Native to North America, this medium-sized, fast growth tree is now grown throughout the world and is also referred to as Red Elm, Grey Elm or Indian Elm.

The plant’s bark and root are used medicinally for the soothing properties in the case of inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.

Traditionally used in Western Herbal Medicine to:

• Support gastrointestinal mucosal membrane health
• Soothe gastrointestinal tract mucous membranes
• Relieve mild gastrointestinal tract inflammation
• Soothe irritated tissues

Native Americans also used the bark to quench thirst by chewing the sweet, fibrous inner bark peeled from twigs and branches.

Turmeric is a product of Curcuma longa, a flowering perennial plant belonging to the ginger family Zingiberaceae, which is native to tropical South Asia. This broad-leaf tropical looking plant is now widely cultivated and goes by different names in different cultures and countries, including by its Chinese name, Yu Jin or by its Sanskrit name, Haldi.

The name turmeric derives from the Latin word terra merita meaning “meritorious earth”, referring to the colour of ground turmeric, which resembles a mineral pigment.

Traditionally used in Ayurvedic Medicine to:

• Relieve inflammation

The use of turmeric dates back nearly thousands of years to the Vedic culture in India, where it was used as used not only as a principal spice but also as a component in religious ceremonies.

This mild lemon-scented member of the mint family is a European native and is now grown throughout the world.Its botanical name Melissa officinali is derived from the Latin word meaning ‘honey bee’. It refers to the plant being considered a favourite food of bees, with a connection to the ancient religious thought that any plant that kept bees away from their hive was considered sacred.

Traditionally used in Western Herbal Medicine to:

• Reduce nervous unrest
• Relieve restless sleep
• Support refreshing sleep
• Relieve symptoms of stress
• Reduce symptoms of indigestion
• Support healthy digestion
• Maintain healthy gastrointestinal function
• Relieve flatulence

This herb has historically been valued as a culinary, medicinal and cosmetic herb.

Native to Sri Lanka, Cinnomomum verum, is a small, slow growth evergreen tree, which is now grown across the world. The spice is obtained from the inner bark of the tree and used for culinary, aromatherapy and herbal use.

Its botanical name is derived from the Hebraic and Arabic term amomon, meaning ‘fragrant spice plant’.

Traditionally used in Western Herbal Medicine to:

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

Since ancient times, this spice has been used for a variety of purposes including in food preparations as well as a variety of herbal uses. It was valued as a precious commodity and was so highly prized that it was regarded a gift fit for monarchs. It is believed that its source was kept secret in the Mediterranean world by those in the spice trade to protect their monopoly as suppliers.

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.