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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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140 results

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Sumac lemonadeHerbal honey for colds and fluBath oil for colds and flu
Chinese formulas
Ma huang fu zi xi xin tangXing su sanChai hu gui zhi tangGui zhi fu ling wanGui zhi tangShu jing huo xue tangDang gui shao yao sanQing zao jiu fei tangSheng mai sanZeng ye tangYu ping feng sanYin qiao sanQing shu yi qi tangXiao qing long tangSang ju yinLing gui zhu gan tangGe gen tangZhen wu tangBai hu tang
Treatment by condition
Flu and pneumoniaMenopauseEpilepsy
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 755

    Cibotium (gou ji)

    Cibotium barometz

    Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang, bones and tendons in a stiff, painful lower back and knees.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 760

    Cistanche (rou cong rong)

    Cistanche deserticola

    Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang, moistens the bowel and warms the uterus.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 381

    Lemongrass

    Cymbopogon citratus

    Traditionally attributed effects: for oily hair.

    Ayurveda+3
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 777

    Cnidium seed (she chuang zi)

    Cnidium monnieri

    Traditionally attributed effects: externally for itching and fungus around the genitals; internally a kidney yang tonic.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 639

    Codonopsis (dang shen)

    Codonopsis pilosula

    Traditionally attributed effects: reduces fatigue, supports the production of blood cells and strengthens spleen, stomach and lungs.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Mushroom · № 147

    Caterpillar fungus (cordyceps)

    Ophiocordyceps sinensis (syn. Cordyceps sinensis)

    A fungus that parasitises caterpillars. Used in Tibetan and Chinese medicine for fatigue, lung complaints and low libido. Studies are small and there is no convincing evidence.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 761

    Dendrobium (shi hu)

    Dendrobium nobile (en verwante soorten)

    Traditionally attributed effects: nourishes the yin of lung and stomach, replenishes body fluids and cools heat from deficiency.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • 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

    Europe · Herb · № 111

    European goldenrod

    Solidago virgaurea

    In Europe it is used to flush the urinary tract in mild complaints and is listed in European herbal monographs as a traditional remedy. Clinical evidence is limited.

    Western herbal medicine
  • 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

    Oceania · Food · № 177

    Emu berry (dysentery bush)

    Grewia retusifolia

    The small fruits are edible; the name dysentery bush refers to its traditional use for diarrhoea. There is no clinical research.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge+1
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 908

    Epena (virola)

    Virola theiodora (en verwante Virola-soorten)

    A tree of the nutmeg family with blood-red resin in its bark. The resin contains a lot of 5-MeO-DMT and DMT, and also beta-carbolines. As snuff it brings excitement, numb limbs, nausea and visions within minutes.

    Herbal knowledge of the Amazon+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 297

    Goat's rue

    Galega officinalis

    Traditionally attributed effects: lowers blood sugar, stimulates insulin, promotes milk flow, diuretic.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 1

    Ginger

    Zingiber officinale

    Traditionally used for nausea and digestive discomfort; it has a warming flavor.

    Ayurveda+6Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 700

    Genkwa flower (yuan hua)

    Daphne genkwa

    Traditionally attributed effects: was used as a strong fluid-draining remedy in chronic fluid accumulation in chest and abdomen.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 274

    American cranesbill

    Geranium maculatum

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stops bleeding, tonic.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 836

    Poison hemlock

    Conium maculatum

    A deadly poisonous member of the carrot family. Its poison, coniine, paralyses the muscles, including those used for breathing.

    Greco-Roman medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 37

    Ginkgo

    Ginkgo biloba

    There is no conclusive evidence that ginkgo helps any health condition. A modest effect on dementia symptoms is possible, but results are inconsistent.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 343

    Pomegranate

    Punica granatum

    Traditionally attributed effects: root and stem bark astringent and strongly expel tapeworm; flowers and peel astringent and stomachic; juice cooling.

    Ayurveda+3
  • 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 · Food · № 16

    Green tea

    Camellia sinensis

    A brewed tea. Evidence does not establish most health claims; extracts differ from the ordinary beverage.

    Chinese medical traditions+3
  • 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

    Asia · Herb · № 486

    Gurjun balsam

    Dipterocarpus indicus

    Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, diuretic, cleansing; for chronic bronchitis, gonorrhoea, leucorrhoea, vaginal discharge, leprosy and skin diseases.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 765

    Tree of heaven (chun pi)

    Ailanthus altissima

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat, dries dampness and curbs diarrhoea, discharge and bleeding.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 697

    Hyacinth bean (bian dou)

    Lablab purpureus (syn. Dolichos lablab)

    Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the spleen and drains dampness in summer heat with diarrhoea and vomiting.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 78

    Hyssop

    Hyssopus officinalis

    Traditionally used for coughs, colds and congestion. Clinical evidence is lacking.

    Western herbal medicine+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 103

    Vervain

    Verbena officinalis

    Traditionally used for nervousness, exhaustion and as a digestive bitter. Scientific evidence is largely lacking.

    Greco-Roman medicine+3Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 532

    Turpeth

    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.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 764

    Japanese apricot (wu mei)

    Prunus mume

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent in chronic cough and diarrhoea, replenishes body fluids and was used against worms.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 322

    Asiatic dogwood fruit (shan zhu yu)

    Cornus officinalis

    Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, diuretic, lowers blood pressure, antimicrobial.

    Chinese medical traditions+3
  • 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
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 645

    Job's tears (coix seed)

    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.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 38

    Cinnamon

    Cinnamomum verum

    A spice made from inner bark. Research on health effects is preliminary; cinnamon is not a treatment.

    Ayurveda+8Folklore
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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