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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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726 results

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Recipes
Cooling sun teaWhite radish soup with Chinese asparagusChicken soup with tian qiSweetcorn soup with astragalusOxymel with thymeRose powder cleanser for mature or dry skinWitch hazel tonerAcne oil or cleanserPlumping lip glossHerbal honey for sore throat and coughTincture for the cold seasonNerve tinctureComfrey salve for joints and bruisesRefreshing foot bathClarifying shampooCustom herbal shampooNourishing hair treatment
Chinese formulas
Zhi bai di huang wanWen dan tangShi wei bai du tangChai hu gui zhi gan jiang tangGui zhi long gu mu li tangEr xian tangChuan xiong cha tiao sanDang gui shao yao sanJiao ai tangShu jin sanSi wu tangDang gui long hui wanYou gui wanWu pi yinSi jun zi tangTian ma gou teng yinBu zhong yi qi tangShi quan da bu tangTian wang bu xin danCi zhu wanXiao jian zhong tangMai men dong yin ziBa wei di huang wan (jin gui shen qi wan)Liu wei di huang wan+2
Treatment by condition
HaemorrhoidsLiver cirrhosisDiabetes mellitusLupus (SLE)Asthma and emphysemaAngina pectorisHeadache and migraineBoils and carbunclesDeafness and tinnitus
  • Caution

    Asia · Mineral · № 796

    Hematite (dai zhe shi)

    Haematitum (ijzeroxide)

    Traditionally attributed effects: anchors rising liver yang, makes rebellious qi descend and cools the blood in bleeding.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 765

    Tree of heaven (chun pi)

    Ailanthus altissima

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat, dries dampness and curbs diarrhoea, discharge and bleeding.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 305

    Hemp seed

    Cannabis sativa

    Traditionally attributed effects: stimulant laxative.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 881

    Hercampuri

    Gentianella alborosea (en G. nitida)

    A small, very bitter herb of the gentian family. It is sold for liver, gallbladder and cholesterol complaints and for weight loss; good research is lacking.

    Curanderismo of northern Peru
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 69

    Shepherd's purse

    Capsella bursa-pastoris

    Traditionally used to slow bleeding, such as heavy periods or nosebleeds. Clinical evidence is very limited.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 77

    Hops

    Humulus lupulus

    The cones are traditionally used for restlessness and sleep problems, often with valerian. There are hints of a mild sedative effect, but evidence is limited.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+2Folklore
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 1010

    Huamanpinta

    Chuquiraga spinosa (en C. rotundifolia)

    A prickly shrub with hard, pointed little leaves and orange-yellow flower heads. Contains phenolic acids, flavonoids, saponins and alkaloids; animal studies point to an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 697

    Hyacinth bean (bian dou)

    Lablab purpureus (syn. Dolichos lablab)

    Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the spleen and drains dampness in summer heat with diarrhoea and vomiting.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 909

    Iboga

    Tabernanthe iboga

    A shrub of the dogbane family up to ten metres tall. The root bark contains ibogaine and about ten other alkaloids. In small amounts stimulating; in large amounts a dreamlike state with visions that lasts for days.

    Local African healing traditions
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 103

    Vervain

    Verbena officinalis

    Traditionally used for nervousness, exhaustion and as a digestive bitter. Scientific evidence is largely lacking.

    Greco-Roman medicine+3Folklore
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 307

    Indian tobacco

    Lobelia inflata

    Traditionally attributed effects: relaxing, expectorant, induces sweating, emetic, antispasmodic, anti-asthmatic.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 427

    Indian belladonna

    Atropa acuminata

    Traditionally attributed effects: narcotic, calming, diuretic, antispasmodic, dilates the pupils, pain-relieving; antidote in opium and mushroom poisoning, smoked for cramps, externally for rheumatism, nerve pain and lumbago.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 501

    Indian gamboge

    Garcinia morella

    Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, expels worms, wound-healing; for oedema, absent menstruation, stubborn constipation, worms.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 451

    Indian hemp

    Cannabis indica

    Traditionally attributed effects: intoxicating, stomachic, antispasmodic, pain-relieving, stimulating, aphrodisiac, calming; sleep-inducing, for painful menstruation, itchy skin diseases, headache, mania, whooping cough, asthma, nervous vomiting.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 548

    Indian madder

    Rubia cordifolia

    Traditionally attributed effects: promotes menstruation, astringent, diuretic, cleansing, decongestant, tonic; for paralysis, jaundice, urinary tract obstruction, menstrual disorders, mastitis, too little lochia.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 400

    Indian aconite

    Aconitum ferox

    Traditionally attributed effects: in very small doses induces sweating, diuretic, pain-relieving, fever-reducing; for nerve pain, muscular rheumatism, gout, sore throat, colds, paralysis; highly poisonous in larger doses.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 423

    Indian birthwort

    Aristolochia indica

    Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, stimulating, promotes menstruation, antidote, anti-arthritic; against snake, insect and scorpion bites, intestinal complaints in children, cholera, diarrhoea, intermittent fever.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 444

    Indian frankincense

    Boswellia serrata

    Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, diuretic, aromatic, soothing, mildly laxative, cleansing, promotes menstruation; for chronic lung diseases, diarrhoea, dysentery, menstrual complaints, gonorrhoea, haemorrhoids, liver disorders.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 566

    Indian squill

    Urginea indica

    Traditionally attributed effects: in small doses expectorant, stimulates the heart, diuretic, decongestant, promotes menstruation; in large doses emetic and laxative.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 983

    Iochroma

    Iochroma fuchsioides

    A shrub of the nightshade family with clusters of tubular orange-red flowers. Withanolides, substances also found in ashwagandha, have been isolated from it. Why the plant acts as an intoxicant has not been explained.

    Kamëntšá and Inga medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 942

    Jack-in-the-pulpit

    Arisaema triphyllum

    An arum with a green or striped hood over the spadix. All parts contain needle-shaped crystals of calcium oxalate, which raw cause a fiercely burning mouth and swelling.

    Haudenosaunee medicine
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 309

    Jamaican dogwood

    Piscidia piscipula

    Traditionally attributed effects: calming, pain-relieving.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 764

    Japanese apricot (wu mei)

    Prunus mume

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent in chronic cough and diarrhoea, replenishes body fluids and was used against worms.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 788

    Inula flower (xuan fu hua)

    Inula japonica

    Traditionally attributed effects: moves stuck phlegm in the lungs and makes rebellious energy of lung and stomach descend.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 302

    Japanese pagoda tree (huai jiao)

    Styphnolobium japonicum (syn. Sophora japonica)

    Traditionally attributed effects: stops bleeding, laxative.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 127

    Japanese honeysuckle

    Lonicera japonica en L. periclymenum

    The flower buds (jin yin hua) are an important 'cooling' herb in Chinese medicine for fever, sore throats and colds. There is plenty of laboratory research but few good clinical studies.

    Chinese medical traditions+3
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 687

    Japanese climbing fern (jin sha teng)

    Lygodium japonicum

    Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic in cystitis and stones; also for sore throat and mumps.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 322

    Asiatic dogwood fruit (shan zhu yu)

    Cornus officinalis

    Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, diuretic, lowers blood pressure, antimicrobial.

    Chinese medical traditions+3
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 715

    Chinese quince (mu gua)

    Chaenomeles speciosa

    Traditionally attributed effects: relaxes tendons and muscles in cramps and rheumatic pain and drives dampness from the stomach.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 723

    Loquat leaf (pi pa ye)

    Eriobotrya japonica

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools hot phlegm in the lungs and makes rebellious lung and stomach energy descend.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 785

    Bush cherry pit (yu li ren)

    Prunus japonica

    Traditionally attributed effects: moistens the bowel in constipation with stagnation and promotes urination in oedema.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 514

    Japanese morning glory

    Ipomoea nil

    Traditionally attributed effects: strongly laxative, expels worms; for constipation, substitute for jalap root.

    Ayurveda+2
  • 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 · Food · № 645

    Job's tears (coix seed)

    Coix lacryma-jobi

    Traditionally attributed effects: nourishing grain that drives dampness from the body; for arthritis and rheumatism, diuretic, and to relieve a full chest and stomach ulcers.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 925

    Jurema

    Mimosa tenuiflora (syn. Mimosa hostilis)

    A thorny tree or shrub of the pea family with feathery leaves and white, fragrant flower spikes. The root bark contains much DMT. Taken by mouth, DMT normally does not work without an MAO inhibitor; why the jurema drink is still said to work is not clear.

  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 752

    Teasel root (xu duan)

    Dipsacus asper

    Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens liver and kidneys, helps fractures heal and calms the foetus.

    Chinese medical traditions
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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