Herbal knowledge and the cultures that passed it on

Africa · Herb · № 116

Khella

Ammi visnaga

Contains khellin, a muscle relaxant that widens the airways and blood vessels. Khellin was the basis for modern drugs such as cromoglicate (for asthma) and amiodarone (for heart rhythm disorders).

Europe · Herb · № 207

Corn poppy

Papaver rhoeas

Traditionally attributed effects: mildly narcotic in large amounts; Papaver somniferum (source of opium) is poisonous.

Africa · Food · № 12

Garlic

Allium sativum

A food with a long history of use. Supplement research suggests only limited effects and does not establish a treatment.

Asia · Herb · № 746

Vaccaria seed (wang bu liu xing)

Gypsophila vaccaria (syn. Vaccaria segetalis)

Traditionally attributed effects: lets the blood flow, promotes menstruation and milk flow and reduces painful swellings.

Asia · Food · № 357

Coconut

Cocos nucifera

Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, diuretic, antiseptic, laxative; root for uterine diseases, bronchitis, liver complaints, dysentery, sore throat (gargle); coconut water for thirst, fever, urinary complaints and vomiting; ash for scabies and toothache.

Asia · Food · № 500

Kokum

Garcinia indica

Traditionally attributed effects: fruit cooling, promotes bile, soothing, antiscorbutic; bark astringent; oil for dysentery, mucous diarrhoea, tuberculosis, skin diseases, chapped lips, ointment base; fruit for hives.

Africa · Herb · № 464

Colocynth

Citrullus colocynthis

Traditionally attributed effects: drastically laxative and diuretic; in large doses emetic and highly irritant; for ascites, jaundice, urinary diseases, rheumatism, bile complaints, intestinal parasites, constipation, oedema; seed oil for snake and scorpion bites.

Asia · Herb · № 232

Cumin

Cuminum cyminum

Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, aromatic, stomachic, stimulating, astringent, cooling; for gonorrhoea, chronic diarrhoea, indigestion, hoarseness; oil as a source of thymol against hookworms.

Europe · Herb · № 102

Great mullein

Verbascum thapsus

Leaves and flowers contain mucilage and are traditionally used for irritating coughs and bronchitis; the flower oil for earache. Clinical evidence is limited.

Europe · Food · № 68

Cabbage

Brassica oleracea

A vegetable rich in vitamin C and fibre. In folk medicine cold cabbage leaves are placed on engorged breasts or painful joints; small studies give mixed results.

Europe · Herb · № 231

Coriander

Coriandrum sativum

Traditionally attributed effects: aromatic, stimulating, carminative, stomachic, cooling, tonic, diuretic; for flatulence, colic, rheumatism, nerve pain, sore throat, indigestion, vomiting, colds, bile complaints.

Asia · Food · № 42

Clove

Syzygium aromaticum

A spice. Clove oil containing eugenol may help with toothache; other claims are unproven.

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.

Asia · Herb · № 5

Turmeric

Curcuma longa

A traditional culinary spice containing curcumin; laboratory findings do not establish a cure for disease.

Europe · Herb · № 213

Bay laurel

Laurus nobilis

Bay leaf is a culinary herb containing cineole and eugenol. The oil of the berries was used externally for muscle pain; a medicinal effect has hardly been studied.

Europe · Herb · № 208

Snapdragon

Antirrhinum majus

An ornamental plant. In folk medicine leaves were laid as a poultice on sores and haemorrhoids; a medicinal effect has not been studied.

Europe · Herb · № 211

Sweet violet

Viola odorata

Traditionally attributed effects: V. odorata anti-inflammatory, expectorant, diuretic, antitumour; V. tricolor expectorant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antirheumatic, laxative, strengthens capillaries.

Asia · Herb · № 655

Magnolia flower bud (xin yi hua)

Magnolia biondii (syn. M. liliflora)

Traditionally attributed effects: warms and opens the nose in blocked sinuses and headache from wind-cold.

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 · Food · № 51

Mānuka honey

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

Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 420

Mexican prickly poppy

Argemone mexicana

Traditionally attributed effects: root diuretic, cleansing, pain-relieving, sleep-inducing; seeds laxative, emetic, expectorant; for oedema, jaundice, skin diseases, warts, scabies, gonorrhoea, tapeworm, cough and asthma.

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.

North America · Other · № 388

Meadowfoam

Limnanthes alba

Traditionally attributed effects: nourishing carrier oil.

Asia · Herb · № 341

Brown mustard

Brassica juncea

Traditionally attributed effects: plant bitter, mildly laxative, tonic; oil stimulating and skin-irritant, antiseptic; for chest complaints in children, muscular rheumatism, stiff neck, inflammation and nerve pain, abdominal cramps, persistent vomiting.

Europe · Herb · № 3

Mint

Mentha × piperita

Peppermint oil has been studied in irritable bowel syndrome and may reduce abdominal pain. The tea is used for a full stomach and nausea. With heartburn peppermint can make complaints worse.

Europe · Herb · № 380

Clary sage

Salvia sclarea

The essential oil is used in relaxing baths and massages. A small study pointed to a relaxing effect when inhaled; the evidence is limited.

Asia · Herb · № 39

Neem

Azadirachta indica

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

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.

Asia · Herb · № 529

Oleander

Nerium indicum

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

Asia · Herb · № 488

Elephant's foot

Elephantopus scaber

Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the heart, astringent, cleansing, fever-reducing, antibiotic; for painful urination, urethral discharge, diarrhoea, dysentery, vomiting, snake bites, ulcers, eczema.

Europe · Food · № 362

Olive

Olea europaea

Olive oil is the basis of the Mediterranean diet, which is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Olive leaf extract is sold as a remedy for infections and high blood pressure; the evidence for this is limited and there is no evidence that it treats flu or other viral infections.

South America · Herb · № 227

Nasturtium

Tropaeolum majus

Leaves and flowers taste sharp because of mustard oil glycosides. In Germany a combination with horseradish is approved as a remedy for bladder and respiratory infections; there is little research on the plant alone.

Europe · Herb · № 217

Oregano

Origanum vulgare

A culinary herb with carvacrol and thymol, which inhibit bacteria and fungi in the laboratory. There is no good evidence that oregano oil treats infections in humans; undiluted oil irritates skin and mucous membranes.

Asia · Herb · № 674

Purple gromwell (zi cao)

Lithospermum erythrorhizon (en Arnebia euchroma)

Traditionally attributed effects: cools and moves the blood in dark rashes; externally for burns and eczema.

South America · Herb · № 882

Palo santo

Bursera graveolens

A tree of the frankincense and myrrh family, with strongly scented wood that contains essential oil.

Asia · Herb · № 241

Patchouli

Pogostemon cablin

Traditionally attributed effects: inhibits sebum production, draws oil from the skin, fights acne bacteria; against dandruff.