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
CautionAsia · Herb · № 313
Ophiopogon japonicus
Traditionally attributed effects: promotes the secretion of body fluids, tonic, calming, cough-suppressing, lowers blood sugar, antibacterial.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 95
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.
Caution
CautionAsia · Herb · № 680
Sophora flavescens
Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat in itchy skin, discharge and dysentery; externally as a wash.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 742
Spatholobus suberectus (syn. Millettia reticulata)
Traditionally attributed effects: both moves and nourishes the blood; for weakness, numbness and painful joints.
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 794
Stalactitum (calciumcarbonaat)
Traditionally attributed effects: makes lung energy descend in asthma and chronic bronchitis and promotes milk flow.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 716
Xanthium strumarium (syn. X. sibiricum)
Traditionally attributed effects: opens the nose in sinusitis and expels wind and dampness in pain and itching.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 676
Stellaria dichotoma var. lanceolata
Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat from yin deficiency, fever after an illness and heat in malnourished children.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 724
Stemona sessilifolia (en S. japonica)
Traditionally attributed effects: moistens the lungs in acute and chronic cough; externally against lice and fleas.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 709
Stephania tetrandra
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic in oedema (especially of the legs) and pain-relieving in hot, swollen joints.
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 456
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.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 664
Vitex rotundifolia (syn. V. trifolia)
Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-heat in headache and eye pain, and relieves cramps and heaviness in the limbs.
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 702
Talcum (hydromagnesiumsilicaat)
Traditionally attributed effects: cooling and soothing in painful urination and summer heat; externally drying on weeping skin.
CautionAsia · Food · № 268
Triticum aestivum
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens, rejuvenates, soothes ulcers, stimulates appetite, promotes healing of fractures, gives stability, healthy complexion; mildly aphrodisiac; anti-stress breakfast.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 722
Aster tataricus
Traditionally attributed effects: dissolves phlegm and stops cough in cough from cold with much phlegm.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 98
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.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 691
Sophora tonkinensis
Traditionally attributed effects: cools fire in the upper body in a swollen, painful throat and gums.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 721
Typhonium giganteum
Traditionally attributed effects: dries dampness and phlegm and expels wind in facial paralysis and convulsions.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 773
Uncaria rhynchophylla
Traditionally attributed effects: calms liver wind and rising liver yang in headache, dizziness and high blood pressure.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 707
Polygonum aviculare
Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat in cystitis, stops itching and was used against worms.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 717
Peucedanum praeruptorum
Traditionally attributed effects: makes lung energy descend and dissolves thick phlegm, also in colds.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 750
Reynoutria multiflora (syn. Polygonum multiflorum)
Traditionally attributed effects: processed a tonic for blood, liver and kidneys; raw mildly laxative and detoxifying.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 667
Spirodela polyrhiza
Traditionally attributed effects: diaphoretic and diuretic; helps rashes come out.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 72
Foeniculum vulgare
The seed is traditionally used for wind, bloating and cramps. There are some small studies, but evidence is limited.
CautionAsia · Food · № 801
Ficus carica
Traditionally attributed effects: dried figs make Chinese soups naturally sweet, such as the watercress and spare-rib soup and the eight-treasure soup; they are regarded as moistening for lung and bowel.
CautionEurope · Food · № 21
Sambucus nigra
Berries have a folk-use history for cold and flu symptoms; clinical evidence remains preliminary.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 672
Buddleja officinalis
Traditionally attributed effects: cools liver heat in red, swollen, watery and light-sensitive eyes.
CautionAsia · Food · № 646
Euryale ferox
Traditionally attributed effects: a tonic for long life that according to tradition counters ageing and gives strength.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 694
Dictamnus dasycarpus
Traditionally attributed effects: drains heat, dampness and wind in itchy, weeping skin conditions.
CautionEurope · Food · № 80
Juglans regia
The nuts are a nutritious source of unsaturated fats. Leaf and green husk are astringent and were traditionally used for skin conditions and diarrhoea; clinical evidence is lacking.
CautionAsia · Food · № 435
Benincasa hispida
Traditionally attributed effects: nourishing, tonic, laxative, diuretic; seeds expel worms; juice for coughing up blood and internal bleeding, for insanity, epilepsy and nervous diseases.
CautionAsia · Food · № 803
Eleocharis dulcis
Traditionally attributed effects: peeled water chestnuts go with carrot and Chinese dates into a sweetish pork soup that by tradition strengthens lungs and spleen, dissolves phlegm and soothes cough.
CautionEurope · Food · № 654
Nasturtium officinale
Traditionally attributed effects: rich in vitamin C, beta-carotene and vitamin E; used to support detoxification, cool body heat and support the lungs.
CautionAfrica · Food · № 389
Citrullus lanatus
A very juicy fruit that quenches thirst. Oil from the seeds is used in hair care. In Chinese medicine the fruit is considered cooling and diuretic.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 682
Isatis tinctoria (syn. I. indigotica)
Traditionally attributed effects: root (ban lan gen) and leaf (da qing ye) cool heat and 'toxin' in viral infections, sore throat and mumps.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 86
Plantago major
The leaf is traditionally bruised and applied to insect bites, small wounds and grazes, and taken as tea for coughs. Clinical evidence is limited.
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.