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

Chinese formulas: Wen dan tang San huang xie xin tang Dang gui long hui wan Ba zheng san Wu lin san Long dan xie gan tang Shi gao tang Da chai hu tang Xiao chai hu tang
Treatment by condition: Hepatitis Headache and migraine

Caution
Asia · Herb · № 714
Chinese clematis root (wei ling xian)
Clematis chinensis
Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind and dampness and moves the qi in pain anywhere in the body.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 125
Chinese ephedra (ma huang)
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.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 681
Korean ash bark (qin pi)
Fraxinus chinensis subsp. rhynchophylla
Traditionally attributed effects: for diarrhoea and dysentery from damp heat, red eyes and cough with heat.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 679
Chinese gentian (long dan cao)
Gentiana scabra
Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat and fire from liver and gallbladder.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 660
Chinese lovage root (gao ben)
Ligusticum sinense
Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-cold and relieves above all headache at the crown, toothache and rheumatic pain.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 703
Gold coin grass (jin qian cao)
Lysimachia christinae (ook Desmodium styracifolium)
Traditionally attributed effects: helps pass kidney and gallstones and drains damp heat from the liver.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 741
Chinese bugleweed (ze lan)
Lycopus lucidus
Traditionally attributed effects: moves the blood and regulates menstruation; diuretic.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 225
Chicory
Cichorium intybus
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, laxative, tonic.
Western herbal medicine+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 731
Costus root (mu xiang)
Dolomiaea costus (syn. Saussurea lappa, Aucklandia lappa)
Traditionally attributed effects: moves the qi in spleen, stomach, intestine, liver and gallbladder; helps digest tonics.
Ayurveda+3
Caution
North America · Herb · № 579
Chaparral
Larrea divaricata
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stimulating, cleansing, diuretic; detoxifies the liver and body, anti-inflammatory, for arthritis, strengthens bladder and kidneys, externally for haemorrhoids, boils, bedsores and bruises.
Western herbal medicine
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 56
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Traditionally used to stop bleeding from minor wounds, for fevers and colds, and as a digestive bitter. Clinical evidence is limited.
Greco-Roman medicine+6Folklore
Caution
North America · Herb · № 14
Echinacea
Echinacea purpurea
Studied for colds and respiratory infections. It may slightly reduce the chance of catching a cold; effects on duration and other conditions are uncertain.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+5Folklore
Caution
Asia · Mushroom · № 701
Umbrella polypore (zhu ling)
Polyporus umbellatus
Traditionally attributed effects: drains fluid via the urine in oedema and difficult urination.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 585
Horny goat weed
Epimedium grandiflorum
Traditionally attributed effects: aphrodisiac, diuretic, tonic; increases libido, helps with erectile problems and fertility, strengthens the bladder sphincter and kidney function.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 820
Estafiate (white sagebrush)
Artemisia ludoviciana
A bitter, aromatic herb used in Mexico for stomach ache and digestive complaints.
Curanderismo+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 200
Gardenia (zhi zi)
Gardenia jasminoides
Traditionally attributed effects: fever-reducing, calming, lowers blood pressure, antibacterial, promotes bile.
Chinese medical traditions+3Folklore
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 76
Great yellow gentian
Gentiana lutea
The root is one of the most bitter substances known and has long been used to stimulate appetite and digestion. Studies are small.
Greco-Roman medicine+1
Caution
Asia · Food · № 269
Barley
Hordeum vulgare
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, light; good for skin and hair.
Ayurveda+4Folklore
Caution
North America · Herb · № 327
Fragrant sumac
Rhus aromatica
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, tonic, antidiabetic, diuretic.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+1
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 88
Self-heal
Prunella vulgaris
In Europe an old wound herb and gargle for sore throats; in Chinese medicine used for 'heat' and swollen glands. Research is mostly laboratory work.
Western herbal medicine+2
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 317
Pellitory-of-the-wall
Parietaria judaica (syn. P. diffusa)
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, soothing, calms the urinary tract lining.
Western herbal medicine
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 49
Pot marigold (calendula)
Calendula officinalis
An edible flower historically used as medicine and dye. Its oil is widely used in skin products.
Monastic and folk knowledge+2Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 344
Cardamom
Elettaria cardamomum
Traditionally attributed effects: aromatic, pungent, strengthens the heart, stomachic, laxative, diuretic, carminative; for asthma, bronchitis, haemorrhoids, bladder complaints, flatulence, cramps from laxatives, dizziness, indigestion, vomiting.
Ayurveda+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 713
Large-leaf gentian (qin jiao)
Gentiana macrophylla
Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind and dampness in cold and hot joint pain and cools heat from yin deficiency.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 591
Purple loosestrife
Lythrum salicaria
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, antibiotic, antispasmodic, diuretic, induces sweating, tonic, soothing; for dysentery and bacterial diarrhoea, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's), strengthens kidneys and bladder, for the eyes.
Western herbal medicine
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 62
Greater burdock
Arctium lappa
In Europe the root was considered a 'blood-cleansing' herb for skin problems such as eczema and acne; the seed is used in Chinese medicine for sore throats. Clinical evidence is weak.
Western herbal medicine+5
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 316
Parsley piert
Aphanes arvensis
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, soothing.
Western herbal medicine
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 339
Water plantain (ze xie)
Alisma plantago-aquatica (syn. A. orientale)
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, lowers blood pressure, antibacterial, cleanses the liver.
Western herbal medicine+1
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 82
Motherwort
Leonurus cardiaca
Traditionally used for stress-related palpitations, nervousness and menstrual complaints. Clinical research is scarce.
Western herbal medicine+1
Caution
South America · Herb · № 881
Hercampuri
Gentianella alborosea (en G. nitida)
A small, very bitter herb of the gentian family. It is sold for liver, gallbladder and cholesterol complaints and for weight loss; good research is lacking.
Curanderismo of northern Peru
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 393
Himalayan silver fir
Abies spectabilis
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, stomachic, tonic, astringent, antispasmodic, expectorant; for cough, asthma, chronic bronchitis, lung conditions and bladder catarrh; for an enlarged spleen.
Ayurveda
Caution
Africa · Herb · № 480
Bermuda grass
Cynodon dactylon
Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, astringent, diuretic, stops bleeding, mildly laxative; for oedema, blood in the urine, vomiting, chronic diarrhoea, hysteria, bleeding haemorrhoids, bladder irritation, bladder stones, gout and rheumatism.
Ayurveda
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 461
Indian bay leaf
Cinnamomum tamala
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, stimulating, diuretic and sudorific, decongestant, promotes milk flow; for lack of appetite, bladder complaints, dry mouth, colds, diarrhoea, nausea, indigestion, flatulence, vomiting.
Ayurveda+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 687
Japanese climbing fern (jin sha teng)
Lygodium japonicum
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic in cystitis and stones; also for sore throat and mumps.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 785
Bush cherry pit (yu li ren)
Prunus japonica
Traditionally attributed effects: moistens the bowel in constipation with stagnation and promotes urination in oedema.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 81
Juniper
Juniperus communis
The berries are traditionally used as a diuretic, for digestive complaints and externally for joint pain. Clinical evidence is limited.
Western herbal medicine+5Folklore

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

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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.

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113 recipes

Recipes

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

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146 formulas

Chinese formulas

The classical Chinese formulas, also listed by condition.

Treatment by condition →All formulas →