From Ayurveda to Rongoā Māori
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
CautionEurope · Herb · № 214
Carum carvi
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, aromatic, stomachic, stimulating, promotes milk flow; for flatulence and intestinal cramps, corrects nausea-inducing medicines, scabies.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 33
Uncaria tomentosa
There is no conclusive scientific evidence that cat's claw helps any health condition.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 109
Nepeta cataria
Traditionally used as a mild tea for colds, fevers, restlessness and colic. Nepetalactone from the plant is being researched as an insect repellent.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 143
Picrorhiza kurroa
A very bitter herb used in Ayurveda and Tibetan medicine for liver complaints, fever and digestive problems. Research is mainly in animals.
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 116
Ammi visnaga
Contains khellin, a muscle relaxant that widens the airways and blood vessels. Khellin was the basis for modern drugs such as cromoglicate (for asthma) and amiodarone (for heart rhythm disorders).
CautionEurope · Herb · № 100
Tussilago farfara
One of the oldest cough herbs; the leaf contains soothing mucilage. Because of its toxic alkaloids it is now advised against.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 565
Tribulus terrestris
Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, soothing, diuretic, tonic, aphrodisiac.
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 337
Cyperus rotundus
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, pain-relieving, antispasmodic for the uterus, promotes the flow of qi.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 92
Scrophularia nodosa (en S. ningpoensis)
Used in Western herbalism for skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis and for swollen glands. There is no good clinical evidence.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 746
Gypsophila vaccaria (syn. Vaccaria segetalis)
Traditionally attributed effects: lets the blood flow, promotes menstruation and milk flow and reduces painful swellings.
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 455
Cassia occidentalis
Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, fever-reducing, diuretic, antipyretic; root as an antidote and for fever and nerve pain, cramps in hysteria, flatulence; seeds for cough and whooping cough.
CautionAsia · Food · № 357
Cocos nucifera
Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, diuretic, antiseptic, laxative; root for uterine diseases, bronchitis, liver complaints, dysentery, sore throat (gargle); coconut water for thirst, fever, urinary complaints and vomiting; ash for scabies and toothache.
CautionAsia · Food · № 500
Garcinia indica
Traditionally attributed effects: fruit cooling, promotes bile, soothing, antiscorbutic; bark astringent; oil for dysentery, mucous diarrhoea, tuberculosis, skin diseases, chapped lips, ointment base; fruit for hives.
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 464
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.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 232
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.
CautionAsia · Food · № 261
Cucumis sativus
Traditionally attributed effects: fruit nourishing and soothing; seeds cooling, diuretic, tonic; for throat complaints, strongly diuretic with sugar, in fever.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 725
Agastache rugosa (ook Pogostemon cablin)
Traditionally attributed effects: transforms dampness blocking spleen and stomach and curbs nausea, also in summer colds.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 231
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.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 711
Malva verticillata (ook Abutilon theophrasti)
Traditionally attributed effects: soothing and diuretic in painful urination and stones; promotes milk flow.
CautionAsia · Food · № 42
Syzygium aromaticum
A spice. Clove oil containing eugenol may help with toothache; other claims are unproven.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 338
Rumex crispus
Traditionally attributed effects: strongly laxative, promotes bile, cleansing.
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 510
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.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 5
Curcuma longa
A traditional culinary spice containing curcumin; laboratory findings do not establish a cure for disease.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 44
Lavandula angustifolia
A fragrant plant used in bath products, perfume, and aromatherapy. Evidence for medical effects is preliminary.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 205
Lilium spp.
The bulb scales of some lilies (bai he) are used in Chinese medicine for dry cough, restlessness and sleeplessness after fever. Lilies are deadly poisonous to cats.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 191
Sorbus aucuparia
The orange berries are rich in vitamin C and are eaten cooked; raw they contain parasorbic acid, which irritates the stomach and bowel. A medicinal effect has hardly been studied.
CautionAsia · Food · № 238
Citrus aurantiifolia
A sour citrus fruit rich in vitamin C. The juice was given against scurvy and is used in Asia with honey or salt for coughs and sore throat.
CautionAsia · Food · № 359
Lens culinaris
Traditionally attributed effects: easily digestible, beneficial in bleeding and fever; purifies the blood internally and externally; scrub improves circulation.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 516
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.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 559
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).
CautionAsia · Food · № 653
Dimocarpus longan
Traditionally attributed effects: a sweet, warming tonic for heart and blood; good for digestion and calming.
CautionAsia · Food · № 131
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.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 485
Dioscorea bulbifera
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, pungent, appetite-suppressing; for syphilis, haemorrhoids, dysentery, ulcers.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 211
Viola odorata
Traditionally attributed effects: V. odorata anti-inflammatory, expectorant, diuretic, antitumour; V. tricolor expectorant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antirheumatic, laxative, strengthens capillaries.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 544
Randia dumetorum
Traditionally attributed effects: fruit rind induces sweating and antispasmodic; bark calming and soothes the nerves; bark internally and externally for rheumatism, bruises and bone pain in fever, diarrhoea and dysentery; fruit emetic in acute bronchitis and asthma; scorpion stings.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 655
Magnolia biondii (syn. M. liliflora)
Traditionally attributed effects: warms and opens the nose in blocked sinuses and headache from wind-cold.
Featured · Central America and the Caribbean · Curanderismo
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.
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43 traditions
How communities built up and passed on their knowledge of plants, region by region.
113 recipes
Soups, teas and dishes in which herbs play a leading role.
146 formulas
The classical Chinese formulas, also listed by condition.