Roots & Bark

Roots and bark represent some of the most structurally complex medicines in the plant world. These tissues serve as storage and transport systems for the plant, often concentrating minerals, tannins, bitters, alkaloids, and other protective compounds that support resilience and longevity.

Because of this density, roots and bark are traditionally prepared differently from softer plant parts. Decoctions, long infusions, and alcohol extractions are commonly used to draw out their constituents and fully access their medicinal potential.

This section of the archive gathers monographs for plants whose primary herbal actions come from the underground or woody portions of the plant — the roots, rhizomes, and bark that anchor the organism and hold some of its most enduring chemistry.

Browse the entries below to explore individual plants and their traditional uses, preparation methods, and apothecary applications.

Entries are listed in Alphabetical Order Below

A - M | N - Z