CautionAsia · Herb · № 351
Shikakai
Senegalia rugata (syn. Acacia concinna)
Traditionally attributed effects: natural shampoo, cleanses scalp and hair.
Ayurveda
From plant to use
Powder and kitchen
Dried and ground as a spice in food and drink.
- Level
- Easy
- Ratio
- The amounts used in recipes: a teaspoon to a tablespoon per dish.
- Time
- Grinding takes a few minutes; drying days to weeks, depending on the material.
- Shelf life
- Ground spices 6–12 months, airtight, dark and cool. Whole seeds and pieces of bark keep longer.
Many herbs on this site are first and foremost food and spice: ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, garlic and thyme. In that form they have been used daily for centuries, usually in small amounts and together with fat, pepper or other spices. Ground herbs also go into honey or into drinks such as golden milk.
Suited to
Spices, roots, seeds and culinary herbs known as food.
Step by step
- Dry the herb completely, in an airy place out of the sun or in a dehydrator at no more than 40 °C.
- Toast seeds briefly in a dry pan for more aroma, if you like.
- Grind finely in a mortar or grinder and sieve if needed.
- Store airtight and dark, and preferably grind small amounts at a time.
Tips
- Turmeric is traditionally combined with black pepper and fat.
- Whole spices stay aromatic much longer than ground ones.
Registry
Herbs prepared this way
Herbs on this site whose description mentions this preparation. That does not mean every herb is safe to prepare yourself: read the safety information for each one.
- Caution
CautionAsia · Herb · № 367
Siberian ginseng
Eleutherococcus senticosus
Traditionally attributed effects: adaptogen, increases interferon production; especially for herpes simplex, strengthens the immune system against colds and flu; further for high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes, insomnia, arthritis.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 644
Szechuan lovage (chuan xiong)
Ligusticum chuanxiong (syn. L. striatum)
Traditionally attributed effects: promotes circulation, helps with menstrual complaints and as a restorative tonic after childbirth, and is said to lower high blood pressure; warming.
Chinese medical traditions+2
CautionAsia · Food · № 220
Orange
Citrus sinensis
Traditionally attributed effects: against dandruff; sweet oranges good for skin and hair.
Ayurveda+2Folklore
CautionAsia · Herb · № 406
Siris
Albizzia lebbek
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, insect-repellent, anti-allergic; for bronchitis, leprosy, paralysis, gum inflammation, worms, snake bites and scorpion stings, night blindness.
Ayurveda
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 943
Skunk cabbage
Symplocarpus foetidus
A marsh arum that flowers in late winter and makes its own heat, melting its way through the snow. It smells of carrion and contains calcium oxalate.
Haudenosaunee medicine
CautionAsia · Food · № 258
Lettuce
Lactuca sativa
A juicy leaf vegetable with some vitamin K and folate. The milky sap of the stem is mildly calming, but much weaker than that of wild lettuce.
Ancient Egyptian medicine+1Folklore
CautionAsia · Herb · № 180
Opium poppy
Papaver somniferum
The latex of the unripe seed capsule (opium) contains morphine, codeine and other alkaloids. Morphine and related opioids are indispensable painkillers in modern medicine, but highly addictive. The seeds (poppy seeds) are an ordinary food.
Ayurveda+4
CautionEurope · Herb · № 95
Comfrey
Symphytum officinale
Topical preparations have been studied for bruises, sprains and back pain and appear to reduce pain. It contains allantoin, which is thought to support tissue repair.
Monastic and folk knowledge+3Folklore
CautionChinese medical traditions+1
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 849
Bitter melon
Momordica charantia
A bitter climbing plant whose fruit, leaves and vines are used. In folk medicine mainly taken to lower blood sugar; research shows a small effect at most.
Herbal knowledge of the Caribbean
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 794
Stalactite (e guan shi)
Stalactitum (calciumcarbonaat)
Traditionally attributed effects: makes lung energy descend in asthma and chronic bronchitis and promotes milk flow.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 538
Bhumyamalaki
Phyllanthus fraternus
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, astringent, cooling, laxative, bitter tonic; for oedema, gonorrhoea, urogenital diseases, jaundice, constipation, stomach ache, indigestion, dysentery, mild intermittent fever, heavy menstruation.
Ayurveda
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 456
Sickle senna
Cassia tora
Traditionally attributed effects: mildly laxative, cleansing; intestinal complaints and fever when teething, compress for gout, sciatica and joint pain; seeds for ringworm, scabies and eczema; root for snake bites.
Ayurveda+1
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 164
Suma
Hebanthe eriantha (syn. Pfaffia paniculata)
Sold as 'Brazilian ginseng' and an adaptogen for fatigue. There is hardly any human research.
Herbal knowledge of the Amazon+1
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 702
Talc (hua shi)
Talcum (hydromagnesiumsilicaat)
Traditionally attributed effects: cooling and soothing in painful urination and summer heat; externally drying on weeping skin.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 512
Talmakhana
Hygrophila auriculata
Traditionally attributed effects: root cooling, bitter tonic, diuretic, soothing; seeds diuretic and aphrodisiac; for oedema, kidney stones and urogenital complaints, jaundice, impotence and weakness, asthma.
Ayurveda
CautionAfrica · Food · № 560
Tamarind
Tamarindus indica
Traditionally attributed effects: ripe fruit sour, cooling, carminative, laxative, antiscorbutic, promotes bile; for inflamed swellings, bilious vomiting, conjunctivitis (flowers), bleeding haemorrhoids, throat complaints, ulcers, paralysis (bark), gonorrhoea (ash).
Local African healing traditions+3
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 549
Toothbrush tree
Salvadora persica
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, diuretic, decongestant; leaves for rheumatism, scurvy, painful tumours, haemorrhoids, asthma and cough; flower oil for flatulence, mucus, worms, leprosy, gonorrhoea, headache and rheumatic pain.
Local African healing traditions+2
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
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
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
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
CautionEurope · Herb · № 328
Tormentil
Potentilla erecta
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, especially for the intestinal wall.
Western herbal 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 · № 40
Tulsi (holy basil)
Ocimum tenuiflorum
An aromatic plant drunk as herbal tea; treatment claims are not established.
Ayurveda
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
CautionAsia · Herb · № 515
Malabar nut
Justicia adhatoda
Traditionally attributed effects: expectorant, diuretic, antispasmodic, cleansing, bronchodilator; well-known Ayurvedic remedy for bronchitis, asthma, cough, fever, jaundice and tuberculosis; root for malaria, diphtheria and gonorrhoea.
Ayurveda+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 667
Greater duckweed (fu ping)
Spirodela polyrhiza
Traditionally attributed effects: diaphoretic and diuretic; helps rashes come out.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionEurope · Herb · № 72
Fennel
Foeniculum vulgare
The seed is traditionally used for wind, bloating and cramps. There are some small studies, but evidence is limited.
Greco-Roman medicine+9Folklore
CautionAsia · Herb · № 403
Maidenhair fern
Adiantum philippense
Traditionally attributed effects: antipyretic, diuretic, cleansing, expels worms, cooling; for cough and respiratory complaints, fever, leprosy, erysipelas.
Ayurveda+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 350
Vetiver
Chrysopogon zizanioides
Traditionally attributed effects: supports circulation and weight loss (scrub).
Ayurveda+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 489
Vidanga
Embelia ribes
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, expels worms, stimulating, cleansing; against intestinal worms, ringworm and skin diseases, headache, sore throat and mouth ulcers, bark paste for pneumonia.
Ayurveda+1