An herbal monograph is a structured profile of a medicinal plant that brings together its traditional uses, modern clinical evidence, pharmacological actions, chemical constituents, and safety considerations. Monographs provide a concise but comprehensive overview that practitioners, students, and patients can use to understand both the therapeutic potential and the cautions associated with an herb. They typically include the plant’s common and scientific names, parts used, key active compounds, mechanisms of action, medical indications, preparation methods, dosage guidelines, contraindications, and possible drug interactions. In this way, herbal monographs serve as an essential reference tool that bridges traditional knowledge with evidencebased practice in clinical herbal medicine.
Introduction: The Place of Herbal Medicine in Modern Health Care
There is no justification no rational or scientifically defensible reason to dismiss herbs as less effective than the synthetically manipulated petroleum-derived molecules marketed as prescription drugs. For decades I have watched this prejudice play out, not because herbs have failed patients, but because their use threatens the dominance of a medical system built on pharmaceuticals, profit, and politics.
As a practitioner and teacher of holistic medicine for more than fifty years, I have seen firsthand what herbs can do. I have watched patients recover from stubborn infections, chronic inflammation, and debilitating respiratory conditions through the intelligent use of plants that humans have relied upon for centuries. I have seen herbs calm spasmodic coughs, restore lung function, shorten the course of influenza, and strengthen the immune system against recurring illness. These are not theoretical claims they are lived realities observed in clinical practice and confirmed by modern research.
Herbal medicine is not an alternative to science. It is science in its truest, oldest, and most holistic form. Every culture in human history has drawn upon the healing power of plants: Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Native American plant knowledge, European folk medicine, and countless other traditions. Modern pharmacology itself was built on the isolation of active compounds from these same plants. Yet somewhere along the way, the whole was dismissed in favor of the part, the living synergy of the plant ignored in favor of a single extracted molecule.
The marginalization of herbal medicine has less to do with evidence and more to do with systemic bias. It has been reinforced by the lobbying power of pharmaceutical companies, the policies of regulatory agencies, and the protectionism of professional guilds. Naturopathic, chiropractic, and holistic practitioners have too often been portrayed as unscientific when in truth we have carried forward traditions of healing that modern medicine is only now beginning to rediscover.
This collection of herbal monographs is part of my life’s work: to preserve, teach, and legitimize the use of medicinal plants as an integral part of true health care. Herbs are not relics of the past. They are living medicines for today and tomorrow. In these pages, I hope to give you not only the scientific evidence and clinical guidance, but also the reassurance that you are standing in a lineage of healers that stretches back thousands of years.
Herbs belong to the people. They always have. And they always will.
• Drug interactions: May interfere with cytochrome P450 enzymes; caution with prescription drugs (anticoagulants, antihypertensives, cyclosporine, digoxin).
• Minor/Other: Excessive sweating (including night sweats), menopausal hot flashes, digestive weakness.
Dosage
• Tea/Infusion: 1–2 cups daily (1–2 g dried leaf per cup).
• Tincture: 30–60 drops, up to 3 times daily.
• Gargle: Strong infusion (2–3 tsp dried leaf per cup) used warm for sore throat.
• Essential oil: For inhalation only, always diluted.
Safety
• Cautions: Essential oil (especially thujone) is neurotoxic in high doses.
• Contraindications: Pregnancy, epilepsy (due to thujone content).
• Drug interactions: May reduce effectiveness of anticonvulsant medications; high-dose sage tea may lower blood sugar and interact with antidiabetic drugs.
• Tea/Infusion: 1–2 cups daily (2–4 g dried herb).
• Tincture: 30–60 drops, 3 times daily.
• Capsules: 300–500 mg, twice daily.
Safety
• Cautions: May cause allergic reaction in those sensitive to Asteraceae plants.
• Contraindications: Pregnancy (uterotonic effect), caution with bleeding disorders.
• Drug interactions: May potentiate anticoagulants; avoid concurrent high-dose NSAIDs.
Additional Herbs You May Want to Consider
In addition to the 25 primary herbs detailed in this collection, there are several other traditional plants with a long history of use in respiratory health. These can be valuable adjuncts, especially in more specialized cases:
• Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara): Classic demulcent and antitussive for dry, persistent coughs and chronic bronchitis.
• Grindelia (Grindelia spp.): Calms spasmodic coughs and eases breathing in asthma and COPD by relaxing bronchial smooth muscle.
• Iceland Moss (Cetraria islandica): A mucilage-rich lichen that soothes throat irritation and supports chronic respiratory weakness.
• Sweet Violet (Viola odorata): Traditionally used to quiet coughs, reduce chest congestion, and ease throat inflammation.
• Anise (Pimpinella anisum) / Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare): Aromatic seeds with expectorant, antispasmodic, and carminative properties; often combined in cough syrups and teas.
• Pleurisy Root (Asclepias tuberosa): North American herb valued for pleurisy, pneumonia, and bronchitis with thick, difficult-to-expectorate mucus.
• Linden (Tilia cordata): A gentle diaphoretic and calming remedy for feverish colds, influenza, and restlessness, especially in children and the elderly.
These herbs broaden the range of therapeutic strategies from soothing mucilage-rich plants to bronchial relaxants and gentle fever remedies and may be especially useful for practitioners tailoring protocols to individual patients.
The information contained in these herbal monographs is provided for educational and reference purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Readers should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting a qualified healthcare provider.
Herbal medicines can interact with prescription and over-the-counter medications and may not be suitable for individuals with certain health conditions, during pregnancy, or while breastfeeding. The authors and publishers of this material assume no responsibility for any adverse effects, consequences, or liability resulting from the use or misuse of the information provided herein.
By using this material, you acknowledge that you do so at your own discretion and risk, and that you accept full responsibility for your health decisions.
About the Compiler of these Monographs
Gregory T. Lawton, D.C., D.N., N.D., D.Ac. Founder, Blue Heron Academy of Healing Arts & Sciences Director, American Health Source
Dr. Gregory T. Lawton is a multi-credentialed health professional and educator with more than five decades of experience in traditional, manual, and holistic medicine. Trained and licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic, Doctor of Naprapathy, Acupuncturist, and a registered Naturopathic Doctor he has dedicated his life to developing integrative and evidence-informed approaches to patient care.
In addition to clinical practice, Dr. Lawton is a master herbalist, martial artist, poet, and artist, whose wide-ranging vision of health embraces body, mind, and spirit. He is the founder of the Blue Heron Academy of Healing Arts and Sciences, a nationally recognized training institution, and serves as director of American Health Source, a project devoted to advancing holistic education and community wellness.
Throughout his career, Dr. Lawton has authored numerous manuals, monographs, and continuing education courses for massage therapists, naturopathic practitioners, and holistic health professionals. His teaching philosophy blends traditional healing wisdom with modern science, emphasizing service, compassion, and empowerment as central to the practice of medicine.
For over fifty years, Dr. Lawton has been a member of the Bahá’í Faith, drawing on its principles of unity and service to humanity as guiding lights for his professional and personal work. His life mission is captured in the phrase “Building a Healing Community” a vision of health education and practice rooted in knowledge, empowerment, and unconditional service.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations used in reviews, educational settings, or noncommercial references with full attribution.
This material is intended for educational purposes only. While the information presented is based on traditional knowledge, clinical experience, and available research, it is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The author and publisher disclaim any liability arising from the use or misuse of this material.
Requests for permission to reproduce or distribute this material should be directed to:
Blue Heron Academy of Healing Arts & Sciences info@blueheronacademy.com
