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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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743 results

  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 485

    Air potato

    Dioscorea bulbifera

    Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, pungent, appetite-suppressing; for syphilis, haemorrhoids, dysentery, ulcers.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 693

    Blackberry lily (she gan)

    Iris domestica (syn. Belamcanda chinensis)

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat and detoxifies in severe sore throat and cough with much hot phlegm.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 211

    Sweet violet

    Viola odorata

    Traditionally attributed effects: V. odorata anti-inflammatory, expectorant, diuretic, antitumour; V. tricolor expectorant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antirheumatic, laxative, strengthens capillaries.

    Western herbal medicine+3Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 544

    Emetic nut

    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.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Mineral · № 795

    Magnetite (ci shi)

    Magnetitum (ijzeroxide)

    Traditionally attributed effects: calms the mind and rising liver yang and helps the kidneys hold the lung energy.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 655

    Magnolia flower bud (xin yi hua)

    Magnolia biondii (syn. M. liliflora)

    Traditionally attributed effects: warms and opens the nose in blocked sinuses and headache from wind-cold.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 727

    Magnolia bark (hou po)

    Magnolia officinalis

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

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    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.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+1
  • Caution

    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.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Food · № 266

    Maize

    Zea mays

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

    Maya healing knowledge+7Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Mushroom · № 589

    Maitake

    Grifola frondosa

    Traditionally attributed effects: adaptogen; activates immune cells against cancer (macrophages, NK cells, T cells), reduces stress and strengthens resistance to colds and flu.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 859

    Maitén

    Maytenus boaria

    A graceful tree with drooping twigs and fine leaves that cattle love to eat. Traditionally for fever and skin rash; research is lacking.

    Mapuche medicine
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 883

    Manayupa

    Desmodium molliculum

    A low plant of the pea family. Traditionally used for inflammation and wounds; research is limited.

    Curanderismo of northern Peru
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 730

    Tangerine peel (chen pi)

    Citrus reticulata

    Traditionally attributed effects: the ripe peel (chen pi) moves the qi of spleen and lung and dissolves phlegm; the green peel (qing pi) moves liver qi.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    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.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 248

    Mango

    Mangifera indica

    Traditionally attributed effects: cooling herb, prevents a burning feeling and keeps you cool in the heat; aids digestion; good for skin and hair.

    Ayurveda+2Folklore
  • Caution

    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.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Oceania · Herb · № 273

    Manuka and kanuka

    Leptospermum scoparium en Kunzea ericoides

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, antimicrobial, antiseptic, expels worms (leptospermone); for ulcers, infections and fever.

    Rongoā Māori+2
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 239

    Mistletoe

    Viscum album

    Traditionally attributed effects: slows the heart rate, lowers blood pressure, antitumour.

    Western herbal medicine+1Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 199

    Ox-eye daisy

    Leucanthemum vulgare

    Young leaves are edible. In folk medicine a tea of the flowers was used for coughs and as a wash; a medicinal effect has not been studied.

    Folk magic and herbal magicFolklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 216

    Marjoram

    Origanum majorana

    A mildly aromatic culinary herb related to oregano. It was drunk as tea for bloating, colds and restlessness; studies in humans are scarce.

    Unani medicine+2Folklore
  • Caution

    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.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    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.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Mineral · № 800

    Minium (qian dan)

    Minium (loodoxide)

    Traditionally attributed effects: was used externally to draw out pus and heal wounds; contains lead.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 420

    Mexican prickly poppy

    Argemone mexicana

    Traditionally attributed effects: root diuretic, cleansing, pain-relieving, sleep-inducing; seeds laxative, emetic, expectorant; for oedema, jaundice, skin diseases, warts, scabies, gonorrhoea, tapeworm, cough and asthma.

    Curanderismo+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 335

    Marsh woundwort

    Stachys palustris

    Traditionally attributed effects: antiseptic, antispasmodic, wound-healing.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Other · № 388

    Meadowfoam

    Limnanthes alba

    Traditionally attributed effects: nourishing carrier oil.

  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 762

    Mulberry mistletoe (sang ji sheng)

    Taxillus chinensis (syn. Loranthus parasiticus)

    Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens liver and kidneys, expels wind and dampness, nourishes the blood and calms the foetus.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 763

    Monk fruit (luo han guo)

    Siraitia grosvenorii (syn. Momordica grosvenori)

    Traditionally attributed effects: moistens and cools the lungs in a dry cough and reduces swollen glands.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 291

    Chaste tree

    Vitex agnus-castus

    Traditionally attributed effects: stimulates the pituitary gland and hormone production.

    Greco-Roman medicine+1
  • Caution

    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.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    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.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 629

    Mormon tea

    Ephedra viridis, E. nevadensis, E. californica

    Traditionally attributed effects: opens the surface in wind-cold with sneezing and a watery nose, mildly eases wheezing and promotes urination.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    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.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 792

    Maltose (yi tang)

    Saccharum granorum (maltose)

    Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens qi and spleen, eases pain from cold in the middle and moistens the lungs.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 880

    Mucura (guinea henweed)

    Petiveria alliacea

    A herb with a strong garlic smell. It has been studied for anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects; clinical evidence is lacking.

    Curanderismo of northern Peru
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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