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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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438 results

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  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 355

    Chinese hibiscus

    Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

    Traditionally attributed effects: cares for the hair, promotes circulation in the scalp and reduces stress.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 703

    Gold coin grass (jin qian cao)

    Lysimachia christinae (ook Desmodium styracifolium)

    Traditionally attributed effects: helps pass kidney and gallstones and drains damp heat from the liver.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 741

    Chinese bugleweed (ze lan)

    Lycopus lucidus

    Traditionally attributed effects: moves the blood and regulates menstruation; diuretic.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    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.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 926

    Chiricaspi

    Brunfelsia grandiflora

    A shrub of the nightshade family up to three metres tall, with fragrant flowers that fade from purple to white. Contains scopoletin, among others, and compounds that cause convulsions in animals. Gives a feeling of cold and tingling, and in larger amounts dizziness and paralysis.

    Herbal knowledge of the Amazon+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 225

    Chicory

    Cichorium intybus

    Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, laxative, tonic.

    Western herbal medicine+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 381

    Lemongrass

    Cymbopogon citratus

    Traditionally attributed effects: for oily hair.

    Ayurveda+3
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 85

    Lemon balm

    Melissa officinalis

    Traditionally used for restlessness, sleep problems and a nervous stomach; externally for cold sores. Small studies suggest a mild calming effect, but evidence is limited.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+7Folklore
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 378

    Lemon verbena

    Aloysia citrodora

    Traditionally attributed effects: relaxing, helps you fall asleep.

    The Guaraní and the mate tradition+4Folklore
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 183

    Coca

    Erythroxylum coca

    The leaf contains a small amount of cocaine and other alkaloids. Chewing it or drinking it as tea is used in the Andes against hunger, fatigue and altitude sickness; evidence for the latter is limited. Cocaine, the first local anaesthetic and today mainly an addictive drug, was isolated from the leaf.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge+2
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 984

    Cojamba

    Helosis cayennensis

    A plant without chlorophyll that parasitises the roots of trees and shrubs (family Balanophoraceae). It looks like a young mushroom, until the 'cap' turns out to be a reddish-brown spike full of tiny flowers. Its action has hardly been studied.

    Tukano medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 579

    Chaparral

    Larrea divaricata

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stimulating, cleansing, diuretic; detoxifies the liver and body, anti-inflammatory, for arthritis, strengthens bladder and kidneys, externally for haemorrhoids, boils, bedsores and bruises.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 856

    Culén

    Grimolobium glandulosum (syn. Otholobium glandulosum, Psoralea glandulosa)

    A shrub of the pea family with glandular, fragrant leaves. Traditionally used for digestive complaints, diarrhoea and on wounds; good research is lacking.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 759

    Cynomorium (suo yang)

    Cynomorium songaricum

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

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 928

    Damiana

    Turnera diffusa

    A small, woody shrub with small, strongly scented leaves and yellow flowers. Contains flavonoids such as apigenin and acacetin, terpenes and a small amount of cyanogenic glycosides. Considered mildly calming and uplifting; which substances cause this is not known.

    Curanderismo
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 430

    Danti

    Baliospermum montanum

    Traditionally attributed effects: seeds strongly laxative, externally stimulating and skin-irritant; root for oedema and jaundice, leaves for asthma, oil for rheumatism, antiseptic, for snake bites.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 320

    Wild garlic

    Allium ursinum

    Traditionally attributed effects: antimicrobial, lowers blood sugar, lowers cholesterol.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 215

    Dill

    Anethum graveolens

    Traditionally attributed effects: carminative.

    Ayurveda+4Folklore
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 481

    Thorn apple

    Datura metel

    Traditionally attributed effects: narcotic, pain-relieving, antispasmodic (like belladonna); compress for rheumatic swellings, lumbago, sciatica, nerve pain, painful tumours; leaves and seeds for asthma and whooping cough; liniment for painful menstruation.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 243

    Tarragon

    Artemisia dracunculus

    A culinary herb with an aniseed-like taste. The fresh leaf slightly numbs the tongue and was formerly chewed for toothache and used to stimulate the appetite. It contains estragole; large amounts are not recommended.

    Western herbal medicine+1Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Food · № 245

    Grape

    Vitis vinifera

    Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, laxative, cooling, stomachic, diuretic; for bilious indigestion, bleeding, painful urination, chronic bronchitis, heart disease, gout; juice for constipation in children.

    Folk magic and herbal magic+3Folklore
  • Caution

    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.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 966

    Devil's club

    Oplopanax horridus

    An ivy-like shrub with large, hand-shaped leaves and spines over the whole stem and the leaf veins. Research into a blood-sugar-lowering effect is at an early stage.

    Kwakwaka'wakw medicine
  • Caution

    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.

    Cherokee medicine
  • Caution

    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.

    Greco-Roman medicine+6Folklore
  • Caution

    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.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+5Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Mushroom · № 701

    Umbrella polypore (zhu ling)

    Polyporus umbellatus

    Traditionally attributed effects: drains fluid via the urine in oedema and difficult urination.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    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.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Oceania · Herb · № 54

    Emu bush (berrigan)

    Eremophila longifolia

    One of the most important plants for Aboriginal peoples of Central Australia, with ceremonial and medicinal uses. Clinical evidence is lacking.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge
  • Caution

    Oceania · Food · № 177

    Emu berry (dysentery bush)

    Grewia retusifolia

    The small fruits are edible; the name dysentery bush refers to its traditional use for diarrhoea. There is no clinical research.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge+1
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 460

    Mexican tea

    Dysphania ambrosioides (syn. Chenopodium ambrosioides)

    A strong-smelling culinary herb traditionally used against intestinal worms and wind. The essential oil contains ascaridole, which kills worms but is also toxic to humans.

    Curanderismo+3
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 908

    Epena (virola)

    Virola theiodora (en verwante Virola-soorten)

    A tree of the nutmeg family with blood-red resin in its bark. The resin contains a lot of 5-MeO-DMT and DMT, and also beta-carbolines. As snuff it brings excitement, numb limbs, nausea and visions within minutes.

    Herbal knowledge of the Amazon+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 193

    Ash

    Fraxinus excelsior

    The leaf was used as a mild diuretic and laxative and for gout. There is little research; a medicinal effect has not been shown.

    Folk magic and herbal magicFolklore
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 1006

    Escorzonera

    Perezia multiflora (en verwante soorten)

    A low, prickly herb with toothed leaves and yellow or white flower heads. Contains phenols, flavonoids and saponins; in the laboratory the leaf inhibits some bacteria. Research in people is limited.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 820

    Estafiate (white sagebrush)

    Artemisia ludoviciana

    A bitter, aromatic herb used in Mexico for stomach ache and digestive complaints.

    Curanderismo+1
  • Caution

    Oceania · Herb · № 172

    Eucalyptus

    Eucalyptus globulus

    Eucalyptus oil is used for coughs and blocked noses with colds and externally for muscle pain; the European Medicines Agency recognises these as traditional uses. Strong clinical evidence is limited.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge+4Folklore
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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