Greybeard Farm - Medicinals Page

At Greybeard Farm, we attempt to continue the herbal knowledge often lost to new generations. In years past, our ancestors knew the complex and intricate relationship between plant medicines and our health. Most pharmaceutical medicines today are based on plant medicines practiced by ancient civilizations. We concentrate on determining which plant medicines grow best in North Carolina, and strive to maintain a healthy assortment of herbals that exhibit medicinal qualities.

This site does not try to educate people on which herbals do what medicinally. There are hundreds of sites that will inform you of their efficacy and uses. We do not have acres of herbs for production purposes, but feature a small assortment of each. Instead, we focus on growing valuable medicinal herbs, saving seeds for future gardens, and providing a wide assortment of these herbs for teas, tinctures, salves and herbal smoking medicines. We currently do not offer herbals for sale but expect to in the near future.

In the meantime, if you are interested in obtaining any of the herbals in dried or fresh form, or possibly divisions, contact us for more information. In the future we will be offering our Tinctures and Salves for sale. The following is a list of plants growing on Greybeard Farm as we develop a healthy garden:

Angelica

Angelica is used for heartburn, intestinal gas (flatulence), loss of appetite (anorexia), arthritis, circulation problems, "runny nose" (respiratory catarrh), nervousness, plague, and trouble sleeping (insomnia). Some women use angelica to start their menstrual periods. Sometimes this is done to cause an abortion.

Astragalus Vetch

Astragalus is used to protect and support the immune system, preventing colds and upper respiratory infections, lowering blood pressure, treating diabetes, and protecting the liver. Astragalus has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. People sometimes use it on the skin for wound care.

Basil (Purple)

Basil is used for stomach spasms, loss of appetite, intestinal gas, kidney conditions, fluid retention, head colds, warts, and worm infections. It is also used to treat snake and insect bites

Bee Balm- Lemon / Bergomot

The Tewa dried the plant and ground it into a powder that was rubbed over the head to cure headaches, over the body to cure fever, and as a remedy for sore eyes and colds. Early white settlers used it as a diaphoretic and carminative, and occasionally employed it for the relief of flatulent colic, nausea and vomiting.

Bidens

Bidens pilosa is an important traditional medicine in South Africa that has been used by various cultural groups for a wide range of treatments. For instance, a leaf decoction is used to treat headaches, ear infections, kidney problems, and flatulence.

Burdock

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), burdock is often used with other herbs for sore throat and colds. In Japan and some parts of Europe, burdock is eaten as a vegetable. Burdock contains inulin, a natural dietary fiber, and is also used to improve digestion.

Calendula (Pot Marigold)

The dried petals of the calendula plant are used in tinctures, ointments, and washes to treat burns, bruises, and cuts, as well as the minor infections they cause. Calendula also has been shown to help prevent dermatitis or skin inflammation in people with breast cancer during radiation therapy.

Camelia Sinensis

Its compounds may reduce the enlargement of the heart, improve blood pressure dysfunction, and restore antioxidant enzyme activity. Camellia sinensis leaf extract may improve heart health by lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and preventing plaque buildup in the blood vessels.

Catnip (Mint)

Historically, catnip was used for diarrhea, gas, and stomach cramps. It's said to relieve muscle spasms in the intestinal tract. Drinking catnip tea may soothe the digestive system. Many groups of people have traditionally used catnip tea to relieve infants' colic and help babies to sleep at night.

Chameleon

The chameleon plant, scientifically known as Houttuynia cordata, is a culinary and medicinal herb. Through cleansing, heat reduction, and diuretic activity, it has been used for hundreds of years in Asia to treat hyperglycemia, constipation, pneumonia, and hypertension.

Chamomile

Chamomile was described in ancient medical writings and was an important medicinal herb in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Today, chamomile is promoted for sleeplessness, anxiety, and gastrointestinal conditions such as upset stomach, gas, and diarrhea.

Chives

Chives are best used fresh and lose flavor and attractive color after being dried (2). Traditional medicinal uses of these chives include treating intestinal parasites, boosting immune systems, promote good digestion and even cure anemia.

Comfrey

Comfrey roots and leaves contain allantoin, a substance that helps new skin cells grow, along with other substances that reduce inflammation and keep skin healthy. Comfrey ointments have been used to heal bruises as well as pulled muscles and ligaments, fractures, sprains, strains, and osteoarthritis.

Dandelion Root

The leaves are used to stimulate the appetite and help digestion. Dandelion flower has antioxidant properties. Dandelion may also help improve the immune system. Herbalists use dandelion root to detoxify the liver and gallbladder, and dandelion leaves to help kidney function.

Dog Fennel

Crushed leaves are applied on fungal infections on skin and reptile and insect bites, it is also used as a insect repellant, especially against mosquitoes. Native Americans used this plant also to treat epilepsy and sore throat.

Echinacea (Purple Coneflower)

Echinacea, also known as the purple coneflower, is an herbal medicine that has been used for centuries, customarily as a treatment for the common cold, coughs, bronchitis, upper respiratory infections, and some inflammatory conditions.

Elderberry

Elderberry has for a long time been used in folk medicine as a diaphoretic, antipyretic and diuretic agent. In recent years it was also found to have antibacterial, antiviral antidepressant and antitumour and hypoglycemic properties, and to reduce body fat and lipid concentration.

Elecampane, Horseheal

The root is used to make medicine. Elecampane is used for lung diseases including asthma, bronchitis, and whooping cough. It is also used to prevent coughing, especially coughing caused by tuberculosis; and as an expectorant to help loosen phlegm, so it can be coughed up more easily..

Feverfew

Feverfew is promoted for fevers, headaches, and arthritis; topically (applied to the skin), it's promoted for toothache and as an antiseptic and insecticide. Feverfew has been called ?medieval aspirin? or ?aspirin of the 18th century.

Fig

Fig FRUIT is used as a laxative to relieve constipation. Fig LEAF is used for diabetes, high cholesterol, and skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and vitiligo. Some people apply the milky sap (LATEX) from the tree directly to the skin to treat skin tumors and warts.

Fireweed

Fireweed is an herb. The parts of the plant that grow above ground are used to make medicine. Fireweed is used for pain and swelling (inflammation), fevers, tumors, wounds, and enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH). It is also used as an astringent and as a tonic.

Four O'Clock

A pinch of the powdered root is said to relieve hunger In herbal medicine, parts of the plant may be used as a diuretic, purgative, and for vulnerary (wound healing) purposes. The root is believed to be an aphrodisiac as well as having diuretic and purgative properties. It is also used in the treatment of dropsy. It also attracts nearby Japanese Beetles and stuns them, falling to the ground they are eaten by insects.

Goldenrod

Goldenrod has also been used to treat tuberculosis, diabetes, enlargement of the liver, gout, hemorrhoids, internal bleeding, asthma, and arthritis. In folk medicine, it is used as a mouth rinse to treat inflammation of the mouth and throat.

Goldenseal

European settlers adopted it as a medicinal plant, using it for a variety of conditions. Currently, goldenseal is promoted as a dietary supplement for colds and other respiratory tract infections, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), ulcers, and digestive upsets such as diarrhea and constipation..

Horseweed

Horseweed is believed to have properties that help tighten tissues (astringent), promote urination (diuretic), arrest bleeding (hemostatic), and invigorate (tonic) body and mind. Horseweed leaves are a good source of nutrients including carbohydrates, protein, fat, fiber, calcium, potassium, and phosphorous.

Hops

Hops has long been regarded as a herbal remedy for stress, insomnia, and digestive upset. The herb is best known as a nervous system relaxant but also has pain relieving, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, and diuretic properties. Along with the resins and essential oils in hops, phytoestrogens are also present.

Hyssop, Anise

The dried leaves can be used for medicinal purposes to treat coughs, fevers, wounds, and diarrhea.

Joe Pye Weed

Joe Pye weed has a long history of medicinal use, including as a diuretic, for easing urinary tract issues, joint stiffness, and gout. It is also used to treat reproductive issues and diabetes.

Lambsquarter

Lambsquarters is also said to have medicinal properties?a poultice from the simmered leaves is used to alleviate achy or swollen joints, and the water left from simmering the leaves may be swished around in the mouth to relieve toothaches!

Lavender

Aromatherapists use lavender in inhalation therapy to treat headaches, nervous disorders, and exhaustion. Herbalists treat skin ailments, such as fungal infections (like candidiasis), wounds, eczema, and acne, with lavender oil. It is also used in a healing bath for joint and muscle pain.

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), a member of the mint family, is considered a calming herb. It was used as far back as the Middle Ages to reduce stress and anxiety, promote sleep, improve appetite, and ease pain and discomfort from indigestion (including gas and bloating, as well as colic).

Mad-dog Skullcap

In spite of its common name, mad dog skullcap is used as a mild sedative and anti-anxiety treatment in herbal medicine. Plants in this genus have chemical constituents with proven sedative and antispasmotic effects.

Marshmallow

The Romans, Chinese, Egyptians, and Syrians used marshmallow as a source of food. The Arabs made poultices from its leaves and applied them to the skin to reduce inflammation. Both the root and leaves contain a gummy substance called mucilage. When mixed with water, it forms a slick gel that is used to coat the throat and stomach to reduce irritation. It is also applied topically to soothe chapped skin.

Milkweed

Butterfly milkweed has many medicinal uses, although we grow it mainly for the Monarch Butterfly. The Omahas and Poncas ate the raw root of the butterfly milkweed for bronchial and pulmonary troubles. Butterfly milkweed root was also chewed and placed on wounds, or dried, pulverized, and blown into wounds.

Mullein

Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.) is a medicinal plant readily found in roadsides, meadows and pasture lands and has been used to treat pulmonary problems, inflammatory diseases, asthma, spasmodic coughs, diarrhoea and migraine headaches.

Oregano

I will add details on this Herb in the near futIn traditional medicine, oregano has been used for respiratory conditions (i.e. asthma, bronchitis, cough), gastrointestinal (i.e. diarrhea, indigestions, stomachache), anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, menstrual disorders, and diabetesure.

Passionflower (Both Green and Purple)

Today, passionflower is promoted as a dietary supplement for anxiety and sleep problems, as well as for pain, heart rhythm problems, menopausal symptoms, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is applied to the skin for burns and to treat hemorrhoids.

Peppermint

It has a calming and numbing effect, and is often used to treat headaches, skin irritation, nausea, diarrhea, menstrual cramps, flatulence, and anxiety associated with depression. It is also an ingredient in chest rubs used to treat symptoms of the common cold.

Plantain

Plantain has long been considered by herbalists to be a useful remedy for cough, wounds, inflamed skin or dermatitis, and insect bites. Bruised or crushed leaves have been applied topically to treat insect bites and stings, eczema, and small wounds or cuts.

Pipsissewa

Pipsissewa is an herb. The parts that grow above the ground are used to make medicine. Pipsissewa is used for urinary tract infections (UTIs), bladder stones, fluid retention, spasms, epilepsy, anxiety, and cancer. Some people apply it directly to the skin for treating sores and blisters. Additionally, Pipsissewa leaves are edible and are often enjoyed for their crisp, refreshing texture, or brewed as tea, making them great additions for tea gardens too.

Queen Annes Lace

Queen Anne's lace infusions are often used by those with kidney and bladder infections, cystitis, and gout (Hoffman, 2003) to flush toxins from the body. Some herbalists even suggest Queen Anne's lace infusions for clients with arthritis for this same reason.

Rhubarb

The root and underground stem (rhizome) are used to make medicine. Rhubarb is used primarily for digestive complaints including constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, stomach pain, gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, and preparation for certain GI diagnostic procedures. This particular Rhubarb has been in my family for over 75 years, as it was originally my Grandmothers Plant in her garden, cared for by family all these years.

Rosemary

Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Labiatae) has been used in folk medicine to alleviate several diseases including headache, dysmenorrhea, stomachache, epilepsy, rheumatic pain, spasms, nervous agitation, improvement of memory, hysteria, depression, as well as physical and mental fatigue.

Rue

Some people use rue for breathing problems including pain and coughing due to swelling around the lungs (pleurisy). Rue is used for other painful conditions including headache, arthritis, cramps, and muscle spasms; and for nervous system problems including nervousness, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and Bell's palsy.

Safflower

In Indian traditional medicine, safflower is typically used for scabies, arthritis, and mastalgia. Also, this plant species finds a usual application for the treatment of amenorrhea, gastric tumors, as well as wounds, with internal or external origins among Chinese folklore..

Sage

For a long time, sage (Salvia) species have been used in traditional medicine for the relief of pain, protecting the body against oxidative stress, free radical damages, angiogenesis, inflammation, bacterial and virus infection, etc.,

Self Heal

Self-heal is used for inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), diarrhea, colic, and stomach upset and irritation (gastroenteritis). It is also used for mouth and throat ulcers, sore throat, and internal bleeding.

Smart Weed

The entire plant is used to make medicine. People take smartweed tea to stop bleeding from hemorrhoids, as well as menstrual bleeding and other uterine bleeding. They also use it to treat diarrhea. Some people put smartweed directly on the skin to wash bloody wounds.

Solomon's Seal

Solomon's seal is used to treat lung disorders, reduce swelling (inflammation), and to dry out tissue and draw it together (as an astringent). Some people apply Solomon's seal directly to the skin for bruises, ulcers, or boils on the fingers, hemorrhoids, skin redness, and water retention (edema).

Spearmint

Some people use spearmint to help alleviate symptoms of nausea, indigestion, gas, headache, toothache, cramps, and sore throat. It is also applied topically, to the skin, to help reduce swelling due to nerve or muscle pain.

Stinging Nettle

Stinging nettle has been used for hundreds of years to treat painful muscles and joints, eczema, arthritis, gout, and anemia. Today, many people use it to treat urinary problems during the early stages of an enlarged prostate (called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH).

St. John's Wort

Historically, St. John's wort has been used for a variety of conditions, including kidney and lung ailments, insomnia, and depression, and to aid wound healing.

Tansy

Tansy is also used to treat roundworm and threadworm infections in children. Other uses include treatment of epileptic seizures, colds, fever, hysteria, gout, kidney problems, and tuberculosis. It is also used to kill lice and bacteria; promote sweating; calm the nerves; and act as an antioxidant, tonic, and stimulant

Teasel

Teasel Root is most known for its use in treating Lyme Disease. It is also used as a stomach aid, an analgesic for pain relief, an anti-inflamatory, and a stimulant for the nervous system..

Thyme

Thyme has long been known for its antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic activities, in addition to remarkable disruption of microbial biofilms. In the COVID-19 era, some thyme constituents were investigated for their potential in viral binding.

Tulsi (Holy Basil)

against a range of human and animal pathogens, suggests it can be used as a hand sanitizer, mouthwash and water purifier as well as in animal rearing, wound healing, the preservation of food stuffs and herbal raw materials and traveler's health.

Valerian

Valerian has been used medicinally since the times of early Greece and Rome. Historically, valerian was used to treat insomnia, migraine, fatigue, and stomach cramps. Today, valerian is promoted for insomnia, anxiety, depression, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menopause symptoms, and headaches.

Wild Lettuce

We have both Lactuca Canadensis and Seriola, the Wild Lettuce. The leaves, sap (latex), and seed are used to make medicine. Wild lettuce is used for whooping cough, asthma, urinary tract problems, cough, trouble sleeping (insomnia), restlessness, excitability in children, painful menstrual periods, excessive sex drive in women (nymphomania), muscular or joint pains, poor circulation, swollen genitals in men (priapism), and as an opium substitute in cough preparations.

Wood Mint (Downy)

Medicinally, this attractive plant shares virtues with other aromatic mint family plants. An herbal tea made of the leaves can be utilized in the treatment of indigestion, colic, coughs, colds, chills and fevers. Pagoda Plant is also an alterative which helps to move the blood and clear toxins out of our system. A warm poultice of the leaves can help relieve a headache and sinus congestion. Chewing the fresh leaves helps kill bacteria in the mouth and the gums. The plant?s leaves can also be rubbed upon the skin to deter mosquitos and other pests.

Wood Sorrel

We have both Purple and Yellow Wood Sorrel. A delicious foraging edible with a wild lemony taste. Wood sorrel was used in the past for treating scurvy due to its high vitamin C content. American Indians used related plants for many purposes like cramp, nausea, fever and soreness.

Wormwood

Wormwood is used for various digestion problems such as loss of appetite, upset stomach, gall bladder disease, and intestinal spasms. Wormwood is also used to treat fever, liver disease, and worm infections; to increase sexual desire; as a tonic; and to stimulate sweating.

Yarrow

Yarrow contains chemicals that might help to stop stomachcramps and fight infections. People commonly use yarrow for eczema, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), wound healing, and many other conditions


MEDICINALS	Medical disclaimer: Advice given here does not constitute Medical Advice. Please consult your Doctor for your health questions.