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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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701 results

  • 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 · № 335

    Marsh woundwort

    Stachys palustris

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

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 110

    Marsh cudweed

    Gnaphalium uliginosum

    An astringent herb traditionally used as a gargle for sore throats and inflamed upper airways. There is no clinical research.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 291

    Chaste tree

    Vitex agnus-castus

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

    Greco-Roman medicine+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 314

    Mouse-ear hawkweed

    Pilosella officinarum (syn. Hieracium pilosella)

    Traditionally attributed effects: antispasmodic, expectorant, anticatarrhal, diuretic, wound-healing.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 39

    Neem

    Azadirachta indica

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

    Ayurveda+3
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 235

    Eyebright

    Euphrasia officinalis

    Traditionally attributed effects: anticatarrhal, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory.

    Western herbal medicine+1Folklore
  • Caution

    Oceania · Herb · № 840

    Old man weed

    Centipeda cunninghamii

    A small herb traditionally used for colds, skin complaints and inflammation.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 999

    Orange jewelweed

    Impatiens capensis

    An annual, juicy herb with orange, spotted flowers. Ripe seed pods burst open when touched and shoot the seeds away, hence the names touch-me-not and jewelweed. The sap contains saponins and naphthoquinones; one study found it can prevent a poison ivy rash after short exposure, though washing with soap works at least as well.

    Cherokee medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 974

    Pacific crabapple

    Malus fusca

    A small apple tree with small, sour, oval apples and very tough wood. The bark contains tannins.

    Kwakwaka'wakw medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 154

    Passionflower

    Passiflora incarnata

    Used for anxiety and sleep problems. NCCIH notes some indications of an effect on anxiety but limited evidence.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3Folklore
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 326

    Partridge berry

    Mitchella repens

    Traditionally attributed effects: stimulates the uterus, tonic, restorative, astringent, diuretic.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 165

    Pau d'arco

    Handroanthus impetiginosus (syn. Tabebuia avellanedae)

    The inner bark is sold for fungal infections, inflammation and as a 'cancer remedy'. There is no reliable human evidence; its active compound lapachol proved too toxic at effective doses.

    The Guaraní and the mate tradition+2
  • Caution

    Oceania · 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
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 946

    Pipsissewa

    Chimaphila umbellata

    A low, evergreen dwarf shrub with leathery leaves and pink nodding flowers. Contains arbutin and related compounds, like bearberry.

    Haudenosaunee medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 192

    Aspen

    Populus tremuloides

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, fever-reducing, tonic, anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving (salicylates); restores the sensitive bladder (incontinence), calms the bowels in stress diarrhoea, heals wounds, lowers fever, relieves headache.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4Folklore
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 956

    Fringed sage

    Artemisia frigida

    A low, silver-grey, strongly scented wormwood shrub. Contains a volatile oil with camphor and cineole and, like other wormwoods, thujone.

    Lakota medicine+1
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 960

    Fringed puccoon

    Lithospermum incisum (syn. L. linearifolium)

    A member of the borage family with yellow trumpet-shaped flowers and a red root, related to Chinese gromwell (zi cao). Effects not studied.

    Lakota medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 958

    Prairie coneflower

    Ratibida columnifera (syn. R. columnaris)

    A member of the daisy family with drooping yellow or red-brown ray flowers around a long, columnar centre that smells when bruised. Effects not studied.

    Lakota medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 954

    American pasqueflower

    Pulsatilla nuttalliana (syn. P. patens subsp. multifida)

    A low plant of the buttercup family with hairy purple flowers that appear before the leaves. Like other pasqueflowers, the fresh plant contains protoanemonin, which strongly irritates skin and mucous membranes and raises blisters.

    Lakota medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 941

    Purple-stem angelica

    Angelica atropurpurea

    A tall umbellifer with a purple stem, related to European garden angelica. Contains essential oil and furanocoumarins, which make the skin sensitive to sunlight.

    Haudenosaunee medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 989

    Rabbit tobacco

    Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium (syn. Gnaphalium obtusifolium)

    An annual, grey-felted herb of the daisy family, with straw-coloured flower heads that keep their shape when dried. The dried herb smells sweet. Flavonoids and essential oil have been found in it; its effect is little studied.

    Cherokee medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Food · № 936

    Ramps

    Allium tricoccum

    A wild leek with broad leaves and a small bulb, related to European wild garlic. Leaves and bulb taste of onion and garlic.

    Haudenosaunee medicine+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 299

    Herb Robert

    Geranium robertianum

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stops bleeding.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 967

    Red alder

    Alnus rubra

    A fast-growing alder with smooth grey bark that turns red after cutting. The bark is rich in tannins and astringent.

    Kwakwaka'wakw medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 323

    Slippery elm

    Ulmus rubra (syn. U. fulva)

    Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, nourishing, astringent.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 368

    Red root

    Ceanothus americanus

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, antispasmodic, expectorant, calming; for a swollen spleen (e.g. after glandular fever), cools and constricts blood vessels in bleeding and congestion of the uterus, liver and lymph.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 975

    Redwood sorrel

    Oxalis oregana

    A low wood sorrel with large clover-like leaves and white or pink flowers, forming carpets under the trees. The leaf tastes sour from oxalic acid.

    Hupa medicine
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 2

    Rosemary

    Salvia rosmarinus (syn. Rosmarinus officinalis)

    An aromatic culinary herb with carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid. A few small studies point to a slight effect of the scent on alertness; that it improves memory has not been shown. The leaf is used for digestive complaints.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+4Folklore
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 201

    Rose geranium

    Pelargonium graveolens

    Traditionally attributed effects: antidepressant, pain-relieving, diuretic, calming, tonic.

    Western herbal medicine+1Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 595

    Sheep sorrel

    Rumex acetosella

    Traditionally attributed effects: induces sweating, diuretic, fever-reducing, stops bleeding; traditionally for cancer (ingredient of Essiac tea), relieves 'hot' conditions (fever, thirst, inflammation), boils, transient jaundice.

    Western herbal medicine+1
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 976

    Scouler's St John's wort

    Hypericum scouleri (syn. H. formosum var. scouleri)

    A native St John's wort with yellow, black-dotted flowers, related to common St John's wort. Like it, it contains hypericin and hyperforin.

    Hupa medicine
  • Caution

    Europe · Food · № 61

    Celery

    Apium graveolens

    Vegetable and spice. The seed was traditionally used for gout, joint complaints and as a diuretic. Convincing clinical evidence is lacking.

    Western herbal medicine+3Folklore
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 964

    Seneca snakeroot

    Polygala senega (syn. Senega officinalis)

    A low milkwort with white flower spikes. The root contains saponins that loosen phlegm and promote coughing; it is in the European Pharmacopoeia as a cough remedy.

    Anishinaabe medicine+1
  • Caution

    North America · Food · № 935

    Shagbark hickory

    Carya ovata

    A nut tree of the walnut family, with bark that peels away in long strips. The nuts are rich and sweet.

    Haudenosaunee medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 286

    California poppy

    Eschscholzia californica

    Traditionally attributed effects: pain-relieving, sleep-inducing, calming.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+1
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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