From Ayurveda to Rongoā Māori
Communities around the world learned how plants nourish, care and heal. Here their traditions stand beside present-day use, with respect for every culture.
GrapeFolk magic and herbal magic
BuchuLocal African healing traditions
Indian tobaccoCherokee medicine
Lignum vitaeHerbal knowledge of the Caribbean
Yerba mateKallawaya healing knowledge
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 212
Pimenta dioica
The dried berries contain eugenol, like cloves, and give a warm flavour. In Caribbean folk medicine they are used for stomach ache and wind; research is lacking.
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Food · № 263
Cucurbita moschata
Traditionally attributed effects: heart-warming and nourishing for body, mind and soul; good for skin and hair.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 192
Populus tremuloides
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, fever-reducing, tonic, anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving (salicylates); restores the sensitive bladder (incontinence), calms the bowels in stress diarrhoea, heals wounds, lowers fever, relieves headache.
CautionAsia · Food · № 545
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.
CautionAsia · Food · № 267
Oryza sativa
Traditionally attributed effects: easily digestible, the basis of healing food; good for skin and hair.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 595
Rumex acetosella
Traditionally attributed effects: induces sweating, diuretic, fever-reducing, stops bleeding; traditionally for cancer (ingredient of Essiac tea), relieves 'hot' conditions (fever, thirst, inflammation), boils, transient jaundice.
CautionNorth America · Food · № 935
Carya ovata
A nut tree of the walnut family, with bark that peels away in long strips. The nuts are rich and sweet.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 749
Polygonatum sibiricum
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens spleen and kidneys, moistens the lungs and replenishes the essence.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 180
Papaver somniferum
The latex of the unripe seed capsule (opium) contains morphine, codeine and other alkaloids. Morphine and related opioids are indispensable painkillers in modern medicine, but highly addictive. The seeds (poppy seeds) are an ordinary food.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 676
Stellaria dichotoma var. lanceolata
Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat from yin deficiency, fever after an illness and heat in malnourished children.
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 819
Nicotiana rustica
A ceremonial plant of many Indigenous peoples of the Americas. Tobacco is addictive and harmful to health.
CautionAfrica · Food · № 560
Tamarindus indica
Traditionally attributed effects: ripe fruit sour, cooling, carminative, laxative, antiscorbutic, promotes bile; for inflamed swellings, bilious vomiting, conjunctivitis (flowers), bleeding haemorrhoids, throat complaints, ulcers, paralysis (bark), gonorrhoea (ash).
CautionNorth America · Food · № 979
Notholithocarpus densiflorus
An evergreen tree of the beech family, between oak and chestnut. The acorns are nourishing but bitter with tannins, which must first be leached out.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 877
Tara spinosa (syn. Caesalpinia spinosa)
A thorny tree with red pods that are very rich in tannins. In laboratory tests, extracts of the pods inhibited several bacteria.
CautionSouth America · Food · № 1011
Lupinus mutabilis
A lupin with white to purple flowers and protein-rich, oily beans. The raw beans are bitter from lupin alkaloids, which are removed by days of soaking and rinsing.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 171
Oenothera biennis
The seed oil contains gamma-linolenic acid and is sold for eczema, premenstrual symptoms and hot flushes. NCCIH reports it does not help eczema and that evidence for other conditions is insufficient.
CautionAsia · Food · № 801
Ficus carica
Traditionally attributed effects: dried figs make Chinese soups naturally sweet, such as the watercress and spare-rib soup and the eight-treasure soup; they are regarded as moistening for lung and bowel.
CautionAsia · Food · № 803
Eleocharis dulcis
Traditionally attributed effects: peeled water chestnuts go with carrot and Chinese dates into a sweetish pork soup that by tradition strengthens lungs and spleen, dissolves phlegm and soothes cough.
CautionOceania · Food · № 173
Acacia spp. (o.a. A. holosericea, A. decurrens)
Roasted wattleseed is a protein- and fibre-rich bushfood. The bark of some species is rich in tannins and was used for wounds and diarrhoea. There is little clinical research.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 977
Lomatium californicum (syn. Leptotaenia californica)
An umbellifer with large, blue-green, celery-like leaves and a strongly scented root. Related to oshá; little studied.
CautionNorth America · Food · № 965
Zizania palustris (en Z. aquatica)
An aquatic grass, not true rice. The long, dark grain contains more protein and fibre than white rice.
CautionAsia · Mushroom · № 652
Tremella fuciformis
Traditionally attributed effects: a tonic for the yin energy and the lungs; supports breathing, energy and a balanced blood pressure.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 878
Smallanthus sonchifolius
A plant of the daisy family with sweet, crunchy tubers full of inulin and fructo-oligosaccharides, which the body barely absorbs. The leaf has been studied for diabetes; evidence in humans is lacking.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 35
Serenoa repens
Promoted for urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate, but NCCIH concludes it probably does not help for this.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 973
Rubus spectabilis
A bramble with pink flowers and yellow-orange to red berries. Leaves and bark contain tannins and are astringent.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 209
Helianthus annuus
Sunflower seeds and oil are rich in vitamin E and linoleic acid. The oil is used for dry skin; claims about scars or skin ageing have not been shown.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 971
Lonicera involucrata
A honeysuckle with yellow flowers in pairs, which later form two shiny black berries in red bracts. Effects not studied.
Featured · Central America and the Caribbean · Curanderismo
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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43 traditions
How communities built up and passed on their knowledge of plants, region by region.
113 recipes
Soups, teas and dishes in which herbs play a leading role.
146 formulas
The classical Chinese formulas, also listed by condition.