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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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Muña tea
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 598

    White oak

    Quercus alba

    Traditionally attributed effects: strongly astringent; strengthens lax tissue (diarrhoea, inflamed gums, chronic nasal congestion, weak bladder), stops bleeding (nosebleeds, internal bleeding).

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 539

    White leadwort

    Plumbago zeylanica

    Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, stimulates the stomach, stimulates appetite; externally skin-irritant for rheumatism, paralysis, enlarged glands, leucoderma and skin diseases; tincture antipyretic.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 301

    Horse chestnut

    Aesculus hippocastanum

    Traditionally attributed effects: anti-inflammatory, astringent.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 986

    Yellowroot

    Xanthorhiza simplicissima

    A low shrub of the buttercup family, one of the few woody species in that family. Root and stem are bright yellow from berberine, a bitter substance also found in goldenseal and barberry that inhibits bacteria and fungi.

    Cherokee medicine
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 980

    Yoco

    Paullinia yoco

    A woody liana of the soapberry family, related to guarana. The bark contains caffeine and theobromine; 0.1 to 3.6 percent caffeine has been measured, most in the inner bark of the stem. It is one of the few plants whose bark, rather than its seed or leaf, gives a caffeine drink.

    Kamëntšá and Inga medicine
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 907

    Yopo

    Anadenanthera peregrina

    A tree of the pea family with flat pods. The seeds contain a lot of bufotenine and also DMT and 5-MeO-DMT. As snuff they cause almost immediate muscle twitching, nausea and short visions in which things often seem very large.

    Herbal knowledge of the Amazon+1
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 922

    Zacatechichi

    Calea ternifolia (syn. Calea zacatechichi)

    A shrub of the daisy family with very bitter leaves. Contains caleicine and other sesquiterpene lactones, among others. Said to make sleep light and dreams clear and vivid; in a small study an extract caused a slight change of perception, drowsiness and a short sleep with vivid dreams.

    Curanderismo
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 850

    Soursop

    Annona muricata

    A tree with a large, sweet-sour fruit. The leaf is drunk as a calming tea. Claims that soursop cures cancer are unproven.

    Herbal knowledge of the Caribbean+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 411

    Black cardamom

    Amomum subulatum

    Traditionally attributed effects: stomachic, carminative, stimulates the heart, expectorant; for digestive complaints, liver congestion, tooth and gum complaints, kidney stones (with melon seed), inflamed eyelids; flavouring.

    Ayurveda+2
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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