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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

    Asia · Food · № 689

    Purslane (ma chi xian)

    Portulaca oleracea

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood in dysentery and painful urination; externally for ulcers and insect bites.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Mineral · № 791

    Pyrite (zi ran tong)

    Pyritum (ijzersulfide)

    Traditionally attributed effects: resolves blood stagnation and helps fractures and ligaments recover.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Mineral · № 799

    Realgar (xiong huang)

    Realgar (arseensulfide)

    Traditionally attributed effects: was used externally against parasites, itching and sores; contains arsenic.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 673

    Rehmannia

    Rehmannia glutinosa

    Traditionally attributed effects: raw it cools the blood and nourishes yin; prepared (steamed with wine) it nourishes the blood and the kidney yin.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 368

    Red root

    Ceanothus americanus

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, antispasmodic, expectorant, calming; for a swollen spleen (e.g. after glandular fever), cools and constricts blood vessels in bleeding and congestion of the uterus, liver and lymph.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 89

    Rose and rose hip

    Rosa spp.

    Rose hips are rich in vitamin C; a hip powder has been studied for osteoarthritis with modest results. Rose water and oil are used in skin care and as fragrance.

    Avicenna's Canon in European universities+6Folklore
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 399

    Prickly chaff flower

    Achyranthes aspera

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, diuretic, cleansing, antipyretic, laxative; for oedema from the kidneys, bronchial complaints, leprosy, stomach ache, haemorrhoids, boils, incipient diarrhoea; abortifacient in high doses.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 321

    Safflower

    Carthamus tinctorius

    Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, diuretic, anti-inflammatory.

    Ayurveda+3
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 45

    Sage

    Salvia officinalis

    A culinary herb. A few small studies suggest possible effects on memory and blood lipids, but evidence is limited.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+4Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 650

    Saposhnikovia root (fang feng)

    Saposhnikovia divaricata

    Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind; for muscle pain, painful diarrhoea, rheumatic complaints and cramps.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 745

    Sappan wood (su mu)

    Biancaea sappan (syn. Caesalpinia sappan)

    Traditionally attributed effects: lets the blood flow in menstrual pain and injury.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 719

    Sargassum (hai zao)

    Sargassum pallidum (en S. fusiforme)

    Traditionally attributed effects: softens hardenings from phlegm-fire such as goitre and swollen glands; drains fluid.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 633

    Sassafras

    Sassafras albidum

    Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind, dampness and cold in joint complaints, also when heat is involved, moves the blood in stasis after trauma or in absent menstruation, and is used for itchy skin.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 666

    Scouring rush (mu zei)

    Equisetum hyemale

    Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-heat around the eyes, stops bleeding and is diuretic.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 657

    Schizonepeta (jing jie)

    Schizonepeta tenuifolia

    Traditionally attributed effects: opens the surface in colds (warm or cool, depending on the combination), helps rashes come out and, charred, stops bleeding.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Food · № 61

    Celery

    Apium graveolens

    Vegetable and spice. The seed was traditionally used for gout, joint complaints and as a diuretic. Convincing clinical evidence is lacking.

    Western herbal medicine+3Folklore
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 117

    Senna

    Senna alexandrina

    Leaves and pods contain sennosides, a stimulant laxative that works for short-term constipation. It is used in modern over-the-counter laxatives.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+5
  • Caution

    Africa · Food · № 356

    Sesame

    Sesamum indicum

    Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, softens the skin, diuretic, promotes menstruation and milk flow, laxative; leaves for respiratory complaints, diarrhoea and dysentery in children, bladder catarrh; seeds for bleeding haemorrhoids, absent or painful menstruation.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+3Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 122

    Shatavari

    Asparagus racemosus

    In Ayurveda an important rejuvenating remedy for women, used for breastfeeding and stomach complaints. Studies are small and of variable quality.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Mushroom · № 145

    Shiitake

    Lentinula edodes

    An edible mushroom. Lentinan from shiitake is researched and used in oncology in Japan; there is little evidence for ordinary shiitake as an 'immune booster'.

    Chinese medical traditions+3
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 367

    Siberian ginseng

    Eleutherococcus senticosus

    Traditionally attributed effects: adaptogen, increases interferon production; especially for herpes simplex, strengthens the immune system against colds and flu; further for high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes, insomnia, arthritis.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 644

    Szechuan lovage (chuan xiong)

    Ligusticum chuanxiong (syn. L. striatum)

    Traditionally attributed effects: promotes circulation, helps with menstrual complaints and as a restorative tonic after childbirth, and is said to lower high blood pressure; warming.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 680

    Sophora root (ku shen)

    Sophora flavescens

    Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat in itchy skin, discharge and dysentery; externally as a wash.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 742

    Spatholobus stem (ji xue teng)

    Spatholobus suberectus (syn. Millettia reticulata)

    Traditionally attributed effects: both moves and nourishes the blood; for weakness, numbness and painful joints.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 538

    Bhumyamalaki

    Phyllanthus fraternus

    Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, astringent, cooling, laxative, bitter tonic; for oedema, gonorrhoea, urogenital diseases, jaundice, constipation, stomach ache, indigestion, dysentery, mild intermittent fever, heavy menstruation.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 716

    Cocklebur fruit (cang er zi)

    Xanthium strumarium (syn. X. sibiricum)

    Traditionally attributed effects: opens the nose in sinusitis and expels wind and dampness in pain and itching.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 676

    Stellaria root (yin chai hu)

    Stellaria dichotoma var. lanceolata

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat from yin deficiency, fever after an illness and heat in malnourished children.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 456

    Sickle senna

    Cassia tora

    Traditionally attributed effects: mildly laxative, cleansing; intestinal complaints and fever when teething, compress for gout, sciatica and joint pain; seeds for ringworm, scabies and eczema; root for snake bites.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 664

    Beach vitex fruit (man jing zi)

    Vitex rotundifolia (syn. V. trifolia)

    Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-heat in headache and eye pain, and relieves cramps and heaviness in the limbs.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 877

    Tara

    Tara spinosa (syn. Caesalpinia spinosa)

    A thorny tree with red pods that are very rich in tannins. In laboratory tests, extracts of the pods inhibited several bacteria.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 829

    Temulawak (Javanese turmeric)

    Curcuma zanthorrhiza

    A rhizome of the ginger family, used in jamu for digestive complaints, to stimulate appetite and for the liver.

    Jamu in Indonesia
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 98

    Thyme

    Thymus vulgaris

    Traditionally used for coughs and bronchitis; thymol from the oil inhibits bacteria and fungi in the laboratory. There are some studies of thyme-based cough syrups.

    Greco-Roman medicine+4Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 691

    Tonkin sophora root (shan dou gen)

    Sophora tonkinensis

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools fire in the upper body in a swollen, painful throat and gums.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 40

    Tulsi (holy basil)

    Ocimum tenuiflorum

    An aromatic plant drunk as herbal tea; treatment claims are not established.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 721

    Typhonium tuber (bai fu zi)

    Typhonium giganteum

    Traditionally attributed effects: dries dampness and phlegm and expels wind in facial paralysis and convulsions.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 29

    Umckaloabo (African geranium)

    Pelargonium sidoides

    Root extract is sold for respiratory complaints. A Cochrane review found little to no evidence of benefit for acute bronchitis, colds, or sinusitis.

    Traditional healers of Southern Africa
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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