Yogi

Cardamom seed is a uniquely flavored culinary herb in the ginger family. But cardamom seed is more than its delicious flavor. Herbalists value cardamom seed for its ability to help digest cold and sweet food, which is probably why it is a traditional addition to baked goods and puddings. This herb has also been traditionally used to benefit stomach function, balance urination, promote normal respiratory mucous and help with indigestion and gas. Its warming, mucous-normalizing action makes it a common ingredient in herbal lung preparations.

Carob is a species of flowering evergreen shrub or tree in the pea family that is native to the Mediterranean region. Cultivated for its edible seed pods, carob contains up to 8% protein and is a rich source of vitamins and minerals. There are many legends that tell of people subsisting on carob pod; its alternative name St. John's Bread came about because St. John the Baptist is said to have subsisted on carob pod in the wilderness. As used by herbalists, carob is especially soothing to the digestive tract and can help normalize bowel function. Carob Pod tastes a lot like chocolate, and being free from the stimulants caffeine and theobromine contained in chocolate, is a popular chocolate substitute.

Cat's Claw is a tropical vine that grows in the rainforest and jungle areas of South America, the bark of which has been used as a general stamina-enhancing tonic by indigenous people there for hundreds of years. More recently, Cat's Claw Bark has been used by herbalists to boost the immune system and help protect cells from damage. This valuable herb also helps regulate normal blood pressure, balance cholesterol and open up peripheral circulation, making it helpful for the skin and joints. Cat's Claw Bark is also believed to support the health of the digestive tract lining and relieve symptoms of coughing, sneezing and congestion.

Cayenne Pepper is a stimulating herb made from the dried pods of a certain variety of chili pepper. Well known for its fiery heat and pungent smell, cayenne is not only a popular culinary herb in many cuisines, but has also been used medicinally for thousands of years. Both Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine use cayenne for various digestive ailments, such as sluggishness and gas. Cayenne and other chilies, especially the red varieties, enhance production of endorphins, the mood elevating brain chemicals responsible for the "chili eater's high;" hence cayenne is used to support balanced mood. In addition, cayenne has been shown to be useful in regulating blood pressure and cholesterol levels as well as improving circulation.

Celery Seed, a member of the parsley family, is a widely used food herb. Ayurveda uses celery seed to support kidney and bladder function. In folk medicine, celery seeds are reputed to support digestion, respiratory, menstrual and sexual functions, and to help support healthy weight.

The classic spices of cinnamon, cardamom and ginger, which have been used for centuries in Ayurveda for their warming and cleansing properties.

Chamomile is a flowering plant in the daisy family that is native to Europe and Asia. The flower is a mild relaxant that supports balanced mood; hence a cup of tea made with chamomile is a time-honored remedy for inducing sleep. Chamomile also helps promote perspiration, and so has been used in traditional healing methods of "sweating it out." Chamomile also has a long history of use in Europe for digestive complaints, particularly gas.

Chaste tree is a large shrub (up to twenty-two feet tall) native to the Mediterranean and southern Europe, where it flourishes along riverbanks and nearby foothills. The tree produces a dark brown, peppercorn-size fruit that has a pleasant peppermint-like odor. Chaste tree berry was used medicinally by ancient Greeks and Romans to encourage chastity, but in the first years of the common era, the Greek physician Dioscorides recommended chaste tree berry specifically for inflammation of the womb and to encourage milk flow shortly after birth. Today, herbalists use chaste tree berry primarily to support the health of the female reproductive system, such as helping to reduce the symptoms of PMS.

Chebulic Myrobalan Fruit (Haritaki) is considered by some to be the single most important Ayurvedic herb, and is one of the three herbs in the famous Ayurvedic remedy triphala. Widely used in Tibetan medicine, it is called the "king of herbs," and in Ayurveda, haritaki is known as "the mother." Haritaki nourishes the brain and nerves, so it is believed to increase mental and spiritual awareness. Haritaki is strongly astringent, and is used to promote skin function, and to support digestion and elimination. Haritaki is also mildly laxative.

Chinese Amur Cork Tree Bark, called Huang Bai in China, is commonly used in Chinese herbalism, where it is considered to be one of the 50 fundamental herbs. It is rich in berberine, a natural chemical that makes the herb appear yellow. Used primarily to reduce "heat energy" in the body, this herb is also used to support proper bowel, vaginal and urinary tract function, and is particularly helpful for the joints in the knees and feet.

Chinese Goldenthread Root is one of the coldest and bitterest herbs used in Chinese medicine. Goldenthread is a close relative of an extremely bitter and very useful American herb, the well-known goldenseal. Both herbs are rich in berberine. In Chinese medicine, goldenthread is used to promote a calm mood and aid sleep. Its many uses include the support of skin and bowel function.

Chrysanthemums were first cultivated in China as a flowering herb as far back as the 15th century B.C.E. Chrysanthemum is a "cooling" herb traditionally used to help strengthen the lungs and relieve head congestion. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, chrysanthemum is often combined with honeysuckle for a delicious drink that is especially useful for cooling the body.

Cinnamon Bark comes from a small evergreen tree that is native to Sri Lanka. A very mild herb that is well tolerated by a broad variety of people, cinnamon has been used medicinally for thousands of years, dating back to at least 2700 B.C.E. Cinnamon is a pungent, sweet and hot spice that increases general vitality, warms and energizes the body as a whole and supports normal function of the respiratory and digestive tracts. It increases circulation to the joints and aids immune function, and has been shown to regulate blood sugar and insulin. Cinnamon also relieves minor pain and helps balance the effects of menstruation.

Citric acid is a mild acid that occurs in citrus fruits, such as lemons and limes. It is added to tea to impart a light and pleasant sour taste.

Clove Buds are the aromatic dried flower buds of a tree in the Myrtle family. The English name clove derives from Latin clavus (nail), as the shape of the buds resembles small nails. Clove bud is widely used as a health enhancing spice in Asian herbal traditions. With a warming quality, clove promotes circulation in the stomach, enhancing digestion and reducing gas. By warming the lungs, it thins mucous and has traditionally been used to help expel phlegm. Clove also promotes lymph function and balances triglycerides and blood sugar. It also contains an essential oil that can help relieve mild pain; scientific studies have supported the use of clove oil to help reduce dental pain.

Cocoa Powder is created from the separation of the cocoa butter from cocoa beans. Cocoa powder is used as a flavor and has recently gained attention as a very rich source of antioxidants.

The shells of the cocoa bean, cocoa shells are a source of chocolate, and more recently have been receiving attention as a natural source of antioxidants.

CoffeeBerry®, the outer layer of the coffee fruit, is a rich source of antioxidants. Research reports that 400 mg of concentrate has a radical scavenging activity equal to 9.6 grams of fresh blueberries, 6.2 grams of strawberries, or 4.9 grams of raspberries. CoffeeBerry® contains polyphenols, which act to help reduce free oxygen radicals in the body. Chlorogenic acid is the compound present in coffee which has been long known for its beneficial antioxidant properties. This active ingredient makes CoffeeBerry® an excellent agent to absorb oxygen radicals that contribute to degradation of cells in the body.

Coriander seed is not just a delicious spice used in cooking. According to Ayurveda, the seeds support urinary tract health and relieve stomach upset, indigestion and gas. New research shows that coriander is a strong antioxidant for free radicals in the body's fatty tissues.

A powdery flour made of finely ground cornmeal.

Cornsilk, the yellowish thread-like strands inside the husks of corn, is a traditional remedy for urinary tract health. A soothing diuretic that promotes easy urination, cornsilk helps balance water in the body. Herbalists use cornsilk to soothe the bladder and prostate, and as a remedy for all manner of urinary tract conditions.

Ever wonder why all cough syrup is cherry flavored? This flavorful herb native to North America was the absolute first choice to help expel phlegm in times past. The bark contains cyanogenic glycosides, which, once metabolized in the body, also act to suppress spasms in the smooth muscles lining the bronchioles, the tiny branches of air tubes in the lungs.