Skip to content
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

Search by concern or tag

12 results

  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 320

    Wild garlic

    Allium ursinum

    Traditionally attributed effects: antimicrobial, lowers blood sugar, lowers cholesterol.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 694

    Dittany root bark (bai xian pi)

    Dictamnus dasycarpus

    Traditionally attributed effects: drains heat, dampness and wind in itchy, weeping skin conditions.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • 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

    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

    North America · Herb · № 959

    Horseweed

    Erigeron canadensis (syn. Conyza canadensis)

    An annual of the daisy family with an upright, hairy stem and countless small white flower heads. Contains volatile oil, tannins and flavonoids; the oil was once used as 'oil of erigeron' for bleeding and diarrhoea.

    Lakota medicine+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 503

    Gmelina

    Gmelina arborea

    Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, stomachic, bitter tonic, cooling, laxative, promotes milk flow; fruit in cooling decoctions for fever and bile complaints, headache, fever and indigestion; to prevent miscarriage.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 553

    Indian nightshade

    Solanum indicum

    Traditionally attributed effects: aphrodisiac, astringent, carminative, strengthens the heart, diuretic, expectorant; for asthma, dry cough, difficult childbirth, chronic fever, colic, worms, painful urination, oedema, catarrh, vomiting, itching.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 533

    Indian trumpet tree

    Oroxylum indicum

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, bitter tonic, stomachic, pain-relieving, induces sweating; for diarrhoea, dysentery, acute rheumatism, oedema, ear infection; young fruit carminative, seeds laxative.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 555

    Yellow-berried nightshade

    Solanum surattense

    Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, strongly diuretic, expectorant, fever-reducing, aids digestion, astringent; for fever, cough, asthma, toothache, sore throat, gonorrhoea, rheumatism; promotes conception.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    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.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 565

    Puncture vine

    Tribulus terrestris

    Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, soothing, diuretic, tonic, aphrodisiac.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    North America · Food · № 936

    Ramps

    Allium tricoccum

    A wild leek with broad leaves and a small bulb, related to European wild garlic. Leaves and bulb taste of onion and garlic.

    Haudenosaunee medicine+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.

Read more

From plant to use

Ways to prepare herbs

All preparations →

Discover more

Traditions, kitchen and classical formulas