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
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 628
Asarum caudatum, A. canadense en verwante soorten
Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-cold, opens a blocked nose, warms the lung in cough with clear phlegm and expels cold and dampness in menstrual pain and other pain.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 168
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.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 158
Scutellaria lateriflora (en S. baicalensis)
Used in Western herbalism for nervousness, tension and sleep problems. A few small studies suggest a mild calming effect.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 826
Podophyllum peltatum
A poisonous plant whose resin, podophyllin, was once used as a laxative. Now only used in the form of medicines against warts.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 955
Glycyrrhiza lepidota
A legume with long, tough, sweet roots, related to true licorice. The root tastes of licorice; it contains less glycyrrhizin than Glycyrrhiza glabra.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 992
Liquidambar styraciflua
A tall tree with star-shaped leaves, splendid autumn colours and spiky round seed balls. When the bark is wounded a fragrant resin, American storax, seeps out; for centuries it has gone into ointments, perfume and incense. The resin is mildly antiseptic.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 996
Cunila origanoides
A low, woody plant of the mint family with small purple flowers in late summer that smells of oregano and mint. The leaf contains essential oil. On the first frosty nights the stems split and ice ribbons grow out of them, which gave it the name frost mint.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 160
Panax quinquefolius
Chinese medicine regards it as more 'cooling' than Asian ginseng and uses it for fatigue and thirst. Some studies find a slight effect on post-meal blood sugar and colds; evidence is limited.
CautionNorth America · Food · № 934
Castanea dentata
Once one of the largest trees of the eastern forests, with sweet, edible nuts. Related to the sweet chestnut.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 932
Tilia americana
A large broadleaf tree with heart-shaped leaves and fragrant flowers, related to the European lime. The flowers contain mucilage and flavonoids. The wood is soft and easy to carve; the inner bark gives strong fibre.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 593
Lysichiton americanus
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the nerves, stimulating, antispasmodic, induces sweating, expectorant; opens the lungs and reduces cough and bronchial spasms (acute asthma), ointment against ringworm, relieves muscle and joint pain.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 951
Aralia racemosa
A tall perennial of the ivy family, related to ginseng, with a thick, aromatic root. Little studied.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 997
Diospyros virginiana
A tree of the ebony family, related to the kaki. Unripe, the orange fruits are so astringent that they pucker the mouth, but after the first frost they are sweet and soft. They are rich in vitamin C. Bark and unripe fruits contain many tannins.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 1001
Platanus occidentalis
One of the largest broadleaf trees of eastern America, with a trunk that peels in patches of white, green and brown. The bark contains tannins and betulinic acid. It is a parent of the London plane of European streets.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 274
Geranium maculatum
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stops bleeding, tonic.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 987
Euonymus americanus
A shrub of the spindle family, up to two metres tall. In autumn the warty pink fruits burst open to show seeds in a bright red aril. Seeds and fruits are strongly purgative, as in other spindles, and the genus is considered poisonous.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 155
Phytolacca americana
Formerly used for swollen glands, tonsillitis and rheumatism. Because of its toxicity it is not a safe herb; there is no evidence of benefits that outweigh the risks.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 949
Hepatica nobilis (incl. H. americana en H. acutiloba)
An early spring flower of the buttercup family with three-lobed leaves. Fresh, the plant contains irritating compounds.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 954
Pulsatilla nuttalliana (syn. P. patens subsp. multifida)
A low plant of the buttercup family with hairy purple flowers that appear before the leaves. Like other pasqueflowers, the fresh plant contains protoanemonin, which strongly irritates skin and mucous membranes and raises blisters.
CautionNorth America · Food · № 936
Allium tricoccum
A wild leek with broad leaves and a small bulb, related to European wild garlic. Leaves and bulb taste of onion and garlic.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 368
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.
CautionNorth America · Food · № 935
Carya ovata
A nut tree of the walnut family, with bark that peels away in long strips. The nuts are rich and sweet.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 156
Prunus serotina
The dried bark was long used in cough syrups to calm irritating coughs. Modern clinical evidence is lacking.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 35
Serenoa repens
Promoted for urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate, but NCCIH concludes it probably does not help for this.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 988
Aplectrum hyemale
An orchid with a single leaf, green with silvery-white stripes, that appears in late autumn and withers in spring. Underground lie two or more corms joined together, an old one and a new one. The crushed corms yield a sticky mucilage.
CautionSouth America · Food · № 916
Neltuma pallida (syn. Prosopis pallida)
A thorny tree of the pea family, related to mesquite, with sweet pods full of sugars. With its deep roots the tree holds the dry forest together.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 896
Ambrosia peruviana
An aromatic, hairy ragweed. In its native range it is used as a painkilling, anti-inflammatory, deworming and antiseptic remedy; good research is lacking.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 901
Banisteriopsis caapi
A giant liana up to thirty metres long. The stem contains harmine, harmaline and tetrahydroharmine, which inhibit the enzyme MAO. This makes the DMT from plants such as chacruna active by mouth. The drink brings visions, and usually vomiting and diarrhoea, which the tradition regards as cleansing.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 574
Populus balsamifera
Traditionally attributed effects: buds: stimulating, tonic, diuretic, soothing, expectorant; bark: expectorant, laxative; for skin problems (eczema, psoriasis), dry cough, constipation, kidney/bladder support, rheumatism and gout.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 573
Abies balsamea
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, antiseptic, pain-relieving; for respiratory infections, cough and sore throat, cystitis and enteritis, aid to quitting smoking; externally for burns, wounds, haemorrhoids, muscle pain.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 939
Uvularia perfoliata
A low plant with hanging, pale yellow bells and leaves that clasp the stem. Little is known about its compounds.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 950
Lindera benzoin
A shrub of the laurel family with fragrant leaves and twigs and red berries.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 224
Monarda didyma
The fragrant leaf contains thymol and is drunk as tea. Indigenous peoples used it for colds, fever and headache; studies in humans are lacking.
CautionNorth America · Food · № 254
Vaccinium spp.
A fibre-rich berry with plenty of anthocyanins. Observational research links eating berries to a healthy diet; a medicinal effect has not been shown.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 281
Iris versicolor
Traditionally attributed effects: anti-inflammatory, diuretic, stimulating, laxative.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 963
Lactuca tatarica subsp. pulchella (syn. L. pulchella)
A wild lettuce with blue flower heads and milky sap that forms large colonies by runners. Effects not studied.
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.