For most of human history, the medicine cabinet didn't come from a pharmacy.
It grew in the garden, along the edge of the woods, in fields, kitchens, and family apothecaries. Willow bark was used for pain. Ginger settled the stomach. Thyme was brewed when a cough moved into the chest. Chamomile calmed the gut and nervous system. Marshmallow root soothed irritated throats. Elderberry came out when sickness started moving through the house.
Then somewhere along the way, we stopped learning the plants and started memorizing brand names.
Headache? Tylenol.
Inflammation? Advil.
Seasonal allergies? Claritin or Benadryl.
Upset stomach? Pepto-Bismol.
Cough? Robitussin.
Can't sleep? Another pill.
Modern medicine has its place. Emergency medicine, trauma care, surgery, diagnostics, and treatment of serious illness have saved countless lives. But that doesn't mean every headache, stuffy nose, stomachache, cough, sore throat, or restless night requires us to immediately reach for a pharmaceutical.
That reflex is worth questioning.
Traditional herbalism offers another approach: learn what the body is doing, understand the symptom, and use plants that have supported those same systems for generations.
That doesn't mean an herb is a one-for-one chemical substitute for a pharmaceutical. It means the first tool we reach for does not always have to come from a drugstore.
And that is a piece of self-reliance worth taking back.
- Willow bark has been used for pain and inflammation for centuries and contains salicin, a compound closely connected to the development of aspirin.[8][9]
- Turmeric and ginger are two of the strongest everyday herbs for inflammatory and digestive support, with modern research now investigating uses that traditional systems recognized long ago.[10][11]
- Peppermint has meaningful evidence for intestinal cramping and IBS symptoms, particularly in enteric-coated peppermint oil preparations.[12]
- Nettle has a long history as a spring tonic and allergy herb, although modern evidence for allergic rhinitis is still preliminary.[14]
- Thyme and marshmallow root belong in every traditional respiratory cabinet, particularly for productive coughs, irritated throats, and dry coughs.[15][16]
- Elderberry remains one of the classic cold-season plants, with early research suggesting possible reductions in symptom duration and severity, although the evidence is not definitive.[17]
- Chamomile and valerian remind us that sleep and nervous-system support existed long before over-the-counter sleep aids.[13][18]
- Natural does not mean harmless. Herbs are biologically active substances. Dose, preparation, sourcing, pregnancy, age, allergies, health conditions, and medications all matter.
What's in this guide
- At a glance
- How we lost the home apothecary
- Willow bark
- Turmeric
- Ginger
- Peppermint
- Chamomile
- Stinging nettle
- Thyme
- Marshmallow root
- Elderberry
- Valerian
- Building a home herbal cabinet
- What herbal medicine is not
- Frequently asked questions
At a glance
These are not chemical equivalents. Think of this as a guide to the herbs traditionally used for the same everyday complaints that often send people straight to the drugstore.
| Conventional reflex | Herbal option to know | Traditionally used for | Common preparation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tylenol / Advil | Willow bark | Minor pain, headache, inflammation | Tea, tincture, standardized extract |
| Advil | Turmeric | Joint discomfort, inflammatory support | Food, tea, powder, extract |
| Pepto-Bismol | Ginger | Nausea, digestion, stomach discomfort | Fresh tea, tincture, capsules |
| Pepto-Bismol / antispasmodics | Peppermint | Gas, intestinal cramping, digestive discomfort | Tea, enteric-coated oil |
| Benadryl as a sleep aid | Chamomile | Nervous tension, digestive upset, relaxation | Tea, tincture |
| Claritin / Benadryl | Stinging nettle | Seasonal allergy support, inflammation | Tea, tincture, freeze-dried herb |
| Robitussin / cough syrup | Thyme | Productive coughs, respiratory support | Strong tea, syrup, tincture |
| Cough drops / dry-cough syrups | Marshmallow root | Dry throat, dry cough, irritated GI tract | Cold infusion, tea, syrup |
| Cold and flu products | Elderberry | Cold-season immune and respiratory support | Cooked syrup, extract |
| OTC sleep aids | Valerian | Temporary sleeplessness, nervous tension | Tincture, tea, extract |
How we lost the home apothecary
There was a time when knowing a handful of medicinal plants was simply part of knowing how to care for your family.
That didn't mean people never needed a physician. It meant basic health knowledge existed in the home too.
Herbal traditions developed independently across civilizations because people watched what plants did, passed that knowledge forward, refined preparations, and learned through generations of use. Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Ayurvedic, Chinese, European folk, Native American, and countless other healing traditions developed extensive botanical systems long before the modern pharmaceutical industry existed.
Texts like Maud Grieve's A Modern Herbal, David Hoffmann's Medical Herbalism, Matthew Wood's The Earthwise Herbal, Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs, Maria Noël Groves' Body into Balance, and Thomas Easley and Steven Horne's The Modern Herbal Dispensatory preserve and modernize pieces of that knowledge.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
What changed was not that plants suddenly stopped working.
What changed was where we were taught to look for answers.
A centralized healthcare system is built for scale. It can deliver the same tablet to millions of people with the same symptom. Herbalism is almost the opposite. It asks what kind of cough you have. What caused the digestive upset. Whether the headache came from tension, dehydration, illness, lack of sleep, or something else. It looks at patterns instead of only symptom names.
That requires more personal responsibility.
You have to learn.
You have to observe.
You have to know the plant you're using, where it came from, what part was used, how it was prepared, and when it isn't appropriate.
But that's the point.
Health knowledge shouldn't exist exclusively behind a pharmacy counter.
1. Willow Bark
Think: the plant that came before aspirin.
Willow species grow throughout Europe, Asia, and North America, and their bark has a medicinal history stretching back thousands of years.
Willow preparations appeared in ancient healing traditions for pain and fever. European herbalists continued using the bark for aches, joint complaints, headache, and inflammatory conditions long before salicin was isolated from willow and eventually helped inspire the development of modern aspirin.[6][7]
The bark contains salicin and related polyphenols. The body metabolizes salicin into salicylic compounds, which helps explain willow's traditional analgesic and anti-inflammatory reputation.
Modern studies have found moderate evidence for standardized willow bark extracts in some forms of musculoskeletal pain, particularly low-back pain, although results for arthritis and other conditions are mixed.[8][9]
Where it fits today
If your automatic move for an ordinary muscular ache, minor joint pain, or occasional headache is Advil or another pain reliever, willow bark is one traditional plant worth understanding.
It is generally found as dried bark for decoction, tincture, or standardized extract.
But there is an important point here: willow bark is not simply "natural aspirin."
Whole plants contain multiple compounds and do not deliver the exact standardized dose that a pharmaceutical does.
Important caution
This is one herb where "natural" absolutely does not mean "everyone can take it."
Willow bark should be avoided by children and adolescents, people with aspirin or salicylate allergies, people with certain bleeding disorders or active ulcers, and people taking blood thinners or certain anti-inflammatory medicines. Pregnancy and breastfeeding also require specific caution.[8]
Plant medicine is still medicine.
2. Turmeric
Think: inflammatory support instead of automatically reaching for another NSAID.
Turmeric, Curcuma longa, is native to South Asia and has been intertwined with Indian food and medicine for thousands of years.
Ayurvedic traditions have used the golden rhizome internally and externally for digestive complaints, inflammatory conditions, wounds, skin concerns, and general vitality.
Today most people know turmeric because of curcumin, one group of compounds isolated from the root.
But traditional herbalism did not use isolated curcumin.
It used turmeric.
That distinction matters because plants are more than one molecule.
Modern studies of turmeric and curcumin for osteoarthritis have found promising effects on joint pain and physical function. A systematic review of randomized trials found benefits compared with placebo, and several included studies found outcomes similar to NSAIDs, although researchers emphasized that formulation and optimal dosing remain unresolved.[10]
Where it fits today
Turmeric makes the most sense as something incorporated consistently rather than treated like a rescue pill.
Use the actual root in cooking.
Add turmeric powder to eggs, meat dishes, soups, broths, or warm drinks.
Traditional preparations often pair turmeric with fat, which makes sense because many turmeric compounds are poorly water-soluble.
Concentrated extracts are another category entirely and deserve more care than culinary turmeric.
This is where the ancestral approach makes sense: use the food before jumping immediately to the isolate.
3. Ginger
Think: nausea, stomach upset, digestion, menstrual discomfort.
Ginger, Zingiber officinale, has been cultivated in Asia for thousands of years and has deep roots in both Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine.
Our ancestors didn't need Pepto-Bismol to know that ginger settled an uneasy stomach.
Ginger was traditionally used for nausea, sluggish digestion, bloating, cold digestive patterns, respiratory illness, and circulation.[1][2]
Modern research has spent considerable time studying what traditional medicine already recognized: ginger has real physiological effects on the digestive system.
Human studies suggest ginger can help certain forms of nausea and vomiting, with some of the stronger evidence involving pregnancy-associated nausea. Research also suggests possible benefits for menstrual cramps and knee osteoarthritis, although not every studied use has produced consistent results.[11]
Where it fits today
Fresh ginger tea is one of the simplest herbal preparations anyone can make.
Slice or grate fresh ginger into hot water, let it steep, and drink it slowly.
For stronger use, ginger is available as tinctures, powders, capsules, and concentrated extracts.
It also works beautifully as food medicine. Add fresh ginger to meals instead of thinking every medicinal plant needs to come in a supplement bottle.
For nausea, bloating, mild digestive discomfort, or that heavy feeling after eating, ginger is one of the first plants worth reaching for.
4. Peppermint
Think: gas, cramping, digestive discomfort.
Mint has been used since antiquity, although peppermint itself, Mentha × piperita, is a hybrid of watermint and spearmint that became widely cultivated in Europe much later.
The medicinal logic is easy to understand the first time you drink strong peppermint tea after a heavy meal.
Peppermint is cooling, aromatic, and traditionally used as a carminative, meaning an herb that helps with gas and digestive discomfort.
Modern research is particularly interesting here.
Randomized trials and meta-analyses have found that enteric-coated peppermint oil can improve overall symptoms and abdominal pain in people with irritable bowel syndrome. The evidence isn't perfect, but this is no longer simply a folk-remedy conversation.[12]
Where it fits today
For ordinary post-meal bloating and digestive discomfort, peppermint tea is a simple place to start.
For recurrent intestinal cramping or IBS-type symptoms, the research has primarily used enteric-coated peppermint oil rather than tea.
Those are not interchangeable preparations.
And peppermint is not ideal for everyone. It can aggravate heartburn or reflux in some people because it may relax the lower esophageal sphincter.
Again, the right herb depends on the person and the pattern.
5. Chamomile
Think: the stomach and nervous system in one plant.
Chamomile is so gentle-looking that it's easy to underestimate.
It shouldn't be.
Chamomile appears throughout ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman medicine and went on to become one of the foundational herbs of European household medicine.[6]
Traditional herbalists have long reached for chamomile when digestive tension and nervous tension appear together.
A nervous stomach.
Cramping.
Restlessness.
Difficulty winding down.
The person who is exhausted but can't switch off.
That connection between the digestive system and the nervous system is something traditional herbalism understood long before the phrase "gut-brain axis" entered modern health conversations.
Chamomile contains compounds including apigenin and has been studied for anxiety and other nervous-system effects, although clinical evidence varies significantly depending on the condition being studied.[13]
Where it fits today
This is one of the best herbs to keep simple.
Use the flower.
Make tea.
Cover it while steeping so the aromatic compounds stay in the cup instead of evaporating into the room.
Chamomile is a reasonable first tool for everyday digestive tension and winding down before sleep rather than making a sedating antihistamine your nightly routine.
People with allergies to plants in the ragweed, daisy, chrysanthemum, or related families should use additional caution.
6. Stinging Nettle
Think: seasonal allergies, spring tonic, mineral-rich daily herb.
Stinging nettle, Urtica dioica, grows throughout Europe, Asia, and North America.
Yes, it's the same plant that gives you an unpleasant sting if you brush against it fresh.
Once dried or cooked, that sting disappears.
Nettle has been part of European herbal traditions for centuries, used both as food and medicine. The leaves are nutrient-dense and have traditionally been consumed as a spring tonic, while other parts of the plant have their own distinct herbal uses.[2][5]
Today, nettle has developed a reputation as a natural alternative people reach for during seasonal allergy season.
The modern research here is much thinner than the folklore.
A randomized trial in allergic rhinitis found improvement in symptoms, but placebo produced similar symptom improvement and the researchers explicitly called for larger, longer studies.[14]
That's worth saying plainly.
Nettle has a strong traditional reputation for seasonal support. It does not have evidence strong enough to call it a proven replacement for Claritin or Benadryl.
Where it fits today
Nettle can be used as tea, tincture, freeze-dried herb, or even as a cooked green.
For someone building an herbal lifestyle rather than hunting for a capsule that behaves exactly like an antihistamine, nettle is a valuable plant to learn.
This is also a perfect example of why herbalism and pharmaceutical medicine think differently.
The goal isn't always finding the plant version of the pill.
The goal is learning what plants support the system you're dealing with.
7. Thyme
Think: when the cough is wet, heavy, and productive.
Most people keep thyme in the spice cabinet.
It deserves a place in the medicine cabinet too.
Thymus vulgaris is a Mediterranean herb with a long history in Greek, Roman, and European herbal traditions. Its strongly aromatic character comes from volatile compounds including thymol.
Traditional European herbalists have used thyme extensively for the respiratory system.
The European Medicines Agency recognizes thyme's long-standing traditional use for productive cough associated with colds.[15]
Where it fits today
When you're dealing with the kind of cold where mucus has settled into the chest and you're coughing things up, thyme is the herb to remember.
Make a strong tea.
Use it in an herbal cough syrup.
Use a professionally prepared tincture.
And put more of it in food.
A home herbal cabinet doesn't need twenty exotic tinctures.
Sometimes the medicine is already sitting next to your salt.
8. Marshmallow Root
Think: dry, irritated, raw.
Not the campfire kind.
Marshmallow root comes from Althaea officinalis, a plant native to parts of Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia that naturally favors damp ground.
Its botanical name comes from a Greek root associated with healing.
Marshmallow is rich in mucilage, plant compounds that become thick, slippery, and soothing when mixed with water.
Traditional herbalists describe plants like marshmallow as demulcents.
The concept is simple: irritated tissue gets coated and soothed.
The European Medicines Agency recognizes marshmallow root's long-standing traditional use for irritation of the mouth and throat with associated dry cough, along with mild stomach and intestinal discomfort.[16]
Where it fits today
This is the opposite of thyme in many ways.
Thyme makes sense for a wet, productive cough.
Marshmallow shines when things are dry, raw, scratchy, and irritated.
Dry throat.
Dry cough.
An irritated digestive tract.
Because mucilage extracts beautifully into cool water, marshmallow root is often prepared as a cold infusion rather than boiling it aggressively.
Add the root to cool water and allow it to sit for several hours or overnight. The liquid develops a thicker, slippery texture.
That's the medicine.
9. Elderberry
Think: cold season.
European black elder, Sambucus nigra, grows throughout Europe and parts of Western Asia and North Africa.
It has been used in European folk medicine for generations, with the flowers and berries appearing in traditional preparations for respiratory illness, feverish conditions, and seasonal sickness.[6]
Today, elderberry syrup has become so popular that you can find it in almost any health-food store.
But the traditional version and the sugar-loaded commercial gummy are not the same thing.
Modern research suggests elderberry may reduce the duration or severity of some upper respiratory symptoms, but the evidence is based on relatively small studies and remains uncertain.[17]
That doesn't make centuries of traditional use meaningless.
It just means we should describe the evidence accurately.
Where it fits today
Elderberry is best thought of as part of a cold-season toolkit rather than a miracle cure.
Properly prepared elderberry syrup or extract can be kept on hand during the colder months alongside simple fundamentals: rest, nourishing food, hydration, sunlight, fresh air, mineral-rich broths, and sleep.
One important safety note: raw or unripe elderberries, leaves, and stems contain cyanogenic compounds and should not be casually consumed. Proper preparation matters.
10. Valerian
Think: when your body is tired but your nervous system won't shut off.
Valerian, Valeriana officinalis, is native to Europe and Asia and has been used medicinally since ancient Greek and Roman times.
Historical sources describe its use for nervousness, sleeplessness, tension, and related complaints.
Unlike chamomile, which is gentle and pleasant tasting, valerian announces itself.
The root has a famously strong smell.
But herbalists have continued using it for centuries for a reason.
European herbal monographs recognize valerian root for relief of mild nervous tension and sleep disorders, while modern systematic reviews have produced mixed results on sleep quality.[18]
Where it fits today
Valerian is better suited to occasional nervous tension and temporary trouble sleeping than becoming something you depend on every night.
It is commonly used as tincture, capsule, extract, or tea.
Do not casually combine it with alcohol, sedative drugs, or multiple other sleep-promoting substances.
The goal of holistic health isn't replacing dependence on one bottle with dependence on another.
The goal is restoring the conditions that allow the body to work properly.
Building a home herbal cabinet
You do not need 100 herbs.
You need a small number you actually understand.
A strong beginner cabinet could start with:
Ginger for nausea and digestion.
Peppermint for gas and intestinal cramping.
Chamomile for digestive tension and winding down.
Nettle for nutritive and seasonal support.
Thyme for wet coughs and respiratory support.
Marshmallow root for dry coughs, raw throats, and irritated digestive tissue.
Elderberry for cold-season support.
Turmeric as a regular food-based inflammatory support.
Valerian for occasional nervous tension and sleeplessness.
Willow bark for selected adult pain situations when it is appropriate and there are no contraindications.
Then learn how to use them.
Tea.
Decoction.
Cold infusion.
Tincture.
Syrup.
Powder.
Food.
One of the biggest mistakes in modern herbalism is turning plants into another supplement industry.
The capsule isn't the point.
Knowing the plant is.
Sourcing matters just as much with herbs
We talk constantly about sourcing in skincare because the source changes the ingredient.
Herbs are no different.
A plant grown in healthy soil, harvested at the correct stage, dried properly, identified correctly, and stored away from heat and light is not equivalent to powdered brown material sitting in a capsule from an unknown source for three years.
Ask questions.
Where was it grown?
What species is it?
What part of the plant is being used?
When was it harvested?
Is it organic or responsibly wildcrafted?
How was it dried?
If it's a tincture, what extraction method was used?
If it's an extract, what is it standardized to?
If you're buying elderberry, is the berry properly processed?
If you're buying willow, do you know the salicin content?
If you're buying turmeric extract, what else has been added to increase absorption?
The more concentrated the preparation becomes, the more sourcing and formulation matter.
That principle applies whether you're talking about tallow, food, herbs, or anything else you put into your body.
What herbal medicine is not
Herbal medicine isn't pretending emergencies don't exist.
It isn't using tea for a broken bone.
It isn't ignoring severe breathing difficulty because you have thyme in the cupboard.
It isn't treating appendicitis with ginger.
It isn't refusing diagnostic information when something genuinely serious is happening.
And it isn't believing every herb is safe simply because it grows out of the ground.
Some plants are incredibly potent.
Some interact with medications.
Some are inappropriate in pregnancy.
Some should not be given to children.
Some affect blood clotting.
Some influence the nervous system.
Some can cause serious harm when the wrong species, dose, or plant part is used.
That isn't an argument against herbs.
It's an argument for learning them properly.
The same seriousness we apply to pharmaceuticals should apply to plant medicine.
The bigger point
This article isn't really about replacing ten bottles with ten herbs.
It's about changing the relationship you have with your own health.
When every minor symptom sends us automatically to a pharmacy aisle, we lose knowledge.
We stop asking why.
We stop learning our bodies.
We stop learning what grows around us.
And eventually we become completely dependent on a system outside ourselves for problems families once knew how to manage at home.
We don't think that's progress.
There is tremendous value in modern emergency care and technology when they're genuinely needed.
There is also tremendous value in knowing how to make ginger tea when your stomach is upset.
Knowing the difference between thyme and marshmallow when someone starts coughing.
Knowing what nettle looks like.
Knowing how to make an elderberry preparation.
Knowing when willow bark is appropriate and when it absolutely isn't.
Knowing how to sit with a mild symptom instead of immediately trying to silence it.
Our ancestors didn't have everything right.
Neither do we.
The goal isn't to reject everything modern.
It's to stop assuming modern automatically means better.
Take back the knowledge that still serves us.
Grow some of it.
Keep some of it dried in jars.
Teach your children what it is.
And build a medicine cabinet that doesn't begin and end at the pharmacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can herbs really replace Tylenol or Advil?
Sometimes an herb can serve the same practical purpose for a minor complaint, but there is no universal one-for-one replacement. Willow bark has traditional and modern evidence for some types of pain, while turmeric and ginger may support inflammatory conditions. Their chemistry, potency, onset, dosing, and safety profiles differ from acetaminophen and ibuprofen.
The better question is whether every minor ache requires medication in the first place.
For familiar, mild problems, herbal options may be worth learning before automatically reaching for a pharmaceutical.
What herb is the natural version of Advil?
There isn't an exact plant version of ibuprofen.
Willow bark is one of the better-known traditional analgesic herbs, while turmeric and ginger are frequently used for inflammatory support.
Willow also carries important salicylate-related contraindications, so it isn't appropriate for everyone.
What herb can I use instead of Claritin or Benadryl for allergies?
Stinging nettle is one of the most commonly used herbs in Western herbalism for seasonal allergy support.
However, clinical evidence is still preliminary, and it should not be described as chemically equivalent to loratadine or diphenhydramine.
If an allergic reaction involves throat swelling, breathing difficulty, wheezing, faintness, or signs of anaphylaxis, herbs are not the appropriate response. That is an emergency.
What herbs are good for an upset stomach?
Ginger, peppermint, chamomile, and marshmallow root are four important herbs to know, but they suit different patterns.
Ginger fits nausea and sluggish digestion.
Peppermint fits gas and intestinal cramping.
Chamomile fits digestive discomfort connected with tension.
Marshmallow fits irritated or raw-feeling digestive tissue.
Traditional herbalism gets more useful when you stop treating every "stomach problem" as the same problem.
What herbs are best for a cough?
It depends on the cough.
For a productive, mucus-heavy cough associated with a cold, thyme has a long history of use.
For a dry, irritated throat and dry cough, marshmallow root is traditionally used for its soothing mucilage.
A persistent cough, coughing blood, serious shortness of breath, chest pain, or significant breathing difficulty needs a different level of attention.
Is elderberry actually effective for colds and flu?
There is some human research suggesting elderberry may decrease the severity or duration of upper respiratory symptoms, but the evidence remains limited and uncertain.
Its strongest case is a combination of long-standing traditional use and promising early research rather than definitive proof.
Are herbal medicines safer than pharmaceutical drugs?
Not automatically.
Many household herbs have wide safety margins when used appropriately. Others have significant contraindications.
The advantage of herbalism isn't that "natural equals harmless."
The advantage is having another set of tools and understanding how to use them.
Can I use medicinal herbs during pregnancy?
Pregnancy deserves herb-specific guidance rather than blanket statements.
Some culinary herbs are commonly consumed during pregnancy, while medicinal doses of other plants may be inappropriate or insufficiently studied. Willow bark, concentrated turmeric preparations, valerian, and many other herbs require additional caution.
Always evaluate the individual plant, dose, preparation, and stage of pregnancy rather than assuming an herb is safe because it is natural.
Where should I start if I'm new to herbs?
Start with five plants, not fifty.
Ginger.
Chamomile.
Peppermint.
Thyme.
Marshmallow root.
Learn how they taste.
Learn what part is used.
Learn how to prepare them.
Learn their contraindications.
Then expand.
Knowing ten herbs deeply will serve you better than owning seventy bottles you don't understand.
Sources
- Gladstar, Rosemary. Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner's Guide: 33 Healing Herbs to Know, Grow, and Use. Storey Publishing, 2012.
- Hoffmann, David. Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Healing Arts Press, 2003.
- Groves, Maria Noël. Body into Balance: An Herbal Guide to Holistic Self-Care. Storey Publishing, 2016.
- Easley, Thomas and Steven Horne. The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine-Making Guide. North Atlantic Books, 2016.
- Wood, Matthew. The Earthwise Herbal, Volume I: A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants. North Atlantic Books, 2008.
- Grieve, Maud. A Modern Herbal. Originally published 1931. Dover Publications reprint, 1971.
- Duke, James A. The Green Pharmacy. Rodale Books, 1999.
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products. Salicis cortex: European Union Herbal Monograph and Willow Bark Summary for the Public. EMA, 2017.
- Chrubasik, S. et al. A Systematic Review on the Effectiveness of Willow Bark for Musculoskeletal Pain. Phytotherapy Research, 2009.
- Paultre, K. et al. Therapeutic Effects of Turmeric or Curcumin Extract on Pain and Function for Individuals With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 2021.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Ginger: Usefulness and Safety. NCCIH. See also systematic reviews of randomized trials examining ginger for nausea and vomiting.
- Ingrosso, M.R. et al. Systematic Review and Meta-analysis: Efficacy of Peppermint Oil in Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 2022.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Chamomile: Usefulness and Safety. NCCIH.
- Bakhshaee, M. et al. Efficacy of Supportive Therapy of Allergic Rhinitis by Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) Root Extract: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 2017.
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products. Thymi herba: European Union Herbal Monograph. EMA, 2014.
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products. Althaeae radix: European Union Herbal Monograph and Marshmallow Root Summary for the Public. EMA, 2016.
- Wieland, L.S. et al. Elderberry for Prevention and Treatment of Viral Respiratory Illnesses: A Systematic Review. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 2021.
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products. Valerianae radix: European Union Herbal Monograph. EMA, 2016. See also Bent, S. et al., Valerian for Sleep: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis, American Journal of Medicine, 2006.