Herbal knowledge and the cultures that passed it on

Asia · Herb · № 468

Golden colchicum

Colchicum luteum

Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, carminative, laxative, aphrodisiac; for gout, rheumatism, liver and spleen diseases; externally against inflammation and pain.

Asia · Herb · № 1

Ginger

Zingiber officinale

Traditionally used for nausea and digestive discomfort; it has a warming flavor.

Asia · Food · № 269

Barley

Hordeum vulgare

Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, light; good for skin and hair.

Asia · Food · № 827

Ghee

Clarified butter used in Ayurveda as food and as a carrier for herbs.

Asia · Herb · № 472

Poison bulb

Crinum defixum

Traditionally attributed effects: emetic, induces sweating, laxative; leaves for whitlow, inflamed toes and fingers, joints and sprains; leaf juice for ear complaints; bulb for bile complaints, urinary complaints and rheumatism.

Asia · Herb · № 556

East Indian globe thistle

Sphaeranthus indicus

Traditionally attributed effects: bitter, tonic, stomachic, stimulating, cleansing; for bile complaints, tumours, worms, skin diseases (purifies the blood), bleeding haemorrhoids, syphilis, urethral discharge, conjunctivitis.

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.

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.

Asia · Herb · № 144

Guduchi (giloy)

Tinospora cordifolia

In Ayurveda a rejuvenating remedy (rasayana) for fevers and the immune system. Studies are small; it has no proven effect against infections.

Asia · Herb · № 142

Guggul

Commiphora wightii (syn. C. mukul)

The resin is used in Ayurveda for joint complaints, overweight and high cholesterol. A US study found no reduction in cholesterol; LDL even rose slightly.

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.

Asia · Herb · № 486

Gurjun balsam

Dipterocarpus indicus

Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, diuretic, cleansing; for chronic bronchitis, gonorrhoea, leucorrhoea, vaginal discharge, leprosy and skin diseases.

Asia · Herb · № 506

Gymnema

Gymnema sylvestre

Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stomachic, tonic, cooling, diuretic, lowers blood sugar (suppresses sweet taste); for diabetes and sugar in the urine, snake bites, fever, cough, swollen glands.

Asia · Herb · № 139

Haritaki and triphala

Terminalia chebula

Haritaki is used in Ayurveda as a rejuvenating remedy and gentle laxative. Triphala, a blend of three fruits, is the best-known Ayurvedic formula for digestion. Clinical research is limited.

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.

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.

Europe · Herb · № 59

Marshmallow

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.

Asia · Herb · № 498

Sacred fig

Ficus religiosa

Traditionally attributed effects: bark cooling, astringent, lowers blood sugar; for gonorrhoea, ulcers, skin diseases, scabies, hiccups, nausea; milky sap with milk aphrodisiac; oil for eczema, leprosy, rheumatism; fruit laxative.

Asia · Herb · № 438

Himalayan birch

Betula utilis

Traditionally attributed effects: antiseptic, carminative; for washing wounds and ulcers, skin diseases, hysteria.

Asia · Herb · № 415

Himalayan angelica

Angelica glauca

Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the heart, stimulating; for flatulence, constipation and indigestion.

Asia · Herb · № 541

Himalayan cherry

Prunus puddum

Traditionally attributed effects: astringent; fruit sour and astringent, stone for kidney stones and gravel.

Asia · Herb · № 564

Himalayan meadow rue

Thalictrum foliolosum

Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, mildly laxative, laxative, diuretic, fever-reducing; for chronic indigestion, recovery after illness, eye inflammation, jaundice, flatulence, colds (snuff), toothache, conjunctivitis and keratitis.

Asia · Herb · № 393

Himalayan silver fir

Abies spectabilis

Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, stomachic, tonic, astringent, antispasmodic, expectorant; for cough, asthma, chronic bronchitis, lung conditions and bladder catarrh; for an enlarged spleen.

Asia · Herb · № 457

Deodar

Cedrus deodara

Traditionally attributed effects: wood carminative, induces sweating and urination; bark strongly astringent and fever-reducing; for fever, diarrhoea and dysentery, lung and urinary complaints, rheumatism, haemorrhoids, kidney stones; oil for skin diseases and ulcers.

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.

Africa · Herb · № 480

Bermuda grass

Cynodon dactylon

Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, astringent, diuretic, stops bleeding, mildly laxative; for oedema, blood in the urine, vomiting, chronic diarrhoea, hysteria, bleeding haemorrhoids, bladder irritation, bladder stones, gout and rheumatism.

Europe · Herb · № 78

Hyssop

Hyssopus officinalis

Traditionally used for coughs, colds and congestion. Clinical evidence is lacking.

Asia · Herb · № 524

Ceylon ironwood

Mesua ferrea

Traditionally attributed effects: blossoms, root and bark bitter, aromatic, induce sweating; dried flowers astringent, stomachic, carminative; for heavy colds, gastritis, bronchitis, vomiting, dysentery, thirst, excessive sweating, bleeding haemorrhoids.

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.

Asia · Herb · № 427

Indian belladonna

Atropa acuminata

Traditionally attributed effects: narcotic, calming, diuretic, antispasmodic, dilates the pupils, pain-relieving; antidote in opium and mushroom poisoning, smoked for cramps, externally for rheumatism, nerve pain and lumbago.

Asia · Herb · № 436

Tree turmeric

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.

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.

Europe · Herb · № 499

Indian fumitory

Fumaria indica

Traditionally attributed effects: expels worms, mildly laxative, cooling, induces sweating and urination, fever-reducing, lowers blood pressure; for syphilis, scrofula, leprosy, constipation, indigestion from a sluggish liver, fever, jaundice, skin diseases.

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.

Asia · Herb · № 469

Gold thread

Coptis teeta

Traditionally attributed effects: bitter tonic, fever-reducing; stimulates appetite, restores digestion, against flatulence, for jaundice, weakness, recovery after fever; eye ointment for conjunctivitis; in China against diabetes.

Asia · Herb · № 501

Indian gamboge

Garcinia morella

Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, expels worms, wound-healing; for oedema, absent menstruation, stubborn constipation, worms.