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

Also found

Recipes: Tea for a starting cold Tincture for the cold season
Chinese formulas: Yi guan jian
Treatment by condition: Cancer

Caution
Asia · Food · № 764
Japanese apricot (wu mei)
Prunus mume
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent in chronic cough and diarrhoea, replenishes body fluids and was used against worms.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 788
Inula flower (xuan fu hua)
Inula japonica
Traditionally attributed effects: moves stuck phlegm in the lungs and makes rebellious energy of lung and stomach descend.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 302
Japanese pagoda tree (huai jiao)
Styphnolobium japonicum (syn. Sophora japonica)
Traditionally attributed effects: stops bleeding, laxative.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 127
Japanese honeysuckle
Lonicera japonica en L. periclymenum
The flower buds (jin yin hua) are an important 'cooling' herb in Chinese medicine for fever, sore throats and colds. There is plenty of laboratory research but few good clinical studies.
Chinese medical traditions+3
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 687
Japanese climbing fern (jin sha teng)
Lygodium japonicum
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic in cystitis and stones; also for sore throat and mumps.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 322
Asiatic dogwood fruit (shan zhu yu)
Cornus officinalis
Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, diuretic, lowers blood pressure, antimicrobial.
Chinese medical traditions+3
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 715
Chinese quince (mu gua)
Chaenomeles speciosa
Traditionally attributed effects: relaxes tendons and muscles in cramps and rheumatic pain and drives dampness from the stomach.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 723
Loquat leaf (pi pa ye)
Eriobotrya japonica
Traditionally attributed effects: cools hot phlegm in the lungs and makes rebellious lung and stomach energy descend.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 785
Bush cherry pit (yu li ren)
Prunus japonica
Traditionally attributed effects: moistens the bowel in constipation with stagnation and promotes urination in oedema.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 514
Japanese morning glory
Ipomoea nil
Traditionally attributed effects: strongly laxative, expels worms; for constipation, substitute for jalap root.
Ayurveda+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 126
Jasmine
Jasminum officinale / J. grandiflorum
Best known as a fragrance and in jasmine tea; jasmine aromatherapy is used for relaxation. Medical claims are unproven.
Ayurveda+4Folklore
Caution
Asia · Food · № 645
Job's tears (coix seed)
Coix lacryma-jobi
Traditionally attributed effects: nourishing grain that drives dampness from the body; for arthritis and rheumatism, diuretic, and to relieve a full chest and stomach ulcers.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 752
Teasel root (xu duan)
Dipsacus asper
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens liver and kidneys, helps fractures heal and calms the foetus.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Food · № 733
Persimmon calyx (shi di)
Diospyros kaki
Traditionally attributed effects: the calyx makes the stomach energy descend in hiccups and belching.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 686
Houttuynia (yu xing cao)
Houttuynia cordata
Traditionally attributed effects: detoxifies and drains pus, especially in lung infections; diuretic.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Other · № 141
Camphor
Cinnamomum camphora
Used externally in rubs for muscle pain, itching and blocked noses; it gives a cooling, numbing feeling. There is some evidence of short-term relief.
Ayurveda+3
Caution
Asia · Food · № 38
Cinnamon
Cinnamomum verum
A spice made from inner bark. Research on health effects is preliminary; cinnamon is not a treatment.
Ayurveda+8Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 699
Kansui root (gan sui)
Euphorbia kansui
Traditionally attributed effects: was used as a very strong fluid-draining purgative for fluid in chest and abdomen.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
North America · Herb · № 155
Pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
Formerly used for swollen glands, tonsillitis and rheumatism. Because of its toxicity it is not a safe herb; there is no evidence of benefits that outweigh the risks.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+5
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 143
Kutki
Picrorhiza kurroa
A very bitter herb used in Ayurveda and Tibetan medicine for liver complaints, fever and digestive problems. Research is mainly in animals.
Ayurveda+3
Caution
Europe · Other · № 382
Kelp
Laminaria spp. / Ascophyllum nodosum
Brown seaweeds are rich in iodine and alginate. They are used in scrubs and as food supplements; too much iodine can disrupt the thyroid.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 647
Fritillaria bulb (bei mu)
Fritillaria cirrhosa
Traditionally attributed effects: dissolves phlegm and clears congested lungs; together with pear for dry airways and a heated chest.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 100
Coltsfoot
Tussilago farfara
One of the oldest cough herbs; the leaf contains soothing mucilage. Because of its toxic alkaloids it is now advised against.
Greco-Roman medicine+3
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 565
Puncture vine
Tribulus terrestris
Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, soothing, diuretic, tonic, aphrodisiac.
Ayurveda+2
Caution
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.
Ancient Egyptian medicine+7Folklore
Caution
Asia · Food · № 758
Garlic chives (jiu zi)
Allium tuberosum
Traditionally attributed effects: the seed strengthens kidney yang and warms stomach and spleen.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Africa · Herb · № 337
Nut grass
Cyperus rotundus
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, pain-relieving, antispasmodic for the uterus, promotes the flow of qi.
Ancient Egyptian medicine+4
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 92
Figwort
Scrophularia nodosa (en S. ningpoensis)
Used in Western herbalism for skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis and for swollen glands. There is no good clinical evidence.
Monastic and folk knowledge+2
Caution
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.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 725
Korean mint (huo xiang)
Agastache rugosa (ook Pogostemon cablin)
Traditionally attributed effects: transforms dampness blocking spleen and stomach and curbs nausea, also in summer colds.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
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.
Greco-Roman medicine+5Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 711
Mallow seed (dong kui zi)
Malva verticillata (ook Abutilon theophrasti)
Traditionally attributed effects: soothing and diuretic in painful urination and stones; promotes milk flow.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Food · № 42
Clove
Syzygium aromaticum
A spice. Clove oil containing eugenol may help with toothache; other claims are unproven.
Ayurveda+5Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 136
Kudzu
Pueraria montana var. lobata
The root (ge gen) is used in Chinese medicine for fever, stiff neck and thirst. Small studies have looked at kudzu for reducing alcohol use, with mixed results.
Chinese medical traditions+3
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 5
Turmeric
Curcuma longa
A traditional culinary spice containing curcumin; laboratory findings do not establish a cure for disease.
Ayurveda+5Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 205
Lily
Lilium spp.
The bulb scales of some lilies (bai he) are used in Chinese medicine for dry cough, restlessness and sleeplessness after fever. Lilies are deadly poisonous to cats.
Chinese medical traditions+1Folklore

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.

From plant to use

Ways to prepare herbs

All preparations →

Discover more

Traditions, kitchen and classical formulas

43 traditions

Cultures & traditions

How communities built up and passed on their knowledge of plants, region by region.

All traditions →

113 recipes

Recipes

Soups, teas and dishes in which herbs play a leading role.

All recipes →

146 formulas

Chinese formulas

The classical Chinese formulas, also listed by condition.

Treatment by condition →All formulas →