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
CautionAsia · Herb · № 123
Citrus × aurantium
The dried unripe fruit (zhi shi) and peel are used in Chinese medicine for bloating and sluggish digestion. NCCIH warns that weight-loss products containing bitter orange (synephrine) pose risks to the heart and blood pressure.
CautionAsia · Food · № 284
Fagopyrum esculentum
Traditionally attributed effects: lowers blood pressure, vasodilating, restores the vessel walls.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 283
Cytisus scoparius
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, laxative, raises blood pressure, stimulates the uterus.
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 287
Jateorhiza palmata
Traditionally attributed effects: bitter digestive tonic, carminative, lowers blood pressure.
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 453
Cassia absus
Traditionally attributed effects: bitter, astringent, lowers blood pressure; leaves for cough; seeds for ringworm, skin diseases, conjunctivitis and eye inflammation.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 125
Ephedra sinica
Contains ephedrine, which widens the airways and stimulates the nervous system and heart. It is the origin of modern ephedrine and pseudoephedrine medicines. As a supplement it has proved dangerous.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 751
Eucommia ulmoides
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens liver and kidneys, tendons and bones; calms rising liver yang and a restless foetus.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 200
Gardenia jasminoides
Traditionally attributed effects: fever-reducing, calming, lowers blood pressure, antibacterial, promotes bile.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 339
Alisma plantago-aquatica (syn. A. orientale)
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, lowers blood pressure, antibacterial, cleanses the liver.
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 796
Haematitum (ijzeroxide)
Traditionally attributed effects: anchors rising liver yang, makes rebellious qi descend and cools the blood in bleeding.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 322
Cornus officinalis
Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, diuretic, lowers blood pressure, antimicrobial.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 483
Dendrobium macraei
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, soothing, tonic, cooling, lowers blood pressure; for weakness from seminal loss, snake bites and scorpion stings.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 226
Tilia × europaea
Traditionally attributed effects: calming nerve remedy, induces sweating, vasodilating, restores the vessel walls, lowers blood pressure.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 239
Viscum album
Traditionally attributed effects: slows the heart rate, lowers blood pressure, antitumour.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 762
Taxillus chinensis (syn. Loranthus parasiticus)
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens liver and kidneys, expels wind and dampness, nourishes the blood and calms the foetus.
CautionEurope · Food · № 362
Olea europaea
Olive oil is the basis of the Mediterranean diet, which is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Olive leaf extract is sold as a remedy for infections and high blood pressure; the evidence for this is limited and there is no evidence that it treats flu or other viral infections.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 181
Rauvolfia serpentina
The root contains reserpine, which lowers blood pressure and has a sedative effect. In the 1950s reserpine was one of the first modern antihypertensives and antipsychotics, but it has largely been replaced by drugs with fewer side effects.
CautionAfrica · Food · № 25
Hibiscus sabdariffa
The red calyces make a tart drink. Folk medicine links it to blood pressure; it is not a substitute for treatment.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 367
Eleutherococcus senticosus
Traditionally attributed effects: adaptogen, increases interferon production; especially for herpes simplex, strengthens the immune system against colds and flu; further for high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes, insomnia, arthritis.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 773
Uncaria rhynchophylla
Traditionally attributed effects: calms liver wind and rising liver yang in headache, dizziness and high blood pressure.
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 429
Balanites aegyptiaca
Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, expels worms; seeds for cough and colic, oil on burns and freckles, seed extract lowers blood pressure.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 648
Celosia argentea
Traditionally attributed effects: cools the liver, reduces liver inflammation and helps with high blood pressure and the eye complaints related to it.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 18
Glycyrrhiza glabra
A root with long use in several traditions; high-quality evidence does not support most health claims.
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.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 320
Allium ursinum
Traditionally attributed effects: antimicrobial, lowers blood sugar, lowers cholesterol.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 56
Achillea millefolium
Traditionally used to stop bleeding from minor wounds, for fevers and colds, and as a digestive bitter. Clinical evidence is limited.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 69
Capsella bursa-pastoris
Traditionally used to slow bleeding, such as heavy periods or nosebleeds. Clinical evidence is very limited.
CautionAfrica · Food · № 12
Allium sativum
A food with a long history of use. Supplement research suggests only limited effects and does not establish a treatment.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 136
Pueraria montana var. lobata
The root (ge gen) is used in Chinese medicine for fever, stiff neck and thirst. Small studies have looked at kudzu for reducing alcohol use, with mixed results.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 165
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.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 644
Ligusticum chuanxiong (syn. L. striatum)
Traditionally attributed effects: promotes circulation, helps with menstrual complaints and as a restorative tonic after childbirth, and is said to lower high blood pressure; warming.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 128
Morus alba en M. nigra
The leaf (sang ye) is being studied for post-meal blood sugar and is used in Chinese medicine for coughs and fevers; bark, twigs and berries each have their own use too. Evidence is preliminary.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 303
Achyranthes bidentata
Traditionally attributed effects: promotes circulation, liver tonic, pain-relieving.
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 · № 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.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 562
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.
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.