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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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Recipes
Longan chicken soup with three seedsSumac lemonadeHaudenosaunee strawberry juiceStress teaAnti-cellulite scrubCustom herbal shampooNourishing hair treatment
Chinese formulas
Zuo gui wanZhi bai di huang wanYou gui wanXiang sheng po di wanYi guan jianQi ju di huang wanBa wei di huang wan (jin gui shen qi wan)Liu wei di huang wan
Treatment by condition
Flatulence
  • Caution

    Africa · Food · № 389

    Watermelon

    Citrullus lanatus

    A very juicy fruit that quenches thirst. Oil from the seeds is used in hair care. In Chinese medicine the fruit is considered cooling and diuretic.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+2
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 156

    Wild black cherry

    Prunus serotina

    The dried bark was long used in cough syrups to calm irritating coughs. Modern clinical evidence is lacking.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 128

    White mulberry

    Morus alba en M. nigra

    The leaf (sang ye) is being studied for post-meal blood sugar and is used in Chinese medicine for coughs and fevers; bark, twigs and berries each have their own use too. Evidence is preliminary.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 429

    Desert date

    Balanites aegyptiaca

    Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, expels worms; seeds for cough and colic, oil on burns and freckles, seed extract lowers blood pressure.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+2
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 878

    Yacón

    Smallanthus sonchifolius

    A plant of the daisy family with sweet, crunchy tubers full of inulin and fructo-oligosaccharides, which the body barely absorbs. The leaf has been studied for diabetes; evidence in humans is lacking.

    Curanderismo of northern Peru
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 35

    Saw palmetto

    Serenoa repens

    Promoted for urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate, but NCCIH concludes it probably does not help for this.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America
  • 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

    Europe · Herb · № 554

    Black nightshade

    Solanum nigrum

    Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, calming, induces sweating and urination, expectorant; for oedema, chronically enlarged liver, jaundice, chronic skin diseases, coughing up blood, haemorrhoids, kidney and bladder inflammation, gonorrhoea, eye diseases; pain-relieving wash.

    Greco-Roman medicine+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 135

    Black pepper and long pepper

    Piper nigrum

    Important warming spices in Ayurveda, used for sluggish digestion and colds. Piperine from pepper increases the absorption of some substances, such as curcumin.

    Ayurveda+5Folklore
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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