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

51 results

Also found

Recipes
White radish soup with Chinese asparagusPoached egg with mushrooms in clear brothLingzhi soup with lean porkBrown rice with bamboo shoots and Chinese dodderFish ball soup with spinach and niu xiWatercress and spare rib soup with dried figsFish and vegetable soup with celosia seedPigeon stew with Chinese yam and gojiCurry rice with Chinese cinnamonShellfish soup with chuanxiongFish soup with papaya and tofuPork soup with water chestnuts and jujubesChicken soup with tian qiPork soup with cordyceps and fish mawSpare rib soup with lotus root and four herbsBrown rice with shiitake, peas and fu lingChicken stewed with Job's tearsFour-herb tonic soupSteamed egg with shiitake and fox nutCongee with Job's tears and brown riceSweetcorn soup with astragalusSteamed black chicken with jujubes and longanPigeon egg soup with white fungusVegetarian eight-treasure soup+8
Chinese formulas
Liang ge sanFang feng tong sheng sanDa cheng qi tangTao he cheng qi tangZi xue danTiao wei cheng qi tangDa huang mu dan pi tang
  • Caution

    Asia · Mineral · № 784

    Pumice (fu hai shi)

    Pumex

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools hot phlegm in the lungs, softens lumps and promotes urination.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    North America · Food · № 936

    Ramps

    Allium tricoccum

    A wild leek with broad leaves and a small bulb, related to European wild garlic. Leaves and bulb taste of onion and garlic.

    Haudenosaunee medicine+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

    Africa · Herb · № 201

    Rose geranium

    Pelargonium graveolens

    Traditionally attributed effects: antidepressant, pain-relieving, diuretic, calming, tonic.

    Western herbal medicine+1Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 745

    Sappan wood (su mu)

    Biancaea sappan (syn. Caesalpinia sappan)

    Traditionally attributed effects: lets the blood flow in menstrual pain and injury.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 719

    Sargassum (hai zao)

    Sargassum pallidum (en S. fusiforme)

    Traditionally attributed effects: softens hardenings from phlegm-fire such as goitre and swollen glands; drains fluid.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 592

    Schisandra

    Schisandra chinensis

    Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, astringent, stimulating, adaptogen; supports exhausted adrenals (fatigue), promotes sleep and well-being, protects the liver.

    Chinese medical traditions+3
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 220

    Orange

    Citrus sinensis

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

    Ayurveda+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 456

    Sickle senna

    Cassia tora

    Traditionally attributed effects: mildly laxative, cleansing; intestinal complaints and fever when teething, compress for gout, sciatica and joint pain; seeds for ringworm, scabies and eczema; root for snake bites.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 98

    Thyme

    Thymus vulgaris

    Traditionally used for coughs and bronchitis; thymol from the oil inhibits bacteria and fungi in the laboratory. There are some studies of thyme-based cough syrups.

    Greco-Roman medicine+4Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 694

    Dittany root bark (bai xian pi)

    Dictamnus dasycarpus

    Traditionally attributed effects: drains heat, dampness and wind in itchy, weeping skin conditions.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 977

    Incense root

    Lomatium californicum (syn. Leptotaenia californica)

    An umbellifer with large, blue-green, celery-like leaves and a strongly scented root. Related to oshá; little studied.

    Hupa medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 424

    Wormseed

    Artemisia maritima

    Traditionally attributed effects: antipyretic, mildly laxative, stomachic, tonic, expels worms, stimulates the heart; against worms, compress for inflammation, tumours and foul ulcers.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 18

    Licorice root

    Glycyrrhiza glabra

    A root with long use in several traditions; high-quality evidence does not support most health claims.

    Ayurveda+9Folklore
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 576

    Black walnut

    Juglans nigra

    Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, laxative, astringent, antibacterial, antiparasitic, antifungal; cleanses and strengthens the large intestine, for skin problems, traveller's diarrhoea, sinusitis, underactive thyroid.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+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.

Read more

From plant to use

Ways to prepare herbs

All preparations →

Discover more

Traditions, kitchen and classical formulas