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

Also found

Recipes: Mild lavender cleanser Rose water toner Custom herbal shampoo Quick fresh hair rinse

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 · Herb · № 130
Spikenard (jatamansi)
Nardostachys jatamansi
Used in Ayurveda as a calming remedy for insomnia and restlessness. There is mostly animal research; clinical evidence is lacking.
Ayurveda+4
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 · 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 · Herb · № 402
Sweet flag
Acorus calamus
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, tonic, stimulating; restores throat and voice (singers), improves concentration/clear thinking, for flatulence and heartburn.
Ayurveda+4
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 407
Camel thorn
Alhagi pseudalhagi
Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, diuretic, expectorant; for urinary retention, corneal clouding; manna tonic, promotes bile, purifies the blood.
Ayurveda+1
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
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
Caution
South America · Herb · № 1004
Kantuta
Cantua buxifolia
A much-branched shrub of 2 to 3 metres with clusters of tubular flowers in red, pink, yellow or white, pollinated by hummingbirds and bees. Little is known about its effect in people.
Kallawaya healing knowledge
Caution
South America · Herb · № 33
Cat's claw
Uncaria tomentosa
There is no conclusive scientific evidence that cat's claw helps any health condition.
Herbal knowledge of the Amazon+2
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 109
Catnip
Nepeta cataria
Traditionally used as a mild tea for colds, fevers, restlessness and colic. Nepetalactone from the plant is being researched as an insect repellent.
Western herbal medicine+2Folklore
Caution
Oceania · Herb · № 7
Kava
Piper methysticum
The drink slightly numbs the mouth and tongue and is relaxing. Research points to a modest effect on anxiety, but results vary and the safety of supplements is disputed.
Kava in Pacific island traditions+2
Caution
Europe · Food · № 256
Cherry
Prunus avium
A fruit rich in vitamin C. The dried stalks were used in folk medicine as a diuretic. Sour cherries have been studied for gout and sleep, with preliminary results.
Monastic and folk knowledge
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 834
Chervil
Anthriscus cerefolium
A mild, aniseed-like kitchen herb, traditionally used as a cleansing spring herb and for digestive complaints.
Monastic and folk knowledge+1
Caution
Africa · Herb · № 116
Khella
Ammi visnaga
Contains khellin, a muscle relaxant that widens the airways and blood vessels. Khellin was the basis for modern drugs such as cromoglicate (for asthma) and amiodarone (for heart rhythm disorders).
Ancient Egyptian medicine+1
Caution
Africa · Herb · № 806
Kinkeliba
Combretum micranthum
The leaves are drunk as an everyday tea; traditionally also for fever and digestive complaints. Little studied scientifically.
Local African healing traditions
Caution
South America · Herb · № 1007
Kiswara
Buddleja coriacea (en verwante Andes-soorten)
A tough shrub or tree with small, leathery leaves, rusty-brown underneath, and fragrant orange-yellow flowers. Little has been studied about its effect in people.
Kallawaya healing knowledge
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 75
Cleavers
Galium aparine
Used in Western herbalism as a 'lymphatic' herb for swollen glands and skin conditions. Scientific evidence is lacking.
Monastic and folk knowledge+2
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
Asia · Herb · № 832
Lesser galangal
Alpinia officinarum
An aromatic rhizome traditionally used for digestive complaints.
Chinese medical traditions+3
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 565
Puncture vine
Tribulus terrestris
Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, soothing, diuretic, tonic, aphrodisiac.
Ayurveda+2
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
North America · Herb · № 990
Butterfly weed
Asclepias tuberosa
A milkweed with bright orange flower umbels that attract many butterflies, and a thick, tuberous root. For a milkweed it contains few cardiac glycosides, but it does contain steroids that in larger amounts can cause weakness, seizures and eye damage. The root was listed in the United States Pharmacopeia as pleurisy root, an expectorant.
Cherokee medicine
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
Africa · Food · № 383
Coffee
Coffea arabica
The beans contain caffeine, which increases alertness. Ground coffee is used in scrubs to exfoliate the skin; that caffeine reduces cellulite has not been shown.
Local African healing traditions
Caution
Asia · Food · № 500
Kokum
Garcinia indica
Traditionally attributed effects: fruit cooling, promotes bile, soothing, antiscorbutic; bark astringent; oil for dysentery, mucous diarrhoea, tuberculosis, skin diseases, chapped lips, ointment base; fruit for hives.
Ayurveda
Caution
Africa · Herb · № 464
Colocynth
Citrullus colocynthis
Traditionally attributed effects: drastically laxative and diuretic; in large doses emetic and highly irritant; for ascites, jaundice, urinary diseases, rheumatism, bile complaints, intestinal parasites, constipation, oedema; seed oil for snake and scorpion bites.
Ayurveda+3
Caution
Asia · Food · № 261
Cucumber
Cucumis sativus
Traditionally attributed effects: fruit nourishing and soothing; seeds cooling, diuretic, tonic; for throat complaints, strongly diuretic with sugar, in fever.
Ayurveda+2Folklore
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 271
Hemp agrimony
Eupatorium cannabinum
Traditionally attributed effects: hemp agrimony fever-reducing, diuretic, laxative, promotes bile, expectorant, stimulates the immune system; boneset induces sweating, antispasmodic; gravel root soothing diuretic, antirheumatic, promotes menstruation.
Western herbal medicine
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 102
Great mullein
Verbascum thapsus
Leaves and flowers contain mucilage and are traditionally used for irritating coughs and bronchitis; the flower oil for earache. Clinical evidence is limited.
Greco-Roman medicine+4
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 292
Cornflower
Centaurea cyanus
Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, stimulating, anti-inflammatory.
Western herbal medicine
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
Oceania · Herb · № 52
Kūmarahou
Pomaderris kumeraho
A plant in traditional Māori medicine; there is little scientific confirmation of its benefits.
Rongoā Māori+1
Caution
Africa · Herb · № 510
Kurchi
Holarrhena antidysenterica
Traditionally attributed effects: bitter, stomachic, astringent, strongly antidysenteric, fever-reducing, expels worms; for acute and chronic (amoebic) dysentery and diarrhoea, bile complaints, fever, haemorrhoids, roundworms and threadworms.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 5
Turmeric
Curcuma longa
A traditional culinary spice containing curcumin; laboratory findings do not establish a cure for disease.
Ayurveda+5Folklore

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.

From plant to use

Ways to prepare herbs

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Traditions, kitchen and classical formulas

43 traditions

Cultures & traditions

How communities built up and passed on their knowledge of plants, region by region.

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113 recipes

Recipes

Soups, teas and dishes in which herbs play a leading role.

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146 formulas

Chinese formulas

The classical Chinese formulas, also listed by condition.

Treatment by condition →All formulas →