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: Kinkeliba tea Guayusa, the tea before sunrise Māmaki tea Oswego tea Spicebush tea
Chinese formulas: An gong niu huang wan Ba zheng san Wu lin san
Treatment by condition: Headache and migraine

Caution
Asia · Herb · № 751
Eucommia bark (du zhong)
Eucommia ulmoides
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens liver and kidneys, tendons and bones; calms rising liver yang and a restless foetus.
Chinese medical traditions+1
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
South America · Herb · № 876
Floripondio (angel's trumpet)
Brugmansia spp. (o.a. B. arborea, B. sanguinea)
A shrub or small tree with large hanging trumpet flowers. All parts contain tropane alkaloids such as scopolamine and atropine, which cause confusion and hallucinations.
Kallawaya healing knowledge+2
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
North America · Herb · № 1000
Galax
Galax urceolata
A low evergreen herb of the Diapensia family with glossy, round, toothed leaves that turn bronze to wine red in winter, and in spring a slender spike of tiny white flowers. Plants in flower smell sharp, almost like a skunk. Its effect has not been studied.
Cherokee medicine
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 · № 774
Gastrodia (tian ma)
Gastrodia elata
Traditionally attributed effects: calms liver wind and relieves headache, dizziness and cramps.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
South America · Herb · № 899
Prickly sow-thistle
Sonchus asper
An annual or biennial plant with spiny, blue-green leaves, yellow dandelion-like flowers and milky sap in the stem. The leaves are edible and nutritious.
Kallawaya healing knowledge
Caution
North America · Herb · № 944
Yellow pond-lily
Nuphar lutea (incl. N. variegata)
A water plant with floating leaves and yellow, globe-shaped flowers. The rhizome contains alkaloids whose effects are poorly studied.
Haudenosaunee medicine
Caution
Asia · Food · № 269
Barley
Hordeum vulgare
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, light; good for skin and hair.
Ayurveda+4Folklore
Caution
North America · Herb · № 327
Fragrant sumac
Rhus aromatica
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, tonic, antidiabetic, diuretic.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+1
Caution
North America · Herb · № 274
American cranesbill
Geranium maculatum
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stops bleeding, tonic.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4
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 · Herb · № 472
Poison bulb
Crinum defixum
Traditionally attributed effects: emetic, induces sweating, laxative; leaves for whitlow, inflamed toes and fingers, joints and sprains; leaf juice for ear complaints; bulb for bile complaints, urinary complaints and rheumatism.
Ayurveda
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 333
Wild lettuce
Lactuca virosa
Traditionally attributed effects: calming, lowers blood sugar, sleep-inducing, suppresses libido.
Western herbal medicine
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 37
Ginkgo
Ginkgo biloba
There is no conclusive evidence that ginkgo helps any health condition. A modest effect on dementia symptoms is possible, but results are inconsistent.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
North America · Herb · № 596
Smooth sumac
Rhus glabra
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, cleansing, tonic, wound-healing, antiseptic; strengthens the digestive tract (ulcers, diarrhoea), curbs excessive secretions (urine leakage, night sweats, bleeding), may lower blood sugar, for prolapse.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 317
Pellitory-of-the-wall
Parietaria judaica (syn. P. diffusa)
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, soothing, calms the urinary tract lining.
Western herbal medicine
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 · № 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 · Food · № 16
Green tea
Camellia sinensis
A brewed tea. Evidence does not establish most health claims; extracts differ from the ordinary beverage.
Chinese medical traditions+3
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 60
Garden angelica
Angelica archangelica
An aromatic bitter traditionally used for bloating, poor appetite and colds. Clinical evidence is limited.
Monastic and folk knowledge+2Folklore
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 591
Purple loosestrife
Lythrum salicaria
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, antibiotic, antispasmodic, diuretic, induces sweating, tonic, soothing; for dysentery and bacterial diarrhoea, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's), strengthens kidneys and bladder, for the eyes.
Western herbal medicine
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
Europe · Herb · № 316
Parsley piert
Aphanes arvensis
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, soothing.
Western herbal medicine
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 339
Water plantain (ze xie)
Alisma plantago-aquatica (syn. A. orientale)
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, lowers blood pressure, antibacterial, cleanses the liver.
Western herbal medicine+1
Caution
South America · Herb · № 879
Guayusa
Ilex guayusa
A relative of yerba mate; the leaf contains a lot of caffeine and is stimulating.
Kallawaya healing knowledge+2
Caution
Oceania · Herb · № 174
Gumbi gumbi
Pittosporum spp.
Leaves, seeds or wood were steeped in hot water and drunk or used externally, for example for colds, coughs, eczema and cramps. Laboratory research points to antimicrobial compounds; clinical studies are lacking.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 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
Oceania · Herb · № 845
Harakeke (New Zealand flax)
Phormium tenax
The gel-like sap from the leaf base is traditionally applied to wounds, burns, ulcers and grazes; the root was regarded as laxative and worm-expelling. Scientific evidence is limited.
Rongoā Māori
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 82
Motherwort
Leonurus cardiaca
Traditionally used for stress-related palpitations, nervousness and menstrual complaints. Clinical research is scarce.
Western herbal medicine+1
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
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 393
Himalayan silver fir
Abies spectabilis
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, stomachic, tonic, astringent, antispasmodic, expectorant; for cough, asthma, chronic bronchitis, lung conditions and bladder catarrh; for an enlarged spleen.
Ayurveda

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

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Traditions, kitchen and classical formulas

43 traditions

Cultures & traditions

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

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113 recipes

Recipes

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

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146 formulas

Chinese formulas

The classical Chinese formulas, also listed by condition.

Treatment by condition →All formulas →