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

Also found

Chinese formulas: Zuo gui wan Qi li san Jia wei xiao yao san Gui zhi fu ling wan Wen jing tang San huang xie xin tang Jiao ai tang Gui pi tang Bu zhong yi qi tang Shi quan da bu tang Xiao ji yin zi Huai hua san Tai shan pan shi san
Treatment by condition: Haemorrhoids Ulcerative colitis Liver cirrhosis Thrombocytopenic purpura Heavy menstruation and uterine bleeding

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 · Mineral · № 780
Alum (ming fan)
Alumen (kaliumaluminiumsulfaat)
Traditionally attributed effects: externally astringent and anti-itch; stanches bleeding.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Europe · Food · № 101
Bilberry
Vaccinium myrtillus en V. vitis-idaea
Rich in anthocyanins. Dried berries are an old remedy for diarrhoea. NCCIH reports there is not enough evidence for eye, blood-vessel or other claims.
Western herbal medicine
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 735
Bletilla rhizome (bai ji)
Bletilla striata
Traditionally attributed effects: stops bleeding in lung and stomach and promotes wound healing.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 738
Chinese mugwort (ai ye)
Artemisia argyi
Traditionally attributed effects: warms the meridians and uterus, stops bleeding from cold and relieves pain; the herb of moxa.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 120
Dong quai (dang gui)
Angelica sinensis
In Chinese medicine one of the most important herbs to 'nourish the blood', especially for menstrual complaints. Western studies found no clear effect on menopausal symptoms.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 138
Red sage root (dan shen)
Salvia miltiorrhiza
The red root is used in Chinese medicine to 'promote blood circulation', especially for heart and vascular complaints. There are many studies in China, often of limited quality.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Africa · Herb · № 24
Devil's claw
Harpagophytum procumbens
The tuberous roots are used in folk medicine for pain. Research suggests a possible limited effect on low back pain; the evidence is of moderate quality at best.
Traditional healers of Southern Africa+1
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 56
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Traditionally used to stop bleeding from minor wounds, for fevers and colds, and as a digestive bitter. Clinical evidence is limited.
Greco-Roman medicine+6Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 37
Ginkgo
Ginkgo biloba
There is no conclusive evidence that ginkgo helps any health condition. A modest effect on dementia symptoms is possible, but results are inconsistent.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 736
Great burnet (di yu)
Sanguisorba officinalis
Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood and stops bleeding in the lower abdomen; externally for burns.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Mineral · № 796
Hematite (dai zhe shi)
Haematitum (ijzeroxide)
Traditionally attributed effects: anchors rising liver yang, makes rebellious qi descend and cools the blood in bleeding.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 765
Tree of heaven (chun pi)
Ailanthus altissima
Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat, dries dampness and curbs diarrhoea, discharge and bleeding.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 69
Shepherd's purse
Capsella bursa-pastoris
Traditionally used to slow bleeding, such as heavy periods or nosebleeds. Clinical evidence is very limited.
Western herbal medicine
Caution
Africa · Food · № 12
Garlic
Allium sativum
A food with a long history of use. Supplement research suggests only limited effects and does not establish a treatment.
Ancient Egyptian medicine+7Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 734
Cattail pollen (pu huang)
Typha angustifolia (en T. orientalis)
Traditionally attributed effects: stops bleeding and resolves blood stagnation in pain.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 96
Feverfew
Tanacetum parthenium
Best known for preventing migraine. NCCIH notes the evidence is conflicting: some studies find a small effect, others do not.
Western herbal medicine+2Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 737
Oriental arborvitae (ce bai ye)
Platycladus orientalis (syn. Biota orientalis)
Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood and stops bleeding; dissolves phlegm and helps with burns.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
South America · Herb · № 165
Pau d'arco
Handroanthus impetiginosus (syn. Tabebuia avellanedae)
The inner bark is sold for fungal infections, inflammation and as a 'cancer remedy'. There is no reliable human evidence; its active compound lapachol proved too toxic at effective doses.
The Guaraní and the mate tradition+2
Caution
North America · Herb · № 958
Prairie coneflower
Ratibida columnifera (syn. R. columnaris)
A member of the daisy family with drooping yellow or red-brown ray flowers around a long, columnar centre that smells when bruised. Effects not studied.
Lakota medicine
Caution
Asia · Mushroom · № 690
Puffball (ma bo)
Calvatia gigantea (en Lasiosphaera fenzlii)
Traditionally attributed effects: cools lung fire in sore throat and hoarseness; the spore powder stops bleeding externally.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 99
Red clover
Trifolium pratense
Contains isoflavones (plant oestrogens) and is sold for menopausal symptoms. NCCIH concludes there is no convincing evidence that it reduces hot flushes.
Western herbal medicine+2Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 666
Scouring rush (mu zei)
Equisetum hyemale
Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-heat around the eyes, stops bleeding and is diuretic.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 91
White willow
Salix alba
The bark contains salicin, which the body partly converts to salicylic acid. There are hints of a moderate effect on low back pain and joint pain.
Greco-Roman medicine+3Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 657
Schizonepeta (jing jie)
Schizonepeta tenuifolia
Traditionally attributed effects: opens the surface in colds (warm or cool, depending on the combination), helps rashes come out and, charred, stops bleeding.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
North America · Herb · № 171
Evening primrose
Oenothera biennis
The seed oil contains gamma-linolenic acid and is sold for eczema, premenstrual symptoms and hot flushes. NCCIH reports it does not help eczema and that evidence for other conditions is insufficient.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4
Caution
Asia · Mineral · № 793
Actinolite (yang qi shi)
Actinolitum
Traditionally attributed effects: was used to strengthen kidney yang; actinolite is a form of asbestos.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 277
Bistort
Bistorta officinalis (syn. Polygonum bistorta)
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stops diarrhoea and bleeding, anticatarrhal.
Western herbal medicine
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
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
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
Asia · Herb · № 349
Amla
Phyllanthus emblica
Traditionally attributed effects: fresh fruit cooling, diuretic, laxative, stomachic; bark astringent; for lung and eye inflammation, hair growth, asthma, bronchitis, bile complaints, bleeding, diarrhoea, dysentery, anaemia, jaundice.
Ayurveda+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 670
Anemarrhena (zhi mu)
Anemarrhena asphodeloides
Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat in lungs and stomach and nourishes yin in fever, thirst and night sweats.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 562
Arjuna
Terminalia arjuna
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the heart, astringent, dissolves stones, diuretic; for heart disease (angina, heart failure, pericarditis), high blood pressure, bleeding, diarrhoea, dysentery, sprue, bile complaints, oedema, cirrhosis of the liver; antidote.
Ayurveda
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 550
Ashoka tree
Saraca indica
Traditionally attributed effects: strongly astringent, calms the uterus; for uterine disorders, especially heavy menstruation, internal bleeding, haemorrhoids, bloody dysentery; root aphrodisiac and tonic, for cough, asthma, rheumatism, skin diseases, indigestion.
Ayurveda
Caution
South America · Herb · № 492
Ayapana
Eupatorium triplinerve
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, tonic, stimulates the heart, induces sweating, stops bleeding; bitter tonic for indigestion, cough and fever, against scurvy; cleanses foul ulcers.
Herbal knowledge of the Amazon+1

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.

From plant to use

Ways to prepare herbs

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Traditions, kitchen and classical formulas

43 traditions

Cultures & traditions

How communities built up and passed on their knowledge of plants, region by region.

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113 recipes

Recipes

Soups, teas and dishes in which herbs play a leading role.

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146 formulas

Chinese formulas

The classical Chinese formulas, also listed by condition.

Treatment by condition →All formulas →