poultice or decoction of root treats bruises, sores and cuts.

Sorghum

Sorghum – sorghum vulgare, sorghum bicolor – This plant is a grass. The seeds can be used as a grain both raw or cooked. The sap can be made into a syrup like maple syrup. Decoctions of the seed are demulcent and diuretic. Can be used to treat urinary tract complaints.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Decoctions of the seed can be used to treat urinary system complaints.

Soy

Soy – glycine max – Soy is a staple food in asian cuisine. It is very nutritional: high in vitamins, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids and fiber amongst other things. Soy is phytoestrogen rich which makes it a food that both menopausal and post menopausal women should eat – it can help to prevent hot flashes and osteoporosis.Soy is also a natural cholesterol reducer. It is also believed that soy may be a cancer fighting food and research is currently going on to this effect.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Used to treat menopausal issues such as hot flashes. Prevents osteoporosis. Soy has laxative properties. Soy reduces cholesterol.