Herbs & Cultures

From plant to use

Powder and kitchen

Dried and ground as a spice in food and drink.

Herbs prepared this way (400)

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
Asia · Herb · № 511
Chaulmoogra
Hydnocarpus laurifolia
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, stimulating, inhibits bacterial growth; chaulmoogra oil for leprosy (reduces nodules and skin lesions) and skin diseases.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Central America and the Caribbean · Food · № 825
Chaya (tree spinach)
Cnidoscolus aconitifolius
A nutritious leaf vegetable of the Maya.
Maya healing knowledge
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 642
Chinese asparagus root (tian men dong)
Asparagus cochinchinensis
Traditionally attributed effects: moistening; for recovery after illness or surgery, chronically dry skin and for the production of sex hormones.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Food · № 636
Jujube (red date)
Ziziphus jujuba
Traditionally attributed effects: sweet and strengthening in fatigue, anaemia and low energy; builds strength and blood and softens herbal dishes.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 120
Dong quai (dang gui)
Angelica sinensis
In Chinese medicine one of the most important herbs to 'nourish the blood', especially for menstrual complaints. Western studies found no clear effect on menopausal symptoms.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 643
Chinese raspberry (fu pen zi)
Rubus chingii
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidneys and liver; for poor vision, frequent urination and impotence.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Food · № 802
Chinese chestnut
Castanea mollissima
Traditionally attributed effects: dried, peeled chestnuts give sweet soups such as the eight-treasure soup their sweetness; in Chinese food therapy they strengthen spleen and kidneys.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 137
Chinese rhubarb
Rheum palmatum
The root (da huang) contains anthraquinones, making it a strong laxative. In small amounts its tannins have the opposite, binding effect. Its mechanism is well understood.
Chinese medical traditions+4
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 355
Chinese hibiscus
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Traditionally attributed effects: cares for the hair, promotes circulation in the scalp and reduces stress.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Asia · Food · № 635
Chinese yam (shan yao)
Dioscorea polystachya (syn. D. opposita)
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens spleen, stomach and lungs, helps regulate the hormone system in women and is said to lower blood sugar.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 558
Chiretta
Swertia chirata
Traditionally attributed effects: bitter tonic, stomachic, expels worms, laxative, cleansing, antidiarrhoeal, antipyretic; for intermittent fever, skin diseases, intestinal worms, asthma, hiccups and vomiting, gout; scorpion stings.
Ayurveda+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 124
Chrysanthemum (ju hua)
Chrysanthemum × morifolium
The flowers (ju hua) are used in Chinese medicine as a 'cooling' remedy for colds with fever, headaches and tired, red eyes. Clinical evidence is limited.
Chinese medical traditions+3
Caution
South America · Herb · № 917
Chuchuhuasi
Maytenus macrocarpa (syn. Monteverdia macrocarpa); in Noord-Peru ook Heisteria acuminata
A large tree with thick, reddish-brown bark. The bark contains triterpenes and sesquiterpenes, among other compounds; extracts were anti-inflammatory in experiments. Studies in people are lacking.
Curanderismo of northern Peru
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 225
Chicory
Cichorium intybus
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, laxative, tonic.
Western herbal medicine+2
Caution
Asia · Mineral · № 797
Cinnabar (zhu sha)
Cinnabaris (kwiksulfide)
Traditionally attributed effects: was used to calm the mind and stop convulsions; contains mercury.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Food · № 221
Lemon
Citrus limon
Traditionally attributed effects: anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, diuretic, strengthens the veins.
Ayurveda+3Folklore
Caution
South America · Herb · № 183
Coca
Erythroxylum coca
The leaf contains a small amount of cocaine and other alkaloids. Chewing it or drinking it as tea is used in the Andes against hunger, fatigue and altitude sickness; evidence for the latter is limited. Cocaine, the first local anaesthetic and today mainly an addictive drug, was isolated from the leaf.
Kallawaya healing knowledge+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 639
Codonopsis (dang shen)
Codonopsis pilosula
Traditionally attributed effects: reduces fatigue, supports the production of blood cells and strengthens spleen, stomach and lungs.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
South America · Herb · № 984
Cojamba
Helosis cayennensis
A plant without chlorophyll that parasitises the roots of trees and shrubs (family Balanophoraceae). It looks like a young mushroom, until the 'cap' turns out to be a reddish-brown spike full of tiny flowers. Its action has hardly been studied.
Tukano medicine
Caution
Asia · Mushroom · № 147
Caterpillar fungus (cordyceps)
Ophiocordyceps sinensis (syn. Cordyceps sinensis)
A fungus that parasitises caterpillars. Used in Tibetan and Chinese medicine for fatigue, lung complaints and low libido. Studies are small and there is no convincing evidence.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 473
Croton
Croton oblongifolius
Traditionally attributed effects: bark and root cleansing and promote bile; seeds laxative; bark for sprains and liver diseases, poultices on swellings, for snake bites.
Ayurveda
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 474
Purging croton
Croton tiglium
Traditionally attributed effects: drastically laxative, irritant, skin-irritant; for stroke, insanity, convulsions, stubborn constipation, worms, ascites, oedema, colic, gout; wood in small doses induces sweating.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 430
Danti
Baliospermum montanum
Traditionally attributed effects: seeds strongly laxative, externally stimulating and skin-irritant; root for oedema and jaundice, leaves for asthma, oil for rheumatism, antiseptic, for snake bites.
Ayurveda
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 320
Wild garlic
Allium ursinum
Traditionally attributed effects: antimicrobial, lowers blood sugar, lowers cholesterol.
Western herbal medicine
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 215
Dill
Anethum graveolens
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative.
Ayurveda+4Folklore
Caution
Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 481
Thorn apple
Datura metel
Traditionally attributed effects: narcotic, pain-relieving, antispasmodic (like belladonna); compress for rheumatic swellings, lumbago, sciatica, nerve pain, painful tumours; leaves and seeds for asthma and whooping cough; liniment for painful menstruation.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 243
Tarragon
Artemisia dracunculus
A culinary herb with an aniseed-like taste. The fresh leaf slightly numbs the tongue and was formerly chewed for toothache and used to stimulate the appetite. It contains estragole; large amounts are not recommended.
Western herbal medicine+1Folklore
Caution
Asia · Other · № 744
Dragon's blood (xue jie)
Daemonorops draco (ook Dracaena cochinchinensis)
Traditionally attributed effects: stops bleeding, resolves blood stagnation and promotes wound healing.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Europe · Food · № 245
Grape
Vitis vinifera
Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, laxative, cooling, stomachic, diuretic; for bilious indigestion, bleeding, painful urination, chronic bronchitis, heart disease, gout; juice for constipation in children.
Folk magic and herbal magic+3Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 409
Dita bark
Alstonia scholaris
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, bitter tonic, astringent, expectorant, fever-reducing, antipyretic; quinine substitute for intermittent fever, for indigestion, weakness, skin diseases, liver complaints, chronic diarrhoea; promotes milk flow, expels worms.
Ayurveda
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 495
Asafoetida
Ferula foetida
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, carminative, antispasmodic, expectorant, mildly laxative, expels worms, promotes menstruation, stimulates nerves and lungs.
Ayurveda+3
Caution
Africa · Herb · № 24
Devil's claw
Harpagophytum procumbens
The tuberous roots are used in folk medicine for pain. Research suggests a possible limited effect on low back pain; the evidence is of moderate quality at best.
Traditional healers of Southern Africa+1
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 56
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Traditionally used to stop bleeding from minor wounds, for fevers and colds, and as a digestive bitter. Clinical evidence is limited.
Greco-Roman medicine+6Folklore
Caution
North America · Herb · № 14
Echinacea
Echinacea purpurea
Studied for colds and respiratory infections. It may slightly reduce the chance of catching a cold; effects on duration and other conditions are uncertain.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+5Folklore
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 289
Centaury
Centaurium erythraea
Traditionally attributed effects: bitter, stimulates the liver.
Western herbal medicine
Caution
Europe · Mushroom · № 115
Penny bun (porcini)
Boletus edulis, Cantharellus cibarius, Morchella esculenta, Pleurotus ostreatus
A prized edible mushroom with protein, fibre and minerals. Medicinal claims are unproven.
Western herbal medicine