Herbal knowledge and the cultures that passed it on

Africa · Other · № 386

Baobab

Adansonia digitata

The dry fruit pulp is sour and rich in vitamin C and fibre; oil from the seeds is used for skin and hair. Medical claims have not been studied.

Europe · Herb · № 276

Bearberry

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Traditionally attributed effects: urinary antiseptic, astringent.

North America · Herb · № 224

Bee balm

Monarda didyma

The fragrant leaf contains thymol and is drunk as tea. Indigenous peoples used it for colds, fever and headache; studies in humans are lacking.

Africa · Herb · № 413

Pellitory root

Anacyclus pyrethrum

Traditionally attributed effects: promotes salivation, strengthens the nerves; for toothache and caries, sore throat, tonsillitis, epilepsy, rheumatism.

Europe · Herb · № 93

Betony

Betonica officinalis (syn. Stachys officinalis)

Traditionally used for tension headaches and nervousness. Modern clinical research is lacking.

Asia · Herb · № 563

Bibhitaki

Terminalia bellerica

Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, tonic, expectorant, laxative (unripe fruit), cleansing.

Europe · Mineral · № 9

Epsom salt

Magnesium sulphate. In sufficient amounts it acts as a laxative because it holds water in the bowel. In a bath it is used to relax muscles; that magnesium is absorbed through the skin has not been shown.

North America · Herb · № 963

Blue lettuce

Lactuca tatarica subsp. pulchella (syn. L. pulchella)

A wild lettuce with blue flower heads and milky sap that forms large colonies by runners. Effects not studied.

North America · Herb · № 991

Flowering dogwood

Cornus florida

A small tree with large white bracts around a knot of tiny flowers in spring, red berries and red autumn leaves. The bark is astringent and bitter; in the American Civil War it served as a substitute for quinine, and in the laboratory compounds from the bark moderately inhibited the malaria parasite. The berries are poisonous to people.

Central America and the Caribbean · Food · № 265

Beans

Phaseolus vulgaris

A legume rich in protein and fibre. Raw or undercooked beans contain the toxic phytohaemagglutinin; thorough cooking is needed. Beans are otherwise mainly food, not medicine.

North America · Herb · № 306

Smooth hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens

Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, laxative, stimulates the kidneys.

Europe · Food · № 255

Blackberry

Rubus fruticosus

Traditionally attributed effects: astringent; for damp stomach and bowel complaints, diarrhoea, mucus; syrup or liqueur against sore throat.

Europe · Food · № 48

Stinging nettle

Urtica dioica

A food and fiber plant with a long tradition in folk medicine. Medical claims are not established.

Africa · Herb · № 26

Buchu

Agathosma betulina

Fragrant leaves used as a flavoring and in folk medicine; clinical evidence for treatment is lacking.

North America · Herb · № 978

California bay laurel

Umbellularia californica

An evergreen tree of the laurel family with strongly scented leaves. The leaf contains umbellulone, which causes headache when inhaled and is poisonous in large amounts.

Africa · Herb · № 287

Calumba

Jateorhiza palmata

Traditionally attributed effects: bitter digestive tonic, carminative, lowers blood pressure.

North America · Herb · № 582

Canadian goldenrod

Solidago canadensis

Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing; heals the bladder wall (incontinence, irritation), for allergies and stuck mucus after a cold, eyewash for hay fever.

South America · Herb · № 911

Canchalagua

Schkuhria pinnata

A small, finely branched annual herb of the daisy family with tiny yellow flowers. It tastes bitter. There is laboratory research on compounds that act on blood sugar, but studies in people are lacking.

South America · Herb · № 852

Canelo (Winter's bark)

Drimys winteri

A tree with a peppery, bitter bark. As Winter's bark it was a remedy for scurvy for centuries; otherwise its effects are little studied.

South America · Herb · № 162

Catuaba

Anemopaegma arvense / Erythroxylum catuaba

Sold in Brazil as a stimulant and aphrodisiac. There is no good clinical research; products vary because several different trees are called 'catuaba'.

South America · Herb · № 1002

Chachacomo

Escallonia resinosa (en verwante soorten, o.a. E. micrantha)

A shrub or tree of 2 to 10 metres with reddish, papery bark and small, finely toothed leaves full of resin and essential oil. Almost nothing has been studied about its effect in people.

Europe · Mushroom · № 578

Chaga

Inonotus obliquus

Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, adaptogen, antioxidant; regulates the immune system (also in autoimmune diseases), lowers cholesterol, balances blood sugar, anti-inflammatory.

Africa · Herb · № 453

Chaksu

Cassia absus

Traditionally attributed effects: bitter, astringent, lowers blood pressure; leaves for cough; seeds for ringworm, skin diseases, conjunctivitis and eye inflammation.

South America · Herb · № 919

Chanca piedra (stonebreaker)

Phyllanthus niruri (en P. stipulatus, P. urinaria)

A small herb with rows of fine leaflets and tiny fruits beneath them. In experiments it inhibited the formation of kidney stone crystals and acted as a diuretic; small studies in people do not yet give clear evidence.

Central America and the Caribbean · Food · № 825

Chaya (tree spinach)

Cnidoscolus aconitifolius

A nutritious leaf vegetable of the Maya.

South America · Herb · № 862

Chilco

Fuchsia magellanica

The wild fuchsia, with drooping red and purple flowers. Traditionally as a diuretic and for fever; research is lacking.

South America · Herb · № 917

Chuchuhuasi

Maytenus macrocarpa (syn. Monteverdia macrocarpa); in Noord-Peru ook Heisteria acuminata

A large tree with thick, reddish-brown bark. The bark contains triterpenes and sesquiterpenes, among other compounds; extracts were anti-inflammatory in experiments. Studies in people are lacking.

Europe · Herb · № 225

Chicory

Cichorium intybus

Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, laxative, tonic.

South America · Herb · № 183

Coca

Erythroxylum coca

The leaf contains a small amount of cocaine and other alkaloids. Chewing it or drinking it as tea is used in the Andes against hunger, fatigue and altitude sickness; evidence for the latter is limited. Cocaine, the first local anaesthetic and today mainly an addictive drug, was isolated from the leaf.

South America · Herb · № 984

Cojamba

Helosis cayennensis

A plant without chlorophyll that parasitises the roots of trees and shrubs (family Balanophoraceae). It looks like a young mushroom, until the 'cap' turns out to be a reddish-brown spike full of tiny flowers. Its action has hardly been studied.

South America · Herb · № 856

Culén

Grimolobium glandulosum (syn. Otholobium glandulosum, Psoralea glandulosa)

A shrub of the pea family with glandular, fragrant leaves. Traditionally used for digestive complaints, diarrhoea and on wounds; good research is lacking.

Europe · Herb · № 320

Wild garlic

Allium ursinum

Traditionally attributed effects: antimicrobial, lowers blood sugar, lowers cholesterol.

North America · Herb · № 948

Threeleaf goldthread

Coptis trifolia

A small evergreen herb with golden-yellow thread-like roots. These contain berberine, a bitter compound that inhibits bacteria in laboratory tests; related to Chinese goldthread (huang lian).

Asia · Herb · № 495

Asafoetida

Ferula foetida

Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, carminative, antispasmodic, expectorant, mildly laxative, expels worms, promotes menstruation, stimulates nerves and lungs.

North America · Herb · № 966

Devil's club

Oplopanax horridus

An ivy-like shrub with large, hand-shaped leaves and spines over the whole stem and the leaf veins. Research into a blood-sugar-lowering effect is at an early stage.

Europe · Herb · № 289

Centaury

Centaurium erythraea

Traditionally attributed effects: bitter, stimulates the liver.