CautionSouth America · Herb · № 816
Muña
Minthostachys mollis
A mint-like plant used in the Andes for stomach complaints and wind.
Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
Registry
All herbs
Herbs, spices and other natural ingredients from around the world, with their uses, preparation, and origins.
- Caution
CautionAsia · Food · № 358
Mung bean
Vigna radiata
Traditionally attributed effects: light and easily digestible, sattvic (calm in the head); for fever, ulcers and blood disorders; khichadi with takra for 7–10 days as a cleansing cure; soap substitute makes the skin soft.
Ayurveda+1
CautionEurope · Herb · № 3
Mint
Mentha × piperita
Peppermint oil has been studied in irritable bowel syndrome and may reduce abdominal pain. The tea is used for a full stomach and nausea. With heartburn peppermint can make complaints worse.
Greco-Roman medicine+4Folklore
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 864
Murta (Chilean guava)
Ugni molinae
A shrub of the myrtle family with fragrant red berries. Mainly a food plant; the leaf was used as an astringent.
Mapuche medicine
CautionEurope · Herb · № 380
Clary sage
Salvia sclarea
The essential oil is used in relaxing baths and massages. A small study pointed to a relaxing effect when inhaled; the evidence is limited.
Western herbal medicine
CautionAsia · Herb · № 509
Musk mallow
Hibiscus abelmoschus
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, carminative, cooling, diuretic, soothing, stomachic, antispasmodic, tonic; for nervous weakness, hysteria, indigestion, gonorrhoea, catarrh of the bladder and airways, itching.
Ayurveda+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 530
Night jasmine
Nyctanthes arbor-tristis
Traditionally attributed effects: promotes bile, expels worms, laxative, fever-reducing, anti-inflammatory.
Ayurveda
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 865
Nalca (Chilean rhubarb)
Gunnera tinctoria
A giant plant with leaves up to two metres across. The peeled stalks are edible; root and stalks are rich in tannins.
Mapuche medicine
CautionAsia · Food · № 425
Jackfruit
Artocarpus integrifolia
Traditionally attributed effects: ripe fruit soothing, nourishing, laxative; unripe fruit astringent; milky sap for swollen glands, abscesses and snake bites; root for diarrhoea; leaf and root for skin diseases.
Ayurveda+1
CautionEurope · Herb · № 198
Daffodil
Narcissus spp.
Daffodils are ornamental plants; the bulbs are poisonous and are sometimes mistaken for onions. Galantamine, a drug for Alzheimer's disease, is extracted from the related snowdrop and from daffodils.
Folk magic and herbal magicFolklore
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 858
Natre
Solanum crispum (incl. S. ligustrinum)
A shrub of the nightshade family with very bitter leaves. Traditionally a fever remedy; the berries are poisonous.
Mapuche medicine
CautionAsia · Herb · № 39
Neem
Azadirachta indica
Used for centuries in traditional medicine in India, but there is insufficient clinical evidence of medical benefits.
Ayurveda+3
CautionAsia · Herb · № 482
Nirbisi
Delphinium denudatum
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, cleansing, stomachic, tonic, pain-relieving; for syphilis and rheumatism, recovery after fever, toothache, antidote for snake bites and aconite poisoning.
Ayurveda+1
CautionOceania · Food · № 50
Noni
Morinda citrifolia
Traditionally used for colds, infections, fever, and stomach complaints. There is no good evidence of treatment effects.
Lāʻau lapaʻau in Hawaiʻi+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 129
Nutmeg
Myristica fragrans
A spice used in small amounts in Ayurveda and Arabic medicine for diarrhoea, nausea and insomnia. There is no good clinical evidence.
Ayurveda+6Folklore
CautionAsia · Herb · № 638
Notoginseng (san qi)
Panax notoginseng
Traditionally attributed effects: purifies the blood and improves circulation, stops bleeding, soothes pain and helps bruises and swellings recover.
Chinese medical traditions- Caution
Asia · Herb · № 658
Notopterygium root (qiang huo)
Notopterygium incisum
Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind, cold and dampness in colds and rheumatic pain in head, neck and shoulders.
Chinese medical traditions+1 
CautionEurope · Herb · № 235
Eyebright
Euphrasia officinalis
Traditionally attributed effects: anticatarrhal, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory.
Western herbal medicine+1Folklore
CautionOceania · Herb · № 840
Old man weed
Centipeda cunninghamii
A small herb traditionally used for colds, skin complaints and inflammation.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge
CautionAsia · Herb · № 529
Oleander
Nerium indicum
Traditionally attributed effects: strongly diuretic and strengthens the heart (like digitalis), abortifacient.
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · Food · № 484
Elephant apple
Dillenia indica
Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, laxative; cooling drink in fever, cough remedy; bark and leaves astringent.
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · Herb · № 421
Elephant creeper
Argyreia speciosa
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, tonic, soothing; for elephantiasis, arthritis, rheumatic swelling, overweight, skin diseases, boils, ear infection.
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · Herb · № 488
Elephant's foot
Elephantopus scaber
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the heart, astringent, cleansing, fever-reducing, antibiotic; for painful urination, urethral discharge, diarrhoea, dysentery, vomiting, snake bites, ulcers, eczema.
Ayurveda+2
CautionAsia · Food · № 412
Elephant foot yam
Amorphophallus campanulatus
Traditionally attributed effects: stomachic, carminative, tonic; for haemorrhoids, indigestion and weakness, boils, eye inflammation, acute rheumatism; promotes menstruation.
Ayurveda
CautionEurope · Food · № 362
Olive
Olea europaea
Olive oil is the basis of the Mediterranean diet, which is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Olive leaf extract is sold as a remedy for infections and high blood pressure; the evidence for this is limited and there is no evidence that it treats flu or other viral infections.
Greco-Roman medicine+1
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 906
Ololiuqui
Ipomoea corymbosa (syn. Turbina corymbosa, Rivea corymbosa)
A woody morning glory with white flowers. The small, round seeds contain ergine (LSA) and related ergoline alkaloids, chemically related to LSD. They bring an intoxication with visions, often with nausea and lethargy.
Curanderismo
CautionAsia · Herb · № 477
East Indian arrowroot
Curcuma angustifolia
Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, soothing, nutritious; for dysentery, painful urination, gonorrhoea, typhoid, ulcers of the intestines and bladder; substitute for arrowroot.
Ayurveda
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 227
Nasturtium
Tropaeolum majus
Leaves and flowers taste sharp because of mustard oil glycosides. In Germany a combination with horseradish is approved as a remedy for bladder and respiratory infections; there is little research on the plant alone.
Folk magic and herbal magicFolklore
CautionAsia · Other · № 771
Oriental sweetgum (su he xiang)
Liquidambar orientalis
Traditionally attributed effects: the resin opens the sense orifices and relieves pain with a tight chest.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 737
Oriental arborvitae (ce bai ye)
Platycladus orientalis (syn. Biota orientalis)
Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood and stops bleeding; dissolves phlegm and helps with burns.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 999
Orange jewelweed
Impatiens capensis
An annual, juicy herb with orange, spotted flowers. Ripe seed pods burst open when touched and shoot the seeds away, hence the names touch-me-not and jewelweed. The sap contains saponins and naphthoquinones; one study found it can prevent a poison ivy rash after short exposure, though washing with soap works at least as well.
Cherokee medicine
CautionAsia · Herb · № 434
Orchid tree
Bauhinia variegata
Traditionally attributed effects: bark cleansing, tonic, astringent; root carminative; flowers laxative; for sore throat, cough, bleeding haemorrhoids, heavy menstruation, swollen neck glands, ulcers, diarrhoea, worms, overweight.
Ayurveda
CautionEurope · Herb · № 217
Oregano
Origanum vulgare
A culinary herb with carvacrol and thymol, which inhibit bacteria and fungi in the laboratory. There is no good evidence that oregano oil treats infections in humans; undiluted oil irritates skin and mucous membranes.
Folk magic and herbal magicFolklore
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 153
Osha
Ligusticum porteri, L. sinense en L. wallichii
The root is traditionally used for sore throats, coughs and early colds. There is virtually no clinical research.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3
CautionEurope · Herb · № 97
Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale
The leaf is mildly diuretic; the bitter root was used for the liver and digestion. NCCIH notes there is little human research.
Avicenna's Canon in European universities+6Folklore
CautionAsia · Food · № 487
Horse gram
Dolichos biflorus
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, diuretic, tonic, fever-reducing, expels worms, promotes menstruation, dissolves stones; for haemorrhoids, bronchitis, heart complaints, kidney stones, enlarged spleen, hiccups, asthma, leucoderma, leucorrhoea, menstrual cramps.
Ayurveda