CautionAsia · Herb · № 522
Chinaberry
Melia azedarach
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, tonic, antipyretic, expels worms; fruit laxative; oil insecticidal and antiseptic.
Ayurveda+1
From Ayurveda to Rongoā Māori
Herbal knowledge and the cultures that passed it on
Communities around the world learned how plants nourish, care and heal. Here their traditions stand beside present-day use, with respect for every culture.
GrapeFolk magic and herbal magic
BuchuLocal African healing traditions
Indian tobaccoCherokee medicine
Lignum vitaeHerbal knowledge of the Caribbean
Yerba mateKallawaya healing knowledge
Also found
- Treatment by condition
- Flatulence
- Caution
CautionAsia · Herb · № 395
Rosary pea
Abrus precatorius
Traditionally attributed effects: seeds purgative, emetic, tonic, anti-inflammatory, aphrodisiac; leaf juice for sore throat and dry cough, purifies the blood; leaf paste for swellings and rheumatism; seed paste for sciatica and paralysis; eyewash.
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · Herb · № 685
Patrinia (bai jiang cao)
Patrinia scabiosifolia (en P. villosa)
Traditionally attributed effects: detoxifies, drains pus and moves the blood in pain with heat.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 656
Perilla
Perilla frutescens
Traditionally attributed effects: warms in colds from cold, helps digestion and soothes cough with phlegm.
Chinese medical traditions+2
CautionAsia · Food · № 249
Peach
Prunus persica
A juicy summer fruit. In Chinese medicine the kernels (tao ren) are used to move the blood; raw they are poisonous because of amygdalin.
Chinese medical traditions+2Folklore
CautionAsia · Herb · № 769
Persian silk tree (he huan pi)
Albizia julibrissin
Traditionally attributed effects: calms the mind in anger and low mood and lets the blood flow in pain and swelling.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 787
Birthwort fruit (ma dou ling)
Aristolochia debilis
Traditionally attributed effects: was used for cough with a lot of phlegm and high blood pressure; banned because of kidney damage.
Chinese medical traditions- Caution
Asia · Herb · № 786
Aristolochia root (guang fang ji)
Aristolochia fangchi
Traditionally attributed effects: was used for hot, painful joints and oedema; banned because of kidney damage.
Chinese medical traditions 
CautionOceania · Herb · № 178
Asthma weed
Euphorbia hirta
Traditionally used for asthma and bronchitis (the name asthma weed comes from Queensland), for diarrhoea and externally for warts. There is laboratory research but no good clinical evidence.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge+4
CautionAsia · Herb · № 275
Pinellia (ban xia)
Pinellia ternata
Traditionally attributed effects: cough-suppressing, expectorant, against vomiting, anticatarrhal.
Chinese medical traditions+3
CautionAsia · Herb · № 132
Chinese peony (bai shao)
Paeonia lactiflora en P. suffruticosa
The peeled root (bai shao, white peony) is used in Chinese medicine for cramps, period pain and muscle pain. There are studies of combination formulas but few of peony alone.
Chinese medical traditions+3
CautionAsia · Herb · № 704
Soft rush pith (deng xin cao)
Juncus effusus
Traditionally attributed effects: cools the heart and promotes urination in cystitis and restlessness.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Mushroom · № 146
Poria (fu ling)
Wolfiporia cocos
One of the most widely used remedies in Chinese medicine, for fluid retention, poor digestion and restless sleep. Clinical research on fu ling alone is scarce.
Chinese medical traditions+4
CautionAsia · Food · № 689
Purslane (ma chi xian)
Portulaca oleracea
Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood in dysentery and painful urination; externally for ulcers and insect bites.
Chinese medical traditions+2
CautionAsia · Herb · № 748
Pseudostellaria root (tai zi shen)
Pseudostellaria heterophylla
Traditionally attributed effects: a mild qi tonic that also replenishes body fluids.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 133
Psyllium
Plantago ovata
The seed husks form a mucilaginous gel: an established bulk-forming fibre for constipation and mild diarrhoea that can also modestly lower LDL cholesterol.
Ayurveda+3
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 784
Pumice (fu hai shi)
Pumex
Traditionally attributed effects: cools hot phlegm in the lungs, softens lumps and promotes urination.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 441
Spreading hogweed
Boerhaavia diffusa
Traditionally attributed effects: bitter, stomachic, laxative, diuretic, expectorant, induces sweating, anti-inflammatory; for asthma, jaundice, oedema, anaemia, internal inflammation, snake bites.
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · 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
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 791
Pyrite (zi ran tong)
Pyritum (ijzersulfide)
Traditionally attributed effects: resolves blood stagnation and helps fractures and ligaments recover.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · 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
CautionAsia · Herb · № 775
Rangoon creeper (shi jun zi)
Combretum indicum (syn. Quisqualis indica)
Traditionally attributed effects: was used against roundworms and for poor digestion in children.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 410
Rasamala
Altingia excelsa
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, expectorant, pain-relieving, carminative, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic; for throat complaints, scabies, leucoderma, colic in children, inflamed testicle.
Ayurveda+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 568
Rasna orchid
Vanda roxburghii
Traditionally attributed effects: pain-relieving, carminative, expectorant, strengthens the nerves, lowers blood pressure; oil for rheumatism and nervous diseases; for syphilis, scorpion stings, fever, middle ear infection, indigestion, bronchitis, inflammation, hiccups and trembling.
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · 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
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 799
Realgar (xiong huang)
Realgar (arseensulfide)
Traditionally attributed effects: was used externally against parasites, itching and sores; contains arsenic.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 673
Rehmannia
Rehmannia glutinosa
Traditionally attributed effects: raw it cools the blood and nourishes yin; prepared (steamed with wine) it nourishes the blood and the kidney yin.
Chinese medical traditions+2
CautionAsia · 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
CautionAsia · Food · № 408
Giant taro
Alocasia macrorrhiza
Traditionally attributed effects: aids digestion, laxative, diuretic, promotes milk flow; for colic, constipation, haemorrhoids, oedema, worms, mouth ulcers, scorpion stings.
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · 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
CautionAsia · Herb · № 696
Rhaponticum root (lou lu)
Rhaponticum uniflorum
Traditionally attributed effects: reduces hot swellings, especially in the breast, and promotes milk flow.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 669
Reed rhizome (lu gen)
Phragmites australis (syn. P. communis)
Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat and moistens in thirst, cough with yellow phlegm, vomiting from stomach heat and painful urination.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Food · № 267
Rice
Oryza sativa
Traditionally attributed effects: easily digestible, the basis of healing food; good for skin and hair.
Ayurveda+4Folklore
CautionAsia · Herb · № 352
Soapnut
Sapindus mukorossi
Traditionally attributed effects: natural shampoo (soapy), cleanses scalp and hair.
Ayurveda
CautionAsia · 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
CautionEurope · Herb · № 99
Red clover
Trifolium pratense
Contains isoflavones (plant oestrogens) and is sold for menopausal symptoms. NCCIH concludes there is no convincing evidence that it reduces hot flushes.
Western herbal medicine+2Folklore
Featured · Central America and the Caribbean · Curanderismo
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.
Read moreFrom plant to use
Ways to prepare herbs
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Traditions, kitchen and classical formulas
43 traditions
Cultures & traditions
How communities built up and passed on their knowledge of plants, region by region.
113 recipes
Recipes
Soups, teas and dishes in which herbs play a leading role.
146 formulas
Chinese formulas
The classical Chinese formulas, also listed by condition.