Registry
Herbs, spices and other natural ingredients from around the world, with their uses, preparation, and origins.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 996
Cunila origanoides
A low, woody plant of the mint family with small purple flowers in late summer that smells of oregano and mint. The leaf contains essential oil. On the first frosty nights the stems split and ice ribbons grow out of them, which gave it the name frost mint.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 160
Panax quinquefolius
Chinese medicine regards it as more 'cooling' than Asian ginseng and uses it for fatigue and thirst. Some studies find a slight effect on post-meal blood sugar and colds; evidence is limited.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 628
Asarum caudatum, A. canadense en verwante soorten
Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-cold, opens a blocked nose, warms the lung in cough with clear phlegm and expels cold and dampness in menstrual pain and other pain.
CautionNorth America · Food · № 934
Castanea dentata
Once one of the largest trees of the eastern forests, with sweet, edible nuts. Related to the sweet chestnut.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 932
Tilia americana
A large broadleaf tree with heart-shaped leaves and fragrant flowers, related to the European lime. The flowers contain mucilage and flavonoids. The wood is soft and easy to carve; the inner bark gives strong fibre.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 593
Lysichiton americanus
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the nerves, stimulating, antispasmodic, induces sweating, expectorant; opens the lungs and reduces cough and bronchial spasms (acute asthma), ointment against ringworm, relieves muscle and joint pain.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 951
Aralia racemosa
A tall perennial of the ivy family, related to ginseng, with a thick, aromatic root. Little studied.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 997
Diospyros virginiana
A tree of the ebony family, related to the kaki. Unripe, the orange fruits are so astringent that they pucker the mouth, but after the first frost they are sweet and soft. They are rich in vitamin C. Bark and unripe fruits contain many tannins.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 1001
Platanus occidentalis
One of the largest broadleaf trees of eastern America, with a trunk that peels in patches of white, green and brown. The bark contains tannins and betulinic acid. It is a parent of the London plane of European streets.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 349
Phyllanthus emblica
Traditionally attributed effects: fresh fruit cooling, diuretic, laxative, stomachic; bark astringent; for lung and eye inflammation, hair growth, asthma, bronchitis, bile complaints, bleeding, diarrhoea, dysentery, anaemia, jaundice.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 678
Phellodendron amurense
Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat from the lower body and cools heat from kidney yin deficiency.
CautionSouth America · Food · № 250
Ananas comosus
Traditionally attributed effects: fever-reducing, cleansing, bitter tonic; ripe fruit diuretic, induces sweating, cooling, digests protein; leaf laxative and expels worms; unripe fruit strongly diuretic, promotes menstruation and abortifacient.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 414
Andrographis paniculata
Traditionally attributed effects: stomachic, tonic, fever-reducing, cleansing, expels worms, promotes bile; for flatulence, lack of appetite, intestinal complaints in children, diarrhoea, dysentery, sluggish liver, nerve pain, recovery after fever.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 670
Anemarrhena asphodeloides
Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat in lungs and stomach and nourishes yin in fever, thirst and night sweats.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 228
Pimpinella anisum
Traditionally attributed effects: gives a natural lip-plumping effect.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 197
Dianthus spp.
The clove pink has fragrant, edible petals. In Chinese medicine the related Dianthus superbus (qu mai) is used for bladder infections; no medicinal effect is described for the garden carnation.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 866
Araucaria araucana
An ancient conifer that lives for more than a thousand years. The large, starchy seeds are a nourishing food; the resin was used on wounds.
CautionEurope · Food · № 84
Malus domestica
A fruit rich in fibre such as pectin; grated apple is an old home remedy for mild diarrhoea. No specific medicinal effect has been proven.
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 450
Calotropis procera
Traditionally attributed effects: root bark for dysentery and elephantiasis; leaves for intermittent fever; milky sap irritant and laxative; flowers for colds, cough, asthma and indigestion.
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 371
Acacia senegal
A soluble fibre that forms a mucilaginous solution in water. It soothes the throat and stomach and is being studied as a prebiotic; it can cause wind and bloating. There is no evidence that it treats viral infections such as HPV.
CautionAfrica · Other · № 387
Argania spinosa
The oil from the kernels is used for skin and hair and, roasted, as a cooking oil. It is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E; claims about skin ageing are not well studied.
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 422
Aristolochia bracteata
Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, promotes menstruation, cleansing, antipyretic, expels worms; strengthens contractions, for colic, absent or painful menstruation, intermittent fever, worms, skin diseases.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 562
Terminalia arjuna
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the heart, astringent, dissolves stones, diuretic; for heart disease (angina, heart failure, pericarditis), high blood pressure, bleeding, diarrhoea, dysentery, sprue, bile complaints, oedema, cirrhosis of the liver; antidote.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 873
Luma apiculata
The Chilean myrtle, with cinnamon-coloured bark, fragrant leaves and edible black berries. Traditionally an astringent; research is lacking.
CautionEurope · Food · № 296
Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus
Traditionally attributed effects: liver tonic and restorative, promotes bile.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 569
Vernonia cinerea
Traditionally attributed effects: fever-reducing, induces sweating, cleansing; decoction promotes sweating in fever; seeds antidote, expel worms, for leprosy and chronic skin diseases; plant for bladder cramps, difficult urination, haemorrhoids; flowers for conjunctivitis.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 550
Saraca indica
Traditionally attributed effects: strongly astringent, calms the uterus; for uterine disorders, especially heavy menstruation, internal bleeding, haemorrhoids, bloody dysentery; root aphrodisiac and tonic, for cough, asthma, rheumatism, skin diseases, indigestion.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 17
Withania somnifera
An Ayurvedic medicinal plant. Some preparations have been studied for stress and sleep, but evidence is limited and products vary.
CautionEurope · Food · № 65
Asparagus officinalis en A. racemosus
A nutritious vegetable; root and shoots were traditionally used as a diuretic. There is no good evidence for a medicinal effect.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 149
Astragalus membranaceus
In Chinese medicine an important strengthening herb ('qi tonic') for fatigue, catching colds easily and sweating. NCCIH notes there is little reliable human research.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 757
Astragalus complanatus
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang, holds in the essence and strengthens the eyesight.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 401
Aconitum heterophyllum
Traditionally attributed effects: bitter tonic, astringent, fever-reducing, stomachic, aphrodisiac; for weakness after fever, diarrhoea, dysentery, cough, indigestion; in children against cough, colds, fever and vomiting.
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 375
Cedrus atlantica
Cedarwood oil is used in hair products against dandruff and as a fragrance. A small study of an oil blend for hair loss (alopecia areata) found improvement, but the effect of the cedar itself has not been established.
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Food · № 166
Persea americana
A fruit rich in monounsaturated fats, fibre and potassium; it fits a diet that is favourable for cholesterol. Avocado oil is used in skin care.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 901
Banisteriopsis caapi
A giant liana up to thirty metres long. The stem contains harmine, harmaline and tetrahydroharmine, which inhibit the enzyme MAO. This makes the DMT from plants such as chacruna active by mouth. The drink brings visions, and usually vomiting and diarrhoea, which the tradition regards as cleansing.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 492
Eupatorium triplinerve
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, tonic, stimulates the heart, induces sweating, stops bleeding; bitter tonic for indigestion, cough and fever, against scurvy; cleanses foul ulcers.
