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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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701 results

  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 126

    Jasmine

    Jasminum officinale / J. grandiflorum

    Best known as a fragrance and in jasmine tea; jasmine aromatherapy is used for relaxation. Medical claims are unproven.

    Ayurveda+4Folklore
  • 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 · № 752

    Teasel root (xu duan)

    Dipsacus asper

    Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens liver and kidneys, helps fractures heal and calms the foetus.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • 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

    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

    Asia · Herb · № 686

    Houttuynia (yu xing cao)

    Houttuynia cordata

    Traditionally attributed effects: detoxifies and drains pus, especially in lung infections; diuretic.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Other · № 141

    Camphor

    Cinnamomum camphora

    Used externally in rubs for muscle pain, itching and blocked noses; it gives a cooling, numbing feeling. There is some evidence of short-term relief.

    Ayurveda+3
  • 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

    Asia · Herb · № 699

    Kansui root (gan sui)

    Euphorbia kansui

    Traditionally attributed effects: was used as a very strong fluid-draining purgative for fluid in chest and abdomen.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 155

    Pokeweed

    Phytolacca americana

    Formerly used for swollen glands, tonsillitis and rheumatism. Because of its toxicity it is not a safe herb; there is no evidence of benefits that outweigh the risks.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+5
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 143

    Kutki

    Picrorhiza kurroa

    A very bitter herb used in Ayurveda and Tibetan medicine for liver complaints, fever and digestive problems. Research is mainly in animals.

    Ayurveda+3
  • Caution

    Europe · Other · № 382

    Kelp

    Laminaria spp. / Ascophyllum nodosum

    Brown seaweeds are rich in iodine and alginate. They are used in scrubs and as food supplements; too much iodine can disrupt the thyroid.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 647

    Fritillaria bulb (bei mu)

    Fritillaria cirrhosa

    Traditionally attributed effects: dissolves phlegm and clears congested lungs; together with pear for dry airways and a heated chest.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 100

    Coltsfoot

    Tussilago farfara

    One of the oldest cough herbs; the leaf contains soothing mucilage. Because of its toxic alkaloids it is now advised against.

    Greco-Roman medicine+3
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 565

    Puncture vine

    Tribulus terrestris

    Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, soothing, diuretic, tonic, aphrodisiac.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Africa · Food · № 12

    Garlic

    Allium sativum

    A food with a long history of use. Supplement research suggests only limited effects and does not establish a treatment.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+7Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 758

    Garlic chives (jiu zi)

    Allium tuberosum

    Traditionally attributed effects: the seed strengthens kidney yang and warms stomach and spleen.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 337

    Nut grass

    Cyperus rotundus

    Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, pain-relieving, antispasmodic for the uterus, promotes the flow of qi.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+4
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 92

    Figwort

    Scrophularia nodosa (en S. ningpoensis)

    Used in Western herbalism for skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis and for swollen glands. There is no good clinical evidence.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 746

    Vaccaria seed (wang bu liu xing)

    Gypsophila vaccaria (syn. Vaccaria segetalis)

    Traditionally attributed effects: lets the blood flow, promotes menstruation and milk flow and reduces painful swellings.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 725

    Korean mint (huo xiang)

    Agastache rugosa (ook Pogostemon cablin)

    Traditionally attributed effects: transforms dampness blocking spleen and stomach and curbs nausea, also in summer colds.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 231

    Coriander

    Coriandrum sativum

    Traditionally attributed effects: aromatic, stimulating, carminative, stomachic, cooling, tonic, diuretic; for flatulence, colic, rheumatism, nerve pain, sore throat, indigestion, vomiting, colds, bile complaints.

    Greco-Roman medicine+5Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 711

    Mallow seed (dong kui zi)

    Malva verticillata (ook Abutilon theophrasti)

    Traditionally attributed effects: soothing and diuretic in painful urination and stones; promotes milk flow.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 42

    Clove

    Syzygium aromaticum

    A spice. Clove oil containing eugenol may help with toothache; other claims are unproven.

    Ayurveda+5Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 136

    Kudzu

    Pueraria montana var. lobata

    The root (ge gen) is used in Chinese medicine for fever, stiff neck and thirst. Small studies have looked at kudzu for reducing alcohol use, with mixed results.

    Chinese medical traditions+3
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 5

    Turmeric

    Curcuma longa

    A traditional culinary spice containing curcumin; laboratory findings do not establish a cure for disease.

    Ayurveda+5Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 205

    Lily

    Lilium spp.

    The bulb scales of some lilies (bai he) are used in Chinese medicine for dry cough, restlessness and sleeplessness after fever. Lilies are deadly poisonous to cats.

    Chinese medical traditions+1Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 661

    Green onion (cong bai)

    Allium fistulosum

    Traditionally attributed effects: diaphoretic at the start of a cold from cold; externally on swellings.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 732

    Lindera root (wu yao)

    Lindera aggregata (syn. L. strychnifolia)

    Traditionally attributed effects: warms and moves qi in pain from cold; warms the kidneys in frequent urination.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Mushroom · № 41

    Lingzhi (reishi)

    Ganoderma lucidum

    A bracket fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine; evidence for treatment effects in people is limited.

    Chinese medical traditions+3
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 734

    Cattail pollen (pu huang)

    Typha angustifolia (en T. orientalis)

    Traditionally attributed effects: stops bleeding and resolves blood stagnation in pain.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 653

    Longan

    Dimocarpus longan

    Traditionally attributed effects: a sweet, warming tonic for heart and blood; good for digestion and calming.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • 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 · Herb · № 693

    Blackberry lily (she gan)

    Iris domestica (syn. Belamcanda chinensis)

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat and detoxifies in severe sore throat and cough with much hot phlegm.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • 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
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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