CautionEurope · Herb · № 44
Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
A fragrant plant used in bath products, perfume, and aromatherapy. Evidence for medical effects is preliminary.
Greco-Roman medicine+4Folklore
Registry
All herbs
Herbs, spices and other natural ingredients from around the world, with their uses, preparation, and origins.
- Caution
CautionEurope · Herb · № 208
Snapdragon
Antirrhinum majus
An ornamental plant. In folk medicine leaves were laid as a poultice on sores and haemorrhoids; a medicinal effect has not been studied.
Folk magic and herbal magicFolklore
CautionAsia · Herb · № 205
Lily
Lilium spp.
The bulb scales of some lilies (bai he) are used in Chinese medicine for dry cough, restlessness and sleeplessness after fever. Lilies are deadly poisonous to cats.
Chinese medical traditions+1Folklore
CautionEurope · Herb · № 206
Lily of the valley
Convallaria majalis
Traditionally attributed effects: heart tonic, diuretic, laxative, emetic.
Western herbal medicine+1Folklore
CautionAsia · Food · № 661
Green onion (cong bai)
Allium fistulosum
Traditionally attributed effects: diaphoretic at the start of a cold from cold; externally on swellings.
Chinese medical traditions+2
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 949
Liverleaf
Hepatica nobilis (incl. H. americana en H. acutiloba)
An early spring flower of the buttercup family with three-lobed leaves. Fresh, the plant contains irritating compounds.
Haudenosaunee medicine+1
CautionEurope · Herb · № 191
Rowan
Sorbus aucuparia
The orange berries are rich in vitamin C and are eaten cooked; raw they contain parasorbic acid, which irritates the stomach and bowel. A medicinal effect has hardly been studied.
Folk magic and herbal magicFolklore
CautionAsia · Food · № 238
Lime
Citrus aurantiifolia
A sour citrus fruit rich in vitamin C. The juice was given against scurvy and is used in Asia with honey or salt for coughs and sore throat.
Jamu in Indonesia+1Folklore
CautionEurope · Herb · № 226
Linden
Tilia × europaea
Traditionally attributed effects: calming nerve remedy, induces sweating, vasodilating, restores the vessel walls, lowers blood pressure.
Western herbal medicine
CautionAsia · Herb · № 732
Lindera root (wu yao)
Lindera aggregata (syn. L. strychnifolia)
Traditionally attributed effects: warms and moves qi in pain from cold; warms the kidneys in frequent urination.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Mushroom · № 41
Lingzhi (reishi)
Ganoderma lucidum
A bracket fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine; evidence for treatment effects in people is limited.
Chinese medical traditions+3
CautionAsia · Food · № 359
Red lentil
Lens culinaris
Traditionally attributed effects: easily digestible, beneficial in bleeding and fever; purifies the blood internally and externally; scrub improves circulation.
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · Herb · № 734
Cattail pollen (pu huang)
Typha angustifolia (en T. orientalis)
Traditionally attributed effects: stops bleeding and resolves blood stagnation in pain.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 516
Indian laurel
Litsea glutinosa
Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, astringent, softens the skin, aphrodisiac, antispasmodic; for diarrhoea and dysentery; externally for bruises, sprains, rheumatic and gouty joints, scorpion stings, fractures.
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · Herb · № 559
Lodh tree
Symplocos racemosa
Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, mildly astringent; for intestinal complaints, heavy menstruation, discharge from lax mucous membranes, oedema, liver complaints, fever, skin diseases, bleeding gums, eye diseases, ulcers, filariasis (chyluria, elephantiasis).
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · Food · № 653
Longan
Dimocarpus longan
Traditionally attributed effects: a sweet, warming tonic for heart and blood; good for digestion and calming.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionEurope · Other · № 588
Lungwort lichen
Lobaria pulmonaria
Traditionally attributed effects: antioxidant, expectorant; reduces inflammation in the airways and intestines, supports the lungs and helps with sinusitis.
Western herbal medicine
CautionAsia · Herb · № 671
Lophatherum (dan zhu ye)
Lophatherum gracile
Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat in heart and stomach in restlessness, thirst and mouth ulcers, and in painful urination.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Food · № 131
Sacred lotus
Nelumbo nucifera
Almost every part is used: seeds for diarrhoea and restlessness, rhizome as food, leaf for 'summer heat'. Scientific evidence is mostly laboratory research.
Ayurveda+3Folklore
CautionAsia · Herb · № 485
Air potato
Dioscorea bulbifera
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, pungent, appetite-suppressing; for syphilis, haemorrhoids, dysentery, ulcers.
Ayurveda+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 693
Blackberry lily (she gan)
Iris domestica (syn. Belamcanda chinensis)
Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat and detoxifies in severe sore throat and cough with much hot phlegm.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionEurope · Herb · № 211
Sweet violet
Viola odorata
Traditionally attributed effects: V. odorata anti-inflammatory, expectorant, diuretic, antitumour; V. tricolor expectorant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antirheumatic, laxative, strengthens capillaries.
Western herbal medicine+3Folklore
CautionSouth America · Food · № 32
Maca
Lepidium meyenii
A root crop eaten as food. Claims about fertility and energy are unproven.
Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 544
Emetic nut
Randia dumetorum
Traditionally attributed effects: fruit rind induces sweating and antispasmodic; bark calming and soothes the nerves; bark internally and externally for rheumatism, bruises and bone pain in fever, diarrhoea and dysentery; fruit emetic in acute bronchitis and asthma; scorpion stings.
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 795
Magnetite (ci shi)
Magnetitum (ijzeroxide)
Traditionally attributed effects: calms the mind and rising liver yang and helps the kidneys hold the lung energy.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 655
Magnolia flower bud (xin yi hua)
Magnolia biondii (syn. M. liliflora)
Traditionally attributed effects: warms and opens the nose in blocked sinuses and headache from wind-cold.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 727
Magnolia bark (hou po)
Magnolia officinalis
Traditionally attributed effects: makes qi descend, dries dampness and resolves food stagnation and phlegm.
Chinese medical traditions+2
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 370
Oregon grape
Mahonia aquifolium
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, purifies the blood, tonic, stimulating, supports the liver; improves appetite and digestion, promotes liver and bile secretion, purifies the blood, helps with skin problems, sudden diarrhoea and chronic constipation.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 520
Mahua
Madhuca longifolia
Traditionally attributed effects: flowers cooling, soothing, expectorant, tonic, nourishing; bark astringent and tonic; for diabetes and rheumatism, bleeding gums, tonsil and throat inflammation, itching, bronchitis, cough, haemorrhoids.
Ayurveda
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 863
Maillico
Caltha sagittata
A low plant of the buttercup family with arrow-shaped leaves and cream-white flowers. Related to the marsh marigold; its compounds and effects have not been studied.
Mapuche medicine
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Food · № 266
Maize
Zea mays
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, heals the urinary tract lining, tonic, soothing.
Maya healing knowledge+7Folklore
CautionAsia · Mushroom · № 589
Maitake
Grifola frondosa
Traditionally attributed effects: adaptogen; activates immune cells against cancer (macrophages, NK cells, T cells), reduces stress and strengthens resistance to colds and flu.
Chinese medical traditions+2
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 859
Maitén
Maytenus boaria
A graceful tree with drooping twigs and fine leaves that cattle love to eat. Traditionally for fever and skin rash; research is lacking.
Mapuche medicine
CautionEurope · Herb · № 113
White horehound
Marrubium vulgare
A bitter herb traditionally used for coughs with sticky phlegm and bronchitis. In Europe it is recognised as a traditional herbal medicine; clinical evidence is limited.
Greco-Roman medicine+3Folklore
CautionOceania · Herb · № 844
Māmaki
Pipturus albidus
A native Hawaiian plant whose leaves are drunk as a tea.
Lāʻau lapaʻau in Hawaiʻi
CautionOceania · Herb · № 847
Mamaku (black tree fern)
Sphaeropteris medullaris
The slimy pith and sap of this black tree fern were traditionally used on sores and wounds, and for diarrhoea.
Rongoā Māori