Registry
Herbs, spices and other natural ingredients from around the world, with their uses, preparation, and origins.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 983
Iochroma fuchsioides
A shrub of the nightshade family with clusters of tubular orange-red flowers. Withanolides, substances also found in ashwagandha, have been isolated from it. Why the plant acts as an intoxicant has not been explained.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 203
Iris florentina (I. germanica 'Florentina')
The dried root (orris root) smells of violets and is a fixative in perfume and potpourri. Medicinally it was used for coughs and for teething children; it can cause allergies.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 918
Nectandra spp. (en verwante laurierachtigen, o.a. Ocotea en Aiouea)
Trees of the laurel family with fragrant seeds and bark. Little is known about the substances in the seeds and their effect in people.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 942
Arisaema triphyllum
An arum with a green or striped hood over the spadix. All parts contain needle-shaped crystals of calcium oxalate, which raw cause a fiercely burning mouth and swelling.
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 309
Piscidia piscipula
Traditionally attributed effects: calming, pain-relieving.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 491
Eugenia jambolana
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stomachic, diuretic, lowers blood sugar; seeds for diabetes, bark for chronic diarrhoea, dysentery, heavy menstruation, spongy gums, stomatitis; diarrhoea in children.
CautionAsia · Food · № 764
Prunus mume
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent in chronic cough and diarrhoea, replenishes body fluids and was used against worms.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 788
Inula japonica
Traditionally attributed effects: moves stuck phlegm in the lungs and makes rebellious energy of lung and stomach descend.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 302
Styphnolobium japonicum (syn. Sophora japonica)
Traditionally attributed effects: stops bleeding, laxative.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 127
Lonicera japonica en L. periclymenum
The flower buds (jin yin hua) are an important 'cooling' herb in Chinese medicine for fever, sore throats and colds. There is plenty of laboratory research but few good clinical studies.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 687
Lygodium japonicum
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic in cystitis and stones; also for sore throat and mumps.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 322
Cornus officinalis
Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, diuretic, lowers blood pressure, antimicrobial.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 715
Chaenomeles speciosa
Traditionally attributed effects: relaxes tendons and muscles in cramps and rheumatic pain and drives dampness from the stomach.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 723
Eriobotrya japonica
Traditionally attributed effects: cools hot phlegm in the lungs and makes rebellious lung and stomach energy descend.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 785
Prunus japonica
Traditionally attributed effects: moistens the bowel in constipation with stagnation and promotes urination in oedema.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 546
Rhus succedanea
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, tonic, expectorant, stimulating, promotes bile; for cough, tuberculosis, asthma, fever, lack of appetite, stomach irritation, diarrhoea (also in teething children); paste for psoriasis.
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 514
Ipomoea nil
Traditionally attributed effects: strongly laxative, expels worms; for constipation, substitute for jalap root.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 126
Jasminum officinale / J. grandiflorum
Best known as a fragrance and in jasmine tea; jasmine aromatherapy is used for relaxation. Medical claims are unproven.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 130
Nardostachys jatamansi
Used in Ayurveda as a calming remedy for insomnia and restlessness. There is mostly animal research; clinical evidence is lacking.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 81
Juniperus communis
The berries are traditionally used as a diuretic, for digestive complaints and externally for joint pain. Clinical evidence is limited.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 483
Dendrobium macraei
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, soothing, tonic, cooling, lowers blood pressure; for weakness from seminal loss, snake bites and scorpion stings.
CautionAsia · Food · № 645
Coix lacryma-jobi
Traditionally attributed effects: nourishing grain that drives dampness from the body; for arthritis and rheumatism, diuretic, and to relieve a full chest and stomach ulcers.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 940
Eutrochium purpureum en E. maculatum (syn. Eupatorium)
Tall, purple-pink flowering plants of the daisy family, related to European hemp agrimony. They may contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which damage the liver with long use.
CautionNorth America · Other · № 384
Simmondsia chinensis
The liquid wax from the seeds resembles the sebum of human skin and is quickly absorbed. It is used for dry skin and hair; medical claims have been little studied.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 925
Mimosa tenuiflora (syn. Mimosa hostilis)
A thorny tree or shrub of the pea family with feathery leaves and white, fragrant flower spikes. The root bark contains much DMT. Taken by mouth, DMT normally does not work without an MAO inhibitor; why the jurema drink is still said to work is not clear.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 981
Justicia pectoralis (syn. Dianthera pectoralis)
A low, creeping herb of the acanthus family. The dried leaf smells strongly of hay because of coumarin and umbelliferone. Reports of tryptamines in the plant have not been confirmed.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 458
Celastrus paniculatus
Traditionally attributed effects: oil skin-irritant; seeds cleansing, stimulating, strengthen the nerves, improve memory and intellect; for rheumatism, gout, paralysis, leprosy, beriberi; leaf juice as an antidote in opium poisoning; bark abortifacient.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 752
Dipsacus asper
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens liver and kidneys, helps fractures heal and calms the foetus.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 417
Anthocephalus indicus
Traditionally attributed effects: bark tonic, fever-reducing, astringent; fruit cooling; for fever, mouth ulcers and stomatitis, eye inflammation, stomach irritation in children, snake bites.
CautionOceania · Food · № 53
Terminalia ferdinandiana
A bush food with exceptionally high vitamin C, measured at 2,300–3,150 mg per 100 grams.
CautionAsia · Food · № 733
Diospyros kaki
Traditionally attributed effects: the calyx makes the stomach energy descend in hiccups and belching.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 970
Lomatium nudicaule (in Boas: Peucedanum)
An umbellifer with blue-green leaves and yellow umbels. The seeds are strongly aromatic; related lomatiums are being studied for antiviral effects.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 695
Smilax glabra
Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat, especially via the skin and in joint complaints.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 402
Acorus calamus
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, tonic, stimulating; restores throat and voice (singers), improves concentration/clear thinking, for flatulence and heartburn.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 521
Mallotus philippensis
Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, expels worms (specifically tapeworm), astringent; ointment for ringworm, scabies, herpes and parasitic skin diseases, leprosy rash, syphilitic ulcers.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 407
Alhagi pseudalhagi
Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, diuretic, expectorant; for urinary retention, corneal clouding; manna tonic, promotes bile, purifies the blood.
