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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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218 results

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Chinese formulas
Si ni tangZhi gan cao tangSi ni sanZhu sha an shen wanGui zhi long gu mu li tangBao he wanDao chi sanJiao tai wanSan huang xie xin tangWu zhu yu tangSheng mai sanGui pi tangTian wang bu xin danFang feng tong sheng sanBai he gu jin tangYi guan jianCi zhu wanPing wei sanWei ling tangSang piao xiao sanLing gui zhu gan tangWu ling sanXue fu zhu yu tangLiu jun zi tang+4
Treatment by condition
Liver cirrhosisLow blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)Lupus (SLE)Heart disease (general)High blood pressureStress, anxiety, hysteria and insomniaEpilepsyEczema, dermatitis, itching, acne, erysipelas and psoriasisCataract
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 671

    Lophatherum (dan zhu ye)

    Lophatherum gracile

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat in heart and stomach in restlessness, thirst and mouth ulcers, and in painful urination.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 131

    Sacred lotus

    Nelumbo nucifera

    Almost every part is used: seeds for diarrhoea and restlessness, rhizome as food, leaf for 'summer heat'. Scientific evidence is mostly laboratory research.

    Ayurveda+3Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Mineral · № 795

    Magnetite (ci shi)

    Magnetitum (ijzeroxide)

    Traditionally attributed effects: calms the mind and rising liver yang and helps the kidneys hold the lung energy.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Mineral · № 800

    Minium (qian dan)

    Minium (loodoxide)

    Traditionally attributed effects: was used externally to draw out pus and heal wounds; contains lead.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 929

    Mescal bean

    Dermatophyllum secundiflorum (syn. Sophora secundiflora)

    An evergreen shrub or small tree of the pea family with purple, grape-scented flowers and hard, bright red seeds. The seeds contain cytisine, a poison resembling nicotine. A single seed can be fatal.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America
  • Caution

    Africa · Other · № 28

    Myrrh

    Commiphora myrrha

    A gum resin with a long history in medicine, ritual, perfume, and incense. Modern treatment claims are not established.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+6Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 71

    Meadowsweet

    Filipendula ulmaria

    Contains salicylates. Traditionally used for heartburn, an irritated stomach and joint pain. Clinical research is scarce.

    Western herbal medicine+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 527

    Moringa

    Moringa oleifera

    Traditionally attributed effects: antispasmodic, stimulating, expectorant, diuretic, dissolves stones; leaves for scurvy and catarrh, flatulence in children, wounds and swellings; bark stimulates the heart in asthma and cough.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 629

    Mormon tea

    Ephedra viridis, E. nevadensis, E. californica

    Traditionally attributed effects: opens the surface in wind-cold with sneezing and a watery nose, mildly eases wheezing and promotes urination.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 358

    Mung bean

    Vigna radiata

    Traditionally attributed effects: light and easily digestible, sattvic (calm in the head); for fever, ulcers and blood disorders; khichadi with takra for 7–10 days as a cleansing cure; soap substitute makes the skin soft.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 3

    Mint

    Mentha × piperita

    Peppermint oil has been studied in irritable bowel syndrome and may reduce abdominal pain. The tea is used for a full stomach and nausea. With heartburn peppermint can make complaints worse.

    Greco-Roman medicine+4Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 638

    Notoginseng (san qi)

    Panax notoginseng

    Traditionally attributed effects: purifies the blood and improves circulation, stops bleeding, soothes pain and helps bruises and swellings recover.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 488

    Elephant's foot

    Elephantopus scaber

    Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the heart, astringent, cleansing, fever-reducing, antibiotic; for painful urination, urethral discharge, diarrhoea, dysentery, vomiting, snake bites, ulcers, eczema.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 906

    Ololiuqui

    Ipomoea corymbosa (syn. Turbina corymbosa, Rivea corymbosa)

    A woody morning glory with white flowers. The small, round seeds contain ergine (LSA) and related ergoline alkaloids, chemically related to LSD. They bring an intoxication with visions, often with nausea and lethargy.

    Curanderismo
  • Caution

    Asia · Other · № 771

    Oriental sweetgum (su he xiang)

    Liquidambar orientalis

    Traditionally attributed effects: the resin opens the sense orifices and relieves pain with a tight chest.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 737

    Oriental arborvitae (ce bai ye)

    Platycladus orientalis (syn. Biota orientalis)

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood and stops bleeding; dissolves phlegm and helps with burns.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 97

    Dandelion

    Taraxacum officinale

    The leaf is mildly diuretic; the bitter root was used for the liver and digestion. NCCIH notes there is little human research.

    Avicenna's Canon in European universities+6Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 487

    Horse gram

    Dolichos biflorus

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, diuretic, tonic, fever-reducing, expels worms, promotes menstruation, dissolves stones; for haemorrhoids, bronchitis, heart complaints, kidney stones, enlarged spleen, hiccups, asthma, leucoderma, leucorrhoea, menstrual cramps.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 674

    Purple gromwell (zi cao)

    Lithospermum erythrorhizon (en Arnebia euchroma)

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools and moves the blood in dark rashes; externally for burns and eczema.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 154

    Passionflower

    Passiflora incarnata

    Used for anxiety and sleep problems. NCCIH notes some indications of an effect on anxiety but limited evidence.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 249

    Peach

    Prunus persica

    A juicy summer fruit. In Chinese medicine the kernels (tao ren) are used to move the blood; raw they are poisonous because of amygdalin.

    Chinese medical traditions+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 769

    Persian silk tree (he huan pi)

    Albizia julibrissin

    Traditionally attributed effects: calms the mind in anger and low mood and lets the blood flow in pain and swelling.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 903

    Peyote

    Lophophora williamsii

    A small, spineless, blue-green cactus with a long taproot. Contains mescaline and over thirty other alkaloids. After a few hours mescaline brings colourful visions that last up to half a day, often after a phase of nausea and vomiting.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 1009

    Pinku pinku

    Ephedra americana

    A leafless shrub with green, jointed stems, related to the Chinese ma huang. Ephedra species contain ephedrine, which widens the airways but also raises heart rate and blood pressure; how much this species contains has been little studied.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 132

    Chinese peony (bai shao)

    Paeonia lactiflora en P. suffruticosa

    The peeled root (bai shao, white peony) is used in Chinese medicine for cramps, period pain and muscle pain. There are studies of combination formulas but few of peony alone.

    Chinese medical traditions+3
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 704

    Soft rush pith (deng xin cao)

    Juncus effusus

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools the heart and promotes urination in cystitis and restlessness.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 167

    Lignum vitae

    Guaiacum officinale

    The resin and wood were used for rheumatic complaints and gout; guaiac resin is still used in the guaiac test for blood in stool. There is no modern evidence for its classic uses.

    Herbal knowledge of the Caribbean+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Mushroom · № 146

    Poria (fu ling)

    Wolfiporia cocos

    One of the most widely used remedies in Chinese medicine, for fluid retention, poor digestion and restless sleep. Clinical research on fu ling alone is scarce.

    Chinese medical traditions+4
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 689

    Purslane (ma chi xian)

    Portulaca oleracea

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood in dysentery and painful urination; externally for ulcers and insect bites.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 545

    Radish

    Raphanus sativus

    Traditionally attributed effects: seeds and leaves diuretic, laxative, dissolve stones; juice against scurvy; for painful and difficult urination, stones, urinary diseases, haemorrhoids, stomach ache; syrup for hoarseness, whooping cough and chest complaints.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Mineral · № 799

    Realgar (xiong huang)

    Realgar (arseensulfide)

    Traditionally attributed effects: was used externally against parasites, itching and sores; contains arsenic.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 673

    Rehmannia

    Rehmannia glutinosa

    Traditionally attributed effects: raw it cools the blood and nourishes yin; prepared (steamed with wine) it nourishes the blood and the kidney yin.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 888

    Giant horsetail

    Equisetum giganteum

    A large horsetail, rich in silica. Traditionally used as a diuretic, like European field horsetail; good evidence is lacking.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 323

    Slippery elm

    Ulmus rubra (syn. U. fulva)

    Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, nourishing, astringent.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 99

    Red clover

    Trifolium pratense

    Contains isoflavones (plant oestrogens) and is sold for menopausal symptoms. NCCIH concludes there is no convincing evidence that it reduces hot flushes.

    Western herbal medicine+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Africa · Food · № 25

    Roselle (hibiscus)

    Hibiscus sabdariffa

    The red calyces make a tart drink. Folk medicine links it to blood pressure; it is not a substitute for treatment.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+2Folklore
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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