Herbal knowledge and the cultures that passed it on

Asia · Herb · № 643

Chinese raspberry (fu pen zi)

Rubus chingii

Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidneys and liver; for poor vision, frequent urination and impotence.

Asia · Food · № 572

Chinese jujube

Zizyphus vulgaris

Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, lowers blood sugar, soothing, soothing to the chest.

Asia · Herb · № 729

Chinese cardamom (sha ren)

Amomum villosum (en A. kravanh)

Traditionally attributed effects: warms the spleen, transforms dampness, calms a restless foetus and prevents tonics from lying heavy on the stomach.

Asia · Food · № 635

Chinese yam (shan yao)

Dioscorea polystachya (syn. D. opposita)

Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens spleen, stomach and lungs, helps regulate the hormone system in women and is said to lower blood sugar.

Asia · Herb · № 665

Chinese black cohosh (sheng ma)

Actaea cimicifuga (syn. Cimicifuga foetida)

Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-heat, helps rashes come out and lifts the energy in prolapse.

Asia · Herb · № 558

Chiretta

Swertia chirata

Traditionally attributed effects: bitter tonic, stomachic, expels worms, laxative, cleansing, antidiarrhoeal, antipyretic; for intermittent fever, skin diseases, intestinal worms, asthma, hiccups and vomiting, gout; scorpion stings.

Asia · Herb · № 755

Cibotium (gou ji)

Cibotium barometz

Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang, bones and tendons in a stiff, painful lower back and knees.

Europe · Herb · № 225

Chicory

Cichorium intybus

Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, laxative, tonic.

Asia · Herb · № 760

Cistanche (rou cong rong)

Cistanche deserticola

Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang, moistens the bowel and warms the uterus.

Asia · Food · № 221

Lemon

Citrus limon

Traditionally attributed effects: anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, diuretic, strengthens the veins.

Asia · Herb · № 777

Cnidium seed (she chuang zi)

Cnidium monnieri

Traditionally attributed effects: externally for itching and fungus around the genitals; internally a kidney yang tonic.

North America · Mineral · № 364

Colloidal silver

Silver particles in water. There is no evidence that colloidal silver treats infections, HIV or other diseases; it can, however, cause argyria, a permanent blue-grey discoloration of the skin and organs.

Asia · Mushroom · № 147

Caterpillar fungus (cordyceps)

Ophiocordyceps sinensis (syn. Cordyceps sinensis)

A fungus that parasitises caterpillars. Used in Tibetan and Chinese medicine for fatigue, lung complaints and low libido. Studies are small and there is no convincing evidence.

Asia · Herb · № 731

Costus root (mu xiang)

Dolomiaea costus (syn. Saussurea lappa, Aucklandia lappa)

Traditionally attributed effects: moves the qi in spleen, stomach, intestine, liver and gallbladder; helps digest tonics.

Asia · Herb · № 759

Cynomorium (suo yang)

Cynomorium songaricum

Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang, nourishes the blood and moistens the bowel.

Asia · Herb · № 761

Dendrobium (shi hu)

Dendrobium nobile (en verwante soorten)

Traditionally attributed effects: nourishes the yin of lung and stomach, replenishes body fluids and cools heat from deficiency.

Asia · Herb · № 756

Drynaria (gu sui bu)

Drynaria roosii (syn. D. fortunei)

Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang, lets the blood flow and helps fractures and tendon injuries heal.

Asia · Herb · № 409

Dita bark

Alstonia scholaris

Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, bitter tonic, astringent, expectorant, fever-reducing, antipyretic; quinine substitute for intermittent fever, for indigestion, weakness, skin diseases, liver complaints, chronic diarrhoea; promotes milk flow, expels worms.

Asia · Herb · № 394

Devil's cotton

Abroma augusta

Traditionally attributed effects: leaves and stem soothing, root bark promotes menstruation; for painful menstruation, regulates menstruation, uterine tonic, for gonorrhoea; can cause skin irritation.

North America · Herb · № 995

Devil's walking stick

Aralia spinosa

A shrub or small tree of the ivy family, related to American spikenard, with very prickly stems, huge doubly pinnate leaves and in late summer large sprays of small white flowers with purple berries. The fresh root is sharp and emetic.

Europe · Herb · № 56

Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Traditionally used to stop bleeding from minor wounds, for fevers and colds, and as a digestive bitter. Clinical evidence is limited.

North America · Herb · № 14

Echinacea

Echinacea purpurea

Studied for colds and respiratory infections. It may slightly reduce the chance of catching a cold; effects on duration and other conditions are uncertain.

Europe · Herb · № 289

Centaury

Centaurium erythraea

Traditionally attributed effects: bitter, stimulates the liver.

Europe · Mushroom · № 115

Penny bun (porcini)

Boletus edulis, Cantharellus cibarius, Morchella esculenta, Pleurotus ostreatus

A prized edible mushroom with protein, fibre and minerals. Medicinal claims are unproven.

Asia · Herb · № 585

Horny goat weed

Epimedium grandiflorum

Traditionally attributed effects: aphrodisiac, diuretic, tonic; increases libido, helps with erectile problems and fertility, strengthens the bladder sphincter and kidney function.

Asia · Herb · № 751

Eucommia bark (du zhong)

Eucommia ulmoides

Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens liver and kidneys, tendons and bones; calms rising liver yang and a restless foetus.

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.

Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 462

Velvet leaf

Cissampelos pareira

Traditionally attributed effects: mildly stomachic, bitter tonic, diuretic, dissolves stones, astringent; for intestinal complaints, indigestion, diarrhoea, prolapsed uterus, internal inflammation, urinary tract diseases, purifies the blood in skin diseases.

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.

Europe · Food · № 90

Raspberry

Rubus idaeus

The fruit is a nutritious berry. Raspberry leaf has been used in folk medicine in late pregnancy to ease labour; convincing evidence is lacking.

Asia · Herb · № 119

Galangal

Alpinia galanga

A relative of ginger traditionally used for nausea, wind and sluggish digestion. Clinical evidence is limited.

Asia · Herb · № 503

Gmelina

Gmelina arborea

Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, stomachic, bitter tonic, cooling, laxative, promotes milk flow; fruit in cooling decoctions for fever and bile complaints, headache, fever and indigestion; to prevent miscarriage.

Europe · Herb · № 104

Guelder rose

Viburnum opulus en V. prunifolium

The bark is traditionally used for muscle cramps and period pain; its English name is cramp bark. Clinical evidence is lacking.

Europe · Herb · № 76

Great yellow gentian

Gentiana lutea

The root is one of the most bitter substances known and has long been used to stimulate appetite and digestion. Studies are small.

Africa · Herb · № 433

Yellow bauhinia

Bauhinia tomentosa

Traditionally attributed effects: against dysentery, expels worms; fruit diuretic; seeds tonic and aphrodisiac; for hepatitis, dysentery, tumours and wounds, snake bites.

North America · Herb · № 327

Fragrant sumac

Rhus aromatica

Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, tonic, antidiabetic, diuretic.