Herbal knowledge and the cultures that passed it on

Africa · Herb · № 510

Kurchi

Holarrhena antidysenterica

Traditionally attributed effects: bitter, stomachic, astringent, strongly antidysenteric, fever-reducing, expels worms; for acute and chronic (amoebic) dysentery and diarrhoea, bile complaints, fever, haemorrhoids, roundworms and threadworms.

Europe · Herb · № 191

Rowan

Sorbus aucuparia

The orange berries are rich in vitamin C and are eaten cooked; raw they contain parasorbic acid, which irritates the stomach and bowel. A medicinal effect has hardly been studied.

Asia · Herb · № 516

Indian laurel

Litsea glutinosa

Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, astringent, softens the skin, aphrodisiac, antispasmodic; for diarrhoea and dysentery; externally for bruises, sprains, rheumatic and gouty joints, scorpion stings, fractures.

Asia · Herb · № 559

Lodh tree

Symplocos racemosa

Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, mildly astringent; for intestinal complaints, heavy menstruation, discharge from lax mucous membranes, oedema, liver complaints, fever, skin diseases, bleeding gums, eye diseases, ulcers, filariasis (chyluria, elephantiasis).

Asia · Herb · № 544

Emetic nut

Randia dumetorum

Traditionally attributed effects: fruit rind induces sweating and antispasmodic; bark calming and soothes the nerves; bark internally and externally for rheumatism, bruises and bone pain in fever, diarrhoea and dysentery; fruit emetic in acute bronchitis and asthma; scorpion stings.

Asia · Herb · № 520

Mahua

Madhuca longifolia

Traditionally attributed effects: flowers cooling, soothing, expectorant, tonic, nourishing; bark astringent and tonic; for diabetes and rheumatism, bleeding gums, tonsil and throat inflammation, itching, bronchitis, cough, haemorrhoids.

Oceania · Herb · № 844

Māmaki

Pipturus albidus

A native Hawaiian plant whose leaves are drunk as a tea.

Oceania · Herb · № 273

Manuka and kanuka

Leptospermum scoparium en Kunzea ericoides

Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, antimicrobial, antiseptic, expels worms (leptospermone); for ulcers, infections and fever.

Oceania · Food · № 51

Mānuka honey

A monofloral honey with distinctive compounds such as leptosperin and methylglyoxal. Ordinary food honey is not a treatment.

South America · Herb · № 851

Maqui

Aristotelia chilensis

A shrub with dark purple berries rich in anthocyanins. The leaf was traditionally used for wounds and sore throats. Health claims for 'superfood' products are unproven.

Africa · Other · № 28

Myrrh

Commiphora myrrha

A gum resin with a long history in medicine, ritual, perfume, and incense. Modern treatment claims are not established.

Asia · Herb · № 527

Moringa

Moringa oleifera

Traditionally attributed effects: antispasmodic, stimulating, expectorant, diuretic, dissolves stones; leaves for scurvy and catarrh, flatulence in children, wounds and swellings; bark stimulates the heart in asthma and cough.

Asia · Herb · № 39

Neem

Azadirachta indica

Used for centuries in traditional medicine in India, but there is insufficient clinical evidence of medical benefits.

Oceania · Food · № 50

Noni

Morinda citrifolia

Traditionally used for colds, infections, fever, and stomach complaints. There is no good evidence of treatment effects.

Asia · Herb · № 529

Oleander

Nerium indicum

Traditionally attributed effects: strongly diuretic and strengthens the heart (like digitalis), abortifacient.

Asia · Food · № 484

Elephant apple

Dillenia indica

Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, laxative; cooling drink in fever, cough remedy; bark and leaves astringent.

Asia · Other · № 771

Oriental sweetgum (su he xiang)

Liquidambar orientalis

Traditionally attributed effects: the resin opens the sense orifices and relieves pain with a tight chest.

Asia · Herb · № 434

Orchid tree

Bauhinia variegata

Traditionally attributed effects: bark cleansing, tonic, astringent; root carminative; flowers laxative; for sore throat, cough, bleeding haemorrhoids, heavy menstruation, swollen neck glands, ulcers, diarrhoea, worms, overweight.

Asia · Herb · № 522

Chinaberry

Melia azedarach

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

South America · Herb · № 165

Pau d'arco

Handroanthus impetiginosus (syn. Tabebuia avellanedae)

The inner bark is sold for fungal infections, inflammation and as a 'cancer remedy'. There is no reliable human evidence; its active compound lapachol proved too toxic at effective doses.

South America · Herb · № 884

Peruvian elder

Sambucus peruviana

A tree with white flower umbels and dark berries, related to the European elder. Flowers and leaves are considered sweat-inducing and anti-inflammatory.

South America · Herb · № 898

Balsam of Peru

Myroxylon balsamum (var. pereirae)

A large tree whose resin, the balsam, smells of vanilla and cinnamon. The balsam contains cinnamic acid, benzyl benzoate and vanillin, among other compounds, and is used in perfume, food and ointments for skin and wounds.

South America · Herb · № 860

Peumo

Cryptocarya alba

An evergreen tree of the laurel family with fragrant leaves and edible red fruits. Traditionally for liver and joint complaints; research is lacking.

Asia · Herb · № 132

Chinese peony (bai shao)

Paeonia lactiflora en P. suffruticosa

The peeled root (bai shao, white peony) is used in Chinese medicine for cramps, period pain and muscle pain. There are studies of combination formulas but few of peony alone.

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.

South America · Herb · № 1014

Queñua

Polylepis (o.a. P. besseri en P. tarapacana)

Gnarled trees and shrubs of the rose family with reddish-brown bark that peels in thin layers and protects against the cold. Nothing has been studied about its effect in people.

South America · Herb · № 872

Radal

Lomatia hirsuta

A tree of the protea family with large toothed leaves and beautifully figured wood. Traditionally for coughs; research is lacking.

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.

North America · Herb · № 323

Slippery elm

Ulmus rubra (syn. U. fulva)

Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, nourishing, astringent.

Asia · Herb · № 442

Silk cotton tree

Bombax ceiba

Traditionally attributed effects: gum astringent and stops bleeding; root and bark soothing, diuretic, aphrodisiac; for abnormal uterine bleeding, diarrhoea, dysentery, coughing up blood, heavy menstruation, bladder and kidney stones, boils, itching.

North America · Herb · № 368

Red root

Ceanothus americanus

Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, antispasmodic, expectorant, calming; for a swollen spleen (e.g. after glandular fever), cools and constricts blood vessels in bleeding and congestion of the uterus, liver and lymph.

South America · Herb · № 1012

Roq'e

Colletia spinosissima

A thorny shrub with green thorns set crosswise and hardly any leaves. It lives together with nitrogen-fixing Frankia bacteria. The bark contains saponins; little has been studied about its effect in people.

South America · Herb · № 927

Sanango

Tabernaemontana sananho

A tree of the dogbane family, related to iboga. Contains the indole alkaloids coronaridine, voacangine and ibogamine, which resemble those of iboga. Anti-inflammatory, and in the laboratory effective against the parasite that causes leishmaniasis.

South America · Herb · № 854

Dragon's blood (sangre de drago)

Croton lechleri

A tree with a thick, blood-red sap. On the skin it dries quickly into a protective layer. Crofelemer, approved in the US since 2013 for diarrhoea in people with HIV, was developed from the sap.

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.

Europe · Herb · № 91

White willow

Salix alba

The bark contains salicin, which the body partly converts to salicylic acid. There are hints of a moderate effect on low back pain and joint pain.