CautionChinese medical traditions+1
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.
GrapeFolk magic and herbal magic
BuchuLocal African healing traditions
Indian tobaccoCherokee medicine
Lignum vitaeHerbal knowledge of the Caribbean
Yerba mateKallawaya healing knowledge
- Caution
CautionAsia · 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
CautionAsia · 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
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 794
Stalactite (e guan shi)
Stalactitum (calciumcarbonaat)
Traditionally attributed effects: makes lung energy descend in asthma and chronic bronchitis and promotes milk flow.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · 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
CautionAsia · 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
CautionAsia · Herb · № 724
Stemona root (bai bu)
Stemona sessilifolia (en S. japonica)
Traditionally attributed effects: moistens the lungs in acute and chronic cough; externally against lice and fleas.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 709
Stephania root (han fang ji)
Stephania tetrandra
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic in oedema (especially of the legs) and pain-relieving in hot, swollen joints.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionCentral 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
CautionAsia · 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
CautionAsia · 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
CautionAsia · Food · № 268
Wheat
Triticum aestivum
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens, rejuvenates, soothes ulcers, stimulates appetite, promotes healing of fractures, gives stability, healthy complexion; mildly aphrodisiac; anti-stress breakfast.
Ayurveda+2Folklore
CautionAsia · Herb · № 722
Tatarian aster root (zi wan)
Aster tataricus
Traditionally attributed effects: dissolves phlegm and stops cough in cough from cold with much phlegm.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionEurope · 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
CautionAsia · 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
CautionAsia · Herb · № 776
Chinese nutmeg yew (fei zi)
Torreya grandis
Traditionally attributed effects: was used against intestinal worms and moistens the lungs.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 718
Trichosanthes fruit (gua lou)
Trichosanthes kirilowii
Traditionally attributed effects: fruit and seed dissolve hot phlegm and open the chest; the root (tian hua fen) cools and moistens.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionAsia · 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
CautionAsia · Herb · № 773
Gambir hook vine (gou teng)
Uncaria rhynchophylla
Traditionally attributed effects: calms liver wind and rising liver yang in headache, dizziness and high blood pressure.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 707
Knotgrass (bian xu)
Polygonum aviculare
Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat in cystitis, stops itching and was used against worms.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 717
Hogfennel root (qian hu)
Peucedanum praeruptorum
Traditionally attributed effects: makes lung energy descend and dissolves thick phlegm, also in colds.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 750
Fo-ti (he shou wu)
Reynoutria multiflora (syn. Polygonum multiflorum)
Traditionally attributed effects: processed a tonic for blood, liver and kidneys; raw mildly laxative and detoxifying.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 667
Greater duckweed (fu ping)
Spirodela polyrhiza
Traditionally attributed effects: diaphoretic and diuretic; helps rashes come out.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionEurope · Herb · № 72
Fennel
Foeniculum vulgare
The seed is traditionally used for wind, bloating and cramps. There are some small studies, but evidence is limited.
Greco-Roman medicine+9Folklore
CautionAsia · Food · № 801
Fig
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.
Chinese medical traditions+3
CautionEurope · Food · № 21
Elderberry
Sambucus nigra
Berries have a folk-use history for cold and flu symptoms; clinical evidence remains preliminary.
Monastic and folk knowledge+4Folklore
CautionAsia · Herb · № 672
Buddleia flower bud (mi meng hua)
Buddleja officinalis
Traditionally attributed effects: cools liver heat in red, swollen, watery and light-sensitive eyes.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Food · № 646
Fox nut (qian shi)
Euryale ferox
Traditionally attributed effects: a tonic for long life that according to tradition counters ageing and gives strength.
Ayurveda+1
CautionAsia · Herb · № 694
Dittany root bark (bai xian pi)
Dictamnus dasycarpus
Traditionally attributed effects: drains heat, dampness and wind in itchy, weeping skin conditions.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionEurope · Food · № 80
Walnut
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.
Western herbal medicine+2Folklore
CautionAsia · Food · № 435
Ash gourd
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.
Ayurveda+1
CautionAsia · Food · № 803
Water chestnut
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.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionEurope · Food · № 654
Watercress
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.
Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
CautionAfrica · Food · № 389
Watermelon
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.
Ancient Egyptian medicine+2
CautionAsia · Herb · № 682
Woad (ban lan gen)
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.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionEurope · Herb · № 86
Greater plantain
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.
Monastic and folk knowledge+9Folklore
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.
Read moreFrom plant to use
Ways to prepare herbs
Discover more
Traditions, kitchen and classical formulas
43 traditions
Cultures & traditions
How communities built up and passed on their knowledge of plants, region by region.
113 recipes
Recipes
Soups, teas and dishes in which herbs play a leading role.
146 formulas
Chinese formulas
The classical Chinese formulas, also listed by condition.