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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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112 results

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Chinese formulas
Wu mei wan
Treatment by condition
Worms
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 522

    Chinaberry

    Melia azedarach

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, tonic, antipyretic, expels worms; fruit laxative; oil insecticidal and antiseptic.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Food · № 259

    Carrot

    Daucus carota

    Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, diuretic, tonic, carminative; expels kidney and bladder stones, relieves lower back pain from the kidneys, reduces oedema, restores the bladder, stimulates digestion; seed traditionally as a contraceptive.

    Western herbal medicine+4Folklore
  • Caution

    Oceania · Herb · № 178

    Asthma weed

    Euphorbia hirta

    Traditionally used for asthma and bronchitis (the name asthma weed comes from Queensland), for diarrhoea and externally for warts. There is laboratory research but no good clinical evidence.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge+4
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Food · № 263

    Squash

    Cucurbita moschata

    Traditionally attributed effects: heart-warming and nourishing for body, mind and soul; good for skin and hair.

    Maya healing knowledge+6Folklore
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 192

    Aspen

    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.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4Folklore
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 502

    Flame lily

    Gloriosa superba

    Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, antipyretic, promotes bile, expels worms, cleansing, laxative; against lice, for gonorrhoea, leprosy, colic, worms; promotes contractions; compress for rheumatism and nerve pain.

    Local African healing traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 561

    Purple tephrosia

    Tephrosia purpurea

    Traditionally attributed effects: fever-reducing, promotes bile, diuretic, decongestant, tonic, laxative, purifies the blood, expels worms; for liver and spleen diseases, indigestion, distended abdomen, chronic diarrhoea, bronchitis, asthma, inflammation; oil for eczema.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    North America · Food · № 936

    Ramps

    Allium tricoccum

    A wild leek with broad leaves and a small bulb, related to European wild garlic. Leaves and bulb taste of onion and garlic.

    Haudenosaunee medicine+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 775

    Rangoon creeper (shi jun zi)

    Combretum indicum (syn. Quisqualis indica)

    Traditionally attributed effects: was used against roundworms and for poor digestion in children.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 408

    Giant taro

    Alocasia macrorrhiza

    Traditionally attributed effects: aids digestion, laxative, diuretic, promotes milk flow; for colic, constipation, haemorrhoids, oedema, worms, mouth ulcers, scorpion stings.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 449

    Crown flower

    Calotropis gigantea

    Traditionally attributed effects: root bark cleansing, tonic, antispasmodic, expectorant, emetic; for dysentery, bronchitis, leprosy, enlarged liver and spleen, oedema, worms; acts on the heart like digitalis.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 346

    Red sandalwood

    Pterocarpus santalinus

    Traditionally attributed effects: antipyretic, fever-reducing, aphrodisiac, astringent, bitter, cooling, induces sweating, expels worms; for chronic dysentery, bleeding haemorrhoids, bile complaints, skin diseases.

    Ayurveda+1
  • 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

    Africa · Herb · № 117

    Senna

    Senna alexandrina

    Leaves and pods contain sennosides, a stimulant laxative that works for short-term constipation. It is used in modern over-the-counter laxatives.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+5
  • Caution

    North America · Food · № 935

    Shagbark hickory

    Carya ovata

    A nut tree of the walnut family, with bark that peels away in long strips. The nuts are rich and sweet.

    Haudenosaunee medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 494

    Shankhpushpi

    Evolvulus alsinoides

    Traditionally attributed effects: bitter tonic, cleansing, fever-reducing, expels worms, anti-inflammatory; for fever, nervous weakness, memory loss, dysentery, diarrhoea and indigestion (with tulsi), chronic bronchitis and asthma.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 406

    Siris

    Albizzia lebbek

    Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, insect-repellent, anti-allergic; for bronchitis, leprosy, paralysis, gum inflammation, worms, snake bites and scorpion stings, night blindness.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 676

    Stellaria root (yin chai hu)

    Stellaria dichotoma var. lanceolata

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat from yin deficiency, fever after an illness and heat in malnourished children.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 549

    Toothbrush tree

    Salvadora persica

    Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, diuretic, decongestant; leaves for rheumatism, scurvy, painful tumours, haemorrhoids, asthma and cough; flower oil for flatulence, mucus, worms, leprosy, gonorrhoea, headache and rheumatic pain.

    Local African healing traditions+2
  • Caution

    South America · Food · № 1011

    Tarwi

    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.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 98

    Thyme

    Thymus vulgaris

    Traditionally used for coughs and bronchitis; thymol from the oil inhibits bacteria and fungi in the laboratory. There are some studies of thyme-based cough syrups.

    Greco-Roman medicine+4Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 776

    Chinese nutmeg yew (fei zi)

    Torreya grandis

    Traditionally attributed effects: was used against intestinal worms and moistens the lungs.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 707

    Knotgrass (bian xu)

    Polygonum aviculare

    Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat in cystitis, stops itching and was used against worms.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 72

    Fennel

    Foeniculum vulgare

    The seed is traditionally used for wind, bloating and cramps. There are some small studies, but evidence is limited.

    Greco-Roman medicine+9Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 403

    Maidenhair fern

    Adiantum philippense

    Traditionally attributed effects: antipyretic, diuretic, cleansing, expels worms, cooling; for cough and respiratory complaints, fever, leprosy, erysipelas.

    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

    Asia · Herb · № 446

    Flame of the forest

    Butea monosperma

    Traditionally attributed effects: leaves astringent, diuretic, tonic, aphrodisiac; seeds expel worms and laxative; flowers tonic; for diarrhoea, heartburn, diabetes (lowers blood sugar), flatulence, haemorrhoids, worms, leucorrhoea, inflamed throat.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 466

    Butterfly pea

    Clitoria ternatea

    Traditionally attributed effects: root mildly laxative, diuretic, expels worms; seeds strongly laxative; for ascites, enlarged abdominal organs, migraine (flower juice), gonorrhoea, bladder irritation, ulcers, swollen joints.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Food · № 80

    Walnut

    Juglans regia

    The nuts are a nutritious source of unsaturated fats. Leaf and green husk are astringent and were traditionally used for skin conditions and diarrhoea; clinical evidence is lacking.

    Western herbal medicine+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 479

    Dodder

    Cuscuta reflexa

    Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, expels worms, cleansing, antispasmodic; for stomach ache, constipation, flatulence, liver complaints, bile complaints; externally for itching and skin diseases.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 435

    Ash gourd

    Benincasa hispida

    Traditionally attributed effects: nourishing, tonic, laxative, diuretic; seeds expel worms; juice for coughing up blood and internal bleeding, for insanity, epilepsy and nervous diseases.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 190

    Arborvitae

    Thuja occidentalis

    Traditionally attributed effects: expels worms, astringent, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, stimulates muscles, antiseptic.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 242

    Rue

    Ruta graveolens

    Traditionally attributed effects: antiseptic, stimulating, promotes menstruation, expectorant, antispasmodic, expels worms (children); strengthens capillaries (rutin); for hysteria, flatulence and colic, incipient paralysis, indigestion; oil diuretic and skin-irritant.

    Greco-Roman medicine+6Folklore
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 810

    African wormwood

    Artemisia afra

    A bitter, aromatic herb widely used in southern Africa for coughs, colds, fever and flu.

    Traditional healers of Southern Africa
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 459

    Wild black cumin

    Centratherum anthelminticum

    Traditionally attributed effects: expels worms (threadworms), tonic, stomachic, diuretic; for skin diseases and scorpion stings.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 429

    Desert date

    Balanites aegyptiaca

    Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, expels worms; seeds for cough and colic, oil on burns and freckles, seed extract lowers blood pressure.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+2
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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