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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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153 results

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Recipes
Longan chicken soup with three seedsSumac lemonadeHaudenosaunee strawberry juiceStress teaAnti-cellulite scrubCustom herbal shampooNourishing hair treatment
Chinese formulas
Zuo gui wanZhi bai di huang wanYou gui wanXiang sheng po di wanYi guan jianQi ju di huang wanBa wei di huang wan (jin gui shen qi wan)Liu wei di huang wan
Treatment by condition
Flatulence
  • Caution

    Oceania · Herb · № 844

    Māmaki

    Pipturus albidus

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

    Lāʻau lapaʻau in Hawaiʻi
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 248

    Mango

    Mangifera indica

    Traditionally attributed effects: cooling herb, prevents a burning feeling and keeps you cool in the heat; aids digestion; good for skin and hair.

    Ayurveda+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Africa · Food · № 252

    Melon

    Cucumis melo

    A sweet, juicy fruit. In Chinese medicine the dried stalk (gua di) was used to induce vomiting; no medicinal effect is described for the fruit itself.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 39

    Neem

    Azadirachta indica

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

    Ayurveda+3
  • Caution

    Oceania · Food · № 50

    Noni

    Morinda citrifolia

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

    Lāʻau lapaʻau in Hawaiʻi+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 129

    Nutmeg

    Myristica fragrans

    A spice used in small amounts in Ayurveda and Arabic medicine for diarrhoea, nausea and insomnia. There is no good clinical evidence.

    Ayurveda+6Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 484

    Elephant apple

    Dillenia indica

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

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Food · № 452

    Papaya

    Carica papaya

    Traditionally attributed effects: aids digestion, expels worms, stomachic, promotes menstruation; ripe fruit mildly laxative; leaves against amoebic dysentery and fever; seeds against roundworms; promotes milk flow; unripe fruit abortifacient.

    Herbal knowledge of the Caribbean+2
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 154

    Passionflower

    Passiflora incarnata

    Used for anxiety and sleep problems. NCCIH notes some indications of an effect on anxiety but limited evidence.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3Folklore
  • 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 · № 244

    Pear

    Pyrus communis

    A fibre-rich fruit with sorbitol, which is mildly laxative. In Chinese medicine pear (li) is cooked with rock sugar for a dry cough; no effect is described for other uses.

    Folk magic and herbal magic+1Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 249

    Peach

    Prunus persica

    A juicy summer fruit. In Chinese medicine the kernels (tao ren) are used to move the blood; raw they are poisonous because of amygdalin.

    Chinese medical traditions+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Food · № 251

    Plum

    Prunus domestica

    Prunes contain fibre and sorbitol and help with constipation; there is some research on this.

    Folk magic and herbal magicFolklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Mushroom · № 690

    Puffball (ma bo)

    Calvatia gigantea (en Lasiosphaera fenzlii)

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools lung fire in sore throat and hoarseness; the spore powder stops bleeding externally.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 352

    Soapnut

    Sapindus mukorossi

    Traditionally attributed effects: natural shampoo (soapy), cleanses scalp and hair.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    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.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Africa · Food · № 25

    Roselle (hibiscus)

    Hibiscus sabdariffa

    The red calyces make a tart drink. Folk medicine links it to blood pressure; it is not a substitute for treatment.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+2Folklore
  • Caution

    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.

    Herbal knowledge of the Amazon
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 592

    Schisandra

    Schisandra chinensis

    Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, astringent, stimulating, adaptogen; supports exhausted adrenals (fatigue), promotes sleep and well-being, protects the liver.

    Chinese medical traditions+3
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 507

    East Indian screw tree

    Helicteres isora

    Traditionally attributed effects: expectorant, soothing, mildly astringent, stomachic; for colic, flatulence, diarrhoea, chronic dysentery, diabetes, ear infection, snake bites.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 470

    Sebesten plum

    Cordia myxa

    Traditionally attributed effects: fruit soothing, expectorant, diuretic, mildly laxative; bark mildly astringent and tonic; for cough and chest diseases, bile complaints, abdominal cramps, indigestion, fever, ulcers, snake bites.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 351

    Shikakai

    Senegalia rugata (syn. Acacia concinna)

    Traditionally attributed effects: natural shampoo, cleanses scalp and hair.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 220

    Orange

    Citrus sinensis

    Traditionally attributed effects: against dandruff; sweet oranges good for skin and hair.

    Ayurveda+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 849

    Bitter melon

    Momordica charantia

    A bitter climbing plant whose fruit, leaves and vines are used. In folk medicine mainly taken to lower blood sugar; research shows a small effect at most.

    Herbal knowledge of the Caribbean
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 519

    Sponge gourd

    Luffa cylindrica

    Traditionally attributed effects: seeds emetic, laxative, diuretic; fruit cooling, soothing, stimulates appetite, diuretic, promotes milk flow; oil for skin conditions.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 538

    Bhumyamalaki

    Phyllanthus fraternus

    Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, astringent, cooling, laxative, bitter tonic; for oedema, gonorrhoea, urogenital diseases, jaundice, constipation, stomach ache, indigestion, dysentery, mild intermittent fever, heavy menstruation.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Africa · Food · № 560

    Tamarind

    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).

    Local African healing traditions+3
  • 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

    Asia · Herb · № 195

    Yew

    Taxus baccata

    Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, expectorant, stomachic, tonic; leaf and fruit promote menstruation, calming, antispasmodic; for asthma, hiccups, indigestion, coughing up blood, epilepsy, stones, nervousness.

    Ayurveda+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 570

    Timur pepper

    Zanthoxylum alatum

    Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, stomachic, carminative, aromatic; for fever, indigestion, cholera and toothache.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 467

    Ivy gourd

    Coccinia indica

    Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, laxative (bark), antispasmodic and expectorant (leaf and stem), lowers blood sugar; for incipient diabetes, swollen glands, skin diseases, smallpox rash, gonorrhoea, bronchitis.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Food · № 157

    Tomato

    Solanum lycopersicum

    A fruit-vegetable with vitamin C and lycopene. Research on lycopene and heart or prostate health is mostly observational and not conclusive.

    Maya healing knowledge+4Folklore
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 222

    Vanilla

    Vanilla planifolia

    Traditionally attributed effects: gives a feeling of calm and comfort; fragrance.

    Maya healing knowledge+3Folklore
  • 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 · № 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 · 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
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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