Lavender is a mild sedative for treating headache, nervousness, and nervous insomnia. Simply smelling the living flowers or a bundle of the dried flowering stalks is an uplifting experience, especially good for convalescents. Lavender is also a digestive remedy, especially useful for treating any sensation of overfullness or nausea after eating. - Richo Cech, Making Plant Medicine

Garden sage is a valuable antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agent. Taken internally, the herb will fight infection and will also diminish secretions of all kinds, including perspiration and saliva. Garden sage tea or tincture is a specific for drying up milk production during weaning. The herb stimulates memory. - Richo Cech, Making Plant Medicine

Osha is a powerful vasodilator. A dropperful of the tincture taken in hot tea will help produce a good sweat, which brings down the fever of colds and flu. Osha fights bacteria and viruses that cause upper respiratory infection, and helps eliminate toxins. The herb is a reasonable antitussive, and combines well with soothing herbs such as licorice, marshmallow, and slippery elm, all of which serve to make coughs more productive and therefore less long-lived. Osha is also a powerful bronchodilator, widening the large-bore air passages leading from the trachea to the lungs, stimulating the ciliated cells to bring up and expunge metabolic debris. Increased air supply to the lungs is generally helpful on a hike, and especially a hike at altitude. The improved air intake and slower heart rate will help dispel the headache, dizziness, and nausea associated with altitude sickness. Lacking coca, chew osha! - Richo Cech, Making Plant Medicine

Calamus is an excellent aromatic bitter for treating indigestion. It is a general stimulant and antispasmodic. Chewing the root is a good treatment for tobacco addiction. It also helps sharpen memory compromised by drug burnout or senility. - Richo Cech, Making Plant Medicine

Valerian is a sedative and also helps induce sleep. The herb can reduce stress, nervousness, and irritability. Valerian is not a reliable sedative for all individuals, as some people actually experience nervous excitation from using this herb. Use occasionally.

Tulsi is a gentle and easy-to-grow adaptogen, meaning that the tea or tincture helps reduce the deleterious effects of stress, both physical and psychological. The plant enhances physical and mental endurance by optimizing assimilation of oxygen and nutrients to the bloodstream. Strong antioxidant activity slows the aging process and helps prevent and treat cancer, heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, and dementia. The herb normalizes blood pressure, blood sugar, and reduces LDL (so-called "bad") cholesterol. A morning cup of tulsi tea (or water with tincture) is an excellent wellness drink to help quit drinking coffee and reduce anxiety. The herb is also used during sickness to overcome cough, cold, flu, and fever. Tulsi assists digestion, tastes good and provides gentle stimulation to body, mind, and spirit. - Richo Cech, Making Plant Medicine

Gentian is the purest of bitter tonics, directly stimulating the salivary and gastric secretions. The herb acts to improve appetite, reduce acid indigestion, and tonify the digestive tract. - Richo Cech, Making Plant Medicine