OUR HERBAL ROOTS
Presentation By: Brigitte Zettl
Our Herbal Roots?
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Our relationship with
roots goes back a long
way!
Consider Mandragora
autumnalis:
Top picture from a 7th
century Greek Herbal
Bottom picture from
Hortus Sanitatus - 1497
Mandrake is even
referred to in Genesis
When to Harvest Roots?
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Roots, Rhizomes,
Tubers, & Bulbs should
be harvested in autumn
after the aerial parts
have begun to die
down
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It is a good idea to
observe the plant
throughout the growing
season before
harvesting
Spading Fork
Proper Identification
Foxglove
In the 80s a scandal occurred and some died
when a wildcrafter mistook Foxglove for Comfrey
Comfrey
Wildcrafting Ethics
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Especially important
when harvesting roots!
1 in 20 rule for natives
Leave a portion of root
so the plant can return!
With ‘To Watch’ or
U.P.S. listed plants it is
better to grow them
yourself!
How to Clean & Store Roots?
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Wash with water
and a brush
Chop into smaller
pieces
Spread on a screen
so pieces are not
overlapping
Keep in a shady,
dry place with good
airflow
Burdock Drying
Storage & Use
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Keep fully dried
roots in an airtight
glass container
Use or extract
within one year to
maintain potency
What Phytochemicals are
Commonly Found in Roots?
Polysaccharides
Mucilages
Sterols
Triterpenes
Alkaloids
o
An example is the
polysaccharide inulin
which is found in
burdock, echinacea
and dandelion root
Inulin Molecule
Extracting Root Compounds
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General rule for
roots is 30-45%
ethanol unless it is
volatile oil you are
targeting
For mucilage stick
to cold water or
25% ethanol
Tinctures Making is Easy!
You need at least 30% alcohol for your extraction to stay good
without refrigeration
 Everclear is about 100% alcohol so it is easy to mix with water
and get the correct percentage.
Let’s do an example:
o You plan to do a 1:5 ratio extraction in 40% alcohol (as
suggested by Tilgner’s chart - see recommended reading at
the end)
o Your container holds just over 10 ounces of liquid so you need
4 ounces of Everclear, and 6 ounces of water for 40% alcohol
o 10 ounces is = to about 300 mL so you will need 60 grams of
herb (60:300 = 1:5)
o Then just mix all the ingredients, seal the lid of the jar and
shake daily for 10-14 days until straining and pressing the
tincture out through cheesecloth.
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Using Your Tincture
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It is important to check out a good Herb/Drug interaction book
if you are already taking medication so you can make sure the
combination of this herb and your drug is safe! Just like certain
foods, herbs can conflict with pharmaceuticals.
When you are ready to use your tincture you will want to look
at a reliable source to find out how many grams of herb are
recommended per dose, and how many times a day you will
need to take your dose
Once you know the recommended grams of herb per dose for
your ailment, you just need to multiply that number by your mL
ratio on your tincture.
For example: It is recommended that you take 3 grams of herb
per dose, your tincture has 1 gram herb/5 mL liquid. 5 mL x 3
grams = 15 mL per dose
Missouri’s Herbal Roots
Criteria = Available - Useful - Mostly Safe
Black Cohosh
(Actaea racemosa)
Family: Ranunculaceae
Habitat:
Rich upland woods and
hillsides
Description:
Alternate leaves are
thrice divided and
sharply toothed. White
flowers bloom in a
terminal raceme from
May-September. 3-8’
tall in flower. Stamen
tufts conspicuous.
Black Cohosh
(a.k.a. Cimicifuga racemosa)
Properties:
Antispasmodic,
sedative, diaphoretic,
digestive stimulant,
expectorant, peripheral
vasodilator,
hypotensive, female
reproductive tract tonic,
anti-inflammatory
Black Cohosh
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At least 10 clinical studies have
found this plant to be effective
in the treatment of menopause
German gynecologists have
prescribed it as medicine for
the last 40 years
It is particularly indicated for
painful menstruation, hot
flashes, and as a sedative
American Indians used it for
childbirth
In the 19th century it was often
prescribed for rheumatic pain
by American doctors
It is contraindicated during the
first tri-mester of pregnancy
Burdock
(Arctium lappa)
Family: Asteraceae
Habitat:
Waste areas and shaded soil,
pasture lands
Description:
Biennial grows 2-9’ tall.
Globose flower heads with
hook-tipped green bracts
and purple tubular discflorets that bloom in terminal
clusters from July to
September. Leaves emerge
as a basal rosette with very
large heart-shaped leaves
low on the stem.
Burdock
Properties:
Alterative, antibacterial,
antifungal, antiinflammatory, diuretic,
digestive stimulant,
promotes blood and
lymph circulation, liver
tonic, choleretic,
antimutagenic, mild
laxative
Burdock
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o
Clinical trials have shown
root polysaccharides to
exibit antitumor effects
One of the main ingredients
in Essiac Tea
Traditionally used for
chronic skin eruptions such
as acne, psoriasis, eczema,
boils, and sties
By stimulating the natural
flow of lymphatic fluid it
supports excretion of toxins
from cells
Used by the early settlers
and Indians as a tonic and
compress.
Comfrey
(Symphytum officinale)
Family: Boraginaceae
Habitat:
Waste grounds, often
persistent in old garden
sites
Description:
Square stem branched near
top; black turnip like root.
Alternate, ovate to
lanceolate leaves feel
roughly hairy to the touch.
Higher leaves are narrower
with winged clasps down
stem. Bell flowers are
cream, purple or pink in
nodding cymes JuneAugust.
Comfrey
Properties:
o Used externally for
contusions, sprains,
dislocations, wounds,
burns, ulcers, and any
other inflammatory skin
disorder
o Not recommended for
internal use due to
Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid
presence
Comfrey
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Promotes cell
proliferation due to the
presence of allantoin
Considered a very
important organic
gardening herb
Known by early
American settlers as
‘Knitbone’ and was
used frequently to
speed the healing of
fractures and broken
bones.
Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea)
Family: Asteraceae
Habitat:
Open prairies and
where they meet the
forest edge, glades
Description:
2-3 feet tall in flower.
Leaves are oval and
coarsely toothed.
Bristle tips of flower
discs are orange. Rays
can be purple or white.
Root is fibrous, not tap.
Echinacea
Properties:
Antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, antiviral,
antibacterial,
antifungal, adrenal
stimulant, stimulates
leukocytes, enhances
phagocytosis
Echinacea
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Fibrous Root
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8 week double blind study
found effective in preventing
respiratory infections
10 week study found to
prevent reoccurring bouts of
Candidiasis
Activates macrophages to
cytotoxicity against tumor
cells and microorganisms
and increases Tlymphocytes
Enhances the immune
system’s resistance to
infections
Used by Plains Indians
(poisinous bites, wound
healing, cold and flu, cancer
& toothaches)
Dandelion
(Taraxacum officinale)
Family: Asteraceae
Habitat:
Waste places,
compacted soil
Description:
2-18” in height,
flowering stalk with
milky juice, leaves
jagged cut with
downward toothing.
Yellow flower from May
- September
Dandelion
Properties:
Bitter tonic,
cholagogue,
choleretic, mild
laxative, diuretic,
mineral rich
(Potassium
especially), antiplatelet aggregating
action
Dandelion
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Used for arthritis, gout, high
blood pressure,high
cholesterol, edema, and
abnormal blood sugar levels
Taken as a long term tonic
for liver revitalization, for
loss of appetite, non-ulcer
dyspepsia, eczema, and as
a “blood purifier”
Root best for fructose in
Spring and Inulin in Fall
Used by early American
settlers for multiple ailments
American Ginseng
(Panax quinquefolius)
Family: Arailiaceae
Habitat:
Found in rich woods in deep
shade on North facing
limestone slopes at higher
elevations in MO
Description:
Grows 1-2’ in height.
Leaves are palmately
divided, into sharp toothed,
oblong-lance shaped
leaflets. Flowers are whitish
in round umbels from June
to July. Fruits are 2-seeded
red berries that ripen and
set seed in late
summer/early autumn.
Ginseng
Properties:
Adaptogen, general tonic,
antitumor, anitviral, antioxidant,
hepatoprotective,
antispasmodic, antiinflammatory, anti-ulcer,
analgesic, supports nervous
system and endocrine,
antifatigue, corrects erectile
dysfunction, enhances
endurance, blood sugar
balancing, reduces bad
cholesterol (LDL) and raises
good cholesterol (HDL),
minimizes cell damage from
radiation, enhances metablolic
activity in the brain (transfer of
energy)
Ginseng
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Most American ginseng
harvested is shipped to Asia
where it is considered a
‘Fountain of Youth’ herb
The emperors of China took
ginseng on a daily basis
It was nearly harvested into
extinction in the late 80’s and
early 90’s
The root has scars near the
top that tell how old the plant
is, roots over 5 years old
have the highest amount of
ginsenosides
Contraindicated in pregnancy
Goldenseal
(Hydrastis canadensis)
Family: Ranunculaceae
Habitat:
Rich woods in deep
shade on Northern
facing slopes
Description:
6-12” in height. Usually
2 leaves on a forked
branch but sometimes
just one. Leaves are
rounded with 5-7 lobes
with a double toothed
margin.
Goldenseal
Properties:
Alterative,
astringent,
adrenolytic, styptic,
bitter tonic,
antimicrobial,
peripheral
vasoconstrictor
Goldenseal
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Clinically berberine has
been shown effective
against giardia, cholera,
amebiasis, and other
bacteria, yeast, and
protozoa
Contraindicated in
pregnancy
Cherokee mixed with bear
grease as insect repellant
Settlers adopeted native
use of this plant for sore
skin, eyes, & mouth and
sniffed powder for sinus
infections
Joe Pye Weed
(Eupatorium purpureaum )
Family: Asteraceae
Habitat:
Tall-grass prairie, wet open
places
Description:
Grows up to 12’ tall. Stems
are green and purple at the
leaf nodes. Pale pinkpurple flowers borne in
somewhat rounded cluster.
Often mistaken for E.
maculatum. E. purpureum
has short petioles, 7 tufts in
the flower cluster, and does
not have spotted stems.
Joe Pye Weed
Properties:
Diuretic,
emmenagogue,
promotes excretion of
solid materials in urine,
reduces inflammation
of the genitourinary
tract, blood purifier for
chronic rheumatic
complaints
Joe Pye Weed
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Eupatorium comes from
Mithridates Eupator, King of
Pontus, Greece, who is said
to have used the species in
medicine in the first century
B.C.
Joepye is said to come from
an Indian of that name who
cured typhus with it by
enducing copious
perspiration
Could be found in Eclectic
drug stores in 1859
Chippewa used as a wash for
sore joints
May contain Pyrrolizidine
Alkaloids
Milkweed
(Asclepias tuberosa)
Family: Asclepidaceae
Habitat:
Dry roadsides and
prairies
Description:
Stem erect, hairy and
without milky juice;
leaves lance-shaped
and velvety beneath;
flowers have five petals
that bend downward
and are a showy
orange (bloom MaySeptember)
Butterfly Milkweed
Properties:
o Anti-rheumatic,
cardiotonic,
diaphoretic,
expectorant,
antispasmodic
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Specific for
bronchitis,
pneumonia and
influenza
Butterfly Milkweed
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Used by settlers to relieve
inflammation of lungs and
throat
Listed as an official
medicine in the U.S.
Pharmacopoeia from 18201904
Omaha, Menomoni and
other tribes used root to
treat dysentery, pleurisy,
and pnemonia.
Cheyenne made a medicine
for snow blindness from this
plant
Symbiotic partner with
Monarch Butterflies
Rattlesnake Master
(Eryngium yuccifolium)
Family: Apiaceae
Habitat:
Prairies, dry rocky open
woodlands
Description:
Leaves are alternate, linear,
parallel-veined, with bristly
margins and a bluish cast;
Dense flowers produce tiny
white petals in spherical
clusters blooming
September-November; Fruit
is ovoid and scaly with two
small segments.
Rattlesnake Master
Properties:
Used for erectile
dysfunction, and
female reproductive
disorders
Rattlesnake Master
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Chewing the root is said to
increase saliva flow
American Indians used as a
poultice for venomous bites
and toothaches
Was listed in the U.S.
Pharmacopoeia from 18201873 and was recommended
for “exhaustion from sexual
depletion with loss of erectile
power”
Early settlers used for
treating dropsy, laryngitis,
bronchitis, gonorrhea and
other irritations of urethra,
vaginal, and uterine mucous
membranes
A Few Left Out
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Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens)
Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa)
Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)
Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus)
Sarsasparilla (Smilax racemosa)
Sweet Cicely (Osmorhiza spp.)
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
Wild Geranium (Geranium maculata)
May Apple (Podophyllum peltatum)
Wild Ginger (Asaurum canadensis)
Snakeroot (Arisaema spp.)
Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)