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
Europe · Food · № 264
Leek
Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum
A vegetable with fibre, vitamin K and sulphur compounds, related to onion and garlic. Leek soup is an old home remedy for colds and hoarseness.
Anglo-Saxon medicine+1Folklore
Caution
Asia · Mineral · № 784
Pumice (fu hai shi)
Pumex
Traditionally attributed effects: cools hot phlegm in the lungs, softens lumps and promotes urination.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 561
Purple tephrosia
Tephrosia purpurea
Traditionally attributed effects: fever-reducing, promotes bile, diuretic, decongestant, tonic, laxative, purifies the blood, expels worms; for liver and spleen diseases, indigestion, distended abdomen, chronic diarrhoea, bronchitis, asthma, inflammation; oil for eczema.
Ayurveda
Caution
Asia · Mineral · № 791
Pyrite (zi ran tong)
Pyritum (ijzersulfide)
Traditionally attributed effects: resolves blood stagnation and helps fractures and ligaments recover.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Food · № 545
Radish
Raphanus sativus
Traditionally attributed effects: seeds and leaves diuretic, laxative, dissolve stones; juice against scurvy; for painful and difficult urination, stones, urinary diseases, haemorrhoids, stomach ache; syrup for hoarseness, whooping cough and chest complaints.
Ayurveda+2
Caution
North America · Food · № 936
Ramps
Allium tricoccum
A wild leek with broad leaves and a small bulb, related to European wild garlic. Leaves and bulb taste of onion and garlic.
Haudenosaunee medicine+1
Caution
South America · Herb · № 915
Rhatany (ratania)
Krameria lappacea (syn. Krameria triandra)
A low shrub that is partly parasitic on the roots of other plants. The red root is rich in tannins and is therefore astringent. In Europe rhatany root is listed in the pharmacopoeia and used in mouthwashes and gum remedies.
Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 181
Indian snakeroot
Rauvolfia serpentina
The root contains reserpine, which lowers blood pressure and has a sedative effect. In the 1950s reserpine was one of the first modern antihypertensives and antipsychotics, but it has largely been replaced by drugs with fewer side effects.
Ayurveda+2
Caution
Asia · Mineral · № 799
Realgar (xiong huang)
Realgar (arseensulfide)
Traditionally attributed effects: was used externally against parasites, itching and sores; contains arsenic.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Mushroom · № 690
Puffball (ma bo)
Calvatia gigantea (en Lasiosphaera fenzlii)
Traditionally attributed effects: cools lung fire in sore throat and hoarseness; the spore powder stops bleeding externally.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 449
Crown flower
Calotropis gigantea
Traditionally attributed effects: root bark cleansing, tonic, antispasmodic, expectorant, emetic; for dysentery, bronchitis, leprosy, enlarged liver and spleen, oedema, worms; acts on the heart like digitalis.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Asia · Food · № 267
Rice
Oryza sativa
Traditionally attributed effects: easily digestible, the basis of healing food; good for skin and hair.
Ayurveda+4Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 352
Soapnut
Sapindus mukorossi
Traditionally attributed effects: natural shampoo (soapy), cleanses scalp and hair.
Ayurveda
Caution
North America · Herb · № 323
Slippery elm
Ulmus rubra (syn. U. fulva)
Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, nourishing, astringent.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 442
Silk cotton tree
Bombax ceiba
Traditionally attributed effects: gum astringent and stops bleeding; root and bark soothing, diuretic, aphrodisiac; for abnormal uterine bleeding, diarrhoea, dysentery, coughing up blood, heavy menstruation, bladder and kidney stones, boils, itching.
Ayurveda+2
Caution
North America · Herb · № 368
Red root
Ceanothus americanus
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, antispasmodic, expectorant, calming; for a swollen spleen (e.g. after glandular fever), cools and constricts blood vessels in bleeding and congestion of the uterus, liver and lymph.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 346
Red sandalwood
Pterocarpus santalinus
Traditionally attributed effects: antipyretic, fever-reducing, aphrodisiac, astringent, bitter, cooling, induces sweating, expels worms; for chronic dysentery, bleeding haemorrhoids, bile complaints, skin diseases.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 89
Rose and rose hip
Rosa spp.
Rose hips are rich in vitamin C; a hip powder has been studied for osteoarthritis with modest results. Rose water and oil are used in skin care and as fragrance.
Avicenna's Canon in European universities+6Folklore
Caution
Africa · Food · № 25
Roselle (hibiscus)
Hibiscus sabdariffa
The red calyces make a tart drink. Folk medicine links it to blood pressure; it is not a substitute for treatment.
Ancient Egyptian medicine+2Folklore
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 2
Rosemary
Salvia rosmarinus (syn. Rosmarinus officinalis)
An aromatic culinary herb with carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid. A few small studies point to a slight effect of the scent on alertness; that it improves memory has not been shown. The leaf is used for digestive complaints.
Monastic and folk knowledge+4Folklore
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 366
Rhodiola
Rhodiola rosea
Roseroot is sold as an adaptogen for tiredness and stress. Some studies find a small effect on stress-related fatigue, but they are small and of varying quality. There is no evidence that it prevents colds.
Western herbal medicine+1
Caution
Africa · Herb · № 399
Prickly chaff flower
Achyranthes aspera
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, diuretic, cleansing, antipyretic, laxative; for oedema from the kidneys, bronchial complaints, leprosy, stomach ache, haemorrhoids, boils, incipient diarrhoea; abortifacient in high doses.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 426
Safed musli
Asparagus adscendens
Traditionally attributed effects: nourishing, tonic, promotes milk flow, soothing, cooling; for seminal loss, chronic leucorrhoea, diarrhoea, dysentery, general weakness, impotence.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 45
Sage
Salvia officinalis
A culinary herb. A few small studies suggest possible effects on memory and blood lipids, but evidence is limited.
Monastic and folk knowledge+4Folklore
Caution
Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 905
Salvia divinorum
Salvia divinorum
A sage with large leaves containing salvinorin A, a very potent substance acting on the kappa opioid receptor. Brings short-lived, often intense changes in perception and the feeling of leaving the body.
Curanderismo
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 140
Sandalwood
Santalum album
Used in Ayurveda as a 'cooling' remedy for skin irritation and urinary complaints; the oil is used in aromatherapy. Clinical evidence is limited.
Ayurveda+6Folklore
Caution
Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 369
Sarsaparilla
Smilax spp. (o.a. Smilax ornata)
The root contains saponins and was long sold as a 'blood-purifying' remedy and for skin conditions. There is no evidence that sarsaparilla treats herpes, syphilis or other infections.
Curanderismo+2
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 91
White willow
Salix alba
The bark contains salicin, which the body partly converts to salicylic acid. There are hints of a moderate effect on low back pain and joint pain.
Greco-Roman medicine+3Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 592
Schisandra
Schisandra chinensis
Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, astringent, stimulating, adaptogen; supports exhausted adrenals (fatigue), promotes sleep and well-being, protects the liver.
Chinese medical traditions+3
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 507
East Indian screw tree
Helicteres isora
Traditionally attributed effects: expectorant, soothing, mildly astringent, stomachic; for colic, flatulence, diarrhoea, chronic dysentery, diabetes, ear infection, snake bites.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Europe · Food · № 61
Celery
Apium graveolens
Vegetable and spice. The seed was traditionally used for gout, joint complaints and as a diuretic. Convincing clinical evidence is lacking.
Western herbal medicine+3Folklore
Caution
North America · Herb · № 964
Seneca snakeroot
Polygala senega (syn. Senega officinalis)
A low milkwort with white flower spikes. The root contains saponins that loosen phlegm and promote coughing; it is in the European Pharmacopoeia as a cough remedy.
Anishinaabe medicine+1
Caution
Africa · Food · № 356
Sesame
Sesamum indicum
Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, softens the skin, diuretic, promotes menstruation and milk flow, laxative; leaves for respiratory complaints, diarrhoea and dysentery in children, bladder catarrh; seeds for bleeding haemorrhoids, absent or painful menstruation.
Ancient Egyptian medicine+3Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 494
Shankhpushpi
Evolvulus alsinoides
Traditionally attributed effects: bitter tonic, cleansing, fever-reducing, expels worms, anti-inflammatory; for fever, nervous weakness, memory loss, dysentery, diarrhoea and indigestion (with tulsi), chronic bronchitis and asthma.
Ayurveda
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 122
Shatavari
Asparagus racemosus
In Ayurveda an important rejuvenating remedy for women, used for breastfeeding and stomach complaints. Studies are small and of variable quality.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Asia · Mushroom · № 145
Shiitake
Lentinula edodes
An edible mushroom. Lentinan from shiitake is researched and used in oncology in Japan; there is little evidence for ordinary shiitake as an 'immune booster'.
Chinese medical traditions+3