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

Also found

Recipes: Poached egg with mushrooms in clear broth Curry rice with Chinese cinnamon Chicken soup with tian qi Chicken stewed with Job's tears Longan chicken soup with three seeds Steamed egg with shiitake and fox nut Sweetcorn soup with astragalus Steamed black chicken with jujubes and longan Pigeon egg soup with white fungus Steamed pears with bei mu Kinkeliba tea
Chinese formulas: Zuo gui wan Ling yang gou teng tang Zhi bai di huang wan Ji chuan jian Qing e wan Er xian tang Qing wei san Jiao tai wan Dang gui shao yao san Shu jin san Ba zheng san Du huo ji sheng tang Ma xing shi gan tang You gui wan Liang ge san Shen ling bai zhu san Shi quan da bu tang Tian wang bu xin dan Xiao luo wan Fang feng tong sheng san Bai he gu jin tang Yi guan jian Qi ju di huang wan Ci zhu wan+14
Treatment by condition: Haemorrhoids Liver cirrhosis Diabetes mellitus Underactive thyroid Lupus (SLE)Thrombocytopenic purpura Flu and pneumonia Tuberculosis Kidney stones Menopause Impotence Prostate complaints Epilepsy Eczema, dermatitis, itching, acne, erysipelas and psoriasis Toothache Cataract

Caution
Oceania · Herb · № 843
Kī (ti plant)
Cordyline fruticosa
A plant with large leaves, used in Hawaiʻi for fever and headache and to wrap food.
Lāʻau lapaʻau in Hawaiʻi
Caution
Africa · Herb · № 806
Kinkeliba
Combretum micranthum
The leaves are drunk as an everyday tea; traditionally also for fever and digestive complaints. Little studied scientifically.
Local African healing traditions
Caution
South America · Herb · № 1007
Kiswara
Buddleja coriacea (en verwante Andes-soorten)
A tough shrub or tree with small, leathery leaves, rusty-brown underneath, and fragrant orange-yellow flowers. Little has been studied about its effect in people.
Kallawaya healing knowledge
Caution
Europe · Food · № 253
Strawberry
Fragaria × ananassa
The garden strawberry is a fruit rich in vitamin C. The leaf of the related wild strawberry was drunk as tea for mild diarrhoea; no medicinal effect is described for the garden strawberry itself.
Folk magic and herbal magicFolklore
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 · Food · № 223
Almond
Prunus dulcis
Traditionally attributed effects: sweet almond soothing, stimulating, nourishing, strengthens the nerves; bitter almond soothing, laxative, calming in cough.
Ayurveda+2Folklore
Caution
South America · Food · № 250
Pineapple
Ananas comosus
Traditionally attributed effects: fever-reducing, cleansing, bitter tonic; ripe fruit diuretic, induces sweating, cooling, digests protein; leaf laxative and expels worms; unripe fruit strongly diuretic, promotes menstruation and abortifacient.
Ayurveda+1Folklore
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 197
Carnation
Dianthus spp.
The clove pink has fragrant, edible petals. In Chinese medicine the related Dianthus superbus (qu mai) is used for bladder infections; no medicinal effect is described for the garden carnation.
Folk magic and herbal magic+1Folklore
Caution
Europe · Food · № 84
Apple
Malus domestica
A fruit rich in fibre such as pectin; grated apple is an old home remedy for mild diarrhoea. No specific medicinal effect has been proven.
Western herbal medicine+2Folklore
Caution
Africa · Herb · № 371
Gum arabic (acacia)
Acacia senegal
A soluble fibre that forms a mucilaginous solution in water. It soothes the throat and stomach and is being studied as a prebiotic; it can cause wind and bloating. There is no evidence that it treats viral infections such as HPV.
Ancient Egyptian medicine+2
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
Central America and the Caribbean · Food · № 166
Avocado
Persea americana
A fruit rich in monounsaturated fats, fibre and potassium; it fits a diet that is favourable for cholesterol. Avocado oil is used in skin care.
Maya healing knowledge+4Folklore
Caution
Europe · Other · № 597
Usnea
Usnea barbata
Traditionally attributed effects: antimicrobial, antifungal, immunomodulating, soothing, laxative, nourishing; against streptococci (sore throat), staphylococci, cellulitis and infected wounds, antiviral (HPV), yeast infections.
Western herbal medicine
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 677
Baikal skullcap (huang qin)
Scutellaria baicalensis
Traditionally attributed effects: cools and dries damp heat, especially in the lungs and upper body; calms a restless foetus from heat.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
North America · Herb · № 573
Balsam fir
Abies balsamea
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, antiseptic, pain-relieving; for respiratory infections, cough and sore throat, cystitis and enteritis, aid to quitting smoking; externally for burns, wounds, haemorrhoids, muscle pain.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3
Caution
Asia · Food · № 247
Banana
Musa spp.
A fruit rich in starch and potassium. Ripe banana is easily digestible and belongs to the old BRAT diet after diarrhoea; green bananas contain resistant starch.
Ayurveda+2Folklore
Caution
Africa · Herb · № 8
Basil
Ocimum basilicum
Traditionally used as an aromatic food plant and in herbal preparations.
Western herbal medicine+1Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 293
Pubescent angelica (du huo)
Angelica pubescens
Traditionally attributed effects: antirheumatic, pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 276
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Traditionally attributed effects: urinary antiseptic, astringent.
Western herbal medicine
Caution
North America · Herb · № 224
Bee balm
Monarda didyma
The fragrant leaf contains thymol and is drunk as tea. Indigenous peoples used it for colds, fever and headache; studies in humans are lacking.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+2
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 186
Birch
Betula pendula
Traditionally attributed effects: bitter, astringent, antirheumatic.
Western herbal medicine+1Folklore
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 67
Borage
Borago officinalis
The seed oil, rich in gamma-linolenic acid, has been studied for eczema and joint inflammation with mixed results. The leaf was traditionally used to reduce fever and as a tonic.
Western herbal medicine+2
Caution
Africa · Herb · № 413
Pellitory root
Anacyclus pyrethrum
Traditionally attributed effects: promotes salivation, strengthens the nerves; for toothache and caries, sore throat, tonsillitis, epilepsy, rheumatism.
Ayurveda+3
Caution
Europe · Food · № 270
Chives
Allium schoenoprasum
A mild onion herb with vitamin C and sulphur compounds. A medicinal effect has not been shown.
Monastic and folk knowledge
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 64
Mugwort
Artemisia vulgaris
Traditionally used as a digestive bitter and to bring on delayed periods. Clinical evidence is largely lacking.
Anglo-Saxon medicine+4Folklore
Caution
South America · Herb · № 889
Bilyea
Grimolobium pubescens (syn. Otholobium pubescens, Psoralea pubescens)
A shrub of the pea family with leaves in threes. It contains bakuchiol, among other compounds; extracts lowered blood sugar in experiments with mice. Studies in people are lacking.
Kallawaya healing knowledge
Caution
North America · Food · № 254
Blueberry
Vaccinium spp.
A fibre-rich berry with plenty of anthocyanins. Observational research links eating berries to a healthy diet; a medicinal effect has not been shown.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+1Folklore
Caution
North America · Herb · № 963
Blue lettuce
Lactuca tatarica subsp. pulchella (syn. L. pulchella)
A wild lettuce with blue flower heads and milky sap that forms large colonies by runners. Effects not studied.
Lakota medicine
Caution
North America · Herb · № 280
Blue cohosh
Caulophyllum thalictroides
Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, stimulates the uterus, diuretic, antirheumatic.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4
Caution
North America · Herb · № 372
Bloodroot
Sanguinaria canadensis
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, emetic, expectorant, restorative; part of escharotic treatment for cervical dysplasia, warms lungs/stomach/uterus, promotes coughing up.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+4
Caution
North America · Herb · № 991
Flowering dogwood
Cornus florida
A small tree with large white bracts around a knot of tiny flowers in spring, red berries and red autumn leaves. The bark is astringent and bitter; in the American Civil War it served as a substitute for quinine, and in the laboratory compounds from the bark moderately inhibited the malaria parasite. The berries are poisonous to people.
Cherokee medicine
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 463
Bone setter
Cissus quadrangularis
Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, stomachic; speeds bone healing in fractures, stem juice for irregular menstruation and scurvy, for asthma, indigestion, ear infection and nosebleeds.
Ayurveda
Caution
Europe · Food · № 255
Blackberry
Rubus fruticosus
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent; for damp stomach and bowel complaints, diarrhoea, mucus; syrup or liqueur against sore throat.
Western herbal medicine+1Folklore
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
South America · Herb · № 891
Carqueja
Baccharis genistelloides (en B. trimera)
A perennial with flat, winged stems and hardly any leaves. One of the best-studied Baccharis species; it contains flavonoids that may be anti-inflammatory. Clinical evidence is lacking.
Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
Caution
South America · Herb · № 985
Cayaponia ophthalmica
Cayaponia ophthalmica
A climber of the gourd family, described by Schultes; the species name means 'for the eye'. Its chemistry is unknown; plants of the gourd family often contain bitter, irritating cucurbitacins.
Tukano medicine

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.

From plant to use

Ways to prepare herbs

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Traditions, kitchen and classical formulas

43 traditions

Cultures & traditions

How communities built up and passed on their knowledge of plants, region by region.

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113 recipes

Recipes

Soups, teas and dishes in which herbs play a leading role.

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146 formulas

Chinese formulas

The classical Chinese formulas, also listed by condition.

Treatment by condition →All formulas →