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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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70 results

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Jia wei xiao yao sanYin chen hao tangDang gui long hui wanWu yao shun qi sanQi ju di huang wan
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HepatitisOveractive thyroidFlu and pneumoniaAllergies of the upper airwaysEpilepsyImproving eyesight
  • 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

    North America · Herb · № 939

    Perfoliate bellwort

    Uvularia perfoliata

    A low plant with hanging, pale yellow bells and leaves that clasp the stem. Little is known about its compounds.

    Haudenosaunee medicine
  • 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 · № 440

    Blumea

    Blumea lacera

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stomachic, antispasmodic, promotes menstruation, diuretic; for purulent eye discharge, worms, catarrh.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 681

    Korean ash bark (qin pi)

    Fraxinus chinensis subsp. rhynchophylla

    Traditionally attributed effects: for diarrhoea and dysentery from damp heat, red eyes and cough with heat.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 643

    Chinese raspberry (fu pen zi)

    Rubus chingii

    Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidneys and liver; for poor vision, frequent urination and impotence.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 679

    Chinese gentian (long dan cao)

    Gentiana scabra

    Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat and fire from liver and gallbladder.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 124

    Chrysanthemum (ju hua)

    Chrysanthemum × morifolium

    The flowers (ju hua) are used in Chinese medicine as a 'cooling' remedy for colds with fever, headaches and tired, red eyes. Clinical evidence is limited.

    Chinese medical traditions+3
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 761

    Dendrobium (shi hu)

    Dendrobium nobile (en verwante soorten)

    Traditionally attributed effects: nourishes the yin of lung and stomach, replenishes body fluids and cools heat from deficiency.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 637

    Goji (Chinese wolfberry)

    Lycium barbarum, L. chinense

    Traditionally attributed effects: sweet tonic that according to tradition strengthens the yang energy, strength and stamina and supports the hormone system.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 591

    Purple loosestrife

    Lythrum salicaria

    Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, antibiotic, antispasmodic, diuretic, induces sweating, tonic, soothing; for dysentery and bacterial diarrhoea, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's), strengthens kidneys and bladder, for the eyes.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 436

    Tree turmeric

    Berberis aristata

    Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, stomachic, astringent, antipyretic, induces sweating, cleansing; for malaria and intermittent fever (comparable to quinine), washing ulcers, eye diseases, haemorrhoids, swollen glands; laxative for children.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 417

    Kadam

    Anthocephalus indicus

    Traditionally attributed effects: bark tonic, fever-reducing, astringent; fruit cooling; for fever, mouth ulcers and stomatitis, eye inflammation, stomach irritation in children, snake bites.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 1004

    Kantuta

    Cantua buxifolia

    A much-branched shrub of 2 to 3 metres with clusters of tubular flowers in red, pink, yellow or white, pollinated by hummingbirds and bees. Little is known about its effect in people.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 529

    Oleander

    Nerium indicum

    Traditionally attributed effects: strongly diuretic and strengthens the heart (like digitalis), abortifacient.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 326

    Partridge berry

    Mitchella repens

    Traditionally attributed effects: stimulates the uterus, tonic, restorative, astringent, diuretic.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3
  • 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

    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.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 672

    Buddleia flower bud (mi meng hua)

    Buddleja officinalis

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools liver heat in red, swollen, watery and light-sensitive eyes.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 952

    Wild sarsaparilla

    Aralia nudicaulis

    A low plant of the ivy family with a long, creeping, aromatic root; related to ginseng and no relative of true sarsaparilla (Smilax).

    Haudenosaunee medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 648

    Celosia seed (qing xiang zi)

    Celosia argentea

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools the liver, reduces liver inflammation and helps with high blood pressure and the eye complaints related to it.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 728

    Black atractylodes (cang zhu)

    Atractylodes lancea

    Traditionally attributed effects: dries dampness and strengthens the spleen; expels wind, cold and dampness.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    South America · Food · № 262

    Potato

    Solanum tuberosum

    A starchy tuber and one of the most important food crops in the world. In folk use raw slices or grated potato are laid on burns, swollen eyes and for headaches; this has not been studied.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge+1Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 523

    Corn mint

    Mentha arvensis

    Traditionally attributed effects: aromatic, carminative, stimulating, antispasmodic, promotes menstruation, antiseptic, stomachic, cooling, diuretic; leaf juice for diarrhoea and dysentery, tea for rheumatism and indigestion.

    Ayurveda+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 · № 160

    American ginseng

    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.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 628

    North American wild ginger

    Asarum caudatum, A. canadense en verwante soorten

    Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-cold, opens a blocked nose, warms the lung in cough with clear phlegm and expels cold and dampness in menstrual pain and other pain.

    Haudenosaunee medicine+4
  • 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

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 161

    Cayenne pepper

    Capsicum frutescens

    Capsaicin from chilli peppers is used externally for nerve pain and joint pain; high-dose capsaicin patches are an approved medicine. Internally it is mainly a warming spice.

    Maya healing knowledge+6Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 684

    Chinese violet (zi hua di ding)

    Viola yedoensis (syn. V. philippica)

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat and 'toxin' in abscesses, boils, sore throat and inflamed eyes.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 641

    Chinese dodder (tu si zi)

    Cuscuta chinensis

    Traditionally attributed effects: a remedy for male infertility and urinary complaints; a tonic that strengthens bones and tendons, soothes lower back pain and balances the female reproductive system.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 304

    Chinese goldthread (huang lian)

    Coptis chinensis

    Traditionally attributed effects: promotes bile, antibacterial, pain-relieving, calming, anti-inflammatory.

    Chinese medical traditions+3
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 948

    Threeleaf goldthread

    Coptis trifolia

    A small evergreen herb with golden-yellow thread-like roots. These contain berberine, a bitter compound that inhibits bacteria in laboratory tests; related to Chinese goldthread (huang lian).

    Haudenosaunee medicine
  • 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

    Oceania · Food · № 177

    Emu berry (dysentery bush)

    Grewia retusifolia

    The small fruits are edible; the name dysentery bush refers to its traditional use for diarrhoea. There is no clinical research.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 200

    Gardenia (zhi zi)

    Gardenia jasminoides

    Traditionally attributed effects: fever-reducing, calming, lowers blood pressure, antibacterial, promotes bile.

    Chinese medical traditions+3Folklore
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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