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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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140 results

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Chinese formulas
Wen dan tangSan huang xie xin tangDang gui long hui wanBa zheng sanWu lin sanLong dan xie gan tangShi gao tangDa chai hu tangXiao chai hu tang
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HepatitisHeadache and migraine
  • 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

    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

    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

    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 · № 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

    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

    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 · № 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

    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

    Europe · Food · № 296

    Globe artichoke

    Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus

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

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 569

    Little ironweed

    Vernonia cinerea

    Traditionally attributed effects: fever-reducing, induces sweating, cleansing; decoction promotes sweating in fever; seeds antidote, expel worms, for leprosy and chronic skin diseases; plant for bladder cramps, difficult urination, haemorrhoids; flowers for conjunctivitis.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 757

    Flattened milkvetch seed (sha yuan zi)

    Astragalus complanatus

    Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang, holds in the essence and strengthens the eyesight.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 677

    Baikal skullcap (huang qin)

    Scutellaria baicalensis

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools and dries damp heat, especially in the lungs and upper body; calms a restless foetus from heat.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 526

    Spanish cherry

    Mimusops elengi

    Traditionally attributed effects: expels worms, antihistamine, astringent, aromatic, strengthens the heart, tonic, fever-reducing; for catarrh of the bladder and urethra, fever, gum and tooth diseases, leucoderma, heart disease, snake bites, chronic dysentery.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 574

    Balsam poplar

    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.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 134

    Bamboo

    Phyllostachys nigra

    In Chinese medicine bamboo shavings (zhu ru) and bamboo sap are used for coughs with yellow phlegm, nausea and restlessness. Ayurveda uses silica-rich bamboo manna. Clinical research is scarce.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 293

    Pubescent angelica (du huo)

    Angelica pubescens

    Traditionally attributed effects: antirheumatic, pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 93

    Betony

    Betonica officinalis (syn. Stachys officinalis)

    Traditionally used for tension headaches and nervousness. Modern clinical research is lacking.

    Greco-Roman medicine+3
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 889

    Bilyea

    Grimolobium pubescens (syn. Otholobium pubescens, Psoralea pubescens)

    A shrub of the pea family with leaves in threes. It contains bakuchiol, among other compounds; extracts lowered blood sugar in experiments with mice. Studies in people are lacking.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 282

    Boldo

    Peumus boldus

    Traditionally attributed effects: stimulates the liver, diuretic.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge+2
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 306

    Smooth hydrangea

    Hydrangea arborescens

    Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, laxative, stimulates the kidneys.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 631

    Brewer's angelica

    Angelica breweri, A. arguta, A. hendersonii

    Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind, dampness and cold in stiff, painful joints, opens the surface in wind-cold and moves qi and blood in pain.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 630

    California figwort

    Scrophularia californica, S. lanceolata

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat in the blood and nourishes yin, drains damp heat and disperses swellings.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 627

    California spikenard

    Aralia californica

    Traditionally attributed effects: opens the surface in wind-cold and fever without sweating, warms the lung and stops cough with abundant white or clear phlegm, and (roasted with honey) strengthens the energy of lung and spleen.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Mineral · № 798

    Calomel (qing fen)

    Calomelas (kwikchloride)

    Traditionally attributed effects: was used externally against scabies and sores; contains mercury.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 582

    Canadian goldenrod

    Solidago canadensis

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing; heals the bladder wall (incontinence, irritation), for allergies and stuck mucus after a cold, eyewash for hay fever.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 710

    Capillaris (yin chen hao)

    Artemisia capillaris

    Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat from liver and gallbladder; main herb for jaundice.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 919

    Chanca piedra (stonebreaker)

    Phyllanthus niruri (en P. stipulatus, P. urinaria)

    A small herb with rows of fine leaflets and tiny fruits beneath them. In experiments it inhibited the formation of kidney stone crystals and acted as a diuretic; small studies in people do not yet give clear evidence.

    Curanderismo of northern Peru
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 766

    Cherokee rose (jin ying zi)

    Rosa laevigata

    Traditionally attributed effects: holds in the essence and curbs diarrhoea and frequent urination.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 290

    Bupleurum (chai hu)

    Bupleurum chinense

    Traditionally attributed effects: energy tonic, stimulates the liver, cooling, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, promotes bile, lowers cholesterol.

    Chinese medical traditions+3
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 148

    Weeping forsythia (lian qiao)

    Forsythia suspensa

    The fruits (lian qiao) are a 'cooling' herb in Chinese medicine for early colds with sore throat and fever, and for skin inflammation. There is little clinical research on lian qiao alone.

    Chinese medical traditions+3
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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