Materia Medica | Florida School of Holistic Living

April – Calendula

Published on April 1, 2020 under Garden

Latin name: Calendula officinalis - Asteraceae Common name: Calendula, pot marigold Usage: This sticky, golden, aster is well known as an all-star skin remedy. The resinous flowers are cooling and soothing topically, as well as…

March – Plantain

Published on February 25, 2020 under Garden

March - Plantain Plantago lanceolata By Rasbak - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=210597 Latin name: Plantago major, Plantago lanceolata,Plantago virginica, - Plantaginaceae Common name: Plantain The leaves of Plantago major and Plantago lanceolata, commonly…

February – Oak

Published on February 1, 2020 under Garden

February - Oak Latin name: Quercus spp. - Fagaceae Common name: Oak Usage: The wood of the oak genus, or Quercus, has long been utilized for its strength and durability, from ship framing to tanning…

January – Citrus

Published on December 23, 2019 under Garden

January - Citrus Latin name: Citrus spp. - Rutaceae Common name: Citrus, oranges, lemon, lime, pomelo, grapefruit, mandarins, etc etc Usage: Many of the common citrus fruits we know and love are not only delicious…

December – Prickly Pear Cactus

Published on November 25, 2019 under Garden

December -Prickly Pear Cactus Latin name: Opuntia spp. - Cactaceae Common name: Prickly pear, nopales,tuna, Indian fig, many different names by many cultures of people across the regions in which it grows Usage: The usage…

November – Bee Balm

Published on October 26, 2019 under Garden

November - Bee Balm Sydenham Teak Edwards (1768-1819) [Public domain] Latin name: Monarda punctata (other species commonly utilized - M.fistulosa, M. didyma, M.citriodora ) - Lamiaceae Common name: Bee balm, horsemint, spotted bee balm, dotted…

October – Ashwagandha

Published on September 25, 2019 under Garden

October - Ashwagandha By Salicyna - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61791504 Latin name: Withania somnifera - Solanaceae Common name: Ashwagandha, Indian ginseng, winter cherries,asgandh Usage: Here in the Western world, ashwagandha root has recently…

September – Sida

Published on August 16, 2019 under Garden

September - Sida Sida rhombifoliaLatin name: Sida rhombifolia, Sida ulmifolia, Sida acuta, Sida cordifolia - Malvaceae(* A note on S.acuta vs. S.ulmifolia - “ Although S. acuta has often been applied to Florida material, Krapovickas (2003) restricted the use of S. acuta to plants with…

August – Spiderwort

Published on July 15, 2019 under Garden

August - Spiderwort Latin name: Tradescantia ohiensis - Commelinaceae Common name: Spiderwort, bluejacket, Ohio spiderwort, day flower Usage: Tradescantia ohiensis, or spiderwort, is a Florida native edible and medicinal plant that is tolerant of the…

July Plant of the Month – Cayenne

Published on June 28, 2019 under Garden

July: Cayenne Latin name: Capsicum annuum, Capsicum frutescens - Solanaceae Common name: Cayenne, chili pepper, chile Usage: The powdered fruit of Capsicum annuum is a familiar culinary spice found in most grocery stores and many…