Native to most of Europe and North America, this small, fast growth deciduous tree is now grown throughout the world. Elderflower also referred to as Elder and Black Elder is one of the commonly used herbs in Western Herbal Medicine, traditionally used for immune health, as well as having a long tradition of culinary use including in cordial, wine and jam.

Its fragrant, white flowers are large and bloom in small clusters, which are then followed by the berry like fruits. Its botanical name is derived from the Latin word nigra, meaning “black”, and refers to the deep dark colour of the berries.

Traditionally used in Western Herbal Medicine to:

• Reduce symptoms of common cold
• Clear respiratory tract mucous
• Relieve symptoms of sore throat

The traditional uses of elderflower plants involved the whole plant, with teas and tinctures made from the bark and fruit. Native Americans also used the branches of Elderberry to make flutes, so it is sometimes called “the tree of music.”

Native to North America it is now widely grown across the world. Echinacea is a member of the Asteraceae family which includes daisies as well as edible herbs like Dandelion and Arnica. It does not hold many common English names, but one of the few is the Purple Coneflower, named because of the attractive flower head with purple, pink petals and cone-shaped centre.

Echinacea is derived from the Greek word echinos, meaning ‘hedgehog’, which refers to the cone-shaped, prickly centre which is said to resemble the spines of a hedgehog.

Traditionally used in Western Herbal Medicine to:

• Maintain healthy immune system function

Echinacea was one of the most widely used medicinal plants of the Great Plains Native Americans used to treat a variety of ailments including colds and infections.

First cultivated in the Mediterranean basin, this small evergreen tree is now grown throughout the world. As its Mediterranean origins might suggest, the olive tree prefers warm weather, full sun and the dry, rocky soil characteristic of mountainous coasts. A single tree can live for hundreds or even thousands of years.

Olives are not used as a natural fruit due to their extremely bitter taste but are rather consumed either as olive oil as the main culinary usage. This may help explain why its botanical name Olea is derived from elaia, the ancient Greek work for olive, and oleum the Latin word for oil.

Olive leaf can be used:

• As an antioxidant to reduce free radicals forming in the body

Olive leaf has been closely associated with religion, sociocultural and medicinal needs, used as a symbol of peace, purity and goodness by ancient Romans, Greeks and Egyptians. The leaves represented heavenly power in the tombs of ancient Egyptian pharaohs and benediction in the gilded crowns of Roman Caesars. To the ancient Greeks, victors in the ancient Olympic Games were crowned with wreaths of its leaves. Peace remains the most popular association, with the olive branch appearing on the seal of the United Nations and on British and American coins as a symbol of peace.

Native to Europe, Asia and North America, and now grown throughout the world, this tall, fast-growth, deciduous tree is also recognised as Brittle Willow or simply Willow.The name, White Willow, derives from the white tone to the undersides of the leaves. It is also a dioecious, meaning there are both male and female trees.

Traditionally used in Western Herbal Medicine to:

• Relieve mild fever and reduce body temperature

The use of willow bark dates to the time of Hippocrates when people were advised to chew on the bark to help reduce fever and inflammation.

Commonly known as King of Bitters or Indian Echinacea this tall herb is native to India, Ceylon and Java however is now naturalised in other parts of the world.

Andrographis has been widely used as traditional medicine in China, India, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries to help treat various health ailments.

Andrographis is a bitter-tasting herb (acknowledgment to the nickname King of Bitters) rich in compounds known as andrographolides. These compounds are thought to have anti-inflammatory, immune and antioxidant properties.

The aerial parts of the plant are used to:

• Reduce symptoms of common cold
• Relieve the severity of symptoms of mild upper respiratory tract infections

Also known as Green Chiretta in Ayurvedic medicine, Andrographis has a long history of traditional use in India, various parts of South-East Asia, Central America and the Caribbean.

Native to the West Indies and tropical America, it is now cultivated throughout the tropics and in subtropical areas around the world. Acerola strongly resembles the cherry, giving it the nick name Barbados cherry and West Indian cherry and is known to have one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C.

Although commonly called a cherry (due to the size), the odour and flavour of cooked acerola are similar to tart apples or crab tree apples.

The fruit is a natural source of vitamin C which is used as an antioxidant to contribute to:

• Cell protection from free radical damage
• Normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin

Believed to have originated in southeast Asia, Ginger is a tropical loving plant which its root is grown worldwide for culinary and medicinal purposes.

The botanical name Zingiber originates from the Greek word zingiberis, which was derived from the Sanskrit word shringavera, meaning ‘shaped like a deer’s antler’, an acknowledgment to the shape of the root. Officinale is traditionally used to refer to a plant with health and medicinal properties that was sold in the apothecary.

Traditionally used in Western Herbal Medicine to:

• Relieve symptoms of indigestion
• Relieve digestive discomfort and abdominal bloating
• Reduce abdominal and digestive spasms

Obtained by the Greeks and Romans from Arab traders, it was one of the first oriental spices to arrive in Europe.