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
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 929
Dermatophyllum secundiflorum (syn. Sophora secundiflora)
An evergreen shrub or small tree of the pea family with purple, grape-scented flowers and hard, bright red seeds. The seeds contain cytisine, a poison resembling nicotine. A single seed can be fatal.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 835
Mandragora officinarum
A highly poisonous plant containing tropane alkaloids, used in antiquity as a painkiller and sleeping draught.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 826
Podophyllum peltatum
A poisonous plant whose resin, podophyllin, was once used as a laxative. Now only used in the form of medicines against warts.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 542
Psoralea corylifolia
Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, expels worms, diuretic, induces sweating, antibacterial; for leprosy and leucoderma (vitiligo) internally and externally, bile complaints.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 513
Hyoscyamus niger
Traditionally attributed effects: intoxicating, narcotic, pain-relieving, calming, antispasmodic, dilates the pupils.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 557
Strychnos nux-vomica
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the nerves, stomachic, tonic, aphrodisiac, stimulates the spinal cord, breathing and heart.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 474
Croton tiglium
Traditionally attributed effects: drastically laxative, irritant, skin-irritant; for stroke, insanity, convulsions, stubborn constipation, worms, ascites, oedema, colic, gout; wood in small doses induces sweating.
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 481
Datura metel
Traditionally attributed effects: narcotic, pain-relieving, antispasmodic (like belladonna); compress for rheumatic swellings, lumbago, sciatica, nerve pain, painful tumours; leaves and seeds for asthma and whooping cough; liniment for painful menstruation.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 876
Brugmansia spp. (o.a. B. arborea, B. sanguinea)
A shrub or small tree with large hanging trumpet flowers. All parts contain tropane alkaloids such as scopolamine and atropine, which cause confusion and hallucinations.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 468
Colchicum luteum
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, carminative, laxative, aphrodisiac; for gout, rheumatism, liver and spleen diseases; externally against inflammation and pain.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 400
Aconitum ferox
Traditionally attributed effects: in very small doses induces sweating, diuretic, pain-relieving, fever-reducing; for nerve pain, muscular rheumatism, gout, sore throat, colds, paralysis; highly poisonous in larger doses.
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 464
Citrullus colocynthis
Traditionally attributed effects: drastically laxative and diuretic; in large doses emetic and highly irritant; for ascites, jaundice, urinary diseases, rheumatism, bile complaints, intestinal parasites, constipation, oedema; seed oil for snake and scorpion bites.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 205
Lilium spp.
The bulb scales of some lilies (bai he) are used in Chinese medicine for dry cough, restlessness and sleeplessness after fever. Lilies are deadly poisonous to cats.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 529
Nerium indicum
Traditionally attributed effects: strongly diuretic and strengthens the heart (like digitalis), abortifacient.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 868
Cestrum parqui
A fast-growing, foul-smelling shrub of the nightshade family. All parts are poisonous because of alkaloids.
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 502
Gloriosa superba
Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, antipyretic, promotes bile, expels worms, cleansing, laxative; against lice, for gonorrhoea, leprosy, colic, worms; promotes contractions; compress for rheumatism and nerve pain.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 900
Schoenocaulon officinale
A lily-like plant with highly poisonous seeds containing alkaloids such as veratridine and cevadine. Pharmacists around the world made louse treatments and insecticides from them.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 180
Papaver somniferum
The latex of the unripe seed capsule (opium) contains morphine, codeine and other alkaloids. Morphine and related opioids are indispensable painkillers in modern medicine, but highly addictive. The seeds (poppy seeds) are an ordinary food.
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 819
Nicotiana rustica
A ceremonial plant of many Indigenous peoples of the Americas. Tobacco is addictive and harmful to health.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 195
Taxus baccata
Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, expectorant, stomachic, tonic; leaf and fruit promote menstruation, calming, antispasmodic; for asthma, hiccups, indigestion, coughing up blood, epilepsy, stones, nervousness.
CautionOceania · Herb · № 848
Coriaria arborea
A highly poisonous shrub. Its poison, tutin, can cause convulsions and be fatal.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 179
Digitalis purpurea
Contains cardiac glycosides that slow the heart rate and strengthen its contractions. They gave rise to the drugs digoxin and digitoxin, still prescribed for certain heart rhythm disorders and heart failure. The margin between an effective and a toxic amount is very small.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 330
Bryonia alba
Traditionally attributed effects: antirheumatic, laxative.
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.