CautionNorth America · Food · № 979
Tanoak
Notholithocarpus densiflorus
An evergreen tree of the beech family, between oak and chestnut. The acorns are nourishing but bitter with tannins, which must first be leached out.
Hupa medicine
Registry
All herbs
Herbs, spices and other natural ingredients from around the world, with their uses, preparation, and origins.
- Caution
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 877
Tara
Tara spinosa (syn. Caesalpinia spinosa)
A thorny tree with red pods that are very rich in tannins. In laboratory tests, extracts of the pods inhibited several bacteria.
Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
CautionOceania · Herb · № 175
Tarata (lemonwood)
Pittosporum eugenioides
Mainly a fragrant plant: leaves, flowers and gum smell of lemon. Medicinal uses have not been studied.
Rongoā Māori
CautionAsia · Food · № 268
Wheat
Triticum aestivum
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens, rejuvenates, soothes ulcers, stimulates appetite, promotes healing of fractures, gives stability, healthy complexion; mildly aphrodisiac; anti-stress breakfast.
Ayurveda+2Folklore
CautionSouth America · Food · № 1011
Tarwi
Lupinus mutabilis
A lupin with white to purple flowers and protein-rich, oily beans. The raw beans are bitter from lupin alkaloids, which are removed by days of soaking and rinsing.
Kallawaya healing knowledge
CautionAsia · Herb · № 722
Tatarian aster root (zi wan)
Aster tataricus
Traditionally attributed effects: dissolves phlegm and stops cough in cough from cold with much phlegm.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 195
Yew
Taxus baccata
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, expectorant, stomachic, tonic; leaf and fruit promote menstruation, calming, antispasmodic; for asthma, hiccups, indigestion, coughing up blood, epilepsy, stones, nervousness.
Ayurveda+2Folklore
CautionOceania · Other · № 22
Tea tree oil
Melaleuca alternifolia
An essential oil for external use. Limited research suggests possible effects for acne or athlete’s foot; evidence is preliminary.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 829
Temulawak (Javanese turmeric)
Curcuma zanthorrhiza
A rhizome of the ginger family, used in jamu for digestive complaints, to stimulate appetite and for the liver.
Jamu in Indonesia
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Mushroom · № 904
Teonanácatl (sacred mushrooms)
Psilocybe mexicana (en andere Psilocybe-soorten)
Small mushrooms containing psilocybin and psilocin. After half an hour to an hour they bring visions and an altered sense of time and space that last several hours.
Curanderismo
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 171
Evening primrose
Oenothera biennis
The seed oil contains gamma-linolenic acid and is sold for eczema, premenstrual symptoms and hot flushes. NCCIH reports it does not help eczema and that evidence for other conditions is insufficient.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4
CautionEurope · Herb · № 98
Thyme
Thymus vulgaris
Traditionally used for coughs and bronchitis; thymol from the oil inhibits bacteria and fungi in the laboratory. There are some studies of thyme-based cough syrups.
Greco-Roman medicine+4Folklore
CautionAsia · Herb · № 570
Timur pepper
Zanthoxylum alatum
Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, stomachic, carminative, aromatic; for fever, indigestion, cholera and toothache.
Ayurveda+1
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 467
Ivy gourd
Coccinia indica
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, laxative (bark), antispasmodic and expectorant (leaf and stem), lowers blood sugar; for incipient diabetes, swollen glands, skin diseases, smallpox rash, gonorrhoea, bronchitis.
Ayurveda
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 892
Tola
Parastrephia quadrangularis (syn. Lepidophyllum quadrangulare, P. lepidophylla)
A resinous shrub up to two metres tall with small, scale-like leaves; typical of the dry high plateau.
Kallawaya healing knowledge
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Food · № 157
Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
A fruit-vegetable with vitamin C and lycopene. Research on lycopene and heart or prostate health is mostly observational and not conclusive.
Maya healing knowledge+4Folklore
CautionAsia · Herb · № 691
Tonkin sophora root (shan dou gen)
Sophora tonkinensis
Traditionally attributed effects: cools fire in the upper body in a swollen, painful throat and gums.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionEurope · Herb · № 328
Tormentil
Potentilla erecta
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, especially for the intestinal wall.
Western herbal medicine
CautionAsia · Herb · № 776
Chinese nutmeg yew (fei zi)
Torreya grandis
Traditionally attributed effects: was used against intestinal worms and moistens the lungs.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 152
Witch hazel
Hamamelis virginiana
Strongly astringent due to tannins. Witch hazel water and ointment are used externally for minor skin irritation, bruises and haemorrhoids; there is limited but reasonably supportive evidence.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4Folklore
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 947
Trailing arbutus
Epigaea repens
A creeping, evergreen dwarf shrub of the heath family with fragrant pink to white flowers in early spring. Contains arbutin.
Haudenosaunee medicine+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 718
Trichosanthes fruit (gua lou)
Trichosanthes kirilowii
Traditionally attributed effects: fruit and seed dissolve hot phlegm and open the chest; the root (tian hua fen) cools and moistens.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 938
Trillium
Trillium spp. (o.a. Trillium erectum en T. grandiflorum)
Spring flowers with three leaves, three sepals and three petals. The rhizome contains saponins. Clinical research is lacking.
Haudenosaunee medicine+1
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 945
Purple pitcher plant
Sarracenia purpurea
A carnivorous plant with pitcher-shaped leaves that hold rainwater, in which insects drown. Little research exists on effects in people.
Haudenosaunee medicine
CautionAsia · Herb · № 497
Cluster fig
Ficus racemosa
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, carminative, stomachic, kills worms, lowers blood sugar; wound rinse, for dysentery, bile complaints, haemorrhoids, diarrhoea, mouth ulcers, heavy menstruation, coughing up blood, sore throat, diabetes.
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · Herb · № 210
Tulip
Tulipa spp.
An ornamental flower. The petals are edible; the bulbs were eaten in times of need but can cause eczema on contact ('tulip fingers'). In Persian poetry the red tulip stands for love and martyrdom.
Folk magic and herbal magicFolklore
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 993
Tulip tree
Liriodendron tulipifera
The tallest broadleaf tree of eastern America, up to almost sixty metres, of the magnolia family, with tulip-shaped greenish-yellow flowers with an orange patch. The bark is bitter and contains the alkaloid liriodenine and sesquiterpenes that inhibit bacteria and fungi; it was formerly used as a tonic and quinine substitute. The flowers give much nectar for a dark honey.
Cherokee medicine
CautionAsia · Herb · № 40
Tulsi (holy basil)
Ocimum tenuiflorum
An aromatic plant drunk as herbal tea; treatment claims are not established.
Ayurveda
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 874
Tupa (devil's tobacco)
Lobelia tupa
A robust lobelia with red flowers and felted leaves. Contains lobeline and other alkaloids; poisonous.
Mapuche medicine
CautionAsia · Herb · № 930
Turkestan mint
Lagochilus inebrians
A small, globular shrub of the mint family with white or pale pink flowers. Contains lagochilin, a diterpene that reduces bleeding and has a calming effect. Gives a mild intoxication.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 1013
Turpay
Nototriche (o.a. N. mandoniana en N. porphyrantha)
A small, cushion-forming mallow that grows flat against the ground, with a thick taproot. Mallows contain soothing mucilage; these species themselves have hardly been studied.
Kallawaya healing knowledge
CautionOceania · Herb · № 848
Tutu
Coriaria arborea
A highly poisonous shrub. Its poison, tutin, can cause convulsions and be fatal.
Rongoā Māori
CautionAsia · Herb · № 721
Typhonium tuber (bai fu zi)
Typhonium giganteum
Traditionally attributed effects: dries dampness and phlegm and expels wind in facial paralysis and convulsions.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Food · № 240
Onion
Allium cepa
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, diuretic, expectorant, skin-irritant, aphrodisiac, antiseptic; for cough, haemorrhoids, jaundice, indigestion, insect bites, boils, wounds, chilblains and sore joints.
Ayurveda+4Folklore
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 29
Umckaloabo (African geranium)
Pelargonium sidoides
Root extract is sold for respiratory complaints. A Cochrane review found little to no evidence of benefit for acute bronchitis, colds, or sinusitis.
Traditional healers of Southern Africa
CautionAsia · Herb · № 773
Gambir hook vine (gou teng)
Uncaria rhynchophylla
Traditionally attributed effects: calms liver wind and rising liver yang in headache, dizziness and high blood pressure.
Chinese medical traditions+1