Cloves (Eugenia caryophyllata)

Also called Eugenia Aromatica.²

Photograph by Jorge Barrios, Wikipedia

Family: N.O. Myrtaceae²

Location: Molucca Islands, Southern Philippines²; Pemba² (an island off the coast of Tanzania); East and West Indies², Mauritius² and Brazil²; introduced to Europe 4th-6th century²; United States (as evidenced by Native American knowledge and use)

Actions: carminative, astringent², antiseptic³, topical anesthetic³, dental anodyne³, antispasmodic³

Part used: undeveloped flowers², essential oils²

"At the start of the rainy season long greenish buds appear; from the extremity of these the corolla comes which is of a lovely rosy peach colour; as the corolla fades the calyx turns yellow, then red. The calyces, with the embryo seed, are at this stage beaten from the tree and when dried are the cloves of commerce."²

The flowers must be picked before they have a chance to mature, or else they lose their aroma.² The best quality cloves are dark brown, full, and oily and can be squeezed to extract oils.² These yield more oils than cloves that are paler and dry.²

Uses (can be used as powder or tea/infusion):
- Cloves create an inner warmth, so they were often used in mulled cider (along with cinnamon, allspice and today, orange peels) by Native Americans like the Ohlone of California in the winter.¹ (infusion)

- The little stick-like extensions of the clove were jammed between the teeth and gums to ease toothache (Native American).¹

- nausea and emesis²
- flatulence²
- dyspepsia/indigestion²
- as a synergist/assistant to other medications²
- oil can increase peristalsis²
- germicide²
- effective antiseptic²
- anesthetic for cavity-ridden teeth
- expectorant to aid with phthisis and bronchial troubles²
- alkali (infusion)²
- antinausea medication³

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1. Eric Nicholas, City of Pleasanton naturalist. October 2009.
2. Botanical.com.
3. Rain, Mary Summer. Earthway. New York: Pocket Books, 1990. Page 190.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium, Compositae)

Also known as soldier's woundwort, Milfoil, Nosebleed.¹

The white flowers in the bottom right corner and near the top right of the photo are yarrow. There are some more in the distance of this meadow near Cooper Peak in California, 2008. (The flowers on the left are not yarrow.)

Of all species within the genus achillea, yarrow is used medicinally the most.⁴

Medieval healing considered yarrow to have clotting effects, but its effectiveness in clotting is not substantial or great.⁴

Yarrow has white or pink flowers from June to September.⁴

Location: temperate zone in Europe and Asia; has been introduced to North America, New Zealand, and Australia.⁴ It can be found along sunny banks, the edges of fields and pastures.⁴ Lowland to mountain elevations.⁴

Part used: herb¹, leaf³, root³

Energy and flavors: spicy¹, bitter¹, neutral¹

Affects: lungs¹, liver¹

Actions: diaphoretic¹, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic¹, carminative¹, hemostatic¹, astringent¹, antispasmodic, stomachic

Uses:
- treat bleeding¹, hypertension¹
- hemorrhoids (use with witch hazel, bayberry, oak bark¹) - external¹
- flu¹, fever¹ (with elder flowers, lemon balm, mint) - tea¹
- headaches² - tea


Uses for leaf:
(raw/mashed as poultice-Native American)³
- toothache³
- gum lesions³
- ear infection³
- smoke³

(raw/mashed as compress-Native American)³
- anesthetic³
- external hemorrhaging³
- antiseptic for ulcers⁴, slow-healing wounds⁴, skin rashes⁴

(raw/boiled as wash-Native American)³
- burns³
- sore breasts³
- irritated eyes³
- measles³
- chicken pox³
- hives³
- poison ivy³ & oak³

Uses for root:
(raw/steeped as weak tea-Native American)³
- internal hemorrhaging³
- colds³ (with elder flowers, lemon balm, mint as a tea)¹
- swollen glands³
- hepatitis³
- blood cleanser³
- digestion issues (gall bladder)
- appetite
- diabetes³
- gynaecological issues (uterine spasms⁴, painful menstruation) - tea

(raw/boiled as strong tea-Native American)
- contraceptive³

Caution: yarrow is an abortifacient, so do not use when pregnant³; large doses can cause faintness or skin irritations

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Sources:
1. Tierra, Michael. The Way of Herbs. New York: Pocket Books, 1990. Page 251.
2. Auel, Jean. The Mammoth Hunters. New York: Crown Publishers, 1985. Page 195.
3. Rain, Mary Summer. Earthway. New York: Pocket Books, 1990. Page 155.
4. Stary, Frentisek. The Natural Guide to Medicinal Herbs and Plants. New York: Barnes and Noble Books, 1994. Pages 28-29.