Disclaimer

Herb Ledger is a horticultural reference. It explains how to grow, harvest, dry and store 32 medicinal herbs. It does not tell you what to take, how much to take, or whether a plant will help a condition.

No medical advice

Nothing on this site is medical advice. Profiles do not provide doses, preparations for internal use, treatment protocols or claims that a plant prevents or cures disease. Statements about traditional use are historical context. They are not evidence of effectiveness and they are not a recommendation.

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking prescription medicine, managing a chronic condition, preparing for surgery or treating a child, speak to a qualified clinician or pharmacist before using any herb. Herbs can interact with medicines and can affect blood pressure, blood sugar, clotting and liver metabolism.

Identification limits

Photographs and descriptions are not enough to identify a plant for ingestion. Several plants in this index belong to families with deadly lookalikes, including the carrot family and the daisy family. Grow from named seed or plants, keep labels with the harvest, and never wild-collect a plant you cannot identify with certainty.

Edible and toxic parts can occur on the same plant. Ginkgo seeds are toxic even though the leaf is used in extracts. Sweet violet flowers are edible, but the roots and seeds are not. Each profile states which part is covered.

Garden chemicals and contamination

Do not harvest from roadsides, railway edges, sprayed lawns, dog-walking routes or ground that may contain lead or other contaminants. Wash all harvested material. If you use pesticides or herbicides in the garden, follow the label and observe the interval before harvest.

Allergies

Plant allergies are common, especially in the daisy and carrot families. A plant described as traditional or culinary is not automatically safe for every person. Stop handling it if you develop a rash, swelling or breathing difficulty, and seek medical help for a severe reaction.

If someone has swallowed a plant

Contact your local poison control centre or emergency services immediately. In the United States, the Poison Control helpline is 1-800-222-1222. In the UK, call NHS 111 or 999 in an emergency. Do not wait for symptoms to develop and do not induce vomiting unless a medical professional tells you to.

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At launch the site carries no advertising and no affiliate links. If that changes, the disclosure will appear on this page and in the relevant page footer before the link or ad is published.

Last updated: 1 February 2026.