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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

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81 results

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Recipes
Cooling sun teaWhite radish soup with Chinese asparagusWatercress and spare rib soup with dried figsCooling chamomile after-sun spray
Chinese formulas
Yin qiao sanSang ju yin
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 342

    Curry leaves

    Murraya koenigii

    Traditionally attributed effects: neither warming nor cooling; stimulates appetite and aids digestion without overheating; good for skin and hair.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 75

    Cleavers

    Galium aparine

    Used in Western herbalism as a 'lymphatic' herb for swollen glands and skin conditions. Scientific evidence is lacking.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+2
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 565

    Puncture vine

    Tribulus terrestris

    Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, soothing, diuretic, tonic, aphrodisiac.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 357

    Coconut

    Cocos nucifera

    Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, diuretic, antiseptic, laxative; root for uterine diseases, bronchitis, liver complaints, dysentery, sore throat (gargle); coconut water for thirst, fever, urinary complaints and vomiting; ash for scabies and toothache.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 500

    Kokum

    Garcinia indica

    Traditionally attributed effects: fruit cooling, promotes bile, soothing, antiscorbutic; bark astringent; oil for dysentery, mucous diarrhoea, tuberculosis, skin diseases, chapped lips, ointment base; fruit for hives.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 232

    Cumin

    Cuminum cyminum

    Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, aromatic, stomachic, stimulating, astringent, cooling; for gonorrhoea, chronic diarrhoea, indigestion, hoarseness; oil as a source of thymol against hookworms.

    Ayurveda+3Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 261

    Cucumber

    Cucumis sativus

    Traditionally attributed effects: fruit nourishing and soothing; seeds cooling, diuretic, tonic; for throat complaints, strongly diuretic with sugar, in fever.

    Ayurveda+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 231

    Coriander

    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.

    Greco-Roman medicine+5Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 226

    Linden

    Tilia × europaea

    Traditionally attributed effects: calming nerve remedy, induces sweating, vasodilating, restores the vessel walls, lowers blood pressure.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 359

    Red lentil

    Lens culinaris

    Traditionally attributed effects: easily digestible, beneficial in bleeding and fever; purifies the blood internally and externally; scrub improves circulation.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 559

    Lodh tree

    Symplocos racemosa

    Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, mildly astringent; for intestinal complaints, heavy menstruation, discharge from lax mucous membranes, oedema, liver complaints, fever, skin diseases, bleeding gums, eye diseases, ulcers, filariasis (chyluria, elephantiasis).

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 671

    Lophatherum (dan zhu ye)

    Lophatherum gracile

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat in heart and stomach in restlessness, thirst and mouth ulcers, and in painful urination.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 131

    Sacred lotus

    Nelumbo nucifera

    Almost every part is used: seeds for diarrhoea and restlessness, rhizome as food, leaf for 'summer heat'. Scientific evidence is mostly laboratory research.

    Ayurveda+3Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 520

    Mahua

    Madhuca longifolia

    Traditionally attributed effects: flowers cooling, soothing, expectorant, tonic, nourishing; bark astringent and tonic; for diabetes and rheumatism, bleeding gums, tonsil and throat inflammation, itching, bronchitis, cough, haemorrhoids.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 248

    Mango

    Mangifera indica

    Traditionally attributed effects: cooling herb, prevents a burning feeling and keeps you cool in the heat; aids digestion; good for skin and hair.

    Ayurveda+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 476

    Mango ginger

    Curcuma amada

    Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, cooling, aromatic, bitter, stomachic, astringent, lowers cholesterol; externally for bruises, sprains and skin diseases; purifies the blood.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 851

    Maqui

    Aristotelia chilensis

    A shrub with dark purple berries rich in anthocyanins. The leaf was traditionally used for wounds and sore throats. Health claims for 'superfood' products are unproven.

    Mapuche medicine
  • Caution

    Africa · Food · № 252

    Melon

    Cucumis melo

    A sweet, juicy fruit. In Chinese medicine the dried stalk (gua di) was used to induce vomiting; no medicinal effect is described for the fruit itself.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 509

    Musk mallow

    Hibiscus abelmoschus

    Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, carminative, cooling, diuretic, soothing, stomachic, antispasmodic, tonic; for nervous weakness, hysteria, indigestion, gonorrhoea, catarrh of the bladder and airways, itching.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 484

    Elephant apple

    Dillenia indica

    Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, laxative; cooling drink in fever, cough remedy; bark and leaves astringent.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 477

    East Indian arrowroot

    Curcuma angustifolia

    Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, soothing, nutritious; for dysentery, painful urination, gonorrhoea, typhoid, ulcers of the intestines and bladder; substitute for arrowroot.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 443

    Palmyra palm

    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.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 154

    Passionflower

    Passiflora incarnata

    Used for anxiety and sleep problems. NCCIH notes some indications of an effect on anxiety but limited evidence.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 133

    Psyllium

    Plantago ovata

    The seed husks form a mucilaginous gel: an established bulk-forming fibre for constipation and mild diarrhoea that can also modestly lower LDL cholesterol.

    Ayurveda+3
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 346

    Red sandalwood

    Pterocarpus santalinus

    Traditionally attributed effects: antipyretic, fever-reducing, aphrodisiac, astringent, bitter, cooling, induces sweating, expels worms; for chronic dysentery, bleeding haemorrhoids, bile complaints, skin diseases.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 89

    Rose and rose hip

    Rosa spp.

    Rose hips are rich in vitamin C; a hip powder has been studied for osteoarthritis with modest results. Rose water and oil are used in skin care and as fragrance.

    Avicenna's Canon in European universities+6Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 426

    Safed musli

    Asparagus adscendens

    Traditionally attributed effects: nourishing, tonic, promotes milk flow, soothing, cooling; for seminal loss, chronic leucorrhoea, diarrhoea, dysentery, general weakness, impotence.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 140

    Sandalwood

    Santalum album

    Used in Ayurveda as a 'cooling' remedy for skin irritation and urinary complaints; the oil is used in aromatherapy. Clinical evidence is limited.

    Ayurveda+6Folklore
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 117

    Senna

    Senna alexandrina

    Leaves and pods contain sennosides, a stimulant laxative that works for short-term constipation. It is used in modern over-the-counter laxatives.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+5
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 122

    Shatavari

    Asparagus racemosus

    In Ayurveda an important rejuvenating remedy for women, used for breastfeeding and stomach complaints. Studies are small and of variable quality.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 220

    Orange

    Citrus sinensis

    Traditionally attributed effects: against dandruff; sweet oranges good for skin and hair.

    Ayurveda+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 519

    Sponge gourd

    Luffa cylindrica

    Traditionally attributed effects: seeds emetic, laxative, diuretic; fruit cooling, soothing, stimulates appetite, diuretic, promotes milk flow; oil for skin conditions.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 538

    Bhumyamalaki

    Phyllanthus fraternus

    Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, astringent, cooling, laxative, bitter tonic; for oedema, gonorrhoea, urogenital diseases, jaundice, constipation, stomach ache, indigestion, dysentery, mild intermittent fever, heavy menstruation.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Mineral · № 702

    Talc (hua shi)

    Talcum (hydromagnesiumsilicaat)

    Traditionally attributed effects: cooling and soothing in painful urination and summer heat; externally drying on weeping skin.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 512

    Talmakhana

    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.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Africa · Food · № 560

    Tamarind

    Tamarindus indica

    Traditionally attributed effects: ripe fruit sour, cooling, carminative, laxative, antiscorbutic, promotes bile; for inflamed swellings, bilious vomiting, conjunctivitis (flowers), bleeding haemorrhoids, throat complaints, ulcers, paralysis (bark), gonorrhoea (ash).

    Local African healing 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.

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