List of Medicinal Plants in the
Temperate Rainforest

By Jason Knight

The following list of medicinal plants in the temperate rainforest is a thorough listing of wild medicinal species found on the west side of the Cascade Mountains and nearby habitats of the Pacific Northwest. Alderleaf compiled the list using a variety of medicinal plant resources and distribution maps. Please note that some medicinal plants are also poisonous. Always research and exercise caution when collecting or using wild plants. The list is in phylogenetic order (by plant families).

ARACEAE
Yellow Skunk Cabbage (Lysichitum americanum)

CHENOPODIACEAE
Lamb's Quarters (Chenopodium album)

ALISMATACEAE
Water Plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica)

POLYGONACEAE
Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella)
Curled Dock (Rumex crispus)

LILIACEAE
False Hellebore (Veratrum viride)
Star-of-Bethelehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum)
False Solomon's Seal (Smilacina raremosa)
False Lily-of-the-Valley (Maianthemum dilatatum)
Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum)
Clasping Twistedstalk (Streptopus amplexifolius)

ORCHIDACEAE
Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera oblongifolia)

ARISTOLOCHIACEAE
Wild Ginger (Asarum caudatum)

LYTHRACEAE
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

BRASSICACEAE
Watercress (Nasturtium officinale)
Sheperd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)
Field Mustard (Brassica campestris)

PLANTAGINACEAE
Broadleaf Plantain (Plantago major)

GENTIANACEAE
Buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata)

RUBIACEAE
Cleavers (Gallium aparine)

CORNACEAE
Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)

FABACEAE
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

VIOLACEAE
Blue Violet (Viola adunca)

PORTULACACEAE
Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia siberica)

PYROLACEAE
Western Prince's Pine (Chimaphila umbellata)
Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora)
One-sided Wintergreen (Pyrola secunda)
Wax-flower (Moneses uniflora)
Pink Wintergreen (Pyrola asarifolia)

MALVACEAE
Common Mallow (Malva neglecta)
High Mallow (Malva sylvestris)

GERANIACEAE
Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum)

HYPERICACEAE
Western St. John's Wort (Hypericum formosum)

RANUNCULACEAE
Red Columbine (Aquilegia formosa)
Western Anenome (Anenome lyallii)
False Bugbane (Trautvetteria caroliniensis)

CRASSULACEAE
Roseroot (Sedum integrifolium)

CARYOPHYLLACEAE
Chickweed (Stellaria media)

SAXIFRAGACEAE
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Smooth Alumroot (Heuchera glabra)
Fringecup (Tellima grandiflora)

ROSACEAE
Goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus)
Silverweed (Potentilla anserina)
Coastal Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis)
Sitka Burnet (Sanguisorba canadensis)
Large-leaved Avens (Geum macrophyllum)

APIACEAE
Cow Parsnip (Heracleum lanatum)
Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota)
Pacific Water-parsley (Oenanthe sarmentosa)
Sea-watch (Angelica lucida)
Desert Parsley (Lomatium nudicaule)

LAMIACEAE
Field Mint (Mentha arvensis)
Yerba Buena (Satureja douglasii)
Self Heal (Prunella vulgaris)
Hedge Nettle (Stachys cooleyae)

SCROPHULARIACEAE
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
American Brookline (Veronica beccabunga)

APOCYNACEAE
Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium)

BORAGINACEAE
Small-flowered Forget-me-not (Myosotis laxa)
Tall Bluebells (Mertensia paniculata)

CONVOLVULACEAE
Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)

SOLANACEAE
Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum)

CUCURBITACEAE
Manroot (Marah oreganus)

CAPRIFOLIACEAE
Twinflower (Linnaea borealis)

VALERIANACEA
Sitka Valerian (Valeriana sitchensis)

ASTERACEAE
Nipplewort (Lapsana commununis)
Mountain Arnica (Arnica latifolia)
Common Burdock (Arctium minus)
Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Sweet Coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus)
Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
Common Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)

NYMPHAEACEAE
Yellow Pond Lily (Nuphar polysepalum)

We hope you find this list of medicinal plants in the temperate rainforest helpful. And please do remember, many medicinal plants are also poisonous. Always work with an expert or perform thorough research before using a wild plant.

By the way, when you're out foraging, it's important to know how to stay safe in the outdoors, especially if you were to get lost. Right now you can get a free copy of our mini survival guide here, where you'll discover six key strategies for outdoor emergencies, plus often-overlooked survival tips.

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Don't leave home without knowing these six essential survival skills. Our free survival mini guide reveals the strategies of:

• Shelter & fire to prevent the number one cause of death
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Additional Resources on this List of Medicinal Plants:

Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West by Michael Moore has an excellent list of medicinal plants and thorough information on their specific uses and preparations.

Wild Edible & Medicinal Plants Courses at Alderleaf

About the Author: Jason Knight is a cofounder of Alderleaf Wilderness College and the author of The Essential Skills of Wilderness Survival. He has been teaching wilderness skills for over twenty-five years. Learn more about Jason Knight.

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