Herbal knowledge and the cultures that passed it on

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 · № 355

Chinese hibiscus

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Traditionally attributed effects: cares for the hair, promotes circulation in the scalp and reduces stress.

Asia · Herb · № 768

Polygala root (yuan zhi)

Polygala tenuifolia

Traditionally attributed effects: calms the mind and clears phlegm from 'the openings of the heart' and from the lungs.

Asia · Herb · № 703

Gold coin grass (jin qian cao)

Lysimachia christinae (ook Desmodium styracifolium)

Traditionally attributed effects: helps pass kidney and gallstones and drains damp heat from the liver.

Asia · Herb · № 741

Chinese bugleweed (ze lan)

Lycopus lucidus

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

Asia · Food · № 635

Chinese yam (shan yao)

Dioscorea polystachya (syn. D. opposita)

Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens spleen, stomach and lungs, helps regulate the hormone system in women and is said to lower blood sugar.

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.

South America · Herb · № 917

Chuchuhuasi

Maytenus macrocarpa (syn. Monteverdia macrocarpa); in Noord-Peru ook Heisteria acuminata

A large tree with thick, reddish-brown bark. The bark contains triterpenes and sesquiterpenes, among other compounds; extracts were anti-inflammatory in experiments. Studies in people are lacking.

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.

Asia · Mineral · № 797

Cinnabar (zhu sha)

Cinnabaris (kwiksulfide)

Traditionally attributed effects: was used to calm the mind and stop convulsions; contains mercury.

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 · Food · № 221

Lemon

Citrus limon

Traditionally attributed effects: anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, diuretic, strengthens the veins.

Asia · Herb · № 381

Lemongrass

Cymbopogon citratus

Traditionally attributed effects: for oily hair.

Europe · Herb · № 325

Southernwood

Artemisia abrotanum

Traditionally attributed effects: expels worms, antiseptic, bitter, stimulates the uterus.

South America · Herb · № 378

Lemon verbena

Aloysia citrodora

Traditionally attributed effects: relaxing, helps you fall asleep.

Asia · Herb · № 777

Cnidium seed (she chuang zi)

Cnidium monnieri

Traditionally attributed effects: externally for itching and fungus around the genitals; internally a kidney yang tonic.

Asia · Herb · № 720

Arisaema rhizome (tian nan xing)

Arisaema heterophyllum (en A. erubescens)

Traditionally attributed effects: dries phlegm and expels wind and phlegm from the meridians in convulsions and paralysis.

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.

South America · Herb · № 984

Cojamba

Helosis cayennensis

A plant without chlorophyll that parasitises the roots of trees and shrubs (family Balanophoraceae). It looks like a young mushroom, until the 'cap' turns out to be a reddish-brown spike full of tiny flowers. Its action has hardly been studied.

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.

Asia · Herb · № 779

Cremastra (shan ci gu)

Cremastra appendiculata (ook Pleione en Tulipa edulis)

Traditionally attributed effects: externally for swollen glands, lumps, sores and abscesses.

North America · Herb · № 579

Chaparral

Larrea divaricata

Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stimulating, cleansing, diuretic; detoxifies the liver and body, anti-inflammatory, for arthritis, strengthens bladder and kidneys, externally for haemorrhoids, boils, bedsores and bruises.

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.

South America · Herb · № 856

Culén

Grimolobium glandulosum (syn. Otholobium glandulosum, Psoralea glandulosa)

A shrub of the pea family with glandular, fragrant leaves. Traditionally used for digestive complaints, diarrhoea and on wounds; good research is lacking.

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.

Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 928

Damiana

Turnera diffusa

A small, woody shrub with small, strongly scented leaves and yellow flowers. Contains flavonoids such as apigenin and acacetin, terpenes and a small amount of cyanogenic glycosides. Considered mildly calming and uplifting; which substances cause this is not known.