From Ayurveda to Rongoā Māori
Communities around the world learned how plants nourish, care and heal. Here their traditions stand beside present-day use, with respect for every culture.
GrapeFolk magic and herbal magic
BuchuLocal African healing traditions
Indian tobaccoCherokee medicine
Lignum vitaeHerbal knowledge of the Caribbean
Yerba mateKallawaya healing knowledge
CautionEurope · Herb · № 214
Carum carvi
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, aromatic, stomachic, stimulating, promotes milk flow; for flatulence and intestinal cramps, corrects nausea-inducing medicines, scabies.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 143
Picrorhiza kurroa
A very bitter herb used in Ayurveda and Tibetan medicine for liver complaints, fever and digestive problems. Research is mainly in animals.
CautionOceania · Herb · № 23
Piper excelsum
In rongoā Māori the leaf is used for toothache, skin complaints, wounds and bladder and kidney complaints. It contains myristicin among other compounds; clinical evidence for these uses is lacking.
CautionEurope · Other · № 382
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.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 832
Alpinia officinarum
An aromatic rhizome traditionally used for digestive complaints.
CautionAfrica · Food · № 12
Allium sativum
A food with a long history of use. Supplement research suggests only limited effects and does not establish a treatment.
CautionAsia · Food · № 758
Allium tuberosum
Traditionally attributed effects: the seed strengthens kidney yang and warms stomach and spleen.
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 337
Cyperus rotundus
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, pain-relieving, antispasmodic for the uterus, promotes the flow of qi.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 92
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.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 746
Gypsophila vaccaria (syn. Vaccaria segetalis)
Traditionally attributed effects: lets the blood flow, promotes menstruation and milk flow and reduces painful swellings.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 232
Cuminum cyminum
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, aromatic, stomachic, stimulating, astringent, cooling; for gonorrhoea, chronic diarrhoea, indigestion, hoarseness; oil as a source of thymol against hookworms.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 725
Agastache rugosa (ook Pogostemon cablin)
Traditionally attributed effects: transforms dampness blocking spleen and stomach and curbs nausea, also in summer colds.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 231
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.
CautionAsia · Food · № 42
Syzygium aromaticum
A spice. Clove oil containing eugenol may help with toothache; other claims are unproven.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 338
Rumex crispus
Traditionally attributed effects: strongly laxative, promotes bile, cleansing.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 136
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.
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 510
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.
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 319
Picrasma excelsa
Traditionally attributed effects: expels worms, bitter.
CautionAsia · Food · № 661
Allium fistulosum
Traditionally attributed effects: diaphoretic at the start of a cold from cold; externally on swellings.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 191
Sorbus aucuparia
The orange berries are rich in vitamin C and are eaten cooked; raw they contain parasorbic acid, which irritates the stomach and bowel. A medicinal effect has hardly been studied.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 732
Lindera aggregata (syn. L. strychnifolia)
Traditionally attributed effects: warms and moves qi in pain from cold; warms the kidneys in frequent urination.
CautionAsia · Mushroom · № 41
Ganoderma lucidum
A bracket fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine; evidence for treatment effects in people is limited.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 671
Lophatherum gracile
Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat in heart and stomach in restlessness, thirst and mouth ulcers, and in painful urination.
CautionAsia · Food · № 131
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.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 655
Magnolia biondii (syn. M. liliflora)
Traditionally attributed effects: warms and opens the nose in blocked sinuses and headache from wind-cold.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 727
Magnolia officinalis
Traditionally attributed effects: makes qi descend, dries dampness and resolves food stagnation and phlegm.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 370
Mahonia aquifolium
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, purifies the blood, tonic, stimulating, supports the liver; improves appetite and digestion, promotes liver and bile secretion, purifies the blood, helps with skin problems, sudden diarrhoea and chronic constipation.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 113
Marrubium vulgare
A bitter herb traditionally used for coughs with sticky phlegm and bronchitis. In Europe it is recognised as a traditional herbal medicine; clinical evidence is limited.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 883
Desmodium molliculum
A low plant of the pea family. Traditionally used for inflammation and wounds; research is limited.
CautionAsia · Food · № 730
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.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 476
Curcuma amada
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, cooling, aromatic, bitter, stomachic, astringent, lowers cholesterol; externally for bruises, sprains and skin diseases; purifies the blood.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 47
Crataegus monogyna, C. laevigata (en C. pinnatifida)
Studied for heart failure with conflicting results. For most conditions there is little or no good evidence.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 96
Tanacetum parthenium
Best known for preventing migraine. NCCIH notes the evidence is conflicting: some studies find a small effect, others do not.
CautionAsia · Food · № 792
Saccharum granorum (maltose)
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens qi and spleen, eases pain from cold in the middle and moistens the lungs.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 816
Minthostachys mollis
A mint-like plant used in the Andes for stomach complaints and wind.
CautionAsia · Food · № 358
Vigna radiata
Traditionally attributed effects: light and easily digestible, sattvic (calm in the head); for fever, ulcers and blood disorders; khichadi with takra for 7–10 days as a cleansing cure; soap substitute makes the skin soft.
Featured · Central America and the Caribbean · Curanderismo
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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43 traditions
How communities built up and passed on their knowledge of plants, region by region.
113 recipes
Soups, teas and dishes in which herbs play a leading role.
146 formulas
The classical Chinese formulas, also listed by condition.