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

Also found

Chinese formulas: Ma huang tang Xiao qing long tang

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 · № 60
Garden angelica
Angelica archangelica
An aromatic bitter traditionally used for bloating, poor appetite and colds. Clinical evidence is limited.
Monastic and folk knowledge+2Folklore
Caution
South America · Herb · № 163
Guarana
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.
Kallawaya healing knowledge+2
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 87
Cowslip
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.
Monastic and folk knowledge+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
Africa · Herb · № 536
Syrian rue
Peganum harmala
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, antipyretic, stimulating, promotes menstruation; against tapeworm, intermittent fever and chronic malaria, pain-relieving in asthma, colic, jaundice; promotes milk and menstruation; gargle for sore throat; against head lice.
Local African healing traditions+2
Caution
Europe · Food · № 66
Oats
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.
Western herbal medicine+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 415
Himalayan angelica
Angelica glauca
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the heart, stimulating; for flatulence, constipation and indigestion.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Africa · Herb · № 909
Iboga
Tabernanthe iboga
A shrub of the dogbane family up to ten metres tall. The root bark contains ibogaine and about ten other alkaloids. In small amounts stimulating; in large amounts a dreamlike state with visions that lasts for days.
Local African healing traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 461
Indian bay leaf
Cinnamomum tamala
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, stimulating, diuretic and sudorific, decongestant, promotes milk flow; for lack of appetite, bladder complaints, dry mouth, colds, diarrhoea, nausea, indigestion, flatulence, vomiting.
Ayurveda+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 451
Indian hemp
Cannabis indica
Traditionally attributed effects: intoxicating, stomachic, antispasmodic, pain-relieving, stimulating, aphrodisiac, calming; sleep-inducing, for painful menstruation, itchy skin diseases, headache, mania, whooping cough, asthma, nervous vomiting.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 423
Indian birthwort
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.
Ayurveda
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 567
Indian valerian
Valeriana jatamansi
Traditionally attributed effects: stomachic, stimulating, carminative, calming; for nervous weakness, insomnia, chorea, stomach cramps, hysteria, epilepsy, shell shock and neurosis.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 546
Wax tree
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.
Ayurveda+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 · Herb · № 483
Jivanti orchid
Dendrobium macraei
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, soothing, tonic, cooling, lowers blood pressure; for weakness from seminal loss, snake bites and scorpion stings.
Ayurveda
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 458
Staff tree
Celastrus paniculatus
Traditionally attributed effects: oil skin-irritant; seeds cleansing, stimulating, strengthen the nerves, improve memory and intellect; for rheumatism, gout, paralysis, leprosy, beriberi; leaf juice as an antidote in opium poisoning; bark abortifacient.
Ayurveda
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 402
Sweet flag
Acorus calamus
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, tonic, stimulating; restores throat and voice (singers), improves concentration/clear thinking, for flatulence and heartburn.
Ayurveda+4
Caution
Asia · Other · № 141
Camphor
Cinnamomum camphora
Used externally in rubs for muscle pain, itching and blocked noses; it gives a cooling, numbing feeling. There is some evidence of short-term relief.
Ayurveda+3
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
Caution
North America · Herb · № 155
Pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
Formerly used for swollen glands, tonsillitis and rheumatism. Because of its toxicity it is not a safe herb; there is no evidence of benefits that outweigh the risks.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+5
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 214
Caraway
Carum carvi
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, aromatic, stomachic, stimulating, promotes milk flow; for flatulence and intestinal cramps, corrects nausea-inducing medicines, scabies.
Folk magic and herbal magic+1Folklore
Caution
Africa · Food · № 12
Garlic
Allium sativum
A food with a long history of use. Supplement research suggests only limited effects and does not establish a treatment.
Ancient Egyptian medicine+7Folklore
Caution
Africa · Herb · № 337
Nut grass
Cyperus rotundus
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, pain-relieving, antispasmodic for the uterus, promotes the flow of qi.
Ancient Egyptian medicine+4
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
Europe · Herb · № 292
Cornflower
Centaurea cyanus
Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, stimulating, anti-inflammatory.
Western herbal medicine
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
Asia · Herb · № 920
Kratom
Mitragyna speciosa
A tree of the coffee family up to twenty-five metres tall with large, glossy leaves. The leaves contain mitragynine and, in smaller amounts, 7-hydroxymitragynine, which act on the opioid receptors. For many people a little leaf is stimulating, more leaf sedating and pain-relieving.
Caution
Asia · Food · № 42
Clove
Syzygium aromaticum
A spice. Clove oil containing eugenol may help with toothache; other claims are unproven.
Ayurveda+5Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 5
Turmeric
Curcuma longa
A traditional culinary spice containing curcumin; laboratory findings do not establish a cure for disease.
Ayurveda+5Folklore
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 6
Lovage
Levisticum officinale
The leaf tastes of stock and celery. In folk medicine the root was used as a diuretic and for bloating; research is lacking.
Western herbal medicine
Caution
Asia · Mushroom · № 41
Lingzhi (reishi)
Ganoderma lucidum
A bracket fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine; evidence for treatment effects in people is limited.
Chinese medical traditions+3
Caution
North America · Herb · № 370
Oregon grape
Mahonia aquifolium
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, purifies the blood, tonic, stimulating, supports the liver; improves appetite and digestion, promotes liver and bile secretion, purifies the blood, helps with skin problems, sudden diarrhoea and chronic constipation.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+1
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 113
White horehound
Marrubium vulgare
A bitter herb traditionally used for coughs with sticky phlegm and bronchitis. In Europe it is recognised as a traditional herbal medicine; clinical evidence is limited.
Greco-Roman medicine+3Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 348
Gotu kola
Centella asiatica
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, tonic, diuretic, locally stimulating, calming; for chronic ulcers, eczema, psoriasis, leprosy, epilepsy, insanity, swollen glands, abscesses, chronic rheumatism, diarrhoea in children.
Ayurveda+2
Caution
Africa · Other · № 28
Myrrh
Commiphora myrrha
A gum resin with a long history in medicine, ritual, perfume, and incense. Modern treatment claims are not established.
Ancient Egyptian medicine+6Folklore

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.

From plant to use

Ways to prepare herbs

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Discover more

Traditions, kitchen and classical formulas

43 traditions

Cultures & traditions

How communities built up and passed on their knowledge of plants, region by region.

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113 recipes

Recipes

Soups, teas and dishes in which herbs play a leading role.

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146 formulas

Chinese formulas

The classical Chinese formulas, also listed by condition.

Treatment by condition →All formulas →