Skip to content
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

Search by concern or tag

131 results

Also found

Chinese formulas
Zhi bai di huang wanSi ni sanShi wei bai du tangGui zhi shao yao zhi mu tangYi yi ren tangHuang lian jie du tangGe gen huang qin huang lian tangDang gui shao yao sanWen jing tangZhi zi dou chi tangLong dan xie gan tangBu zhong yi qi tangShi gao tangFang feng tong sheng sanTao he cheng qi tangBan xia hou po tangYu nu jianXi jiao di huang tangDa huang mu dan pi tangJing jie lian qiao tangJing fang bai du san
Treatment by condition
Ulcerative colitisPleurisyBlood in the urineGum inflammation
  • Caution

    Europe · Other · № 588

    Lungwort lichen

    Lobaria pulmonaria

    Traditionally attributed effects: antioxidant, expectorant; reduces inflammation in the airways and intestines, supports the lungs and helps with sinusitis.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 883

    Manayupa

    Desmodium molliculum

    A low plant of the pea family. Traditionally used for inflammation and wounds; research is limited.

    Curanderismo of northern Peru
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 235

    Eyebright

    Euphrasia officinalis

    Traditionally attributed effects: anticatarrhal, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory.

    Western herbal medicine+1Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 421

    Elephant creeper

    Argyreia speciosa

    Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, tonic, soothing; for elephantiasis, arthritis, rheumatic swelling, overweight, skin diseases, boils, ear infection.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 412

    Elephant foot yam

    Amorphophallus campanulatus

    Traditionally attributed effects: stomachic, carminative, tonic; for haemorrhoids, indigestion and weakness, boils, eye inflammation, acute rheumatism; promotes menstruation.

    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

    Asia · Herb · № 437

    Pashanbheda

    Bergenia ligulata

    Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, soothing, astringent, tonic; known for dissolving kidney stones; for fever, diarrhoea, lung complaints, eye inflammation, teething in children.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 395

    Rosary pea

    Abrus precatorius

    Traditionally attributed effects: seeds purgative, emetic, tonic, anti-inflammatory, aphrodisiac; leaf juice for sore throat and dry cough, purifies the blood; leaf paste for swellings and rheumatism; seed paste for sciatica and paralysis; eyewash.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 685

    Patrinia (bai jiang cao)

    Patrinia scabiosifolia (en P. villosa)

    Traditionally attributed effects: detoxifies, drains pus and moves the blood in pain with heat.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 441

    Spreading hogweed

    Boerhaavia diffusa

    Traditionally attributed effects: bitter, stomachic, laxative, diuretic, expectorant, induces sweating, anti-inflammatory; for asthma, jaundice, oedema, anaemia, internal inflammation, snake bites.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 410

    Rasamala

    Altingia excelsa

    Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, expectorant, pain-relieving, carminative, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic; for throat complaints, scabies, leucoderma, colic in children, inflamed testicle.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 568

    Rasna orchid

    Vanda roxburghii

    Traditionally attributed effects: pain-relieving, carminative, expectorant, strengthens the nerves, lowers blood pressure; oil for rheumatism and nervous diseases; for syphilis, scorpion stings, fever, middle ear infection, indigestion, bronchitis, inflammation, hiccups and trembling.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 915

    Rhatany (ratania)

    Krameria lappacea (syn. Krameria triandra)

    A low shrub that is partly parasitic on the roots of other plants. The red root is rich in tannins and is therefore astringent. In Europe rhatany root is listed in the pharmacopoeia and used in mouthwashes and gum remedies.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 696

    Rhaponticum root (lou lu)

    Rhaponticum uniflorum

    Traditionally attributed effects: reduces hot swellings, especially in the breast, and promotes milk flow.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • 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 · № 2

    Rosemary

    Salvia rosmarinus (syn. Rosmarinus officinalis)

    An aromatic culinary herb with carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid. A few small studies point to a slight effect of the scent on alertness; that it improves memory has not been shown. The leaf is used for digestive complaints.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+4Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 321

    Safflower

    Carthamus tinctorius

    Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, diuretic, anti-inflammatory.

    Ayurveda+3
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 595

    Sheep sorrel

    Rumex acetosella

    Traditionally attributed effects: induces sweating, diuretic, fever-reducing, stops bleeding; traditionally for cancer (ingredient of Essiac tea), relieves 'hot' conditions (fever, thirst, inflammation), boils, transient jaundice.

    Western herbal medicine+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 507

    East Indian screw tree

    Helicteres isora

    Traditionally attributed effects: expectorant, soothing, mildly astringent, stomachic; for colic, flatulence, diarrhoea, chronic dysentery, diabetes, ear infection, snake bites.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 406

    Siris

    Albizzia lebbek

    Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, insect-repellent, anti-allergic; for bronchitis, leprosy, paralysis, gum inflammation, worms, snake bites and scorpion stings, night blindness.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 534

    Skunkvine

    Paederia foetida

    Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic; for urinary retention, bladder stones, haemorrhoids, inflamed spleen, diarrhoea in children, rheumatism and stiff joints, abdomen bloated by gas.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 328

    Tormentil

    Potentilla erecta

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, especially for the intestinal wall.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 587

    Western larch

    Larix occidentalis

    Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, prebiotic; improves digestion and gut flora, strengthens the immune system, studied in tumours, helps with middle ear infections in children.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+1
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 190

    Arborvitae

    Thuja occidentalis

    Traditionally attributed effects: expels worms, astringent, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, stimulates muscles, antiseptic.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 301

    Horse chestnut

    Aesculus hippocastanum

    Traditionally attributed effects: anti-inflammatory, astringent.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 324

    Soap bark

    Quillaja saponaria

    Traditionally attributed effects: expectorant, cleansing, anti-inflammatory.

    Mapuche medicine+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 349

    Amla

    Phyllanthus emblica

    Traditionally attributed effects: fresh fruit cooling, diuretic, laxative, stomachic; bark astringent; for lung and eye inflammation, hair growth, asthma, bronchitis, bile complaints, bleeding, diarrhoea, dysentery, anaemia, jaundice.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Other · № 770

    Borneol (bing pian)

    Dryobalanops aromatica (borneol)

    Traditionally attributed effects: opens the sense orifices, cools heat and relieves pain; mainly external.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Europe · Food · № 73

    Wild strawberry

    Fragaria vesca

    The tannin-rich leaf was traditionally used for mild diarrhoea; the fruit is a treat rich in vitamin C. Medical evidence is lacking.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 34

    Goldenseal

    Hydrastis canadensis

    There is not enough evidence to determine whether goldenseal helps any health condition.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+6Folklore
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 891

    Carqueja

    Baccharis genistelloides (en B. trimera)

    A perennial with flat, winged stems and hardly any leaves. One of the best-studied Baccharis species; it contains flavonoids that may be anti-inflammatory. Clinical evidence is lacking.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 525

    Champak

    Michelia champaca

    Traditionally attributed effects: decongestant, cleansing, stomachic, tonic, laxative, carminative; for gastritis, chronic rheumatism, abscesses, fever, indigestion, nausea, kidney diseases, gonorrhoea; flower oil for headache, eye inflammation and gout.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 919

    Chanca piedra (stonebreaker)

    Phyllanthus niruri (en P. stipulatus, P. urinaria)

    A small herb with rows of fine leaflets and tiny fruits beneath them. In experiments it inhibited the formation of kidney stone crystals and acted as a diuretic; small studies in people do not yet give clear evidence.

    Curanderismo of northern Peru
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 148

    Weeping forsythia (lian qiao)

    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.

    Chinese medical traditions+3
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 683

    Chinese pulsatilla (bai tou weng)

    Pulsatilla chinensis

    Traditionally attributed effects: for hot, bloody dysentery, amoebae and vaginal trichomonas.

    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
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.

Read more

From plant to use

Ways to prepare herbs

All preparations →

Discover more

Traditions, kitchen and classical formulas