CautionAfrica · Herb · № 413
Pellitory root
Anacyclus pyrethrum
Traditionally attributed effects: promotes salivation, strengthens the nerves; for toothache and caries, sore throat, tonsillitis, epilepsy, rheumatism.
Ayurveda+3
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 · № 419
Areca nut
Areca catechu
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, astringent, expels tapeworm, laxative, carminative, aphrodisiac; against roundworms and tapeworms, strengthens the gums, for urinary complaints, heartburn during pregnancy, lumbago.
Ayurveda+2
CautionAsia · Herb · № 465
Bhant
Clerodendrum infortunatum
Traditionally attributed effects: bitter tonic, antipyretic, expels worms, laxative, promotes bile; externally for tumours and skin diseases, root for sluggish bowels.
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · Herb · № 354
Bhringraj
Eclipta prostrata
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the liver, decongestant, tonic, cleansing, antiviral; for enlarged liver and spleen, skin diseases, fever, oedema, rheumatism; hair oil for black and full hair; for swollen glands, elephantiasis, headache and toothache.
Ayurveda+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 563
Bibhitaki
Terminalia bellerica
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, tonic, expectorant, laxative (unripe fruit), cleansing.
Ayurveda+2
CautionEurope · Food · № 270
Chives
Allium schoenoprasum
A mild onion herb with vitamin C and sulphur compounds. A medicinal effect has not been shown.
Monastic and folk knowledge
CautionEurope · Herb · № 64
Mugwort
Artemisia vulgaris
Traditionally used as a digestive bitter and to bring on delayed periods. Clinical evidence is largely lacking.
Anglo-Saxon medicine+4Folklore
CautionEurope · Herb · № 513
Henbane
Hyoscyamus niger
Traditionally attributed effects: intoxicating, narcotic, pain-relieving, calming, antispasmodic, dilates the pupils.
Greco-Roman medicine+3
CautionEurope · Other · № 74
Bladderwrack
Fucus vesiculosus
A brown seaweed rich in iodine; formerly used for an underactive thyroid and for weight loss. Weight-loss claims are unproven.
Western herbal medicine
CautionNorth America · Food · № 254
Blueberry
Vaccinium spp.
A fibre-rich berry with plenty of anthocyanins. Observational research links eating berries to a healthy diet; a medicinal effect has not been shown.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+1Folklore
CautionEurope · Food · № 101
Bilberry
Vaccinium myrtillus en V. vitis-idaea
Rich in anthocyanins. Dried berries are an old remedy for diarrhoea. NCCIH reports there is not enough evidence for eye, blood-vessel or other claims.
Western herbal medicine
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 963
Blue lettuce
Lactuca tatarica subsp. pulchella (syn. L. pulchella)
A wild lettuce with blue flower heads and milky sap that forms large colonies by runners. Effects not studied.
Lakota medicine
CautionAsia · Herb · № 439
Blepharis
Blepharis edulis
Traditionally attributed effects: resolvent, diuretic, aphrodisiac, expectorant; for impotence, blood, chest, lung and liver diseases; leaves for fever, urinary discharge, leucoderma; root regulates menstruation.
Ayurveda+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 735
Bletilla rhizome (bai ji)
Bletilla striata
Traditionally attributed effects: stops bleeding in lung and stomach and promotes wound healing.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 372
Bloodroot
Sanguinaria canadensis
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, emetic, expectorant, restorative; part of escharotic treatment for cervical dysplasia, warms lungs/stomach/uterus, promotes coughing up.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4
CautionAsia · Herb · № 447
Bonduc nut
Caesalpinia crista
Traditionally attributed effects: antipyretic, antispasmodic, bitter tonic, expels worms, fever-reducing; for fever, intermittent fever, asthma, colic, swellings, bleeding, liver disorders, convulsions and nervous complaints.
Ayurveda+1
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 781
Borax (peng sha)
Borax (natriumtetraboraat)
Traditionally attributed effects: externally for small ulcers in mouth, throat and vagina and for athlete's foot.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Other · № 770
Borneol (bing pian)
Dryobalanops aromatica (borneol)
Traditionally attributed effects: opens the sense orifices, cools heat and relieves pain; mainly external.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 557
Nux vomica
Strychnos nux-vomica
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the nerves, stomachic, tonic, aphrodisiac, stimulates the spinal cord, breathing and heart.
Ayurveda+1
CautionEurope · Food · № 255
Blackberry
Rubus fruticosus
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent; for damp stomach and bowel complaints, diarrhoea, mucus; syrup or liqueur against sore throat.
Western herbal medicine+1Folklore
CautionAsia · Herb · № 353
Brahmi
Bacopa monnieri
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the heart and nerves, diuretic, mildly laxative, calming; for urinary retention with constipation, acute bronchitis and cough in children, exhaustion and nervous breakdown, hysteria, epilepsy, hoarseness.
Ayurveda
CautionEurope · Food · № 48
Stinging nettle
Urtica dioica
A food and fiber plant with a long tradition in folk medicine. Medical claims are not established.
Monastic and folk knowledge+3Folklore
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Food · № 30
Cacao
Theobroma cacao
The seeds are the basis of cocoa and chocolate and contain theobromine and some caffeine. Health claims do not make cacao a treatment.
Maya healing knowledge+2
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 783
Calcite (han shui shi)
Calcitum (calciumcarbonaat)
Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat in fever with thirst and summer heat; externally on hot small ulcers and burns.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 630
California figwort
Scrophularia californica, S. lanceolata
Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat in the blood and nourishes yin, drains damp heat and disperses swellings.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 627
California spikenard
Aralia californica
Traditionally attributed effects: opens the surface in wind-cold and fever without sweating, warms the lung and stops cough with abundant white or clear phlegm, and (roasted with honey) strengthens the energy of lung and spleen.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 448
Priyangu
Callicarpa macrophylla
Traditionally attributed effects: fever-reducing, tonic, purifies the blood; for stomach complaints, rheumatic joint pain, skin diseases.
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 798
Calomel (qing fen)
Calomelas (kwikchloride)
Traditionally attributed effects: was used externally against scabies and sores; contains mercury.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 287
Calumba
Jateorhiza palmata
Traditionally attributed effects: bitter digestive tonic, carminative, lowers blood pressure.
Local African healing traditions+1
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 959
Horseweed
Erigeron canadensis (syn. Conyza canadensis)
An annual of the daisy family with an upright, hairy stem and countless small white flower heads. Contains volatile oil, tannins and flavonoids; the oil was once used as 'oil of erigeron' for bleeding and diarrhoea.
Lakota medicine+1
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 34
Goldenseal
Hydrastis canadensis
There is not enough evidence to determine whether goldenseal helps any health condition.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+6Folklore
CautionAsia · Herb · № 396
Catechu
Acacia catechu
Traditionally attributed effects: strongly astringent; for chronic diarrhoea and dysentery, bleeding haemorrhoids, uterine bleeding, leucorrhoea; bleeding or inflamed gums, mouth ulcers, enlarged tonsils; bedsores; promotes milk flow.
Ayurveda+2
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 161
Cayenne pepper
Capsicum frutescens
Capsaicin from chilli peppers is used externally for nerve pain and joint pain; high-dose capsaicin patches are an approved medicine. Internally it is mainly a warming spice.
Maya healing knowledge+6Folklore
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 924
Cebil (vilca)
Anadenanthera colubrina
A thorny tree of the pea family, related to yopo. The seeds contain much bufotenine, up to over twelve per cent, as well as some DMT and 5-MeO-DMT. As a snuff they cause violent physical effects and short visions.
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 453
Chaksu
Cassia absus
Traditionally attributed effects: bitter, astringent, lowers blood pressure; leaves for cough; seeds for ringworm, skin diseases, conjunctivitis and eye inflammation.
Ayurveda+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 525
Champak
Michelia champaca
Traditionally attributed effects: decongestant, cleansing, stomachic, tonic, laxative, carminative; for gastritis, chronic rheumatism, abscesses, fever, indigestion, nausea, kidney diseases, gonorrhoea; flower oil for headache, eye inflammation and gout.
Ayurveda