Herbal knowledge and the cultures that passed it on

Asia · Herb · № 727

Magnolia bark (hou po)

Magnolia officinalis

Traditionally attributed effects: makes qi descend, dries dampness and resolves food stagnation and phlegm.

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.

Asia · Herb · № 520

Mahua

Madhuca longifolia

Traditionally attributed effects: flowers cooling, soothing, expectorant, tonic, nourishing; bark astringent and tonic; for diabetes and rheumatism, bleeding gums, tonsil and throat inflammation, itching, bronchitis, cough, haemorrhoids.

Central America and the Caribbean · Food · № 266

Maize

Zea mays

Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, heals the urinary tract lining, tonic, soothing.

Europe · Herb · № 113

White horehound

Marrubium vulgare

A bitter herb traditionally used for coughs with sticky phlegm and bronchitis. In Europe it is recognised as a traditional herbal medicine; clinical evidence is limited.

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.

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.

Oceania · Food · № 51

Mānuka honey

A monofloral honey with distinctive compounds such as leptosperin and methylglyoxal. Ordinary food honey is not a treatment.

Europe · Herb · № 47

Hawthorn

Crataegus monogyna, C. laevigata (en C. pinnatifida)

Studied for heart failure with conflicting results. For most conditions there is little or no good evidence.

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.

Africa · Food · № 252

Melon

Cucumis melo

A sweet, juicy fruit. In Chinese medicine the dried stalk (gua di) was used to induce vomiting; no medicinal effect is described for the fruit itself.

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.

Europe · Herb · № 71

Meadowsweet

Filipendula ulmaria

Contains salicylates. Traditionally used for heartburn, an irritated stomach and joint pain. Clinical research is scarce.

Asia · Herb · № 753

Morinda root (ba ji tian)

Morinda officinalis

Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang and expels wind, cold and dampness from back and legs.

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.

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.

South America · Herb · № 897

Mullaca

Muehlenbeckia volcanica

A low, creeping shrublet with small, round, leathery leaves and blue-black berries. Tannins and flavonoids have been found in the extract; in rats it was anti-inflammatory.

Asia · Food · № 358

Mung bean

Vigna radiata

Traditionally attributed effects: light and easily digestible, sattvic (calm in the head); for fever, ulcers and blood disorders; khichadi with takra for 7–10 days as a cleansing cure; soap substitute makes the skin soft.

Asia · Herb · № 509

Musk mallow

Hibiscus abelmoschus

Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, carminative, cooling, diuretic, soothing, stomachic, antispasmodic, tonic; for nervous weakness, hysteria, indigestion, gonorrhoea, catarrh of the bladder and airways, itching.

Asia · Herb · № 530

Night jasmine

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis

Traditionally attributed effects: promotes bile, expels worms, laxative, fever-reducing, anti-inflammatory.

Asia · Food · № 425

Jackfruit

Artocarpus integrifolia

Traditionally attributed effects: ripe fruit soothing, nourishing, laxative; unripe fruit astringent; milky sap for swollen glands, abscesses and snake bites; root for diarrhoea; leaf and root for skin diseases.

Asia · Herb · № 39

Neem

Azadirachta indica

Used for centuries in traditional medicine in India, but there is insufficient clinical evidence of medical benefits.

Asia · Herb · № 482

Nirbisi

Delphinium denudatum

Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, cleansing, stomachic, tonic, pain-relieving; for syphilis and rheumatism, recovery after fever, toothache, antidote for snake bites and aconite poisoning.

Asia · Herb · № 658

Notopterygium root (qiang huo)

Notopterygium incisum

Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind, cold and dampness in colds and rheumatic pain in head, neck and shoulders.

Asia · Herb · № 529

Oleander

Nerium indicum

Traditionally attributed effects: strongly diuretic and strengthens the heart (like digitalis), abortifacient.

Asia · Food · № 484

Elephant apple

Dillenia indica

Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, laxative; cooling drink in fever, cough remedy; bark and leaves astringent.

Asia · Herb · № 421

Elephant creeper

Argyreia speciosa

Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, tonic, soothing; for elephantiasis, arthritis, rheumatic swelling, overweight, skin diseases, boils, ear infection.

Asia · Herb · № 488

Elephant's foot

Elephantopus scaber

Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the heart, astringent, cleansing, fever-reducing, antibiotic; for painful urination, urethral discharge, diarrhoea, dysentery, vomiting, snake bites, ulcers, eczema.

Asia · Food · № 412

Elephant foot yam

Amorphophallus campanulatus

Traditionally attributed effects: stomachic, carminative, tonic; for haemorrhoids, indigestion and weakness, boils, eye inflammation, acute rheumatism; promotes menstruation.

Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 906

Ololiuqui

Ipomoea corymbosa (syn. Turbina corymbosa, Rivea corymbosa)

A woody morning glory with white flowers. The small, round seeds contain ergine (LSA) and related ergoline alkaloids, chemically related to LSD. They bring an intoxication with visions, often with nausea and lethargy.

Asia · Herb · № 477

East Indian arrowroot

Curcuma angustifolia

Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, soothing, nutritious; for dysentery, painful urination, gonorrhoea, typhoid, ulcers of the intestines and bladder; substitute for arrowroot.

South America · Herb · № 227

Nasturtium

Tropaeolum majus

Leaves and flowers taste sharp because of mustard oil glycosides. In Germany a combination with horseradish is approved as a remedy for bladder and respiratory infections; there is little research on the plant alone.

Asia · Other · № 771

Oriental sweetgum (su he xiang)

Liquidambar orientalis

Traditionally attributed effects: the resin opens the sense orifices and relieves pain with a tight chest.

Asia · Herb · № 434

Orchid tree

Bauhinia variegata

Traditionally attributed effects: bark cleansing, tonic, astringent; root carminative; flowers laxative; for sore throat, cough, bleeding haemorrhoids, heavy menstruation, swollen neck glands, ulcers, diarrhoea, worms, overweight.

North America · Herb · № 153

Osha

Ligusticum porteri, L. sinense en L. wallichii

The root is traditionally used for sore throats, coughs and early colds. There is virtually no clinical research.

Asia · Food · № 487

Horse gram

Dolichos biflorus

Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, diuretic, tonic, fever-reducing, expels worms, promotes menstruation, dissolves stones; for haemorrhoids, bronchitis, heart complaints, kidney stones, enlarged spleen, hiccups, asthma, leucoderma, leucorrhoea, menstrual cramps.