Botanical Database
Evidence-informed botanicals organized by the body system they support, with traditional preparation methods for educational purposes only. These are optional, supportive tools — not treatments or cures.
All Systems
🔥 Metabolic Support
🩸 Blood Sugar Support
🫁 Liver Support
💧 Kidney & Fluid Balance
🫃 Digestive Support
🧘 Stress & Hormonal Support
✨ Skin Elasticity Support
🛡️ Immune Support
❤️ Cardiovascular Support
🦴 Joint & Bone Support
🩻 Thyroid Support
🎯 Metabolic Syndrome Support
Page 4 of 12
Traditional Use:
Topical joint and bone comfort
Explored For:
Allantoin studied for wound healing and tissue repair; clinical trials for topical use in sprains and osteoarthritis
🍵 How To Use (Educational):
Apply comfrey cream or ointment to affected joints or muscles up to 3x daily for up to 6 weeks. Do NOT take internally. Do not apply to broken skin.
⚠️ Safety & Interactions:
TOPICAL USE ONLY — internal use causes severe liver toxicity (pyrrolizidine alkaloids). Do not apply to broken skin. Limit use to 6 weeks per year. Not for pregnancy.
Notes:
Never ingest — topical use only
Traditional Use:
Cellular energy production in heart tissue
Explored For:
CoQ10 studied for cardiac energy metabolism; levels depleted by statin drugs
🍵 How To Use (Educational):
CoQ10 is found in organ meats, sardines, mackerel, and peanuts. As supplement: 100–300 mg ubiquinol daily with a fatty meal for absorption.
⚠️ Safety & Interactions:
Generally very safe. Ubiquinol form absorbs better than ubiquinone. May interact with blood thinners. Those on statins may especially benefit — consult your doctor.
Notes:
Consider supplementing if taking statin medications
Traditional Use:
Urinary comfort
Explored For:
Early research on urinary wellness and soothing properties
🍵 How To Use (Educational):
Steep 1–2 tsp dried corn silk in hot water for 10 minutes. Drink 2–3 cups daily. Fresh corn silk (from fresh corn) can be steeped the same way.
⚠️ Safety & Interactions:
Generally very safe and well tolerated. May lower blood sugar. May interact with diuretics and blood thinners.
Notes:
Mild, pleasant flavor
Traditional Use:
Urinary tract wellness
Explored For:
Proanthocyanidins (PACs) studied for preventing bacterial adhesion in urinary tract
🍵 How To Use (Educational):
Drink 8–16 oz unsweetened cranberry juice daily. Capsules/extract: 400–500 mg standardized to PAC content, 2x daily. Avoid cranberry cocktail (high sugar).
⚠️ Safety & Interactions:
May interact with blood thinners (warfarin). High oxalate content — caution with kidney stones. Choose unsweetened products.
Notes:
Common as juice or capsules
Traditional Use:
Fluid balance
Explored For:
Traditional use as a gentle diuretic; unlike pharmaceutical diuretics, contains potassium to offset losses
🍵 How To Use (Educational):
Steep 1–2 tsp dried dandelion leaf in hot water for 5–10 minutes. Drink 2–3 cups daily. Fresh young leaves can be eaten in salads.
⚠️ Safety & Interactions:
Avoid if allergic to Asteraceae family. May interact with lithium, diuretics, and certain antibiotics.
Notes:
Nature's diuretic — uniquely supplies potassium
Traditional Use:
Digestion and liver support
Explored For:
Early research on bile flow and liver enzyme activity
🍵 How To Use (Educational):
Simmer 1–2 tsp dried roasted dandelion root in water for 10–15 minutes. Strain and drink. Makes a coffee-like beverage. 2–3 cups daily. Also available as capsules or tincture.
⚠️ Safety & Interactions:
Generally safe. May cause allergic reactions in people allergic to ragweed, daisies, or chrysanthemums. May interact with lithium, diuretics, and some antibiotics.
Notes:
Earthy flavor; makes a good coffee substitute
Traditional Use:
Joint pain and mobility
Explored For:
Harpagoside studied for anti-inflammatory and analgesic pathways; European studies for osteoarthritis and low back discomfort
🍵 How To Use (Educational):
Take 600–1,200 mg standardized extract (containing 50–100 mg harpagoside) daily in divided doses with meals. Also available as tea (bitter) — steep 1 tsp dried root for 8 hours in cold water, then gently warm.
⚠️ Safety & Interactions:
May cause GI upset. Avoid with gastric ulcers. May lower blood sugar and blood pressure. May interact with blood thinners and heart medications. Avoid during pregnancy.
Notes:
From the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa
Traditional Use:
Acute immune support
Explored For:
Alkamides and polysaccharides studied for immune cell activation; most evidence supports early use at onset of illness
🍵 How To Use (Educational):
Steep 1–2 tsp dried echinacea (root or herb) in hot water for 10–15 minutes. Drink 3–5 cups daily at first sign of illness for up to 10 days. Tincture: 2.5 mL 3x daily. Not for daily long-term use.
⚠️ Safety & Interactions:
Avoid with autoimmune conditions. Best used short-term (onset of illness). Avoid if allergic to Asteraceae family. May interact with immunosuppressants.
Notes:
Most effective when taken at very first symptoms
Traditional Use:
Traditional cold and flu support
Explored For:
Anthocyanins and flavonoids studied for immune modulation and antiviral pathways
🍵 How To Use (Educational):
Simmer 1 cup dried elderberries in 3 cups water with cinnamon and cloves for 45 minutes. Strain, add raw honey when cooled. Take 1 tbsp daily as preventive or 1 tbsp every 2–3 hours during acute illness. Also available as syrup, lozenges, or capsules.
⚠️ Safety & Interactions:
Must be cooked — raw elderberries contain cyanogenic glycosides. Avoid with autoimmune conditions (immune-stimulating). May interact with immunosuppressants and diuretics.
Notes:
Do NOT eat raw — always cook
Traditional Use:
Bloating and digestion
Explored For:
Early research on digestive comfort and gas relief; anethole studied for smooth muscle effects
🍵 How To Use (Educational):
Crush 1 tsp fennel seeds lightly and steep in hot water for 10 minutes. Drink after meals. Also chew a few seeds directly after eating. Fresh fennel bulb can be eaten raw or cooked.
⚠️ Safety & Interactions:
Generally very safe. May have mild estrogenic activity — use caution with hormone-sensitive conditions. Avoid medicinal doses during pregnancy.
Notes:
One of the gentlest digestive herbs
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Botanicals are not drugs and are not intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
- People with medical conditions should consult their healthcare provider before using any botanical.
- Many botanicals interact with prescription medications — always check with your pharmacist.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals should avoid most botanicals unless specifically cleared by their provider.
- Quality and sourcing matter — look for third-party tested products (USP, NSF, ConsumerLab).
- Start with low doses and listen to your body.
- "Traditional use" does not equal proven efficacy — it means historical usage, not clinical evidence.
— Dr. George Ekema, The Plateau-proof Diet™
