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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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Recipes
Pork soup with water chestnuts and jujubesSweetcorn soup with astragalusVegetarian eight-treasure soup
  • Caution

    North America · Food · № 934

    American chestnut

    Castanea dentata

    Once one of the largest trees of the eastern forests, with sweet, edible nuts. Related to the sweet chestnut.

    Haudenosaunee medicine+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 802

    Chinese chestnut

    Castanea mollissima

    Traditionally attributed effects: dried, peeled chestnuts give sweet soups such as the eight-treasure soup their sweetness; in Chinese food therapy they strengthen spleen and kidneys.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 803

    Water chestnut

    Eleocharis dulcis

    Traditionally attributed effects: peeled water chestnuts go with carrot and Chinese dates into a sweetish pork soup that by tradition strengthens lungs and spleen, dissolves phlegm and soothes cough.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 301

    Horse chestnut

    Aesculus hippocastanum

    Traditionally attributed effects: anti-inflammatory, astringent.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    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.

    Hupa 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.

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