From Ayurveda to Rongoā Māori
Communities around the world learned how plants nourish, care and heal. Here their traditions stand beside present-day use, with respect for every culture.
GrapeFolk magic and herbal magic
BuchuLocal African healing traditions
Indian tobaccoCherokee medicine
Lignum vitaeHerbal knowledge of the Caribbean
Yerba mateKallawaya healing knowledge
CautionAsia · Food · № 500
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.
CautionAsia · Food · № 261
Cucumis sativus
Traditionally attributed effects: fruit nourishing and soothing; seeds cooling, diuretic, tonic; for throat complaints, strongly diuretic with sugar, in fever.
CautionEurope · Food · № 68
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.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 338
Rumex crispus
Traditionally attributed effects: strongly laxative, promotes bile, cleansing.
CautionOceania · Herb · № 52
Pomaderris kumeraho
A plant in traditional Māori medicine; there is little scientific confirmation of its benefits.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 5
Curcuma longa
A traditional culinary spice containing curcumin; laboratory findings do not establish a cure for disease.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 213
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.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 44
Lavandula angustifolia
A fragrant plant used in bath products, perfume, and aromatherapy. Evidence for medical effects is preliminary.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 226
Tilia × europaea
Traditionally attributed effects: calming nerve remedy, induces sweating, vasodilating, restores the vessel walls, lowers blood pressure.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 516
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.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 559
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).
CautionEurope · Herb · № 211
Viola odorata
Traditionally attributed effects: V. odorata anti-inflammatory, expectorant, diuretic, antitumour; V. tricolor expectorant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antirheumatic, laxative, strengthens capillaries.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 370
Mahonia aquifolium
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, purifies the blood, tonic, stimulating, supports the liver; improves appetite and digestion, promotes liver and bile secretion, purifies the blood, helps with skin problems, sudden diarrhoea and chronic constipation.
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Food · № 266
Zea mays
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, heals the urinary tract lining, tonic, soothing.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 859
Maytenus boaria
A graceful tree with drooping twigs and fine leaves that cattle love to eat. Traditionally for fever and skin rash; research is lacking.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 348
Centella asiatica
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, tonic, diuretic, locally stimulating, calming; for chronic ulcers, eczema, psoriasis, leprosy, epilepsy, insanity, swollen glands, abscesses, chronic rheumatism, diarrhoea in children.
CautionAsia · Food · № 248
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.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 476
Curcuma amada
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, cooling, aromatic, bitter, stomachic, astringent, lowers cholesterol; externally for bruises, sprains and skin diseases; purifies the blood.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 493
Euphorbia neriifolia
Traditionally attributed effects: milky sap drastically laxative and expectorant, externally skin-irritant; root antispasmodic; for enlarged liver and spleen, oedema, leprosy; externally on warts, for earache, ulcers and scabies; root for scorpion and snake bites.
CautionAfrica · Other · № 28
Commiphora myrrha
A gum resin with a long history in medicine, ritual, perfume, and incense. Modern treatment claims are not established.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 96
Tanacetum parthenium
Best known for preventing migraine. NCCIH notes the evidence is conflicting: some studies find a small effect, others do not.
CautionNorth America · Other · № 388
Limnanthes alba
Traditionally attributed effects: nourishing carrier oil.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 762
Taxillus chinensis (syn. Loranthus parasiticus)
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens liver and kidneys, expels wind and dampness, nourishes the blood and calms the foetus.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 341
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.
CautionAsia · Food · № 358
Vigna radiata
Traditionally attributed effects: light and easily digestible, sattvic (calm in the head); for fever, ulcers and blood disorders; khichadi with takra for 7–10 days as a cleansing cure; soap substitute makes the skin soft.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 3
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.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 380
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.
CautionAsia · Food · № 425
Artocarpus integrifolia
Traditionally attributed effects: ripe fruit soothing, nourishing, laxative; unripe fruit astringent; milky sap for swollen glands, abscesses and snake bites; root for diarrhoea; leaf and root for skin diseases.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 39
Azadirachta indica
Used for centuries in traditional medicine in India, but there is insufficient clinical evidence of medical benefits.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 529
Nerium indicum
Traditionally attributed effects: strongly diuretic and strengthens the heart (like digitalis), abortifacient.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 421
Argyreia speciosa
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, tonic, soothing; for elephantiasis, arthritis, rheumatic swelling, overweight, skin diseases, boils, ear infection.
CautionEurope · Food · № 362
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.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 737
Platycladus orientalis (syn. Biota orientalis)
Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood and stops bleeding; dissolves phlegm and helps with burns.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 999
Impatiens capensis
An annual, juicy herb with orange, spotted flowers. Ripe seed pods burst open when touched and shoot the seeds away, hence the names touch-me-not and jewelweed. The sap contains saponins and naphthoquinones; one study found it can prevent a poison ivy rash after short exposure, though washing with soap works at least as well.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 217
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.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 674
Lithospermum erythrorhizon (en Arnebia euchroma)
Traditionally attributed effects: cools and moves the blood in dark rashes; externally for burns and eczema.
Featured · Central America and the Caribbean · Curanderismo
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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43 traditions
How communities built up and passed on their knowledge of plants, region by region.
113 recipes
Soups, teas and dishes in which herbs play a leading role.
146 formulas
The classical Chinese formulas, also listed by condition.