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

Also found

Recipes: Tea for a starting cold Tincture for the cold season
Chinese formulas: Yi guan jian
Treatment by condition: Cancer

Caution
Asia · Herb · № 678
Amur cork tree bark (huang bai)
Phellodendron amurense
Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat from the lower body and cools heat from kidney yin deficiency.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 670
Anemarrhena (zhi mu)
Anemarrhena asphodeloides
Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat in lungs and stomach and nourishes yin in fever, thirst and night sweats.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 197
Carnation
Dianthus spp.
The clove pink has fragrant, edible petals. In Chinese medicine the related Dianthus superbus (qu mai) is used for bladder infections; no medicinal effect is described for the garden carnation.
Folk magic and herbal magic+1Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 149
Astragalus (huang qi)
Astragalus membranaceus
In Chinese medicine an important strengthening herb ('qi tonic') for fatigue, catching colds easily and sweating. NCCIH notes there is little reliable human research.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 757
Flattened milkvetch seed (sha yuan zi)
Astragalus complanatus
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang, holds in the essence and strengthens the eyesight.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 36
Asian ginseng
Panax ginseng (ook P. quinquefolius)
Research consists mostly of small, short studies; there is little evidence of health effects.
Chinese medical traditions+3
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 542
Babchi
Psoralea corylifolia
Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, expels worms, diuretic, induces sweating, antibacterial; for leprosy and leucoderma (vitiligo) internally and externally, bile complaints.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 677
Baikal skullcap (huang qin)
Scutellaria baicalensis
Traditionally attributed effects: cools and dries damp heat, especially in the lungs and upper body; calms a restless foetus from heat.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 310
Balloon flower
Platycodon grandiflorus
Traditionally attributed effects: expectorant, antifungal, antibacterial, lowers blood sugar.
Chinese medical traditions+3
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 134
Bamboo
Phyllostachys nigra
In Chinese medicine bamboo shavings (zhu ru) and bamboo sap are used for coughs with yellow phlegm, nausea and restlessness. Ayurveda uses silica-rich bamboo manna. Clinical research is scarce.
Ayurveda+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 293
Pubescent angelica (du huo)
Angelica pubescens
Traditionally attributed effects: antirheumatic, pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 229
Benzoin
Styrax benzoin
Traditionally attributed effects: expectorant, astringent, antispasmodic.
Chinese medical traditions+3Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 747
Prepared aconite (fu zi)
Aconitum carmichaelii (bereide zijwortel)
Traditionally attributed effects: the most strongly warming remedy in Chinese medicine, for collapse of yang and pain from cold.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 67
Borage
Borago officinalis
The seed oil, rich in gamma-linolenic acid, has been studied for eczema and joint inflammation with mixed results. The leaf was traditionally used to reduce fever and as a tonic.
Western herbal medicine+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 419
Areca nut
Areca catechu
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, astringent, expels tapeworm, laxative, carminative, aphrodisiac; against roundworms and tapeworms, strengthens the gums, for urinary complaints, heartburn during pregnancy, lumbago.
Ayurveda+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 354
Bhringraj
Eclipta prostrata
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the liver, decongestant, tonic, cleansing, antiviral; for enlarged liver and spleen, skin diseases, fever, oedema, rheumatism; hair oil for black and full hair; for swollen glands, elephantiasis, headache and toothache.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 64
Mugwort
Artemisia vulgaris
Traditionally used as a digestive bitter and to bring on delayed periods. Clinical evidence is largely lacking.
Anglo-Saxon medicine+4Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 123
Bitter orange
Citrus × aurantium
The dried unripe fruit (zhi shi) and peel are used in Chinese medicine for bloating and sluggish digestion. NCCIH warns that weight-loss products containing bitter orange (synephrine) pose risks to the heart and blood pressure.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 735
Bletilla rhizome (bai ji)
Bletilla striata
Traditionally attributed effects: stops bleeding in lung and stomach and promotes wound healing.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Food · № 284
Buckwheat
Fagopyrum esculentum
Traditionally attributed effects: lowers blood pressure, vasodilating, restores the vessel walls.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Mineral · № 781
Borax (peng sha)
Borax (natriumtetraboraat)
Traditionally attributed effects: externally for small ulcers in mouth, throat and vagina and for athlete's foot.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Other · № 770
Borneol (bing pian)
Dryobalanops aromatica (borneol)
Traditionally attributed effects: opens the sense orifices, cools heat and relieves pain; mainly external.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 557
Nux vomica
Strychnos nux-vomica
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the nerves, stomachic, tonic, aphrodisiac, stimulates the spinal cord, breathing and heart.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
North America · Herb · № 631
Brewer's angelica
Angelica breweri, A. arguta, A. hendersonii
Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind, dampness and cold in stiff, painful joints, opens the surface in wind-cold and moves qi and blood in pain.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 688
Java brucea fruit (ya dan zi)
Brucea javanica
Traditionally attributed effects: was used for amoebic dysentery, malaria and externally for warts.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Mineral · № 783
Calcite (han shui shi)
Calcitum (calciumcarbonaat)
Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat in fever with thirst and summer heat; externally on hot small ulcers and burns.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
North America · Herb · № 630
California figwort
Scrophularia californica, S. lanceolata
Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat in the blood and nourishes yin, drains damp heat and disperses swellings.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
North America · Herb · № 627
California spikenard
Aralia californica
Traditionally attributed effects: opens the surface in wind-cold and fever without sweating, warms the lung and stops cough with abundant white or clear phlegm, and (roasted with honey) strengthens the energy of lung and spleen.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Mineral · № 798
Calomel (qing fen)
Calomelas (kwikchloride)
Traditionally attributed effects: was used externally against scabies and sores; contains mercury.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
North America · Herb · № 34
Goldenseal
Hydrastis canadensis
There is not enough evidence to determine whether goldenseal helps any health condition.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+6Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 710
Capillaris (yin chen hao)
Artemisia capillaris
Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat from liver and gallbladder; main herb for jaundice.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 396
Catechu
Acacia catechu
Traditionally attributed effects: strongly astringent; for chronic diarrhoea and dysentery, bleeding haemorrhoids, uterine bleeding, leucorrhoea; bleeding or inflamed gums, mouth ulcers, enlarged tonsils; bedsores; promotes milk flow.
Ayurveda+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 511
Chaulmoogra
Hydnocarpus laurifolia
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, stimulating, inhibits bacterial growth; chaulmoogra oil for leprosy (reduces nodules and skin lesions) and skin diseases.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 766
Cherokee rose (jin ying zi)
Rosa laevigata
Traditionally attributed effects: holds in the essence and curbs diarrhoea and frequent urination.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 290
Bupleurum (chai hu)
Bupleurum chinense
Traditionally attributed effects: energy tonic, stimulates the liver, cooling, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, promotes bile, lowers cholesterol.
Chinese medical traditions+3
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 148
Weeping forsythia (lian qiao)
Forsythia suspensa
The fruits (lian qiao) are a 'cooling' herb in Chinese medicine for early colds with sore throat and fever, and for skin inflammation. There is little clinical research on lian qiao alone.
Chinese medical traditions+3

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.

From plant to use

Ways to prepare herbs

All preparations →

Discover more

Traditions, kitchen and classical formulas

43 traditions

Cultures & traditions

How communities built up and passed on their knowledge of plants, region by region.

All traditions →

113 recipes

Recipes

Soups, teas and dishes in which herbs play a leading role.

All recipes →

146 formulas

Chinese formulas

The classical Chinese formulas, also listed by condition.

Treatment by condition →All formulas →