Category: S

A plant whose leaves and stems cause rashes upon contact, but which can be used medicinally when cooked or soaked in water. Available at health food stores. Drying or cooking removes stinging effect of the leaves. Leaves can be used in saltreduced diets, as they contain a salt which is not a burden on the…

A species of wheat used for cooking. Available at grocery stores, usually as flour or pasta. A type of wheat known as “German wheat” that produces a fine flour is commonly referred to as a cereal grain.  

Small, silky flakes of concentrated vegetable soap used as a natural cleaner. Available at health food stores.    

A mixture where solids are suspended in water, such as a slurry of fertilizer and water used in gardening. Thin, watery mixture of a solid substance, often a drug, and a liquid. A substance that consists of a partially fluid amalgamation of solid particles and a liquid, typically water.  

A condition that comes about when skins oil glands are overactive, producing greasy skin, usually on the face. An excessive secretion of sebum by the sebaceous glands, common in young people at puberty, and sometimes linked to seborrhoeic dermatitis. Excessive production of senum; it occurs in acne vulgaris. An overproduction of sebum leading to facial oiliness…

An oil made of the berries of the seabuckthorn shrub and vegetable oil. Available at health food stores.  

A deciduous shrub native to mainland Asia used medicinally to treat coughs and indigestion. Seabuckthorn leaves and bark are believed to help treat some skin disorders and diarrhea. Available at health food stores.  

A medicinal herb also known as red sage or Chinese sage that can aid circulation. Available at some health food stores. Danshen root, a traditional Chinese herbal remedy. It has been used to treat cardiovascular diseases. Its effectiveness is unproven in humans. It increases the risk of bleeding and should be avoided by patients taking…