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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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328 results

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Chinese formulas
Si ni tangHuo xiang zheng qi sanBai tou weng tangWen dan tangSi ni sanBao he wanEr chen tangQing wei sanGe gen huang qin huang lian tangSan huang xie xin tangDang gui si ni tangWu zhu yu tangLiang ge sanSi jun zi tangZhi zi dou chi tangShen ling bai zhu sanBu zhong yi qi tangLi zhong wanXuan fu dai zhe tangYi guan jianPing wei sanWei ling tangDa cheng qi tangXiao jian zhong tang+9
Treatment by condition
Stomach painStomach ulcer and gastritisHiccupsLiver cirrhosisUterine prolapseHeadache and migraineStress, anxiety, hysteria and insomniaEpilepsyEczema, dermatitis, itching, acne, erysipelas and psoriasis
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 70

    Field horsetail

    Equisetum arvense

    Rich in silica; traditionally used as a diuretic, for urinary infections and for hair, nails and connective tissue. Good clinical evidence is lacking.

    Western herbal medicine+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Mineral · № 796

    Hematite (dai zhe shi)

    Haematitum (ijzeroxide)

    Traditionally attributed effects: anchors rising liver yang, makes rebellious qi descend and cools the blood in bleeding.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 765

    Tree of heaven (chun pi)

    Ailanthus altissima

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat, dries dampness and curbs diarrhoea, discharge and bleeding.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 305

    Hemp seed

    Cannabis sativa

    Traditionally attributed effects: stimulant laxative.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 415

    Himalayan angelica

    Angelica glauca

    Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the heart, stimulating; for flatulence, constipation and indigestion.

    Ayurveda+1
  • 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
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 808

    Hoodia

    Hoodia gordonii

    A succulent whose stem the San chewed against hunger and thirst. Not proven as a slimming aid.

    Khoi and San knowledge of rooibos
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 77

    Hops

    Humulus lupulus

    The cones are traditionally used for restlessness and sleep problems, often with valerian. There are hints of a mild sedative effect, but evidence is limited.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 697

    Hyacinth bean (bian dou)

    Lablab purpureus (syn. Dolichos lablab)

    Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the spleen and drains dampness in summer heat with diarrhoea and vomiting.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 78

    Hyssop

    Hyssopus officinalis

    Traditionally used for coughs, colds and congestion. Clinical evidence is lacking.

    Western herbal medicine+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 524

    Ceylon ironwood

    Mesua ferrea

    Traditionally attributed effects: blossoms, root and bark bitter, aromatic, induce sweating; dried flowers astringent, stomachic, carminative; for heavy colds, gastritis, bronchitis, vomiting, dysentery, thirst, excessive sweating, bleeding haemorrhoids.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 307

    Indian tobacco

    Lobelia inflata

    Traditionally attributed effects: relaxing, expectorant, induces sweating, emetic, antispasmodic, anti-asthmatic.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 436

    Tree turmeric

    Berberis aristata

    Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, stomachic, astringent, antipyretic, induces sweating, cleansing; for malaria and intermittent fever (comparable to quinine), washing ulcers, eye diseases, haemorrhoids, swollen glands; laxative for children.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 537

    Indian dill

    Peucedanum graveolens

    Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, antispasmodic; for flatulence, hiccups, colic and stomach ache, reduces cramps from laxatives and dysentery; drink for women after childbirth; leaves on boils and abscesses.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 499

    Indian fumitory

    Fumaria indica

    Traditionally attributed effects: expels worms, mildly laxative, cooling, induces sweating and urination, fever-reducing, lowers blood pressure; for syphilis, scrofula, leprosy, constipation, indigestion from a sluggish liver, fever, jaundice, skin diseases.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 451

    Indian hemp

    Cannabis indica

    Traditionally attributed effects: intoxicating, stomachic, antispasmodic, pain-relieving, stimulating, aphrodisiac, calming; sleep-inducing, for painful menstruation, itchy skin diseases, headache, mania, whooping cough, asthma, nervous vomiting.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 571

    Indian jujube

    Zizyphus martiana

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stomachic; leaves for gonorrhoea, conjunctivitis, boils and abscesses, painful urination; bark for diarrhoea, dysentery, colic and gum inflammation.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 548

    Indian madder

    Rubia cordifolia

    Traditionally attributed effects: promotes menstruation, astringent, diuretic, cleansing, decongestant, tonic; for paralysis, jaundice, urinary tract obstruction, menstrual disorders, mastitis, too little lochia.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 533

    Indian trumpet tree

    Oroxylum indicum

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, bitter tonic, stomachic, pain-relieving, induces sweating; for diarrhoea, dysentery, acute rheumatism, oedema, ear infection; young fruit carminative, seeds laxative.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 567

    Indian valerian

    Valeriana jatamansi

    Traditionally attributed effects: stomachic, stimulating, carminative, calming; for nervous weakness, insomnia, chorea, stomach cramps, hysteria, epilepsy, shell shock and neurosis.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 983

    Iochroma

    Iochroma fuchsioides

    A shrub of the nightshade family with clusters of tubular orange-red flowers. Withanolides, substances also found in ashwagandha, have been isolated from it. Why the plant acts as an intoxicant has not been explained.

    Kamëntšá and Inga medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 491

    Java plum

    Eugenia jambolana

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stomachic, diuretic, lowers blood sugar; seeds for diabetes, bark for chronic diarrhoea, dysentery, heavy menstruation, spongy gums, stomatitis; diarrhoea in children.

    Ayurveda+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 · № 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 · № 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 · № 546

    Wax tree

    Rhus succedanea

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, tonic, expectorant, stimulating, promotes bile; for cough, tuberculosis, asthma, fever, lack of appetite, stomach irritation, diarrhoea (also in teething children); paste for psoriasis.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 81

    Juniper

    Juniperus communis

    The berries are traditionally used as a diuretic, for digestive complaints and externally for joint pain. Clinical evidence is limited.

    Western herbal medicine+5Folklore
  • 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 · № 417

    Kadam

    Anthocephalus indicus

    Traditionally attributed effects: bark tonic, fever-reducing, astringent; fruit cooling; for fever, mouth ulcers and stomatitis, eye inflammation, stomach irritation in children, snake bites.

    Ayurveda
  • 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

    North America · Herb · № 970

    Barestem lomatium

    Lomatium nudicaule (in Boas: Peucedanum)

    An umbellifer with blue-green leaves and yellow umbels. The seeds are strongly aromatic; related lomatiums are being studied for antiviral effects.

    Kwakwaka'wakw medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 695

    Glabrous greenbrier (tu fu ling)

    Smilax glabra

    Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat, especially via the skin and in joint complaints.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 19

    Chamomile

    Matricaria chamomilla (Duitse kamille)

    Flowers are used in teas and topical or oral products. Reliable evidence is insufficient for most claimed conditions.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+7Folklore
  • 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

    Africa · Herb · № 811

    Cancer bush (sutherlandia)

    Lessertia frutescens (syn. Sutherlandia frutescens)

    A shrub used as a tonic and for a range of complaints. Claims against cancer or HIV are unproven.

    Khoi and San knowledge of rooibos+1
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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