CautionNorth America · Herb · № 288
Cascara sagrada
Frangula purshiana (syn. Rhamnus purshiana)
Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, digestive tonic.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+1
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.
GrapeFolk magic and herbal magic
BuchuLocal African healing traditions
Indian tobaccoCherokee medicine
Lignum vitaeHerbal knowledge of the Caribbean
Yerba mateKallawaya healing knowledge
- Caution
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 985
Cayaponia ophthalmica
Cayaponia ophthalmica
A climber of the gourd family, described by Schultes; the species name means 'for the eye'. Its chemistry is unknown; plants of the gourd family often contain bitter, irritating cucurbitacins.
Tukano medicine
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 161
Cayenne pepper
Capsicum frutescens
Capsaicin from chilli peppers is used externally for nerve pain and joint pain; high-dose capsaicin patches are an approved medicine. Internally it is mainly a warming spice.
Maya healing knowledge+6Folklore
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 1002
Chachacomo
Escallonia resinosa (en verwante soorten, o.a. E. micrantha)
A shrub or tree of 2 to 10 metres with reddish, papery bark and small, finely toothed leaves full of resin and essential oil. Almost nothing has been studied about its effect in people.
Kallawaya healing knowledge
CautionEurope · Mushroom · № 578
Chaga
Inonotus obliquus
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, adaptogen, antioxidant; regulates the immune system (also in autoimmune diseases), lowers cholesterol, balances blood sugar, anti-inflammatory.
Western herbal medicine
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 453
Chaksu
Cassia absus
Traditionally attributed effects: bitter, astringent, lowers blood pressure; leaves for cough; seeds for ringworm, skin diseases, conjunctivitis and eye inflammation.
Ayurveda+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 525
Champak
Michelia champaca
Traditionally attributed effects: decongestant, cleansing, stomachic, tonic, laxative, carminative; for gastritis, chronic rheumatism, abscesses, fever, indigestion, nausea, kidney diseases, gonorrhoea; flower oil for headache, eye inflammation and gout.
Ayurveda
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 919
Chanca piedra (stonebreaker)
Phyllanthus niruri (en P. stipulatus, P. urinaria)
A small herb with rows of fine leaflets and tiny fruits beneath them. In experiments it inhibited the formation of kidney stone crystals and acted as a diuretic; small studies in people do not yet give clear evidence.
Curanderismo of northern Peru
CautionAsia · Herb · № 511
Chaulmoogra
Hydnocarpus laurifolia
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, stimulating, inhibits bacterial growth; chaulmoogra oil for leprosy (reduces nodules and skin lesions) and skin diseases.
Ayurveda+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 766
Cherokee rose (jin ying zi)
Rosa laevigata
Traditionally attributed effects: holds in the essence and curbs diarrhoea and frequent urination.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 890
Chilca
Baccharis latifolia (en verwante soorten, o.a. B. pentlandii)
A fast-growing, densely branched shrub with glossy, sticky leaves. Little is known from research about its effect in people.
Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 862
Chilco
Fuchsia magellanica
The wild fuchsia, with drooping red and purple flowers. Traditionally as a diuretic and for fever; research is lacking.
Mapuche medicine
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 867
Chilean strawberry (kelleñ)
Fragaria chiloensis
A wild strawberry with large, fragrant fruits, one of the parents of the garden strawberry. The leaf contains tannins.
Mapuche medicine
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 861
Chilean laurel (triwe)
Laurelia sempervirens
A tall evergreen tree with strongly scented leaves and wood. Traditionally for headache and as a diuretic; research is lacking.
Mapuche medicine
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 894
Chinchircuma
Mutisia acuminata
A climbing shrub with tendrils and striking orange-red flowers. Quercetin and arbutin are among the compounds found in it; its effect in people has not been studied.
Kallawaya healing knowledge
CautionAsia · Herb · № 290
Bupleurum (chai hu)
Bupleurum chinense
Traditionally attributed effects: energy tonic, stimulates the liver, cooling, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, promotes bile, lowers cholesterol.
Chinese medical traditions+3
CautionAsia · Herb · № 726
Fortune's boneset (pei lan)
Eupatorium fortunei
Traditionally attributed effects: transforms dampness in the middle and relieves summer heat.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 684
Chinese violet (zi hua di ding)
Viola yedoensis (syn. V. philippica)
Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat and 'toxin' in abscesses, boils, sore throat and inflamed eyes.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 641
Chinese dodder (tu si zi)
Cuscuta chinensis
Traditionally attributed effects: a remedy for male infertility and urinary complaints; a tonic that strengthens bones and tendons, soothes lower back pain and balances the female reproductive system.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 683
Chinese pulsatilla (bai tou weng)
Pulsatilla chinensis
Traditionally attributed effects: for hot, bloody dysentery, amoebae and vaginal trichomonas.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 790
Diverse wormwood (liu ji nu)
Artemisia anomala
Traditionally attributed effects: lets the blood flow, promotes menstruation and relieves pain from injury.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 642
Chinese asparagus root (tian men dong)
Asparagus cochinchinensis
Traditionally attributed effects: moistening; for recovery after illness or surgery, chronically dry skin and for the production of sex hormones.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 738
Chinese mugwort (ai ye)
Artemisia argyi
Traditionally attributed effects: warms the meridians and uterus, stops bleeding from cold and relieves pain; the herb of moxa.
Chinese medical traditions+2
CautionAsia · Herb · № 714
Chinese clematis root (wei ling xian)
Clematis chinensis
Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind and dampness and moves the qi in pain anywhere in the body.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Food · № 636
Jujube (red date)
Ziziphus jujuba
Traditionally attributed effects: sweet and strengthening in fatigue, anaemia and low energy; builds strength and blood and softens herbal dishes.
Chinese medical traditions+2
CautionAsia · Herb · № 681
Korean ash bark (qin pi)
Fraxinus chinensis subsp. rhynchophylla
Traditionally attributed effects: for diarrhoea and dysentery from damp heat, red eyes and cough with heat.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 643
Chinese raspberry (fu pen zi)
Rubus chingii
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidneys and liver; for poor vision, frequent urination and impotence.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 679
Chinese gentian (long dan cao)
Gentiana scabra
Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat and fire from liver and gallbladder.
Chinese medical traditions+1- Caution
Asia · Herb · № 304
Chinese goldthread (huang lian)
Coptis chinensis
Traditionally attributed effects: promotes bile, antibacterial, pain-relieving, calming, anti-inflammatory.
Chinese medical traditions+3 
CautionAsia · Herb · № 663
Chinese wild ginger (xi xin)
Asarum sieboldii (en A. heterotropoides)
Traditionally attributed effects: warms in wind-cold, relieves pain from cold and loosens cold phlegm in the lungs.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 740
Corydalis (yan hu suo)
Corydalis yanhusuo
Traditionally attributed effects: moves blood and qi and is an important pain-relieving herb.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Food · № 572
Chinese jujube
Zizyphus vulgaris
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, lowers blood sugar, soothing, soothing to the chest.
Ayurveda+3
CautionAsia · Herb · № 729
Chinese cardamom (sha ren)
Amomum villosum (en A. kravanh)
Traditionally attributed effects: warms the spleen, transforms dampness, calms a restless foetus and prevents tonics from lying heavy on the stomach.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionAsia · Food · № 802
Chinese chestnut
Castanea mollissima
Traditionally attributed effects: dried, peeled chestnuts give sweet soups such as the eight-treasure soup their sweetness; in Chinese food therapy they strengthen spleen and kidneys.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 660
Chinese lovage root (gao ben)
Ligusticum sinense
Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-cold and relieves above all headache at the crown, toothache and rheumatic pain.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 708
Chinese lobelia (ban bian lian)
Lobelia chinensis
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic and detoxifying in oedema, inflamed ulcers and snakebites.
Chinese medical traditions
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.
Read moreFrom 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.
113 recipes
Recipes
Soups, teas and dishes in which herbs play a leading role.
146 formulas
Chinese formulas
The classical Chinese formulas, also listed by condition.