Clinical reference
Every herb that grows in our Umpire, Arkansas medicine garden, in Gaia’s clinical-herbalist voice. Each entry shows traditional uses, how we work with the plant in our formulas, and which products in the apothecary contain it.
Withania somnifera
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is the cornerstone Ayurvedic adaptogen for depletion, the nervous system that has been running on overdrive for too long and needs grounded, warming support to rebuild rather than just calm down.
Verbena hastata
Blue vervain (Verbena hastata) is the herb for the chronically over-responsible nervous system, the perfectionist, the controller, the can't-let-go-of-the-shoulders pattern. A bitter nervine with a sharp, specific personality unlike any other in Western herbalism.
Calendula officinalis
Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is the bright orange medicinal marigold of European herbal tradition, a foundational skin-healing, anti-inflammatory, and gently lymphatic herb that's both a topical first-aid staple and an internal tonic.
Eschscholzia californica
California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is a gentle, non-habit-forming nervine and mild analgesic, Western herbalism's answer to nervous-system overactivation that needs both physical settling and emotional softening.
Cinnamomum verum
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum, Ceylon cinnamon) is one of the most familiar warming spices in the global apothecary, a traditional circulatory stimulant, digestive aid, and the herb with the strongest modern clinical evidence for mild blood-sugar-regulating effects.
Sambucus nigra
Elderflower (Sambucus nigra) is the classic Western herb for the first hours of a cold or flu, a gentle diaphoretic that helps the body work with a fever rather than against it, and a long-traditional ally for sinus, throat, and seasonal viral support.
Solidago spp.
Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) is the late-summer goldenflower of pastures and meadows, a renal and urinary tonic with a long traditional reputation for seasonal allergies, and the same plant we use to prepare our Confidence Essence.
Crataegus spp.
Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) is the most-studied cardiovascular herb in Western clinical herbalism, a long-haul heart tonic with traditional and clinical support for circulation, mild blood pressure regulation, and the slow rebuilding of heart strength.
Hibiscus sabdariffa
Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is the bright tart-tasting calyx behind agua de jamaica, karkade, and red-zinger teas, a traditional cooling tonic with substantial modern research support for mild blood pressure regulation and cardiovascular wellness.
Lavandula angustifolia
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is one of the most universally familiar nervines in Western herbalism, a calming, gently aromatic ally for anxiety, restlessness, tension headaches, and the kind of overstimulation that won't let go of the body.
Melissa officinalis
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a bright, citrus-aromatic nervine traditionally used for the kind of anxiety that comes with mental fatigue, mood unsteadiness, and a tense gut, a gladdening herb that lifts and softens at the same time.
Glycyrrhiza glabra
Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is one of the most-used herbs in traditional medicine globally, a sweet, demulcent, adrenal-supportive, anti-inflammatory powerhouse with a unique blood-pressure caveat that requires informed use.
Avena sativa
Milky oat (Avena sativa, milky oat tops) is the deeply restorative nervine of Western clinical herbalism, a slow-acting trophorestorative that gently rebuilds the nervous system over months in a way no acutely-calming herb can match.
Leonurus cardiaca
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) is the herb for the racing-heart kind of anxiety, a traditional cardiotonic and nervine in one, used across European and Chinese medicine for the chest-tight, palpitating, postpartum-tender, perimenopausal-overwhelmed nervous system.
Verbascum thapsus
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is the foundational lung herb of Western clinical herbalism, a soft-leafed biennial whose mucilaginous leaves have been used for at least two millennia for dry coughs, irritated airways, and the long, slow rebuilding of respiratory tissue.
Passiflora incarnata
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is the classic herbal ally for the racing-thoughts kind of anxiety and sleeplessness, a gentle, non-sedating nervine that quiets the busy mind without dulling the next morning.
Mentha × piperita
Peppermint (Mentha × piperita) is one of the most universally familiar medicinal herbs in Western culture, a sharply aromatic carminative, mild stimulant, and circulatory tonic with research-backed support for digestion, headaches, and respiratory openness.
Rosa spp.
Rose (Rosa spp.) is the heart's herb, a heart-opening nervine and gentle astringent traditionally used for grief, emotional bracing, postpartum tenderness, and the kind of nervous-system overwhelm that needs softening rather than sedation.
Scutellaria lateriflora
American skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) is one of the most prized nervines in Western clinical herbalism, a deeply relaxing, non-sedating ally for the busy mind, jaw-and-shoulder tension, and the kind of restless sleep that comes from physical-and-mental wind-up.
Mentha spicata
Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is the gentler, sweeter cousin of peppermint, a soft aromatic carminative with a unique modern application: clinical-trial-supported reduction of androgen-related hirsutism in women with PCOS.
Ocimum tenuiflorum
Tulsi (Holy Basil) is the queen herb of Ayurveda, a sacred, mildly aromatic adaptogen revered for over 3,000 years for its capacity to ease the wear of chronic stress, support immune resilience, and steady the mind during overwhelm.
Curcuma longa
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is the deep-orange Ayurvedic root behind one of the most clinically-studied anti-inflammatory herbs in modern phytotherapy, a traditional joint, skin, and digestive ally with significant drug-interaction caveats.
Achillea millefolium
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is the legendary 'master of the blood' of Western herbalism, a diaphoretic for the early hours of fever, an astringent for wounds and bleeding, and a cyclic-support ally with one of the longest medicinal records of any plant.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This information is for educational purposes and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.