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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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  • Caution

    Europe · Other · № 74

    Bladderwrack

    Fucus vesiculosus

    A brown seaweed rich in iodine; formerly used for an underactive thyroid and for weight loss. Weight-loss claims are unproven.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Food · № 825

    Chaya (tree spinach)

    Cnidoscolus aconitifolius

    A nutritious leaf vegetable of the Maya.

    Maya healing knowledge
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 940

    Joe-Pye weed

    Eutrochium purpureum en E. maculatum (syn. Eupatorium)

    Tall, purple-pink flowering plants of the daisy family, related to European hemp agrimony. They may contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which damage the liver with long use.

    Haudenosaunee medicine+1
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 870

    Pichi

    Fabiana imbricata

    A small shrub of the nightshade family that looks like a conifer. Traditionally for bladder and urinary complaints and for digestion; laboratory research points to a stomach-protecting effect.

    Mapuche medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 946

    Pipsissewa

    Chimaphila umbellata

    A low, evergreen dwarf shrub with leathery leaves and pink nodding flowers. Contains arbutin and related compounds, like bearberry.

    Haudenosaunee medicine
  • 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

    Europe · Food · № 253

    Strawberry

    Fragaria × ananassa

    The garden strawberry is a fruit rich in vitamin C. The leaf of the related wild strawberry was drunk as tea for mild diarrhoea; no medicinal effect is described for the garden strawberry itself.

    Folk magic and herbal magicFolklore
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Food · № 818

    Annatto (achiote)

    Bixa orellana

    The red seeds are used as a colouring and spice; traditionally also as a remedy.

    Maya healing knowledge+4
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 988

    Adam and Eve root

    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.

    Cherokee medicine
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 277

    Bistort

    Bistorta officinalis (syn. Polygonum bistorta)

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stops diarrhoea and bleeding, anticatarrhal.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 812

    African potato

    Hypoxis hemerocallidea

    A corm widely traded as a tonic. The evidence for its effects is weak.

    Traditional healers of Southern Africa
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 540

    Agnimantha

    Premna obtusifolia

    Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the heart, stomachic, carminative, cleansing, tonic, anti-inflammatory, lowers blood sugar; for swellings, pain and diabetes; part of 'dashamula'.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 57

    Agrimony

    Agrimonia eupatoria

    An astringent, tannin-rich herb traditionally used for diarrhoea, sore throats and minor wounds. Good human research is lacking.

    Western herbal medicine+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 340

    Ajwain

    Trachyspermum ammi

    Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, carminative, tonic, aromatic, antispasmodic, antiseptic; for flatulence, indigestion, colic, diarrhoea, cholera, intestinal cramps; source of thymol; against worms.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 705

    Akebia stem (mu tong)

    Akebia trifoliata (en A. quinata)

    Traditionally attributed effects: drains heat via the urine in painful urination, mouth ulcers and restlessness; promotes milk flow.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 523

    Corn mint

    Mentha arvensis

    Traditionally attributed effects: aromatic, carminative, stimulating, antispasmodic, promotes menstruation, antiseptic, stomachic, cooling, diuretic; leaf juice for diarrhoea and dysentery, tea for rheumatism and indigestion.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 739

    Cogon grass root (bai mao gen)

    Imperata cylindrica

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood and stops bleeding; promotes urination and cools lung and stomach.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 376

    Alfalfa

    Medicago sativa

    Traditionally attributed effects: calming and moisture-restoring for dry skin.

    Chinese medical traditions+1Folklore
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 4

    Aloe vera

    Aloe vera

    The gel from the leaf is used externally to soothe the skin and for minor burns. Research on wound healing gives mixed results; the gel is no substitute for wound care.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge+6Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 63

    Wormwood

    Artemisia absinthium

    One of the most bitter herbs; traditionally used to stimulate appetite and digestion and against intestinal worms. Clinical evidence is limited.

    Greco-Roman medicine+5
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 896

    Altamisa

    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.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 374

    Amaranth

    Amaranthus spp.

    Traditionally attributed effects: flowers, leaf and root strongly antiseptic; wound healing.

    Folk magic and herbal magicFolklore
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 826

    Mayapple

    Podophyllum peltatum

    A poisonous plant whose resin, podophyllin, was once used as a laxative. Now only used in the form of medicines against warts.

    Eclectic medicine+2
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 992

    American sweetgum

    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.

    Cherokee medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 996

    American dittany

    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.

    Cherokee medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 628

    North American wild ginger

    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.

    Haudenosaunee medicine+4
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 932

    American basswood

    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.

    Haudenosaunee medicine+1
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 593

    Skunk cabbage

    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.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+2
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 1001

    American sycamore

    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.

    Cherokee medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 678

    Amur cork tree bark (huang bai)

    Phellodendron amurense

    Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat from the lower body and cools heat from kidney yin deficiency.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    South America · Food · № 250

    Pineapple

    Ananas comosus

    Traditionally attributed effects: fever-reducing, cleansing, bitter tonic; ripe fruit diuretic, induces sweating, cooling, digests protein; leaf laxative and expels worms; unripe fruit strongly diuretic, promotes menstruation and abortifacient.

    Ayurveda+1Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 414

    King of bitters

    Andrographis paniculata

    Traditionally attributed effects: stomachic, tonic, fever-reducing, cleansing, expels worms, promotes bile; for flatulence, lack of appetite, intestinal complaints in children, diarrhoea, dysentery, sluggish liver, nerve pain, recovery after fever.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 197

    Carnation

    Dianthus spp.

    The clove pink has fragrant, edible petals. In Chinese medicine the related Dianthus superbus (qu mai) is used for bladder infections; no medicinal effect is described for the garden carnation.

    Folk magic and herbal magic+1Folklore
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 450

    Apple of Sodom

    Calotropis procera

    Traditionally attributed effects: root bark for dysentery and elephantiasis; leaves for intermittent fever; milky sap irritant and laxative; flowers for colds, cough, asthma and indigestion.

    Local African healing traditions+2
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 873

    Arrayán (Chilean myrtle)

    Luma apiculata

    The Chilean myrtle, with cinnamon-coloured bark, fragrant leaves and edible black berries. Traditionally an astringent; research is lacking.

    Mapuche medicine
  • Caution

    Europe · Food · № 296

    Globe artichoke

    Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus

    Traditionally attributed effects: liver tonic and restorative, promotes bile.

    Western herbal medicine
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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