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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 · № 241

    Patchouli

    Pogostemon cablin

    Traditionally attributed effects: inhibits sebum production, draws oil from the skin, fights acne bacteria; against dandruff.

    Chinese medical traditions+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 522

    Chinaberry

    Melia azedarach

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, tonic, antipyretic, expels worms; fruit laxative; oil insecticidal and antiseptic.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 395

    Rosary pea

    Abrus precatorius

    Traditionally attributed effects: seeds purgative, emetic, tonic, anti-inflammatory, aphrodisiac; leaf juice for sore throat and dry cough, purifies the blood; leaf paste for swellings and rheumatism; seed paste for sciatica and paralysis; eyewash.

    Ayurveda
  • 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

    Asia · Herb · № 685

    Patrinia (bai jiang cao)

    Patrinia scabiosifolia (en P. villosa)

    Traditionally attributed effects: detoxifies, drains pus and moves the blood in pain with heat.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • 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

    Europe · Food · № 259

    Carrot

    Daucus carota

    Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, diuretic, tonic, carminative; expels kidney and bladder stones, relieves lower back pain from the kidneys, reduces oedema, restores the bladder, stimulates digestion; seed traditionally as a contraceptive.

    Western herbal medicine+4Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Food · № 244

    Pear

    Pyrus communis

    A fibre-rich fruit with sorbitol, which is mildly laxative. In Chinese medicine pear (li) is cooked with rock sugar for a dry cough; no effect is described for other uses.

    Folk magic and herbal magic+1Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 656

    Perilla

    Perilla frutescens

    Traditionally attributed effects: warms in colds from cold, helps digestion and soothes cough with phlegm.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 885

    Peruvian matico (spiked pepper)

    Piper aduncum

    A shrub of the pepper family with rough, fragrant leaves. The leaf was traditionally used to stop bleeding; research is limited.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 884

    Peruvian elder

    Sambucus peruviana

    A tree with white flower umbels and dark berries, related to the European elder. Flowers and leaves are considered sweat-inducing and anti-inflammatory.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 249

    Peach

    Prunus persica

    A juicy summer fruit. In Chinese medicine the kernels (tao ren) are used to move the blood; raw they are poisonous because of amygdalin.

    Chinese medical traditions+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 769

    Persian silk tree (he huan pi)

    Albizia julibrissin

    Traditionally attributed effects: calms the mind in anger and low mood and lets the blood flow in pain and swelling.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 219

    Parsley

    Petroselinum crispum

    A culinary herb rich in vitamins C and K. Root and seed were used as a diuretic. Large amounts of seed or oil are toxic and can induce contractions.

    Greco-Roman medicine+1Folklore
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 860

    Peumo

    Cryptocarya alba

    An evergreen tree of the laurel family with fragrant leaves and edible red fruits. Traditionally for liver and joint complaints; research is lacking.

    Mapuche medicine
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 870

    Pichi

    Fabiana imbricata

    A small shrub of the nightshade family that looks like a conifer. Traditionally for bladder and urinary complaints and for digestion; laboratory research points to a stomach-protecting effect.

    Mapuche medicine
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 391

    Arrowroot

    Maranta arundinacea

    Traditionally attributed effects: absorbs moisture.

  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 787

    Birthwort fruit (ma dou ling)

    Aristolochia debilis

    Traditionally attributed effects: was used for cough with a lot of phlegm and high blood pressure; banned because of kidney damage.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 786

    Aristolochia root (guang fang ji)

    Aristolochia fangchi

    Traditionally attributed effects: was used for hot, painful joints and oedema; banned because of kidney damage.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 212

    Allspice

    Pimenta dioica

    The dried berries contain eugenol, like cloves, and give a warm flavour. In Caribbean folk medicine they are used for stomach ache and wind; research is lacking.

    Maya healing knowledge+3Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 275

    Pinellia (ban xia)

    Pinellia ternata

    Traditionally attributed effects: cough-suppressing, expectorant, against vomiting, anticatarrhal.

    Chinese medical traditions+3
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 1009

    Pinku pinku

    Ephedra americana

    A leafless shrub with green, jointed stems, related to the Chinese ma huang. Ephedra species contain ephedrine, which widens the airways but also raises heart rate and blood pressure; how much this species contains has been little studied.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge
  • 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

    Asia · Herb · № 704

    Soft rush pith (deng xin cao)

    Juncus effusus

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools the heart and promotes urination in cystitis and restlessness.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 590

    Pennyroyal

    Mentha pulegium

    Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, astringent, promotes menstruation, induces sweating; brings on delayed menstruation, calms the stomach, lowers sudden high fever.

    Greco-Roman medicine+2
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Food · № 263

    Squash

    Cucurbita moschata

    Traditionally attributed effects: heart-warming and nourishing for body, mind and soul; good for skin and hair.

    Maya healing knowledge+6Folklore
  • 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

    Asia · Food · № 689

    Purslane (ma chi xian)

    Portulaca oleracea

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood in dysentery and painful urination; externally for ulcers and insect bites.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 502

    Flame lily

    Gloriosa superba

    Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, antipyretic, promotes bile, expels worms, cleansing, laxative; against lice, for gonorrhoea, leprosy, colic, worms; promotes contractions; compress for rheumatism and nerve pain.

    Local African healing traditions+1
  • 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

    Europe · Food · № 264

    Leek

    Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum

    A vegetable with fibre, vitamin K and sulphur compounds, related to onion and garlic. Leek soup is an old home remedy for colds and hoarseness.

    Anglo-Saxon medicine+1Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Food · № 251

    Plum

    Prunus domestica

    Prunes contain fibre and sorbitol and help with constipation; there is some research on this.

    Folk magic and herbal magicFolklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 748

    Pseudostellaria root (tai zi shen)

    Pseudostellaria heterophylla

    Traditionally attributed effects: a mild qi tonic that also replenishes body fluids.

    Chinese medical traditions
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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