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
Africa · Food · № 27
Kola nut
Cola nitida en Cola acuminata
Contains about 2–4% caffeine plus theobromine and acts as a stimulant. It is chewed both privately and in social and ceremonial settings.
Local African healing traditions+1
Caution
Africa · Herb · № 464
Colocynth
Citrullus colocynthis
Traditionally attributed effects: drastically laxative and diuretic; in large doses emetic and highly irritant; for ascites, jaundice, urinary diseases, rheumatism, bile complaints, intestinal parasites, constipation, oedema; seed oil for snake and scorpion bites.
Ayurveda+3
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 232
Cumin
Cuminum cyminum
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, aromatic, stomachic, stimulating, astringent, cooling; for gonorrhoea, chronic diarrhoea, indigestion, hoarseness; oil as a source of thymol against hookworms.
Ayurveda+3Folklore
Caution
Asia · Food · № 261
Cucumber
Cucumis sativus
Traditionally attributed effects: fruit nourishing and soothing; seeds cooling, diuretic, tonic; for throat complaints, strongly diuretic with sugar, in fever.
Ayurveda+2Folklore
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 231
Coriander
Coriandrum sativum
Traditionally attributed effects: aromatic, stimulating, carminative, stomachic, cooling, tonic, diuretic; for flatulence, colic, rheumatism, nerve pain, sore throat, indigestion, vomiting, colds, bile complaints.
Greco-Roman medicine+5Folklore
Caution
Asia · Food · № 42
Clove
Syzygium aromaticum
A spice. Clove oil containing eugenol may help with toothache; other claims are unproven.
Ayurveda+5Folklore
Caution
Oceania · Herb · № 842
Kukui (candlenut)
Aleurites moluccanus
A tree whose oil cares for the skin; the nuts are laxative.
Lāʻau lapaʻau in Hawaiʻi+1
Caution
Africa · Herb · № 510
Kurchi
Holarrhena antidysenterica
Traditionally attributed effects: bitter, stomachic, astringent, strongly antidysenteric, fever-reducing, expels worms; for acute and chronic (amoebic) dysentery and diarrhoea, bile complaints, fever, haemorrhoids, roundworms and threadworms.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 5
Turmeric
Curcuma longa
A traditional culinary spice containing curcumin; laboratory findings do not establish a cure for disease.
Ayurveda+5Folklore
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 213
Bay laurel
Laurus nobilis
Bay leaf is a culinary herb containing cineole and eugenol. The oil of the berries was used externally for muscle pain; a medicinal effect has hardly been studied.
Greco-Roman medicine+1Folklore
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 6
Lovage
Levisticum officinale
The leaf tastes of stock and celery. In folk medicine the root was used as a diuretic and for bloating; research is lacking.
Western herbal medicine
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 44
Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
A fragrant plant used in bath products, perfume, and aromatherapy. Evidence for medical effects is preliminary.
Greco-Roman medicine+4Folklore
Caution
Asia · Mushroom · № 41
Lingzhi (reishi)
Ganoderma lucidum
A bracket fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine; evidence for treatment effects in people is limited.
Chinese medical traditions+3
Caution
Asia · Food · № 359
Red lentil
Lens culinaris
Traditionally attributed effects: easily digestible, beneficial in bleeding and fever; purifies the blood internally and externally; scrub improves circulation.
Ayurveda
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 516
Indian laurel
Litsea glutinosa
Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, astringent, softens the skin, aphrodisiac, antispasmodic; for diarrhoea and dysentery; externally for bruises, sprains, rheumatic and gouty joints, scorpion stings, fractures.
Ayurveda
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 559
Lodh tree
Symplocos racemosa
Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, mildly astringent; for intestinal complaints, heavy menstruation, discharge from lax mucous membranes, oedema, liver complaints, fever, skin diseases, bleeding gums, eye diseases, ulcers, filariasis (chyluria, elephantiasis).
Ayurveda
Caution
Asia · Food · № 653
Longan
Dimocarpus longan
Traditionally attributed effects: a sweet, warming tonic for heart and blood; good for digestion and calming.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Food · № 131
Sacred lotus
Nelumbo nucifera
Almost every part is used: seeds for diarrhoea and restlessness, rhizome as food, leaf for 'summer heat'. Scientific evidence is mostly laboratory research.
Ayurveda+3Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 485
Air potato
Dioscorea bulbifera
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, pungent, appetite-suppressing; for syphilis, haemorrhoids, dysentery, ulcers.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Asia · Mineral · № 795
Magnetite (ci shi)
Magnetitum (ijzeroxide)
Traditionally attributed effects: calms the mind and rising liver yang and helps the kidneys hold the lung energy.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
North America · Herb · № 370
Oregon grape
Mahonia aquifolium
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, purifies the blood, tonic, stimulating, supports the liver; improves appetite and digestion, promotes liver and bile secretion, purifies the blood, helps with skin problems, sudden diarrhoea and chronic constipation.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+1
Caution
Central America and the Caribbean · Food · № 266
Maize
Zea mays
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, heals the urinary tract lining, tonic, soothing.
Maya healing knowledge+7Folklore
Caution
Asia · Mushroom · № 589
Maitake
Grifola frondosa
Traditionally attributed effects: adaptogen; activates immune cells against cancer (macrophages, NK cells, T cells), reduces stress and strengthens resistance to colds and flu.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 348
Gotu kola
Centella asiatica
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, tonic, diuretic, locally stimulating, calming; for chronic ulcers, eczema, psoriasis, leprosy, epilepsy, insanity, swollen glands, abscesses, chronic rheumatism, diarrhoea in children.
Ayurveda+2
Caution
Asia · Food · № 248
Mango
Mangifera indica
Traditionally attributed effects: cooling herb, prevents a burning feeling and keeps you cool in the heat; aids digestion; good for skin and hair.
Ayurveda+2Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 476
Mango ginger
Curcuma amada
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, cooling, aromatic, bitter, stomachic, astringent, lowers cholesterol; externally for bruises, sprains and skin diseases; purifies the blood.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 199
Ox-eye daisy
Leucanthemum vulgare
Young leaves are edible. In folk medicine a tea of the flowers was used for coughs and as a wash; a medicinal effect has not been studied.
Folk magic and herbal magicFolklore
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 46
Milk thistle
Silybum marianum
Promoted for liver disorders, but there is not enough high-quality evidence of effects in people.
Western herbal medicine
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 493
Common milk hedge
Euphorbia neriifolia
Traditionally attributed effects: milky sap drastically laxative and expectorant, externally skin-irritant; root antispasmodic; for enlarged liver and spleen, oedema, leprosy; externally on warts, for earache, ulcers and scabies; root for scorpion and snake bites.
Ayurveda
Caution
Asia · Mineral · № 800
Minium (qian dan)
Minium (loodoxide)
Traditionally attributed effects: was used externally to draw out pus and heal wounds; contains lead.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 420
Mexican prickly poppy
Argemone mexicana
Traditionally attributed effects: root diuretic, cleansing, pain-relieving, sleep-inducing; seeds laxative, emetic, expectorant; for oedema, jaundice, skin diseases, warts, scabies, gonorrhoea, tapeworm, cough and asthma.
Curanderismo+1
Caution
Africa · Other · № 28
Myrrh
Commiphora myrrha
A gum resin with a long history in medicine, ritual, perfume, and incense. Modern treatment claims are not established.
Ancient Egyptian medicine+6Folklore
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 96
Feverfew
Tanacetum parthenium
Best known for preventing migraine. NCCIH notes the evidence is conflicting: some studies find a small effect, others do not.
Western herbal medicine+2Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 762
Mulberry mistletoe (sang ji sheng)
Taxillus chinensis (syn. Loranthus parasiticus)
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens liver and kidneys, expels wind and dampness, nourishes the blood and calms the foetus.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 527
Moringa
Moringa oleifera
Traditionally attributed effects: antispasmodic, stimulating, expectorant, diuretic, dissolves stones; leaves for scurvy and catarrh, flatulence in children, wounds and swellings; bark stimulates the heart in asthma and cough.
Ayurveda+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 341
Brown mustard
Brassica juncea
Traditionally attributed effects: plant bitter, mildly laxative, tonic; oil stimulating and skin-irritant, antiseptic; for chest complaints in children, muscular rheumatism, stiff neck, inflammation and nerve pain, abdominal cramps, persistent vomiting.
Ayurveda+2