CautionNorth America · Herb · № 946
Pipsissewa
Chimaphila umbellata
A low, evergreen dwarf shrub with leathery leaves and pink nodding flowers. Contains arbutin and related compounds, like bearberry.
Haudenosaunee medicine
Registry
All herbs
Herbs, spices and other natural ingredients from around the world, with their uses, preparation, and origins.
- Caution
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 822
Pirul (Peruvian pepper tree)
Schinus molle
A tree with aromatic leaves and pink berries, used in cleansing rituals and as a folk remedy.
Curanderismo+2
CautionAsia · Herb · № 704
Soft rush pith (deng xin cao)
Juncus effusus
Traditionally attributed effects: cools the heart and promotes urination in cystitis and restlessness.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionOceania · Herb · № 841
Pituri
Duboisia hopwoodii
A shrub containing nicotine and related compounds; the dried leaves were chewed as a stimulant.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 167
Lignum vitae
Guaiacum officinale
The resin and wood were used for rheumatic complaints and gout; guaiac resin is still used in the guaiac test for blood in stool. There is no modern evidence for its classic uses.
Herbal knowledge of the Caribbean+1
CautionEurope · Herb · № 590
Pennyroyal
Mentha pulegium
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, astringent, promotes menstruation, induces sweating; brings on delayed menstruation, calms the stomach, lowers sudden high fever.
Greco-Roman medicine+2
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Food · № 263
Squash
Cucurbita moschata
Traditionally attributed effects: heart-warming and nourishing for body, mind and soul; good for skin and hair.
Maya healing knowledge+6Folklore
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 192
Aspen
Populus tremuloides
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, fever-reducing, tonic, anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving (salicylates); restores the sensitive bladder (incontinence), calms the bowels in stress diarrhoea, heals wounds, lowers fever, relieves headache.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4Folklore
CautionAsia · Mushroom · № 146
Poria (fu ling)
Wolfiporia cocos
One of the most widely used remedies in Chinese medicine, for fluid retention, poor digestion and restless sleep. Clinical research on fu ling alone is scarce.
Chinese medical traditions+4
CautionAsia · Food · № 689
Purslane (ma chi xian)
Portulaca oleracea
Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood in dysentery and painful urination; externally for ulcers and insect bites.
Chinese medical traditions+2
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 502
Flame lily
Gloriosa superba
Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, antipyretic, promotes bile, expels worms, cleansing, laxative; against lice, for gonorrhoea, leprosy, colic, worms; promotes contractions; compress for rheumatism and nerve pain.
Local African healing traditions+1
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 956
Fringed sage
Artemisia frigida
A low, silver-grey, strongly scented wormwood shrub. Contains a volatile oil with camphor and cineole and, like other wormwoods, thujone.
Lakota medicine+1
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 960
Fringed puccoon
Lithospermum incisum (syn. L. linearifolium)
A member of the borage family with yellow trumpet-shaped flowers and a red root, related to Chinese gromwell (zi cao). Effects not studied.
Lakota medicine
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 958
Prairie coneflower
Ratibida columnifera (syn. R. columnaris)
A member of the daisy family with drooping yellow or red-brown ray flowers around a long, columnar centre that smells when bruised. Effects not studied.
Lakota medicine
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 954
American pasqueflower
Pulsatilla nuttalliana (syn. P. patens subsp. multifida)
A low plant of the buttercup family with hairy purple flowers that appear before the leaves. Like other pasqueflowers, the fresh plant contains protoanemonin, which strongly irritates skin and mucous membranes and raises blisters.
Lakota medicine
CautionEurope · Food · № 264
Leek
Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum
A vegetable with fibre, vitamin K and sulphur compounds, related to onion and garlic. Leek soup is an old home remedy for colds and hoarseness.
Anglo-Saxon medicine+1Folklore
CautionEurope · Food · № 251
Plum
Prunus domestica
Prunes contain fibre and sorbitol and help with constipation; there is some research on this.
Folk magic and herbal magicFolklore
CautionAsia · Herb · № 748
Pseudostellaria root (tai zi shen)
Pseudostellaria heterophylla
Traditionally attributed effects: a mild qi tonic that also replenishes body fluids.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 133
Psyllium
Plantago ovata
The seed husks form a mucilaginous gel: an established bulk-forming fibre for constipation and mild diarrhoea that can also modestly lower LDL cholesterol.
Ayurveda+3
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 784
Pumice (fu hai shi)
Pumex
Traditionally attributed effects: cools hot phlegm in the lungs, softens lumps and promotes urination.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 441
Spreading hogweed
Boerhaavia diffusa
Traditionally attributed effects: bitter, stomachic, laxative, diuretic, expectorant, induces sweating, anti-inflammatory; for asthma, jaundice, oedema, anaemia, internal inflammation, snake bites.
Ayurveda
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 584
Gravel root
Eutrochium purpureum (syn. Eupatorium purpureum)
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, strengthens the nerves, astringent, stimulating, antiseptic; dissolves kidney and bladder stones, removes mineral deposits in joints, traditionally to prevent miscarriage and to prepare for childbirth.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+1
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 941
Purple-stem angelica
Angelica atropurpurea
A tall umbellifer with a purple stem, related to European garden angelica. Contains essential oil and furanocoumarins, which make the skin sensitive to sunlight.
Haudenosaunee medicine
CautionAsia · Herb · № 561
Purple tephrosia
Tephrosia purpurea
Traditionally attributed effects: fever-reducing, promotes bile, diuretic, decongestant, tonic, laxative, purifies the blood, expels worms; for liver and spleen diseases, indigestion, distended abdomen, chronic diarrhoea, bronchitis, asthma, inflammation; oil for eczema.
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 791
Pyrite (zi ran tong)
Pyritum (ijzersulfide)
Traditionally attributed effects: resolves blood stagnation and helps fractures and ligaments recover.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 1014
Queñua
Polylepis (o.a. P. besseri en P. tarapacana)
Gnarled trees and shrubs of the rose family with reddish-brown bark that peels in thin layers and protects against the cold. Nothing has been studied about its effect in people.
Kallawaya healing knowledge
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 871
Quinchamalí
Quinchamalium chilense
A semi-parasitic herb with orange-yellow flowers in heads. Traditionally for wounds and colds; research is lacking.
Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 989
Rabbit tobacco
Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium (syn. Gnaphalium obtusifolium)
An annual, grey-felted herb of the daisy family, with straw-coloured flower heads that keep their shape when dried. The dried herb smells sweet. Flavonoids and essential oil have been found in it; its effect is little studied.
Cherokee medicine
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 872
Radal
Lomatia hirsuta
A tree of the protea family with large toothed leaves and beautifully figured wood. Traditionally for coughs; research is lacking.
Mapuche medicine
CautionAsia · Food · № 545
Radish
Raphanus sativus
Traditionally attributed effects: seeds and leaves diuretic, laxative, dissolve stones; juice against scurvy; for painful and difficult urination, stones, urinary diseases, haemorrhoids, stomach ache; syrup for hoarseness, whooping cough and chest complaints.
Ayurveda+2
CautionNorth America · Food · № 936
Ramps
Allium tricoccum
A wild leek with broad leaves and a small bulb, related to European wild garlic. Leaves and bulb taste of onion and garlic.
Haudenosaunee medicine+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 775
Rangoon creeper (shi jun zi)
Combretum indicum (syn. Quisqualis indica)
Traditionally attributed effects: was used against roundworms and for poor digestion in children.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 410
Rasamala
Altingia excelsa
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, expectorant, pain-relieving, carminative, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic; for throat complaints, scabies, leucoderma, colic in children, inflamed testicle.
Ayurveda+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 568
Rasna orchid
Vanda roxburghii
Traditionally attributed effects: pain-relieving, carminative, expectorant, strengthens the nerves, lowers blood pressure; oil for rheumatism and nervous diseases; for syphilis, scorpion stings, fever, middle ear infection, indigestion, bronchitis, inflammation, hiccups and trembling.
Ayurveda
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 915
Rhatany (ratania)
Krameria lappacea (syn. Krameria triandra)
A low shrub that is partly parasitic on the roots of other plants. The red root is rich in tannins and is therefore astringent. In Europe rhatany root is listed in the pharmacopoeia and used in mouthwashes and gum remedies.
Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 181
Indian snakeroot
Rauvolfia serpentina
The root contains reserpine, which lowers blood pressure and has a sedative effect. In the 1950s reserpine was one of the first modern antihypertensives and antipsychotics, but it has largely been replaced by drugs with fewer side effects.
Ayurveda+2