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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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271 results

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Chinese formulas
Zuo gui wanLing yang gou teng tangZhi bai di huang wanWen dan tangAn gong niu huang wanSi ni sanChai hu gui zhi tangXiao yao sanJia wei xiao yao sanShi wei bai du tangYi gan sanSan huang xie xin tangShu jin sanDang gui long hui wanChai hu shu gan sanDu huo ji sheng tangWu zhu yu tangTian ma gou teng yinLong dan xie gan tangYi guan jianQi ju di huang wanXiao chai hu tangWu ling sanLiu wei di huang wan+4
Treatment by condition
Stomach painFlatulenceHiccupsHepatitisLiver cirrhosisLupus (SLE)MenopauseHeadache and migraineStress, anxiety, hysteria and insomniaEpilepsyCold sores, genital herpes and shingles
  • 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 · Food · № 357

    Coconut

    Cocos nucifera

    Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, diuretic, antiseptic, laxative; root for uterine diseases, bronchitis, liver complaints, dysentery, sore throat (gargle); coconut water for thirst, fever, urinary complaints and vomiting; ash for scabies and toothache.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Food · № 68

    Cabbage

    Brassica oleracea

    A vegetable rich in vitamin C and fibre. In folk medicine cold cabbage leaves are placed on engorged breasts or painful joints; small studies give mixed results.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 920

    Kratom

    Mitragyna speciosa

    A tree of the coffee family up to twenty-five metres tall with large, glossy leaves. The leaves contain mitragynine and, in smaller amounts, 7-hydroxymitragynine, which act on the opioid receptors. For many people a little leaf is stimulating, more leaf sedating and pain-relieving.

  • 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 · № 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 · № 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 · № 485

    Air potato

    Dioscorea bulbifera

    Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, pungent, appetite-suppressing; for syphilis, haemorrhoids, dysentery, ulcers.

    Ayurveda+1
  • 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
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Food · № 266

    Maize

    Zea mays

    Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, heals the urinary tract lining, tonic, soothing.

    Maya healing knowledge+7Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 730

    Tangerine peel (chen pi)

    Citrus reticulata

    Traditionally attributed effects: the ripe peel (chen pi) moves the qi of spleen and lung and dissolves phlegm; the green peel (qing pi) moves liver qi.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 47

    Hawthorn

    Crataegus monogyna, C. laevigata (en C. pinnatifida)

    Studied for heart failure with conflicting results. For most conditions there is little or no good evidence.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+3Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Mineral · № 800

    Minium (qian dan)

    Minium (loodoxide)

    Traditionally attributed effects: was used externally to draw out pus and heal wounds; contains lead.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Africa · Other · № 28

    Myrrh

    Commiphora myrrha

    A gum resin with a long history in medicine, ritual, perfume, and incense. Modern treatment claims are not established.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+6Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 96

    Feverfew

    Tanacetum parthenium

    Best known for preventing migraine. NCCIH notes the evidence is conflicting: some studies find a small effect, others do not.

    Western herbal medicine+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 71

    Meadowsweet

    Filipendula ulmaria

    Contains salicylates. Traditionally used for heartburn, an irritated stomach and joint pain. Clinical research is scarce.

    Western herbal medicine+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 762

    Mulberry mistletoe (sang ji sheng)

    Taxillus chinensis (syn. Loranthus parasiticus)

    Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens liver and kidneys, expels wind and dampness, nourishes the blood and calms the foetus.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 753

    Morinda root (ba ji tian)

    Morinda officinalis

    Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang and expels wind, cold and dampness from back and legs.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 527

    Moringa

    Moringa oleifera

    Traditionally attributed effects: antispasmodic, stimulating, expectorant, diuretic, dissolves stones; leaves for scurvy and catarrh, flatulence in children, wounds and swellings; bark stimulates the heart in asthma and cough.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 897

    Mullaca

    Muehlenbeckia volcanica

    A low, creeping shrublet with small, round, leathery leaves and blue-black berries. Tannins and flavonoids have been found in the extract; in rats it was anti-inflammatory.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 129

    Nutmeg

    Myristica fragrans

    A spice used in small amounts in Ayurveda and Arabic medicine for diarrhoea, nausea and insomnia. There is no good clinical evidence.

    Ayurveda+6Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 638

    Notoginseng (san qi)

    Panax notoginseng

    Traditionally attributed effects: purifies the blood and improves circulation, stops bleeding, soothes pain and helps bruises and swellings recover.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 737

    Oriental arborvitae (ce bai ye)

    Platycladus orientalis (syn. Biota orientalis)

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood and stops bleeding; dissolves phlegm and helps with burns.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 153

    Osha

    Ligusticum porteri, L. sinense en L. wallichii

    The root is traditionally used for sore throats, coughs and early colds. There is virtually no clinical research.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 674

    Purple gromwell (zi cao)

    Lithospermum erythrorhizon (en Arnebia euchroma)

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools and moves the blood in dark rashes; externally for burns and eczema.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 154

    Passionflower

    Passiflora incarnata

    Used for anxiety and sleep problems. NCCIH notes some indications of an effect on anxiety but limited evidence.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3Folklore
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 912

    Pasuchaca

    Geranium ayavacense en Geranium sessiliflorum

    Low, rosette-forming cranesbills with a thick root. They contain tannins. Whether the tea lowers blood sugar has not been properly studied in people.

    Curanderismo of northern Peru
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 522

    Chinaberry

    Melia azedarach

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, tonic, antipyretic, expels worms; fruit laxative; oil insecticidal and antiseptic.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 685

    Patrinia (bai jiang cao)

    Patrinia scabiosifolia (en P. villosa)

    Traditionally attributed effects: detoxifies, drains pus and moves the blood in pain with heat.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 249

    Peach

    Prunus persica

    A juicy summer fruit. In Chinese medicine the kernels (tao ren) are used to move the blood; raw they are poisonous because of amygdalin.

    Chinese medical traditions+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 769

    Persian silk tree (he huan pi)

    Albizia julibrissin

    Traditionally attributed effects: calms the mind in anger and low mood and lets the blood flow in pain and swelling.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 787

    Birthwort fruit (ma dou ling)

    Aristolochia debilis

    Traditionally attributed effects: was used for cough with a lot of phlegm and high blood pressure; banned because of kidney damage.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 132

    Chinese peony (bai shao)

    Paeonia lactiflora en P. suffruticosa

    The peeled root (bai shao, white peony) is used in Chinese medicine for cramps, period pain and muscle pain. There are studies of combination formulas but few of peony alone.

    Chinese medical traditions+3
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 590

    Pennyroyal

    Mentha pulegium

    Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, astringent, promotes menstruation, induces sweating; brings on delayed menstruation, calms the stomach, lowers sudden high fever.

    Greco-Roman medicine+2
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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