From Ayurveda to Rongoā Māori
Communities around the world learned how plants nourish, care and heal. Here their traditions stand beside present-day use, with respect for every culture.
GrapeFolk magic and herbal magic
BuchuLocal African healing traditions
Indian tobaccoCherokee medicine
Lignum vitaeHerbal knowledge of the Caribbean
Yerba mateKallawaya healing knowledge
CautionAsia · Herb · № 148
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.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 642
Asparagus cochinchinensis
Traditionally attributed effects: moistening; for recovery after illness or surgery, chronically dry skin and for the production of sex hormones.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 738
Artemisia argyi
Traditionally attributed effects: warms the meridians and uterus, stops bleeding from cold and relieves pain; the herb of moxa.
CautionAsia · Food · № 636
Ziziphus jujuba
Traditionally attributed effects: sweet and strengthening in fatigue, anaemia and low energy; builds strength and blood and softens herbal dishes.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 125
Ephedra sinica
Contains ephedrine, which widens the airways and stimulates the nervous system and heart. It is the origin of modern ephedrine and pseudoephedrine medicines. As a supplement it has proved dangerous.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 120
Angelica sinensis
In Chinese medicine one of the most important herbs to 'nourish the blood', especially for menstrual complaints. Western studies found no clear effect on menopausal symptoms.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 679
Gentiana scabra
Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat and fire from liver and gallbladder.
Asia · Herb · № 304
Coptis chinensis
Traditionally attributed effects: promotes bile, antibacterial, pain-relieving, calming, anti-inflammatory.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 663
Asarum sieboldii (en A. heterotropoides)
Traditionally attributed effects: warms in wind-cold, relieves pain from cold and loosens cold phlegm in the lungs.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 729
Amomum villosum (en A. kravanh)
Traditionally attributed effects: warms the spleen, transforms dampness, calms a restless foetus and prevents tonics from lying heavy on the stomach.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 138
Salvia miltiorrhiza
The red root is used in Chinese medicine to 'promote blood circulation', especially for heart and vascular complaints. There are many studies in China, often of limited quality.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 768
Polygala tenuifolia
Traditionally attributed effects: calms the mind and clears phlegm from 'the openings of the heart' and from the lungs.
CautionAsia · Food · № 635
Dioscorea polystachya (syn. D. opposita)
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens spleen, stomach and lungs, helps regulate the hormone system in women and is said to lower blood sugar.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 665
Actaea cimicifuga (syn. Cimicifuga foetida)
Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-heat, helps rashes come out and lifts the energy in prolapse.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 731
Dolomiaea costus (syn. Saussurea lappa, Aucklandia lappa)
Traditionally attributed effects: moves the qi in spleen, stomach, intestine, liver and gallbladder; helps digest tonics.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 659
Angelica dahurica
Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-cold, opens the nose and relieves headache and toothache; helps drain pus.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 972
Moneses uniflora
A small plant of the heath family with a single nodding, white, fragrant flower. The pounded plant irritates the skin and can raise blisters.
CautionAsia · Mushroom · № 701
Polyporus umbellatus
Traditionally attributed effects: drains fluid via the urine in oedema and difficult urination.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 751
Eucommia ulmoides
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens liver and kidneys, tendons and bones; calms rising liver yang and a restless foetus.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 336
Tetradium ruticarpum (syn. Evodia rutaecarpa)
Traditionally attributed effects: pain-relieving, antibacterial, warming, stimulating.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 200
Gardenia jasminoides
Traditionally attributed effects: fever-reducing, calming, lowers blood pressure, antibacterial, promotes bile.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 774
Gastrodia elata
Traditionally attributed effects: calms liver wind and relieves headache, dizziness and cramps.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 1
Zingiber officinale
Traditionally used for nausea and digestive discomfort; it has a warming flavor.
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 668
Gypsum fibrosum (calciumsulfaat)
Traditionally attributed effects: strongly cooling in high fever with thirst and sweating, lung heat and stomach fire.
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 698
Mirabilitum (natriumsulfaat)
Traditionally attributed effects: softens the stool in constipation from heat and dryness.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 772
Acorus tatarinowii (syn. A. gramineus)
Traditionally attributed effects: opens the sense orifices, clears the mind and expels dampness and phlegm.
CautionAsia · Food · № 16
Camellia sinensis
A brewed tea. Evidence does not establish most health claims; extracts differ from the ordinary beverage.
Caution
CautionAsia · Food · № 645
Coix lacryma-jobi
Traditionally attributed effects: nourishing grain that drives dampness from the body; for arthritis and rheumatism, diuretic, and to relieve a full chest and stomach ulcers.
CautionAsia · Food · № 733
Diospyros kaki
Traditionally attributed effects: the calyx makes the stomach energy descend in hiccups and belching.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 686
Houttuynia cordata
Traditionally attributed effects: detoxifies and drains pus, especially in lung infections; diuretic.
CautionAsia · Food · № 38
Cinnamomum verum
A spice made from inner bark. Research on health effects is preliminary; cinnamon is not a treatment.
CautionEurope · Other · № 382
Laminaria spp. / Ascophyllum nodosum
Brown seaweeds are rich in iodine and alginate. They are used in scrubs and as food supplements; too much iodine can disrupt the thyroid.
CautionEurope · Food · № 256
Prunus avium
A fruit rich in vitamin C. The dried stalks were used in folk medicine as a diuretic. Sour cherries have been studied for gout and sleep, with preliminary results.
CautionAsia · Food · № 661
Allium fistulosum
Traditionally attributed effects: diaphoretic at the start of a cold from cold; externally on swellings.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 655
Magnolia biondii (syn. M. liliflora)
Traditionally attributed effects: warms and opens the nose in blocked sinuses and headache from wind-cold.
Featured · Central America and the Caribbean · Curanderismo
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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43 traditions
How communities built up and passed on their knowledge of plants, region by region.
113 recipes
Soups, teas and dishes in which herbs play a leading role.
146 formulas
The classical Chinese formulas, also listed by condition.