Herbal knowledge and the cultures that passed it on

South America · Food · № 916

Algarrobo (Peruvian mesquite)

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.

North America · Herb · № 974

Pacific crabapple

Malus fusca

A small apple tree with small, sour, oval apples and very tough wood. The bark contains tannins.

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'.

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.

South America · Herb · № 866

Monkey puzzle (pehuén)

Araucaria araucana

An ancient conifer that lives for more than a thousand years. The large, starchy seeds are a nourishing food; the resin was used on wounds.

South America · Herb · № 901

Ayahuasca

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.

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.

Asia · Herb · № 447

Bonduc nut

Caesalpinia crista

Traditionally attributed effects: antipyretic, antispasmodic, bitter tonic, expels worms, fever-reducing; for fever, intermittent fever, asthma, colic, swellings, bleeding, liver disorders, convulsions and nervous complaints.

North America · Herb · № 978

California bay laurel

Umbellularia californica

An evergreen tree of the laurel family with strongly scented leaves. The leaf contains umbellulone, which causes headache when inhaled and is poisonous in large amounts.

North America · Herb · № 288

Cascara sagrada

Frangula purshiana (syn. Rhamnus purshiana)

Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, digestive tonic.

South America · Herb · № 924

Cebil (vilca)

Anadenanthera colubrina

A thorny tree of the pea family, related to yopo. The seeds contain much bufotenine, up to over twelve per cent, as well as some DMT and 5-MeO-DMT. As a snuff they cause violent physical effects and short visions.

South America · Herb · № 867

Chilean strawberry (kelleñ)

Fragaria chiloensis

A wild strawberry with large, fragrant fruits, one of the parents of the garden strawberry. The leaf contains tannins.

North America · Herb · № 966

Devil's club

Oplopanax horridus

An ivy-like shrub with large, hand-shaped leaves and spines over the whole stem and the leaf veins. Research into a blood-sugar-lowering effect is at an early stage.

Europe · Other · № 377

Dulse

Palmaria palmata

A red seaweed with protein, iodine and minerals. It is eaten as food and worked into scrubs; a medicinal effect has not been shown.

Asia · Herb · № 649

Glehnia root (sha shen)

Glehnia littoralis

Traditionally attributed effects: nourishes the lungs and is good for the stomach; for persistent dry cough and to dissolve phlegm.

Europe · Other · № 308

Irish moss

Chondrus crispus

Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, expectorant, against vomiting, nourishing.

South America · Herb · № 918

Ishpingo

Nectandra spp. (en verwante laurierachtigen, o.a. Ocotea en Aiouea)

Trees of the laurel family with fragrant seeds and bark. Little is known about the substances in the seeds and their effect in people.

Europe · Other · № 382

Kelp

Laminaria spp. / Ascophyllum nodosum

Brown seaweeds are rich in iodine and alginate. They are used in scrubs and as food supplements; too much iodine can disrupt the thyroid.

Europe · Food · № 68

Cabbage

Brassica oleracea

A vegetable rich in vitamin C and fibre. In folk medicine cold cabbage leaves are placed on engorged breasts or painful joints; small studies give mixed results.

South America · Herb · № 859

Maitén

Maytenus boaria

A graceful tree with drooping twigs and fine leaves that cattle love to eat. Traditionally for fever and skin rash; research is lacking.

Oceania · Food · № 51

Mānuka honey

A monofloral honey with distinctive compounds such as leptosperin and methylglyoxal. Ordinary food honey is not a treatment.

North America · Herb · № 967

Red alder

Alnus rubra

A fast-growing alder with smooth grey bark that turns red after cutting. The bark is rich in tannins and astringent.

North America · Herb · № 975

Redwood sorrel

Oxalis oregana

A low wood sorrel with large clover-like leaves and white or pink flowers, forming carpets under the trees. The leaf tastes sour from oxalic acid.

Asia · Herb · № 664

Beach vitex fruit (man jing zi)

Vitex rotundifolia (syn. V. trifolia)

Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-heat in headache and eye pain, and relieves cramps and heaviness in the limbs.

Oceania · Other · № 55

Tamanu oil

Calophyllum inophyllum

An oil used mainly in skin care; medical claims are not established.

North America · Food · № 979

Tanoak

Notholithocarpus densiflorus

An evergreen tree of the beech family, between oak and chestnut. The acorns are nourishing but bitter with tannins, which must first be leached out.

South America · Herb · № 877

Tara

Tara spinosa (syn. Caesalpinia spinosa)

A thorny tree with red pods that are very rich in tannins. In laboratory tests, extracts of the pods inhibited several bacteria.

North America · Herb · № 169

Wax myrtle (bayberry)

Morella cerifera

The root bark was traditionally used for colds, sore throats and diarrhoea. There is no modern clinical evidence.

North America · Herb · № 969

Western hemlock

Tsuga heterophylla

A large conifer with a drooping top and short, flat needles. The bark is very rich in tannins; the young needles contain vitamin C.

North America · Food · № 965

Wild rice

Zizania palustris (en Z. aquatica)

An aquatic grass, not true rice. The long, dark grain contains more protein and fibre than white rice.

North America · Herb · № 35

Saw palmetto

Serenoa repens

Promoted for urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate, but NCCIH concludes it probably does not help for this.

North America · Herb · № 973

Salmonberry

Rubus spectabilis

A bramble with pink flowers and yellow-orange to red berries. Leaves and bark contain tannins and are astringent.

Asia · Herb · № 135

Black pepper and long pepper

Piper nigrum

Important warming spices in Ayurveda, used for sluggish digestion and colds. Piperine from pepper increases the absorption of some substances, such as curcumin.

North America · Herb · № 971

Black twinberry

Lonicera involucrata

A honeysuckle with yellow flowers in pairs, which later form two shiny black berries in red bracts. Effects not studied.