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Herbs & Cultures

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.

All 980 herbs from 43 traditions

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438 results

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Treatment by condition
Headache and migraine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 709

    Stephania root (han fang ji)

    Stephania tetrandra

    Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic in oedema (especially of the legs) and pain-relieving in hot, swollen joints.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 456

    Sickle senna

    Cassia tora

    Traditionally attributed effects: mildly laxative, cleansing; intestinal complaints and fever when teething, compress for gout, sciatica and joint pain; seeds for ringworm, scabies and eczema; root for snake bites.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 534

    Skunkvine

    Paederia foetida

    Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic; for urinary retention, bladder stones, haemorrhoids, inflamed spleen, diarrhoea in children, rheumatism and stiff joints, abdomen bloated by gas.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 664

    Beach vitex fruit (man jing zi)

    Vitex rotundifolia (syn. V. trifolia)

    Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-heat in headache and eye pain, and relieves cramps and heaviness in the limbs.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 236

    Heather

    Calluna vulgaris

    The flowering herb was drunk as tea for bladder complaints and sleeplessness. Heather honey is a prized, jelly-like honey. A medicinal effect has not been studied.

    Folk magic and herbal magicFolklore
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 819

    Tobacco

    Nicotiana rustica

    A ceremonial plant of many Indigenous peoples of the Americas. Tobacco is addictive and harmful to health.

    Maya healing knowledge+10
  • Caution

    Asia · Mineral · № 702

    Talc (hua shi)

    Talcum (hydromagnesiumsilicaat)

    Traditionally attributed effects: cooling and soothing in painful urination and summer heat; externally drying on weeping skin.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Oceania · Other · № 55

    Tamanu oil

    Calophyllum inophyllum

    An oil used mainly in skin care; medical claims are not established.

    Lāʻau lapaʻau in Hawaiʻi+1
  • Caution

    Africa · Food · № 560

    Tamarind

    Tamarindus indica

    Traditionally attributed effects: ripe fruit sour, cooling, carminative, laxative, antiscorbutic, promotes bile; for inflamed swellings, bilious vomiting, conjunctivitis (flowers), bleeding haemorrhoids, throat complaints, ulcers, paralysis (bark), gonorrhoea (ash).

    Local African healing traditions+3
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 549

    Toothbrush tree

    Salvadora persica

    Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, diuretic, decongestant; leaves for rheumatism, scurvy, painful tumours, haemorrhoids, asthma and cough; flower oil for flatulence, mucus, worms, leprosy, gonorrhoea, headache and rheumatic pain.

    Local African healing traditions+2
  • Caution

    Oceania · Herb · № 175

    Tarata (lemonwood)

    Pittosporum eugenioides

    Mainly a fragrant plant: leaves, flowers and gum smell of lemon. Medicinal uses have not been studied.

    Rongoā Māori
  • Caution

    South America · Food · № 1011

    Tarwi

    Lupinus mutabilis

    A lupin with white to purple flowers and protein-rich, oily beans. The raw beans are bitter from lupin alkaloids, which are removed by days of soaking and rinsing.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 195

    Yew

    Taxus baccata

    Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, expectorant, stomachic, tonic; leaf and fruit promote menstruation, calming, antispasmodic; for asthma, hiccups, indigestion, coughing up blood, epilepsy, stones, nervousness.

    Ayurveda+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Oceania · Other · № 22

    Tea tree oil

    Melaleuca alternifolia

    An essential oil for external use. Limited research suggests possible effects for acne or athlete’s foot; evidence is preliminary.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge+1
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 171

    Evening primrose

    Oenothera biennis

    The seed oil contains gamma-linolenic acid and is sold for eczema, premenstrual symptoms and hot flushes. NCCIH reports it does not help eczema and that evidence for other conditions is insufficient.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 98

    Thyme

    Thymus vulgaris

    Traditionally used for coughs and bronchitis; thymol from the oil inhibits bacteria and fungi in the laboratory. There are some studies of thyme-based cough syrups.

    Greco-Roman medicine+4Folklore
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 467

    Ivy gourd

    Coccinia indica

    Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, laxative (bark), antispasmodic and expectorant (leaf and stem), lowers blood sugar; for incipient diabetes, swollen glands, skin diseases, smallpox rash, gonorrhoea, bronchitis.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 892

    Tola

    Parastrephia quadrangularis (syn. Lepidophyllum quadrangulare, P. lepidophylla)

    A resinous shrub up to two metres tall with small, scale-like leaves; typical of the dry high plateau.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Food · № 157

    Tomato

    Solanum lycopersicum

    A fruit-vegetable with vitamin C and lycopene. Research on lycopene and heart or prostate health is mostly observational and not conclusive.

    Maya healing knowledge+4Folklore
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 152

    Witch hazel

    Hamamelis virginiana

    Strongly astringent due to tannins. Witch hazel water and ointment are used externally for minor skin irritation, bruises and haemorrhoids; there is limited but reasonably supportive evidence.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4Folklore
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 947

    Trailing arbutus

    Epigaea repens

    A creeping, evergreen dwarf shrub of the heath family with fragrant pink to white flowers in early spring. Contains arbutin.

    Haudenosaunee medicine+1
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 938

    Trillium

    Trillium spp. (o.a. Trillium erectum en T. grandiflorum)

    Spring flowers with three leaves, three sepals and three petals. The rhizome contains saponins. Clinical research is lacking.

    Haudenosaunee medicine+1
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 945

    Purple pitcher plant

    Sarracenia purpurea

    A carnivorous plant with pitcher-shaped leaves that hold rainwater, in which insects drown. Little research exists on effects in people.

    Haudenosaunee medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 497

    Cluster fig

    Ficus racemosa

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, carminative, stomachic, kills worms, lowers blood sugar; wound rinse, for dysentery, bile complaints, haemorrhoids, diarrhoea, mouth ulcers, heavy menstruation, coughing up blood, sore throat, diabetes.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 40

    Tulsi (holy basil)

    Ocimum tenuiflorum

    An aromatic plant drunk as herbal tea; treatment claims are not established.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 874

    Tupa (devil's tobacco)

    Lobelia tupa

    A robust lobelia with red flowers and felted leaves. Contains lobeline and other alkaloids; poisonous.

    Mapuche medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 930

    Turkestan mint

    Lagochilus inebrians

    A small, globular shrub of the mint family with white or pale pink flowers. Contains lagochilin, a diterpene that reduces bleeding and has a calming effect. Gives a mild intoxication.

  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 334

    Wood sage

    Teucrium scorodonia

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, induces sweating, antirheumatic, carminative, wound-healing, promotes bile.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 707

    Knotgrass (bian xu)

    Polygonum aviculare

    Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat in cystitis, stops itching and was used against worms.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 515

    Malabar nut

    Justicia adhatoda

    Traditionally attributed effects: expectorant, diuretic, antispasmodic, cleansing, bronchodilator; well-known Ayurvedic remedy for bronchitis, asthma, cough, fever, jaundice and tuberculosis; root for malaria, diphtheria and gonorrhoea.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 667

    Greater duckweed (fu ping)

    Spirodela polyrhiza

    Traditionally attributed effects: diaphoretic and diuretic; helps rashes come out.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 489

    Vidanga

    Embelia ribes

    Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, expels worms, stimulating, cleansing; against intestinal worms, ringworm and skin diseases, headache, sore throat and mouth ulcers, bark paste for pneumonia.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 179

    Foxglove

    Digitalis purpurea

    Contains cardiac glycosides that slow the heart rate and strengthen its contractions. They gave rise to the drugs digoxin and digitoxin, still prescribed for certain heart rhythm disorders and heart failure. The margin between an effective and a toxic amount is very small.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+2
  • Caution

    North America · Food · № 937

    Virginia strawberry

    Fragaria virginiana

    A wild strawberry with small, very tasty fruits. Its cross with the Chilean strawberry gave rise to the garden strawberry in eighteenth-century Europe.

    Haudenosaunee medicine+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 446

    Flame of the forest

    Butea monosperma

    Traditionally attributed effects: leaves astringent, diuretic, tonic, aphrodisiac; seeds expel worms and laxative; flowers tonic; for diarrhoea, heartburn, diabetes (lowers blood sugar), flatulence, haemorrhoids, worms, leucorrhoea, inflamed throat.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Europe · Food · № 21

    Elderberry

    Sambucus nigra

    Berries have a folk-use history for cold and flu symptoms; clinical evidence remains preliminary.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+4Folklore
Image of Salvia divinorum

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.

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