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 · № 447
Caesalpinia crista
Traditionally attributed effects: antipyretic, antispasmodic, bitter tonic, expels worms, fever-reducing; for fever, intermittent fever, asthma, colic, swellings, bleeding, liver disorders, convulsions and nervous complaints.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 463
Cissus quadrangularis
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, stomachic; speeds bone healing in fractures, stem juice for irregular menstruation and scurvy, for asthma, indigestion, ear infection and nosebleeds.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 353
Bacopa monnieri
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the heart and nerves, diuretic, mildly laxative, calming; for urinary retention with constipation, acute bronchitis and cough in children, exhaustion and nervous breakdown, hysteria, epilepsy, hoarseness.
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 462
Cissampelos pareira
Traditionally attributed effects: mildly stomachic, bitter tonic, diuretic, dissolves stones, astringent; for intestinal complaints, indigestion, diarrhoea, prolapsed uterus, internal inflammation, urinary tract diseases, purifies the blood in skin diseases.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 556
Sphaeranthus indicus
Traditionally attributed effects: bitter, tonic, stomachic, stimulating, cleansing; for bile complaints, tumours, worms, skin diseases (purifies the blood), bleeding haemorrhoids, syphilis, urethral discharge, conjunctivitis.
CautionAsia · Food · № 697
Lablab purpureus (syn. Dolichos lablab)
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the spleen and drains dampness in summer heat with diarrhoea and vomiting.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 532
Operculina turpethum
Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, anti-inflammatory; mild fluid-expelling laxative for chronic constipation, ascites, enlarged spleen; for rheumatism, paralysis, oedema, melancholy, gout, leprosy.
CautionAsia · Food · № 571
Zizyphus martiana
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stomachic; leaves for gonorrhoea, conjunctivitis, boils and abscesses, painful urination; bark for diarrhoea, dysentery, colic and gum inflammation.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 566
Urginea indica
Traditionally attributed effects: in small doses expectorant, stimulates the heart, diuretic, decongestant, promotes menstruation; in large doses emetic and laxative.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 565
Tribulus terrestris
Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, soothing, diuretic, tonic, aphrodisiac.
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 455
Cassia occidentalis
Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, fever-reducing, diuretic, antipyretic; root as an antidote and for fever and nerve pain, cramps in hysteria, flatulence; seeds for cough and whooping cough.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 231
Coriandrum sativum
Traditionally attributed effects: aromatic, stimulating, carminative, stomachic, cooling, tonic, diuretic; for flatulence, colic, rheumatism, nerve pain, sore throat, indigestion, vomiting, colds, bile complaints.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 208
Antirrhinum majus
An ornamental plant. In folk medicine leaves were laid as a poultice on sores and haemorrhoids; a medicinal effect has not been studied.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 544
Randia dumetorum
Traditionally attributed effects: fruit rind induces sweating and antispasmodic; bark calming and soothes the nerves; bark internally and externally for rheumatism, bruises and bone pain in fever, diarrhoea and dysentery; fruit emetic in acute bronchitis and asthma; scorpion stings.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 527
Moringa oleifera
Traditionally attributed effects: antispasmodic, stimulating, expectorant, diuretic, dissolves stones; leaves for scurvy and catarrh, flatulence in children, wounds and swellings; bark stimulates the heart in asthma and cough.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 39
Azadirachta indica
Used for centuries in traditional medicine in India, but there is insufficient clinical evidence of medical benefits.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 529
Nerium indicum
Traditionally attributed effects: strongly diuretic and strengthens the heart (like digitalis), abortifacient.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 488
Elephantopus scaber
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the heart, astringent, cleansing, fever-reducing, antibiotic; for painful urination, urethral discharge, diarrhoea, dysentery, vomiting, snake bites, ulcers, eczema.
CautionAsia · Food · № 487
Dolichos biflorus
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, diuretic, tonic, fever-reducing, expels worms, promotes menstruation, dissolves stones; for haemorrhoids, bronchitis, heart complaints, kidney stones, enlarged spleen, hiccups, asthma, leucoderma, leucorrhoea, menstrual cramps.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 443
Borassus flabellifer
Traditionally attributed effects: root cooling and restorative; sap diuretic, cooling, stimulating, anti-inflammatory; for hiccups, gastric catarrh, syphilis, gonorrhoea, bile and liver complaints, enlarged spleen, diabetes, tuberculosis.
CautionOceania · Herb · № 178
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.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 441
Boerhaavia diffusa
Traditionally attributed effects: bitter, stomachic, laxative, diuretic, expectorant, induces sweating, anti-inflammatory; for asthma, jaundice, oedema, anaemia, internal inflammation, snake bites.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 494
Evolvulus alsinoides
Traditionally attributed effects: bitter tonic, cleansing, fever-reducing, expels worms, anti-inflammatory; for fever, nervous weakness, memory loss, dysentery, diarrhoea and indigestion (with tulsi), chronic bronchitis and asthma.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 512
Hygrophila auriculata
Traditionally attributed effects: root cooling, bitter tonic, diuretic, soothing; seeds diuretic and aphrodisiac; for oedema, kidney stones and urogenital complaints, jaundice, impotence and weakness, asthma.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 210
Tulipa spp.
An ornamental flower. The petals are edible; the bulbs were eaten in times of need but can cause eczema on contact ('tulip fingers'). In Persian poetry the red tulip stands for love and martyrdom.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 466
Clitoria ternatea
Traditionally attributed effects: root mildly laxative, diuretic, expels worms; seeds strongly laxative; for ascites, enlarged abdominal organs, migraine (flower juice), gonorrhoea, bladder irritation, ulcers, swollen joints.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 108
Berberis vulgaris
Bark and root contain berberine, which is being studied for blood sugar and cholesterol. The berries are rich in vitamin C. Evidence for barberry itself is limited.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 363
Nigella sativa
Traditionally attributed effects: aromatic, diuretic and sudorific, promotes bile, stomachic, stimulating, carminative, expels worms, promotes menstruation and milk flow, antibacterial.
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.
Read moreFrom plant to use
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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.