Herbal knowledge and the cultures that passed it on

South America · Herb · № 924

Cebil (vilca)

Anadenanthera colubrina

A thorny tree of the pea family, related to yopo. The seeds contain much bufotenine, up to over twelve per cent, as well as some DMT and 5-MeO-DMT. As a snuff they cause violent physical effects and short visions.

South America · Herb · № 902

Chacruna

Psychotria viridis

A shrub of the coffee family up to five metres tall. The leaves contain DMT, a short-acting, powerfully mind-altering substance that only works by mouth together with an MAO inhibitor such as ayahuasca.

Asia · 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.

South 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.

Asia · 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.

Asia · 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.

Asia · Herb · № 148

Weeping forsythia (lian qiao)

Forsythia suspensa

The fruits (lian qiao) are a 'cooling' herb in Chinese medicine for early colds with sore throat and fever, and for skin inflammation. There is little clinical research on lian qiao alone.

Asia · Herb · № 683

Chinese pulsatilla (bai tou weng)

Pulsatilla chinensis

Traditionally attributed effects: for hot, bloody dysentery, amoebae and vaginal trichomonas.

Asia · Herb · № 790

Diverse wormwood (liu ji nu)

Artemisia anomala

Traditionally attributed effects: lets the blood flow, promotes menstruation and relieves pain from injury.

Asia · 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.

Asia · 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.

Asia · 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.

Asia · Herb · № 740

Corydalis (yan hu suo)

Corydalis yanhusuo

Traditionally attributed effects: moves blood and qi and is an important pain-relieving herb.

Asia · Food · № 572

Chinese jujube

Zizyphus vulgaris

Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, lowers blood sugar, soothing, soothing to the chest.

Asia · 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.

Asia · 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.

Asia · Herb · № 137

Chinese rhubarb

Rheum palmatum

The root (da huang) contains anthraquinones, making it a strong laxative. In small amounts its tannins have the opposite, binding effect. Its mechanism is well understood.

Asia · Herb · № 741

Chinese bugleweed (ze lan)

Lycopus lucidus

Traditionally attributed effects: moves the blood and regulates menstruation; diuretic.

Asia · Herb · № 665

Chinese black cohosh (sheng ma)

Actaea cimicifuga (syn. Cimicifuga foetida)

Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-heat, helps rashes come out and lifts the energy in prolapse.

Asia · Herb · № 558

Chiretta

Swertia chirata

Traditionally attributed effects: bitter tonic, stomachic, expels worms, laxative, cleansing, antidiarrhoeal, antipyretic; for intermittent fever, skin diseases, intestinal worms, asthma, hiccups and vomiting, gout; scorpion stings.

Asia · Food · № 445

Chironji

Buchanania lanzan

Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, cleansing, laxative, diuretic; seeds nutritious, gum for diarrhoea, ointment for itching and skin blemishes, oil for swollen neck glands, substitute for almond oil.

Asia · Herb · № 755

Cibotium (gou ji)

Cibotium barometz

Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang, bones and tendons in a stiff, painful lower back and knees.

Europe · Herb · № 225

Chicory

Cichorium intybus

Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, laxative, tonic.

Europe · Herb · № 233

Cypress

Cupressus sempervirens

Traditionally attributed effects: antiseptic, antispasmodic, calming, diuretic.

Asia · Herb · № 760

Cistanche (rou cong rong)

Cistanche deserticola

Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang, moistens the bowel and warms the uterus.

Asia · Herb · № 639

Codonopsis (dang shen)

Codonopsis pilosula

Traditionally attributed effects: reduces fatigue, supports the production of blood cells and strengthens spleen, stomach and lungs.

North America · Mineral · № 364

Colloidal silver

Silver particles in water. There is no evidence that colloidal silver treats infections, HIV or other diseases; it can, however, cause argyria, a permanent blue-grey discoloration of the skin and organs.

Asia · Mushroom · № 147

Caterpillar fungus (cordyceps)

Ophiocordyceps sinensis (syn. Cordyceps sinensis)

A fungus that parasitises caterpillars. Used in Tibetan and Chinese medicine for fatigue, lung complaints and low libido. Studies are small and there is no convincing evidence.

South America · Herb · № 913

Corpus way

Gentianella bicolor

A small, very bitter herb of the gentian family, related to hercampuri. Gentians contain bitter compounds that stimulate digestion. Clinical studies are lacking.

Asia · Herb · № 731

Costus root (mu xiang)

Dolomiaea costus (syn. Saussurea lappa, Aucklandia lappa)

Traditionally attributed effects: moves the qi in spleen, stomach, intestine, liver and gallbladder; helps digest tonics.

North America · Food · № 13

Cranberry

Vaccinium macrocarpon

A food berry. Products may help lower recurrent UTI risk for some women, but findings are mixed; it does not treat an existing UTI.

Asia · Herb · № 471

Crepe ginger

Costus speciosus

Traditionally attributed effects: bitter, astringent, stimulating, aids digestion, expels worms, cleansing, aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory; for fever with catarrh, cough, indigestion, worms, skin diseases, snake bites.

Asia · Herb · № 473

Croton

Croton oblongifolius

Traditionally attributed effects: bark and root cleansing and promote bile; seeds laxative; bark for sprains and liver diseases, poultices on swellings, for snake bites.

Asia · Herb · № 474

Purging croton

Croton tiglium

Traditionally attributed effects: drastically laxative, irritant, skin-irritant; for stroke, insanity, convulsions, stubborn constipation, worms, ascites, oedema, colic, gout; wood in small doses induces sweating.

Asia · Herb · № 759

Cynomorium (suo yang)

Cynomorium songaricum

Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang, nourishes the blood and moistens the bowel.

Asia · Herb · № 659

Dahurian angelica (bai zhi)

Angelica dahurica

Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-cold, opens the nose and relieves headache and toothache; helps drain pus.