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
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 948
Coptis trifolia
A small evergreen herb with golden-yellow thread-like roots. These contain berberine, a bitter compound that inhibits bacteria in laboratory tests; related to Chinese goldthread (huang lian).
CautionEurope · Herb · № 105
Viola tricolor
Traditionally used for skin conditions such as eczema and cradle cap, and for coughs. There is little clinical research.
CautionEurope · Food · № 245
Vitis vinifera
Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, laxative, cooling, stomachic, diuretic; for bilious indigestion, bleeding, painful urination, chronic bronchitis, heart disease, gout; juice for constipation in children.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 495
Ferula foetida
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, carminative, antispasmodic, expectorant, mildly laxative, expels worms, promotes menstruation, stimulates nerves and lungs.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 56
Achillea millefolium
Traditionally used to stop bleeding from minor wounds, for fevers and colds, and as a digestive bitter. Clinical evidence is limited.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 972
Moneses uniflora
A small plant of the heath family with a single nodding, white, fragrant flower. The pounded plant irritates the skin and can raise blisters.
CautionOceania · Food · № 177
Grewia retusifolia
The small fruits are edible; the name dysentery bush refers to its traditional use for diarrhoea. There is no clinical research.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 675
Cynanchum atratum
Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood in fever from deficiency, including after childbirth, and in painful urination.
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 460
Dysphania ambrosioides (syn. Chenopodium ambrosioides)
A strong-smelling culinary herb traditionally used against intestinal worms and wind. The essential oil contains ascaridole, which kills worms but is also toxic to humans.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 193
Fraxinus excelsior
The leaf was used as a mild diuretic and laxative and for gout. There is little research; a medicinal effect has not been shown.
CautionOceania · Herb · № 172
Eucalyptus globulus
Eucalyptus oil is used for coughs and blocked noses with colds and externally for muscle pain; the European Medicines Agency recognises these as traditional uses. Strong clinical evidence is limited.
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 118
Trigonella foenum-graecum
The seed has been studied for blood sugar and for increasing breast milk. NCCIH reports there is not enough strong evidence for these uses.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 876
Brugmansia spp. (o.a. B. arborea, B. sanguinea)
A shrub or small tree with large hanging trumpet flowers. All parts contain tropane alkaloids such as scopolamine and atropine, which cause confusion and hallucinations.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 774
Gastrodia elata
Traditionally attributed effects: calms liver wind and relieves headache, dizziness and cramps.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 1
Zingiber officinale
Traditionally used for nausea and digestive discomfort; it has a warming flavor.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 274
Geranium maculatum
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stops bleeding, tonic.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 37
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.
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 668
Gypsum fibrosum (calciumsulfaat)
Traditionally attributed effects: strongly cooling in high fever with thirst and sweating, lung heat and stomach fire.
CautionAsia · Food · № 343
Punica granatum
Traditionally attributed effects: root and stem bark astringent and strongly expel tapeworm; flowers and peel astringent and stomachic; juice cooling.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 163
Paullinia cupana
The seeds contain about twice as much caffeine as coffee beans. Guarana is used in energy drinks and soft drinks; its stimulating effect comes from caffeine.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 87
Primula veris
The root contains saponins and is traditionally used to loosen phlegm in coughs; the flowers as a calming tea. There is some research on combination cough preparations.
CautionEurope · Food · № 66
Avena sativa
Oat flakes provide beta-glucan, a fibre that according to approved health claims can help maintain normal cholesterol. Oatmeal is also used in baths for dry, itchy skin. Its traditional role as a nerve tonic is unproven.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 987
Euonymus americanus
A shrub of the spindle family, up to two metres tall. In autumn the warty pink fruits burst open to show seeds in a bright red aril. Seeds and fruits are strongly purgative, as in other spindles, and the genus is considered poisonous.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 59
Althaea officinalis
Root and leaf are rich in mucilage that forms a soothing layer; used for dry coughs, throat irritation and an irritated stomach. Evidence is modest.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 914
Corynaea crassa
An unusual parasitic plant without chlorophyll that lives on the roots of trees and shrubs; only a club-shaped flower spike appears above ground. Little is known about its effect in people.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 78
Hyssopus officinalis
Traditionally used for coughs, colds and congestion. Clinical evidence is lacking.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 436
Berberis aristata
Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, stomachic, astringent, antipyretic, induces sweating, cleansing; for malaria and intermittent fever (comparable to quinine), washing ulcers, eye diseases, haemorrhoids, swollen glands; laxative for children.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 537
Peucedanum graveolens
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, antispasmodic; for flatulence, hiccups, colic and stomach ache, reduces cramps from laxatives and dysentery; drink for women after childbirth; leaves on boils and abscesses.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 423
Aristolochia indica
Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, stimulating, promotes menstruation, antidote, anti-arthritic; against snake, insect and scorpion bites, intestinal complaints in children, cholera, diarrhoea, intermittent fever.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 454
Cassia fistula
Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, tonic, fever-reducing; fruit pulp mildly laxative (safe for children and pregnant women); leaf for ringworm, chilblains, rheumatism, facial paralysis; root for fever and heart disease.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 203
Iris florentina (I. germanica 'Florentina')
The dried root (orris root) smells of violets and is a fixative in perfume and potpourri. Medicinally it was used for coughs and for teething children; it can cause allergies.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 942
Arisaema triphyllum
An arum with a green or striped hood over the spadix. All parts contain needle-shaped crystals of calcium oxalate, which raw cause a fiercely burning mouth and swelling.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 491
Eugenia jambolana
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stomachic, diuretic, lowers blood sugar; seeds for diabetes, bark for chronic diarrhoea, dysentery, heavy menstruation, spongy gums, stomatitis; diarrhoea in children.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 546
Rhus succedanea
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, tonic, expectorant, stimulating, promotes bile; for cough, tuberculosis, asthma, fever, lack of appetite, stomach irritation, diarrhoea (also in teething children); paste for psoriasis.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 417
Anthocephalus indicus
Traditionally attributed effects: bark tonic, fever-reducing, astringent; fruit cooling; for fever, mouth ulcers and stomatitis, eye inflammation, stomach irritation in children, snake bites.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 407
Alhagi pseudalhagi
Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, diuretic, expectorant; for urinary retention, corneal clouding; manna tonic, promotes bile, purifies the blood.
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
Discover more
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.