Traditionally, and currently, different herbs are effective for different ailments. For example,acne remedies commonly use herbs with known healing properties such as calendula, 
chamomile, comfrey, echinacea, tea tree oil, lavender and rooibos.
For arthritis, herbs with anti-inflammatory properties such as boswellia serata, devils claw, white willow, grape seed, nettle and wild yam are commonly used ingredients.
The digestive system has, for thousands of years responded to the soothing properties of chamomile, 
meadowsweet, slippery elm, dandelion and passionflower. Two other herbs, aloe ferox – a variant of aloe vera more suitable for internal use - and kankerbossie, or cancer bush, are gaining in popularity outside of their native South Africa for stomach problems. Culinary herbs such as rosemary, dill, thyme, peppermint, fennel, ginger and licorice are well known digestive aids, and for constipation and haemorrhoids, cascara sagrada is widely used.
Many herbs have been long reputed to be beneficial to the heart. red yeast rice and gugulipid have been shown in trials to lower LDL cholesterol while maintaining a healthy LDL/HDL ratio. Garlic of course, is of renowned benefit to older people and has been shown to significantly lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
Rooibus, grape seed and olive oil are effective anti-
oxidants and buchu and dandelion are diuretic and anti-inflammatory. Panax ginseng helps the body withstand stress and boosts immune functioning. Hawthorn works by dilating blood vessels to permit greater blood flow and motherwort is also known to lower blood pressure
Ginkgo biloba is reputed to relax blood vessels and is used in Asia to provide cardiovascular support and relieve angina. Guelder rose 
is also known to relax the cardiovascular system. dong quai, a mineral rich herb also popular in Asia is used to reduce stress. 
Passionflower is used to relieve anxiety and nervousness.
Other “heart friendly” herbs popular in herbal supplements are ginger, chinese salvia root and polygala tenuifoliais.
In cases of memory dysfunction and general cognitive impairment ginkgo biloba is the herb that has the track record of success.
It has been trialled repeatedly with repeated success on patients with cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Passionflower and St. Johns wort are also used in herbal supplements to improve short-term memory.
Supplements to combat coughs and colds and other respiratory problems are effective and commonplace. They include astragalus from China, 
which strengthens the immune system, and a variety of herbs including echinacea, garlic, oregano, lemon balm, rosemary, mint and elderberry from the Mediterranean.
Other common ingredients include green tea with its wonderful antioxidant properties and the willows, and meadowsweet, which provides us with salicin which has an aspirin like effect without the risks of gastric discomfort.
In England, chamomile was inhaled as snuff or smoked to relieve asthma and hot infusions of 
coltsfoot used to relieve catarrh. A tea of fenugreek seed was used as a gargle for sore throats. Plantago (plantain) has been approved in Europe to treat coughs and soothe the irritation of mucous membranes. Goldenseal has been used in folk medicine to the present day to combat infections of the sensitive
mucous membranes and nettle was well known for its anti-histamine properties.
There are a plethora of herbs which are well established as particularly helpful for women's health. For menopause symptoms black cohosh has been shown to be 
particularly helpful. In fact, we have found no herbal supplement for the relief of menopausal symptoms that does not include it. Black cohosh can be complemented with wild yam and pasque flower, and chasteberry is another herb with a reputation for maintaining hormone balance during menopause. Ginkgo biloba and kava are also be helpful in relieving symptoms such as mood swings, and feelings of depression and anxiety.
The ginsengs all have a reputation for supporting sexual function and fertility. Damiana is used in
herbal supplements to improve libido as is avena sativa (wild oats) and epimedium grandiflorum (horny goat weed).
Health problems that relate specifically to men are generally below the waist difficulties. BPH– the commonly occurring benign enlargement of the prostate with age resulting weak urine flow (not prostate cancer which has similar symptoms but is much less common - but get it checked out!) is high on the list and the “big three” for that are saw 
palmetto, pygeum and nettle, often in combination, which seems to magnify the benefit. Bearberry also helps with prostate problems and gokshura has a reputation in aiding urinary tract health.
Two herbs that are widely used in cases of erectile dysfunction and/or premature ejaculation and low libido are wild oats and horny goat weed. Other herbs commonly used as complementary 
ingredients in herbal supplements for erectile dysfunction are ginseng and gingko biloba.
Herbs for men's, and women's, problems generally also contain herbs most of which have been mentioned above, in combinations which have been found to be effective, for example, to improve alertness, ginkgo biloba, hawthorn for dilating blood vessels and therefore 
improving blood flow, the ginsengs for immune system support, and the common antioxidants - green tea, grape seed extract, wheat grass, barley grass, milk thistle (silymarin) and hawthorn berry
Milk thistle is also generally associated with liver support and curcumin (turmeric) is thought to be effective against STDs including chlamydia and gonorrhoea.