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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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328 results

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Chinese formulas
Si ni tangHuo xiang zheng qi sanBai tou weng tangWen dan tangSi ni sanBao he wanEr chen tangQing wei sanGe gen huang qin huang lian tangSan huang xie xin tangDang gui si ni tangWu zhu yu tangLiang ge sanSi jun zi tangZhi zi dou chi tangShen ling bai zhu sanBu zhong yi qi tangLi zhong wanXuan fu dai zhe tangYi guan jianPing wei sanWei ling tangDa cheng qi tangXiao jian zhong tang+9
Treatment by condition
Stomach painStomach ulcer and gastritisHiccupsLiver cirrhosisUterine prolapseHeadache and migraineStress, anxiety, hysteria and insomniaEpilepsyEczema, dermatitis, itching, acne, erysipelas and psoriasis
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 675

    Swallow-wort root (bai wei)

    Cynanchum atratum

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood in fever from deficiency, including after childbirth, and in painful urination.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • 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

    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

    Asia · Herb · № 336

    Evodia fruit (wu zhu yu)

    Tetradium ruticarpum (syn. Evodia rutaecarpa)

    Traditionally attributed effects: pain-relieving, antibacterial, warming, stimulating.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 118

    Fenugreek

    Trigonella foenum-graecum

    The seed has been studied for blood sugar and for increasing breast milk. NCCIH reports there is not enough strong evidence for these uses.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+5Folklore
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 462

    Velvet leaf

    Cissampelos pareira

    Traditionally attributed effects: mildly stomachic, bitter tonic, diuretic, dissolves stones, astringent; for intestinal complaints, indigestion, diarrhoea, prolapsed uterus, internal inflammation, urinary tract diseases, purifies the blood in skin diseases.

    Herbal knowledge of the Caribbean+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Food · № 90

    Raspberry

    Rubus idaeus

    The fruit is a nutritious berry. Raspberry leaf has been used in folk medicine in late pregnancy to ease labour; convincing evidence is lacking.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+3Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 778

    Gac seed (mu bie zi)

    Momordica cochinchinensis

    Traditionally attributed effects: externally for inflamed sores, breast abscesses and bruises.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 119

    Galangal

    Alpinia galanga

    A relative of ginger traditionally used for nausea, wind and sluggish digestion. Clinical evidence is limited.

    Ayurveda+6
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 503

    Gmelina

    Gmelina arborea

    Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, stomachic, bitter tonic, cooling, laxative, promotes milk flow; fruit in cooling decoctions for fever and bile complaints, headache, fever and indigestion; to prevent miscarriage.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 200

    Gardenia (zhi zi)

    Gardenia jasminoides

    Traditionally attributed effects: fever-reducing, calming, lowers blood pressure, antibacterial, promotes bile.

    Chinese medical traditions+3Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 692

    Barbat skullcap (ban zhi lian)

    Scutellaria barbata

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood, moves blood stagnation and reduces swellings; for hepatitis.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Other · № 789

    Medicated leaven (shen qu)

    Massa medicata fermentata

    Traditionally attributed effects: helps with food stagnation and poor digestion.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 104

    Guelder rose

    Viburnum opulus en V. prunifolium

    The bark is traditionally used for muscle cramps and period pain; its English name is cramp bark. Clinical evidence is lacking.

    Western herbal medicine+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 700

    Genkwa flower (yuan hua)

    Daphne genkwa

    Traditionally attributed effects: was used as a strong fluid-draining remedy in chronic fluid accumulation in chest and abdomen.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 269

    Barley

    Hordeum vulgare

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, light; good for skin and hair.

    Ayurveda+4Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 88

    Self-heal

    Prunella vulgaris

    In Europe an old wound herb and gargle for sore throats; in Chinese medicine used for 'heat' and swollen glands. Research is mostly laboratory work.

    Western herbal medicine+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Mineral · № 668

    Gypsum (shi gao)

    Gypsum fibrosum (calciumsulfaat)

    Traditionally attributed effects: strongly cooling in high fever with thirst and sweating, lung heat and stomach fire.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Mineral · № 698

    Glauber's salt (mang xiao)

    Mirabilitum (natriumsulfaat)

    Traditionally attributed effects: softens the stool in constipation from heat and dryness.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 649

    Glehnia root (sha shen)

    Glehnia littoralis

    Traditionally attributed effects: nourishes the lungs and is good for the stomach; for persistent dry cough and to dissolve phlegm.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 637

    Goji (Chinese wolfberry)

    Lycium barbarum, L. chinense

    Traditionally attributed effects: sweet tonic that according to tradition strengthens the yang energy, strength and stamina and supports the hormone system.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 556

    East Indian globe thistle

    Sphaeranthus indicus

    Traditionally attributed effects: bitter, tonic, stomachic, stimulating, cleansing; for bile complaints, tumours, worms, skin diseases (purifies the blood), bleeding haemorrhoids, syphilis, urethral discharge, conjunctivitis.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 343

    Pomegranate

    Punica granatum

    Traditionally attributed effects: root and stem bark astringent and strongly expel tapeworm; flowers and peel astringent and stomachic; juice cooling.

    Ayurveda+3
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 772

    Grass-leaved sweet flag (shi chang pu)

    Acorus tatarinowii (syn. A. gramineus)

    Traditionally attributed effects: opens the sense orifices, clears the mind and expels dampness and phlegm.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 170

    Gumweed

    Grindelia camporum

    The sticky herb was traditionally used for coughs, asthma and bronchitis, and externally for poison-ivy rashes. Clinical evidence is lacking.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 344

    Cardamom

    Elettaria cardamomum

    Traditionally attributed effects: aromatic, pungent, strengthens the heart, stomachic, laxative, diuretic, carminative; for asthma, bronchitis, haemorrhoids, bladder complaints, flatulence, cramps from laxatives, dizziness, indigestion, vomiting.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 218

    Spearmint

    Mentha spicata

    The classic culinary mint, with the milder carvone instead of menthol. It is drunk as tea for a full stomach and nausea; studies on concentration are small and inconclusive.

    Folk magic and herbal magic+1Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 713

    Large-leaf gentian (qin jiao)

    Gentiana macrophylla

    Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind and dampness in cold and hot joint pain and cools heat from yin deficiency.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 62

    Greater burdock

    Arctium lappa

    In Europe the root was considered a 'blood-cleansing' herb for skin problems such as eczema and acne; the seed is used in Chinese medicine for sore throats. Clinical evidence is weak.

    Western herbal medicine+5
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 736

    Great burnet (di yu)

    Sanguisorba officinalis

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood and stops bleeding in the lower abdomen; externally for burns.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 142

    Guggul

    Commiphora wightii (syn. C. mukul)

    The resin is used in Ayurveda for joint complaints, overweight and high cholesterol. A US study found no reduction in cholesterol; LDL even rose slightly.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 87

    Cowslip

    Primula veris

    The root contains saponins and is traditionally used to loosen phlegm in coughs; the flowers as a calming tea. There is some research on combination cough preparations.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 506

    Gymnema

    Gymnema sylvestre

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stomachic, tonic, cooling, diuretic, lowers blood sugar (suppresses sweet taste); for diabetes and sugar in the urine, snake bites, fever, cough, swollen glands.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 139

    Haritaki and triphala

    Terminalia chebula

    Haritaki is used in Ayurveda as a rejuvenating remedy and gentle laxative. Triphala, a blend of three fruits, is the best-known Ayurvedic formula for digestion. Clinical research is limited.

    Ayurveda+3
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 987

    Hearts-a-bustin'

    Euonymus americanus

    A shrub of the spindle family, up to two metres tall. In autumn the warty pink fruits burst open to show seeds in a bright red aril. Seeds and fruits are strongly purgative, as in other spindles, and the genus is considered poisonous.

    Cherokee medicine
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 59

    Marshmallow

    Althaea officinalis

    Root and leaf are rich in mucilage that forms a soothing layer; used for dry coughs, throat irritation and an irritated stomach. Evidence is modest.

    Greco-Roman medicine+3Folklore
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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