Ash bark
This is from a large sturdy tree, the ash. The bark is gray and furrowed, with smooth gray branchlets. The leaves resemble spades, and during the flowering season small clusters of oblong flowers can be seen. The bark can be ground into a fine powder of medicinal value. Grows in rich upland and lowland woods.

Goldencap [dandelion]
Easily recognized by its rosette-shaped yellow flowers in summer, and the fluffy white seed-heads in fall, an infusion of the ragged-edged green leaves of this herb makes an excellent diuretic, whilst a decoction of its long woody roots has a gentle but beneficial effect on the digestive system.

2. Antispasmodic

These prevent and relieve spasms and convulsions. Common ones are: parsley, basil, catnip, goosefoot, birthwort, and scullcap.

Basil
A pleasant smelling green herb that grows 25 to 50 inches high. Its leaves can be crushed for medicinal purposes. They are elliptic or oblong, generally blunt ended. Found in the woods from dry to moist climes during mid-summer to early fall.

Catnip
A coarse leaved, gray-green perennial, it's stem is a perfect square in cross-section. Soft, white fuzz covers the stem and leaves. The leaves are opposite, ovate, and heart-shaped. They are gray-green above and white below, and downy. Flowers are tubular, 1/4-1/2 inch long, white with purple-pink spots; two lipped corrolas; deep red anthers, tubular clayx, ribbed, 5 parted, occur massed in spikes. Gather the leaves and tops in late summer, when the plant is in full bloom, and dry in the shade. Catnip, when brewed, makes a soothing tea. It is most commonly used as a carminative, tonic, and sleeping aid. It may cause increased menstrual flow, so it is not recommended for use by pregnant women. However, there are no other side effects.

3. Stimulants

Used to revive patients. Common ones are: ammoniacum, spiceroot [ginger], cayenne, paprika, and cumin seed.

Herb Descriptions:

Spiceroot [Ginger]
Ginger is a warm climate plant, needing the wet and humid weather of the southern regions to flourish. This herb grows in clumps, with the average height of the stems being about 4 feet high and the leaves can reach a length of 1 foot. The roots of the ginger plant are harvested and scraped or scalded into a powder or paste. The oil from the root can also be extracted from the plant and used for medicinal or cooking purposes.

Cayenne pepper
Formed by drying and then grinding small red peppers of a particularly fiery nature, this red-orange powder works as an excellent stimulant, digestive and antiseptic. Added to the diet, cayenne in small doses will stimulate the appetite and act as an internal cleanser; its warming properties are also effective in the first stages of a cold. Made into a salve or oil it can be rubbed onto painful joints, sprains and areas of poor circulation. It combines with comfrey and numbweed to make the Threadscore salve more efficacious.

4. Other Herbs and their uses

Barley
A plant of about 8 to 30 inches high resembling wheat. Its top is greenish or bronze and a little over half an inch thick. Inside the top are small seeds which have medicinal value and can help relieve the symptoms of cystitis that female riders sometimes suffer from. Grows in meadows and along shores, a second smaller variety can be found in the plains. The larger grows mid-summer to early fall, the smaller can be harvested in late spring.

Citron
Citron trees grow essentially in more tropical regions. The round, thick-skinned fruits of the trees range from orange to yellow, sweet to bitter, and contain refreshing juices that have a history of helping to maintain excellent health and preventing the bleeding gum disease.

Numbweed
A twiggy sage-like shrub with opposing leaves, which resemble arrowheads with sweeping trails. They are a gray-green color and sprout tufts of blossoms like statice. Numbweed bushes tend to grow in jungle areas. The sap of the numbweed leaves is of indispensable medicinal value as this juice numbs the skin. Often made into salves of varying concentration for easiest application and storage.

Redwort
A reddish green plant that grows in clumps close to the ground. Its thick stem contains reddish veins running through it and during the flowering season, it produces a flat-topped purple or rose flower. It is a clean smelling herb, and is the main source of disinfectant on Pern. Its juice will kill germs and infection agents. It grows well in the land of Pern, especially suited for moderate to dry climates. Usually made into a rinse for the hands of Healers, although it may be combined with numbweed in a salve to numb and disinfect at the same time.

Mosstea
This is an abundant herb that grows low to the ground and is heavily leaved. The small leaves are of medicinal value. Its light green leaves often have a feeling of felt. It can be found in many areas throughout Pern, and grows in late spring to early fall. It can be made into a soothing tea or used to pack wounds to aid in preventing infections and healing.

Needlethorn
This is a succulent bush, which protects its fruit during season by shooting sharp toxic spines into anything which disturbs it. At the time the flowers of the nearby ging trees open, the needlethorn bush has fallen into dormancy and its spines can be collected for needles. This grows mostly in isolated, lush tropical areas.

Chamomile
The main use of this herb is as a calming tea; the white-petalled, orange-centered flowers are dried and then infused to make a pleasant drink which is also excellent against indigestion and upset stomachs. Taken at night, chamomile tea will aid sleep. Used externally as a lotion, it will soothe cracked or inflamed skin and ease patches of eczema.