A tea preparation for sturdier plant material such as roots and bark, involving simmering the herb in water for 20 minutes or longer.

A mucilaginous herb that soothes irritated or inflamed tissues and mucous membranes.

An herb that promotes perspiration and is often used to help "break" a fever.

An herb that strengthens or supports healthy digestive function.

A Greek physician of the 1st century CE; his De Materia Medica was the leading text on pharmacology for 16 centuries and details the properties of more than 600 plants and animal products.

Doctrine of Signatures The concept that the appearance and/or habitat of a plant indicates its inherent properties.

An ayurvedic term to describe three energies (vata, pitta, kapha) that circulate in the body and contribute to physical and emotional constitutional tendencies and disease.