Tonic | PHILATAX

Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) cap and gills

Genus species:
Lentinula edodes
Common name:
Shiitake mushroom

Chamaenerion angustifolium (Fireweed) plants

Genus species:
Chamaenerion angustifolium
Common name:
Fireweed

Echinacea angustifolia (Blacksamson echinacea)

Genus species:
Echinacea angustifolia
Common name:
Blacksamson echinacea

Echinacea purpurea (Purple cornflower) flower

Genus species:
Echinacea purpurea
Common name:
Purple coneflower

Genus species:
Centella asiatica
Common name:
Gotu kola

Juniperus communis (Common juniper) scale-leaf

Genus species:
Juniperus communis
Common name:
Common juniper

Posidonia oceanica (Neptune grass) leaves underwater

Genus species:
Posidonia oceanica
Common name:
Neptune grass

Trametes versicolor (Turkeytail mushroom)

Genus species:
Trametes versicolor
Common name:
Turkey tail

Genus species:
Matricaria chamomilla
Common name:
Chamomille

Genus species:
Curcuma longa
Common name:
Turmeric

Genus species:
Panax ginseng
Common name:
Korean Ginseng

Angelica archangelica (Norwegian angelica) plants

Genus species:
Angelica archangelica
Common name:
Norwegian angelica

Asclepias syriaca (Broadleaf milkweed) plant

Genus species:
Asclepias syriaca
Common name:
Broadleaf milkweed

Genus species:
Pimpinella anisum
Common name:
Anise

Genus species:
Scutellaria indica
Common name:
Skullcap

Salvia rosmarinus (Rosemary) mature plant

Genus species:
Salvia rosmarinus
Common name:
Rosemary

Allium sativum (Garlic) plant illustration

Genus species:
Allium sativum
Common name:
Garlic

Genus species:
Quercus robur
Common name:
Common oak

Genus species:
Quercus rubra
Common name:
Northern red oak

Chimaphila maculata (Spotted wintergreen) leaves

Genus species:
Chimaphila maculata
Common name:
Spotted wintergreen

Genus species:
Rhus typhina
Common name:
Staghorn sumac

Cirsium arvense (Canadian thistle) plant

Genus species:
Cirsium arvense
Common name:
Canadian thistle

Genus species:
Monotropa uniflora
Common name:
Indianpipe

Liriodendron tulipfera (Tulip tree) tree

Genus species:
Liriodendron tulipifera
Common name:
Tulip tree

Genus species:
Quercus alba
Common name:
White oak

Genus species:
Abies balsamea
Common name:
Balsam fir

Crataegus monogyna (Common hawthorn) tree

Genus species:
Crataegus monogyna
Common name:
Common hawthorn

Lotus corniculatus (Bird's-foot trefoil) flowers

Genus species:
Lotus corniculatus
Common name:
Bird's-foot trefoil

Genus species:
Lentinula edodes
Common name:
Shiitake mushroom

Genus species:
Chamaenerion angustifolium
Common name:
Fireweed

Genus species:
Echinacea angustifolia
Common name:
Blacksamson echinacea

Genus species:
Echinacea purpurea
Common name:
Purple coneflower

Genus species:
Centella asiatica
Common name:
Gotu kola

Genus species:
Juniperus communis
Common name:
Common juniper

Genus species:
Posidonia oceanica
Common name:
Neptune grass

Genus species:
Trametes versicolor
Common name:
Turkey tail

Genus species:
Matricaria chamomilla
Common name:
Chamomille

Genus species:
Curcuma longa
Common name:
Turmeric

Genus species:
Panax ginseng
Common name:
Korean Ginseng

Genus species:
Angelica archangelica
Common name:
Norwegian angelica

Genus species:
Asclepias syriaca
Common name:
Broadleaf milkweed

Genus species:
Pimpinella anisum
Common name:
Anise

Genus species:
Scutellaria indica
Common name:
Skullcap

Genus species:
Salvia rosmarinus
Common name:
Rosemary

Genus species:
Allium sativum
Common name:
Garlic

Genus species:
Quercus robur
Common name:
Common oak

Genus species:
Quercus rubra
Common name:
Northern red oak

Genus species:
Chimaphila maculata
Common name:
Spotted wintergreen

Genus species:
Rhus typhina
Common name:
Staghorn sumac

Genus species:
Cirsium arvense
Common name:
Canadian thistle

Genus species:
Monotropa uniflora
Common name:
Indianpipe

Genus species:
Liriodendron tulipifera
Common name:
Tulip tree

Genus species:
Quercus alba
Common name:
White oak

Genus species:
Abies balsamea
Common name:
Balsam fir

Genus species:
Crataegus monogyna
Common name:
Common hawthorn

Genus species:
Lotus corniculatus
Common name:
Bird's-foot trefoil

Genus species:
Lentinula edodes
Common name:
Shiitake mushroom

Genus species:
Chamaenerion angustifolium
Common name:
Fireweed

Genus species:
Echinacea angustifolia
Common name:
Blacksamson echinacea

Genus species:
Echinacea purpurea
Common name:
Purple coneflower

Genus species:
Centella asiatica
Common name:
Gotu kola

Genus species:
Juniperus communis
Common name:
Common juniper

Genus species:
Posidonia oceanica
Common name:
Neptune grass

Genus species:
Trametes versicolor
Common name:
Turkey tail

Genus species:
Matricaria chamomilla
Common name:
Chamomille

Genus species:
Curcuma longa
Common name:
Turmeric

Genus species:
Panax ginseng
Common name:
Korean Ginseng

Genus species:
Angelica archangelica
Common name:
Norwegian angelica

Genus species:
Asclepias syriaca
Common name:
Broadleaf milkweed

Genus species:
Pimpinella anisum
Common name:
Anise

Genus species:
Scutellaria indica
Common name:
Skullcap

Genus species:
Salvia rosmarinus
Common name:
Rosemary

Genus species:
Allium sativum
Common name:
Garlic

Genus species:
Quercus robur
Common name:
Common oak

Genus species:
Quercus rubra
Common name:
Northern red oak

Genus species:
Chimaphila maculata
Common name:
Spotted wintergreen

Genus species:
Rhus typhina
Common name:
Staghorn sumac

Genus species:
Cirsium arvense
Common name:
Canadian thistle

Genus species:
Monotropa uniflora
Common name:
Indianpipe

Genus species:
Liriodendron tulipifera
Common name:
Tulip tree

Genus species:
Quercus alba
Common name:
White oak

Genus species:
Abies balsamea
Common name:
Balsam fir

Genus species:
Crataegus monogyna
Common name:
Common hawthorn

Genus species:
Lotus corniculatus
Common name:
Bird's-foot trefoil

Therapeutic: Tonic

What is a Tonic?
This a broad action whose remedies will either strengthen and enliven a specific organ or the whole body. When referring to an organ system they are often described as Trophorestoratives.

How Tonics Work
Tonics work in variable ways, but are a foundational gift from the remarkable healing power of nature. Tonics are often specific to an organ system or area of the body such as the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive, musculoskeletal and nervous systems.

The term tonic has an incredibly broad meaning. The following is a list of some “Tonic” activities that can occur within the body.

Mucous Membrane Tonics

Hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal)
Filipendula ulmaria (Meadowsweet)
Euphrasia off. (Eyebright)

Thyroid Tonics

Leonurus cardiaca (Motherwort)
Fucus vesiculosis (Kelp)

Immune Tonics

Astragalus membranaceous (Astragalus)
Tabebuia impeteginosa (Pau D’Arco)
Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi mushroom)
Lentinus edodes (Shitake mushroom)
Trametes versicolor (Turkey tail)

Connective Tissue Tonics

Avena sativa (Oats)
Centella asiatica (Gotu kola)
Equisetum arvense (Horsetail)
Plantago lanceolata/major (Plantain)
Symphytum off. (Comfrey)
Crataegus sp. (Hawthorne)
Vaccinium myrtillus (Bilberry)

Vascular Tonics

Vaccinium myrtillus (Bilberry)
Achillea millefolium (Yarrow)
Tilia europea (Linden)
Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut)

Cardiac Tonics

Crataegus sp. (Hawthorne)
Leonurus cardiaca (Motherwort)
Convalleria majalis (Lily of the Valley)
Cytisus scoparius (Scotch broom)

Liver Tonics

Silybum marianum (Milk thistle)
Cynara scolymus (Artichoke)
Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice)
Curcuma longa (Turmeric)

Adrenal Tonics

Borago officinalis (Borage)
Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice)
Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng)
Rhodiola rosea (Arctic rose)
Withania somnifera (Ashwaganda)

Respiratory Tonics

Equisetum arvense (Horsetail)
Plantago lanceolata/major (Plantain)
Hyssopus off. (Hyssop)

Uterine Tonics

Actaea (Cimicifuga) racemosa (Black cohosh)
Caulophyllum thalictroides (Blue cohosh)
Leonurus cardiaca (Motherwort)
Rubus idaeus (Red raspberry)
Mitchella repens (Squaw Vine/Partridge Berry)

Adapted from David Hoffman’s ‘The Herbal Handbook: A User’s Guide to Medical Herbalism” & “Medical Herbalism”

Reference:“The Naturopathic Herbalist”