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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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328 results

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Chinese formulas
Jiao ai tangWu pi yin
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 871

    Quinchamalí

    Quinchamalium chilense

    A semi-parasitic herb with orange-yellow flowers in heads. Traditionally for wounds and colds; research is lacking.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 872

    Radal

    Lomatia hirsuta

    A tree of the protea family with large toothed leaves and beautifully figured wood. Traditionally for coughs; research is lacking.

    Mapuche medicine
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 915

    Rhatany (ratania)

    Krameria lappacea (syn. Krameria triandra)

    A low shrub that is partly parasitic on the roots of other plants. The red root is rich in tannins and is therefore astringent. In Europe rhatany root is listed in the pharmacopoeia and used in mouthwashes and gum remedies.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 181

    Indian snakeroot

    Rauvolfia serpentina

    The root contains reserpine, which lowers blood pressure and has a sedative effect. In the 1950s reserpine was one of the first modern antihypertensives and antipsychotics, but it has largely been replaced by drugs with fewer side effects.

    Ayurveda+2
  • 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

    South America · Herb · № 888

    Giant horsetail

    Equisetum giganteum

    A large horsetail, rich in silica. Traditionally used as a diuretic, like European field horsetail; good evidence is lacking.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 696

    Rhaponticum root (lou lu)

    Rhaponticum uniflorum

    Traditionally attributed effects: reduces hot swellings, especially in the breast, and promotes milk flow.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 323

    Slippery elm

    Ulmus rubra (syn. U. fulva)

    Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, nourishing, astringent.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 99

    Red clover

    Trifolium pratense

    Contains isoflavones (plant oestrogens) and is sold for menopausal symptoms. NCCIH concludes there is no convincing evidence that it reduces hot flushes.

    Western herbal medicine+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 2

    Rosemary

    Salvia rosmarinus (syn. Rosmarinus officinalis)

    An aromatic culinary herb with carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid. A few small studies point to a slight effect of the scent on alertness; that it improves memory has not been shown. The leaf is used for digestive complaints.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+4Folklore
  • 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

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 905

    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.

    Curanderismo
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 927

    Sanango

    Tabernaemontana sananho

    A tree of the dogbane family, related to iboga. Contains the indole alkaloids coronaridine, voacangine and ibogamine, which resemble those of iboga. Anti-inflammatory, and in the laboratory effective against the parasite that causes leishmaniasis.

    Herbal knowledge of the Amazon
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 854

    Dragon's blood (sangre de drago)

    Croton lechleri

    A tree with a thick, blood-red sap. On the skin it dries quickly into a protective layer. Crofelemer, approved in the US since 2013 for diarrhoea in people with HIV, was developed from the sap.

    Herbal knowledge of the Amazon+1
  • 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

    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

    North America · Herb · № 976

    Scouler's St John's wort

    Hypericum scouleri (syn. H. formosum var. scouleri)

    A native St John's wort with yellow, black-dotted flowers, related to common St John's wort. Like it, it contains hypericin and hyperforin.

    Hupa medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 964

    Seneca snakeroot

    Polygala senega (syn. Senega officinalis)

    A low milkwort with white flower spikes. The root contains saponins that loosen phlegm and promote coughing; it is in the European Pharmacopoeia as a cough remedy.

    Anishinaabe medicine+1
  • 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

    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 · 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

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 923

    Sinicuichi

    Heimia salicifolia

    A shrub of the loosestrife family with narrow leaves and yellow flowers. Contains vertine (cryogenine), lyfoline and lythrine. Said to cause slight dizziness, a yellow tint over what one sees and the feeling that sounds come from far away.

    Curanderismo
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 95

    Comfrey

    Symphytum officinale

    Topical preparations have been studied for bruises, sprains and back pain and appear to reduce pain. It contains allantoin, which is thought to support tissue repair.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+3Folklore
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 982

    Souroubea

    Souroubea guianensis

    A low shrub or climber of the Marcgraviaceae family, with nectar cups that attract butterflies and moths. From two related Central American species (S. sympetala and S. gilgii) researchers isolated substances that reduce anxiety in animals: betulinic acid and amyrins. In people this has hardly been studied.

    Tukano medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 998

    Sourwood

    Oxydendrum arboreum

    A tree of the heath family with drooping sprays of white, bell-shaped flowers in summer and fiery red autumn leaves. The leaves taste sour, hence the name. From the flowers bees make a light, much-prized honey.

    Cherokee medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 953

    Stoneroot

    Collinsonia canadensis

    A perennial of the mint family with lemon-scented leaves and a very hard, knobbly root. Eclectic physicians used it for piles and varicose veins; research is lacking.

    Haudenosaunee medicine+1
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 168

    Northern prickly ash

    Zanthoxylum americanum

    Bark and berries give a tingling, numbing feeling in the mouth; they were traditionally used for toothache, poor circulation and rheumatism. Clinical research is lacking.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 164

    Suma

    Hebanthe eriantha (syn. Pfaffia paniculata)

    Sold as 'Brazilian ginseng' and an adaptogen for fatigue. There is hardly any human research.

    Herbal knowledge of the Amazon+1
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 819

    Tobacco

    Nicotiana rustica

    A ceremonial plant of many Indigenous peoples of the Americas. Tobacco is addictive and harmful to health.

    Maya healing knowledge+10
  • Caution

    Asia · Mineral · № 702

    Talc (hua shi)

    Talcum (hydromagnesiumsilicaat)

    Traditionally attributed effects: cooling and soothing in painful urination and summer heat; externally drying on weeping skin.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    South America · Food · № 1011

    Tarwi

    Lupinus mutabilis

    A lupin with white to purple flowers and protein-rich, oily beans. The raw beans are bitter from lupin alkaloids, which are removed by days of soaking and rinsing.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Mushroom · № 904

    Teonanácatl (sacred mushrooms)

    Psilocybe mexicana (en andere Psilocybe-soorten)

    Small mushrooms containing psilocybin and psilocin. After half an hour to an hour they bring visions and an altered sense of time and space that last several hours.

    Curanderismo
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 171

    Evening primrose

    Oenothera biennis

    The seed oil contains gamma-linolenic acid and is sold for eczema, premenstrual symptoms and hot flushes. NCCIH reports it does not help eczema and that evidence for other conditions is insufficient.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4
  • 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
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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