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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

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147 results

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Recipes
Brown rice with bamboo shoots and Chinese dodderFish and vegetable soup with celosia seedAcne oil or cleanser
Chinese formulas
Zuo gui wanZhi bai di huang wanQing e wanYou gui wanShi quan da bu tangTian wang bu xin danFang feng tong sheng sanSang piao xiao sanBa wei di huang wan (jin gui shen qi wan)Liu wei di huang wanJin suo gu jing wan
Treatment by condition
Diabetes mellitusPremature ejaculationSeminal emission and penile discharge
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 118

    Fenugreek

    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.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+5Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 528

    Velvet bean

    Mucuna pruriens

    Traditionally attributed effects: seeds astringent, expel worms, strengthen the nerves, aphrodisiac; root tonic, stimulating, diuretic, laxative; for nervous diseases (paralysis), kidney diseases, oedema, elephantiasis, leucorrhoea, heavy menstruation, seminal loss.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 778

    Gac seed (mu bie zi)

    Momordica cochinchinensis

    Traditionally attributed effects: externally for inflamed sores, breast abscesses and bruises.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 637

    Goji (Chinese wolfberry)

    Lycium barbarum, L. chinense

    Traditionally attributed effects: sweet tonic that according to tradition strengthens the yang energy, strength and stamina and supports the hormone system.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 343

    Pomegranate

    Punica granatum

    Traditionally attributed effects: root and stem bark astringent and strongly expel tapeworm; flowers and peel astringent and stomachic; juice cooling.

    Ayurveda+3
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Food · № 257

    Grapefruit

    Citrus × paradisi

    A citrus fruit rich in vitamin C. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice inhibit enzymes that break down many medicines. The essential oil is used in skin and hair products, but effects on cellulite or hair growth have not been shown.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 772

    Grass-leaved sweet flag (shi chang pu)

    Acorus tatarinowii (syn. A. gramineus)

    Traditionally attributed effects: opens the sense orifices, clears the mind and expels dampness and phlegm.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 344

    Cardamom

    Elettaria cardamomum

    Traditionally attributed effects: aromatic, pungent, strengthens the heart, stomachic, laxative, diuretic, carminative; for asthma, bronchitis, haemorrhoids, bladder complaints, flatulence, cramps from laxatives, dizziness, indigestion, vomiting.

    Ayurveda+2
  • 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

    Europe · Herb · № 62

    Greater burdock

    Arctium lappa

    In Europe the root was considered a 'blood-cleansing' herb for skin problems such as eczema and acne; the seed is used in Chinese medicine for sore throats. Clinical evidence is weak.

    Western herbal medicine+5
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 339

    Water plantain (ze xie)

    Alisma plantago-aquatica (syn. A. orientale)

    Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, lowers blood pressure, antibacterial, cleanses the liver.

    Western herbal medicine+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 505

    Gulsakri

    Grewia hirsuta

    Traditionally attributed effects: fever-reducing, diuretic, expectorant, antiviral; fruit for diarrhoea and dysentery, wound healing, heart disease, seminal loss and leucorrhoea.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Oceania · Herb · № 174

    Gumbi gumbi

    Pittosporum spp.

    Leaves, seeds or wood were steeped in hot water and drunk or used externally, for example for colds, coughs, eczema and cramps. Laboratory research points to antimicrobial compounds; clinical studies are lacking.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge+1
  • 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 · Herb · № 82

    Motherwort

    Leonurus cardiaca

    Traditionally used for stress-related palpitations, nervousness and menstrual complaints. Clinical research is scarce.

    Western herbal medicine+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 305

    Hemp seed

    Cannabis sativa

    Traditionally attributed effects: stimulant laxative.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 518

    Ridged gourd

    Luffa acutangula

    Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, diuretic, bitter tonic, nourishing, expectorant, lowers blood sugar; seeds emetic and laxative; for enlarged spleen, dysentery; leaves on ulcers, ringworm, haemorrhoids, leprosy, insect and snake bites.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 77

    Hops

    Humulus lupulus

    The cones are traditionally used for restlessness and sleep problems, often with valerian. There are hints of a mild sedative effect, but evidence is limited.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 697

    Hyacinth bean (bian dou)

    Lablab purpureus (syn. Dolichos lablab)

    Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the spleen and drains dampness in summer heat with diarrhoea and vomiting.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 537

    Indian dill

    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.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 432

    Indian oak

    Barringtonia acutangula

    Traditionally attributed effects: aromatic, carminative, emetic; for nasal and respiratory catarrh, chest pain, headache (snuff), diarrhoea and dysentery, bitter tonic; root cooling and antipyretic.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 454

    Golden shower

    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.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 491

    Java plum

    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.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 322

    Asiatic dogwood fruit (shan zhu yu)

    Cornus officinalis

    Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, diuretic, lowers blood pressure, antimicrobial.

    Chinese medical traditions+3
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 785

    Bush cherry pit (yu li ren)

    Prunus japonica

    Traditionally attributed effects: moistens the bowel in constipation with stagnation and promotes urination in oedema.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 514

    Japanese morning glory

    Ipomoea nil

    Traditionally attributed effects: strongly laxative, expels worms; for constipation, substitute for jalap root.

    Ayurveda+2
  • 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 · Food · № 645

    Job's tears (coix seed)

    Coix lacryma-jobi

    Traditionally attributed effects: nourishing grain that drives dampness from the body; for arthritis and rheumatism, diuretic, and to relieve a full chest and stomach ulcers.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 970

    Barestem lomatium

    Lomatium nudicaule (in Boas: Peucedanum)

    An umbellifer with blue-green leaves and yellow umbels. The seeds are strongly aromatic; related lomatiums are being studied for antiviral effects.

    Kwakwaka'wakw medicine
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Food · № 416

    Custard apple

    Annona squamosa

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, tonic, expels worms, laxative, diuretic, insecticidal; unripe fruit for diarrhoea and dysentery, leaves for non-healing ulcers and fainting, seed powder against lice.

    Ayurveda
  • 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

    Europe · Herb · № 207

    Corn poppy

    Papaver rhoeas

    Traditionally attributed effects: mildly narcotic in large amounts; Papaver somniferum (source of opium) is poisonous.

    Folk magic and herbal magicFolklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 565

    Puncture vine

    Tribulus terrestris

    Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, soothing, diuretic, tonic, aphrodisiac.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 758

    Garlic chives (jiu zi)

    Allium tuberosum

    Traditionally attributed effects: the seed strengthens kidney yang and warms stomach and spleen.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 990

    Butterfly weed

    Asclepias tuberosa

    A milkweed with bright orange flower umbels that attract many butterflies, and a thick, tuberous root. For a milkweed it contains few cardiac glycosides, but it does contain steroids that in larger amounts can cause weakness, seizures and eye damage. The root was listed in the United States Pharmacopeia as pleurisy root, an expectorant.

    Cherokee medicine
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.

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