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

144 results

Also found

Chinese formulas
Si ni tangSi ni sanBao he wanQing wei sanDang gui si ni tangWu zhu yu tangLi zhong wanYi guan jianXiao jian zhong tangWu mei wanYue ju wan
Treatment by condition
Stomach painStomach ulcer and gastritis
  • 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 · № 732

    Lindera root (wu yao)

    Lindera aggregata (syn. L. strychnifolia)

    Traditionally attributed effects: warms and moves qi in pain from cold; warms the kidneys in frequent urination.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 655

    Magnolia flower bud (xin yi hua)

    Magnolia biondii (syn. M. liliflora)

    Traditionally attributed effects: warms and opens the nose in blocked sinuses and headache from wind-cold.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 96

    Feverfew

    Tanacetum parthenium

    Best known for preventing migraine. NCCIH notes the evidence is conflicting: some studies find a small effect, others do not.

    Western herbal medicine+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 482

    Nirbisi

    Delphinium denudatum

    Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, cleansing, stomachic, tonic, pain-relieving; for syphilis and rheumatism, recovery after fever, toothache, antidote for snake bites and aconite poisoning.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 638

    Notoginseng (san qi)

    Panax notoginseng

    Traditionally attributed effects: purifies the blood and improves circulation, stops bleeding, soothes pain and helps bruises and swellings recover.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Other · № 771

    Oriental sweetgum (su he xiang)

    Liquidambar orientalis

    Traditionally attributed effects: the resin opens the sense orifices and relieves pain with a tight chest.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 217

    Oregano

    Origanum vulgare

    A culinary herb with carvacrol and thymol, which inhibit bacteria and fungi in the laboratory. There is no good evidence that oregano oil treats infections in humans; undiluted oil irritates skin and mucous membranes.

    Folk magic and herbal magicFolklore
  • 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 · Food · № 545

    Radish

    Raphanus sativus

    Traditionally attributed effects: seeds and leaves diuretic, laxative, dissolve stones; juice against scurvy; for painful and difficult urination, stones, urinary diseases, haemorrhoids, stomach ache; syrup for hoarseness, whooping cough and chest complaints.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 345

    Saffron

    Crocus sativus

    Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, aphrodisiac, stomachic, pain-relieving, antispasmodic, calming, promotes menstruation; for absent menstruation, fever, hysteria, melancholy, leucorrhoea, haemorrhoids; paste for bruises, nerve and rheumatic pain.

    Ayurveda+4
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 633

    Sassafras

    Sassafras albidum

    Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind, dampness and cold in joint complaints, also when heat is involved, moves the blood in stasis after trauma or in absent menstruation, and is used for itchy skin.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 91

    White willow

    Salix alba

    The bark contains salicin, which the body partly converts to salicylic acid. There are hints of a moderate effect on low back pain and joint pain.

    Greco-Roman medicine+3Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 95

    Comfrey

    Symphytum officinale

    Topical preparations have been studied for bruises, sprains and back pain and appear to reduce pain. It contains allantoin, which is thought to support tissue repair.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+3Folklore
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 168

    Northern prickly ash

    Zanthoxylum americanum

    Bark and berries give a tingling, numbing feeling in the mouth; they were traditionally used for toothache, poor circulation and rheumatism. Clinical research is lacking.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 664

    Beach vitex fruit (man jing zi)

    Vitex rotundifolia (syn. V. trifolia)

    Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-heat in headache and eye pain, and relieves cramps and heaviness in the limbs.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 531

    Surangi

    Ochrocarpus longifolius

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, aromatic, stimulating, carminative, stomachic; against thirst and stomach irritation, for dysentery, toothache, indigestion, haemorrhoids, scorpion stings.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 570

    Timur pepper

    Zanthoxylum alatum

    Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, stomachic, carminative, aromatic; for fever, indigestion, cholera and toothache.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 489

    Vidanga

    Embelia ribes

    Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, expels worms, stimulating, cleansing; against intestinal worms, ringworm and skin diseases, headache, sore throat and mouth ulcers, bark paste for pneumonia.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 968

    Western dock

    Rumex occidentalis (syn. R. aquaticus var. fenestratus)

    A large dock with broad leaves and a yellow root. The root contains tannins and anthraquinones, which are mildly laxative.

    Kwakwaka'wakw medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 961

    Wild bergamot

    Monarda fistulosa

    A mint with lilac flowers and strongly scented leaves, related to Oswego tea. The volatile oil is rich in carvacrol and thymol, which are antiseptic.

    Lakota medicine+1
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 634

    Wintergreen

    Gaultheria procumbens

    Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind and dampness and cools heat in hot, swollen joints and muscle pain, drains damp heat in the urinary tract and moves stagnant qi and blood in pain.

    Haudenosaunee medicine+3
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 363

    Black seed

    Nigella sativa

    Traditionally attributed effects: aromatic, diuretic and sudorific, promotes bile, stomachic, stimulating, carminative, expels worms, promotes menstruation and milk flow, antibacterial.

    Ayurveda+3
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 805

    African cherry (pygeum)

    Prunus africana

    A bark extract is used in Europe for benign prostate enlargement; the evidence is limited.

    Local African healing traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 739

    Cogon grass root (bai mao gen)

    Imperata cylindrica

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood and stops bleeding; promotes urination and cools lung and stomach.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 754

    Sharp-leaf galangal fruit (yi zhi ren)

    Alpinia oxyphylla

    Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang and holds in urine and semen; warms the spleen in diarrhoea and drooling.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 63

    Wormwood

    Artemisia absinthium

    One of the most bitter herbs; traditionally used to stimulate appetite and digestion and against intestinal worms. Clinical evidence is limited.

    Greco-Roman medicine+5
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 414

    King of bitters

    Andrographis paniculata

    Traditionally attributed effects: stomachic, tonic, fever-reducing, cleansing, expels worms, promotes bile; for flatulence, lack of appetite, intestinal complaints in children, diarrhoea, dysentery, sluggish liver, nerve pain, recovery after fever.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 670

    Anemarrhena (zhi mu)

    Anemarrhena asphodeloides

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat in lungs and stomach and nourishes yin in fever, thirst and night sweats.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 371

    Gum arabic (acacia)

    Acacia senegal

    A soluble fibre that forms a mucilaginous solution in water. It soothes the throat and stomach and is being studied as a prebiotic; it can cause wind and bloating. There is no evidence that it treats viral infections such as HPV.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 123

    Bitter orange

    Citrus × aurantium

    The dried unripe fruit (zhi shi) and peel are used in Chinese medicine for bloating and sluggish digestion. NCCIH warns that weight-loss products containing bitter orange (synephrine) pose risks to the heart and blood pressure.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Mineral · № 781

    Borax (peng sha)

    Borax (natriumtetraboraat)

    Traditionally attributed effects: externally for small ulcers in mouth, throat and vagina and for athlete's foot.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 557

    Nux vomica

    Strychnos nux-vomica

    Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the nerves, stomachic, tonic, aphrodisiac, stimulates the spinal cord, breathing and heart.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 857

    Cachanlagua

    Centaurium cachanlahuen

    A small bitter herb with pink flowers, related to the European common centaury. Traditionally for fever and digestion; clinical research is lacking.

    Mapuche medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 630

    California figwort

    Scrophularia californica, S. lanceolata

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat in the blood and nourishes yin, drains damp heat and disperses swellings.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 627

    California spikenard

    Aralia californica

    Traditionally attributed effects: opens the surface in wind-cold and fever without sweating, warms the lung and stops cough with abundant white or clear phlegm, and (roasted with honey) strengthens the energy of lung and spleen.

    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