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
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 889
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.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 963
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.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 1000
Galax urceolata
A low evergreen herb of the Diapensia family with glossy, round, toothed leaves that turn bronze to wine red in winter, and in spring a slender spike of tiny white flowers. Plants in flower smell sharp, almost like a skunk. Its effect has not been studied.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 1010
Chuquiraga spinosa (en C. rotundifolia)
A prickly shrub with hard, pointed little leaves and orange-yellow flower heads. Contains phenolic acids, flavonoids, saponins and alkaloids; animal studies point to an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 940
Eutrochium purpureum en E. maculatum (syn. Eupatorium)
Tall, purple-pink flowering plants of the daisy family, related to European hemp agrimony. They may contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which damage the liver with long use.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 883
Desmodium molliculum
A low plant of the pea family. Traditionally used for inflammation and wounds; research is limited.
South America · Herb · № 912
Geranium ayavacense en Geranium sessiliflorum
Low, rosette-forming cranesbills with a thick root. They contain tannins. Whether the tea lowers blood sugar has not been properly studied in people.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 946
Chimaphila umbellata
A low, evergreen dwarf shrub with leathery leaves and pink nodding flowers. Contains arbutin and related compounds, like bearberry.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 888
Equisetum giganteum
A large horsetail, rich in silica. Traditionally used as a diuretic, like European field horsetail; good evidence is lacking.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 947
Epigaea repens
A creeping, evergreen dwarf shrub of the heath family with fragrant pink to white flowers in early spring. Contains arbutin.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 303
Achyranthes bidentata
Traditionally attributed effects: promotes circulation, liver tonic, pain-relieving.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 418
Aquilaria agallocha
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, strengthens the heart, tonic, carminative, promotes bile; for skin diseases, gout and rheumatism, vomiting, snake bites, pain from wounds, bronchitis in children, headache, dizziness.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 754
Alpinia oxyphylla
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang and holds in urine and semen; warms the spleen in diarrhoea and drooling.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 628
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.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 757
Astragalus complanatus
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang, holds in the essence and strengthens the eyesight.
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.
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 781
Borax (natriumtetraboraat)
Traditionally attributed effects: externally for small ulcers in mouth, throat and vagina and for athlete's foot.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 306
Hydrangea arborescens
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, laxative, stimulates the kidneys.
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 798
Calomelas (kwikchloride)
Traditionally attributed effects: was used externally against scabies and sores; contains mercury.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 919
Phyllanthus niruri (en P. stipulatus, P. urinaria)
A small herb with rows of fine leaflets and tiny fruits beneath them. In experiments it inhibited the formation of kidney stone crystals and acted as a diuretic; small studies in people do not yet give clear evidence.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 642
Asparagus cochinchinensis
Traditionally attributed effects: moistening; for recovery after illness or surgery, chronically dry skin and for the production of sex hormones.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 643
Rubus chingii
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidneys and liver; for poor vision, frequent urination and impotence.
Asia · Herb · № 304
Coptis chinensis
Traditionally attributed effects: promotes bile, antibacterial, pain-relieving, calming, anti-inflammatory.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 663
Asarum sieboldii (en A. heterotropoides)
Traditionally attributed effects: warms in wind-cold, relieves pain from cold and loosens cold phlegm in the lungs.
CautionAsia · Food · № 802
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.
CautionAsia · Food · № 635
Dioscorea polystachya (syn. D. opposita)
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens spleen, stomach and lungs, helps regulate the hormone system in women and is said to lower blood sugar.
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 797
Cinnabaris (kwiksulfide)
Traditionally attributed effects: was used to calm the mind and stop convulsions; contains mercury.
CautionAsia · Mushroom · № 147
Ophiocordyceps sinensis (syn. Cordyceps sinensis)
A fungus that parasitises caterpillars. Used in Tibetan and Chinese medicine for fatigue, lung complaints and low libido. Studies are small and there is no convincing evidence.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 579
Larrea divaricata
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stimulating, cleansing, diuretic; detoxifies the liver and body, anti-inflammatory, for arthritis, strengthens bladder and kidneys, externally for haemorrhoids, boils, bedsores and bruises.
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 460
Dysphania ambrosioides (syn. Chenopodium ambrosioides)
A strong-smelling culinary herb traditionally used against intestinal worms and wind. The essential oil contains ascaridole, which kills worms but is also toxic to humans.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 751
Eucommia ulmoides
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens liver and kidneys, tendons and bones; calms rising liver yang and a restless foetus.
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 118
Trigonella foenum-graecum
The seed has been studied for blood sugar and for increasing breast milk. NCCIH reports there is not enough strong evidence for these uses.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 315
Ligustrum lucidum
Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, diuretic, stimulates the immune system.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 170
Grindelia camporum
The sticky herb was traditionally used for coughs, asthma and bronchitis, and externally for poison-ivy rashes. Clinical evidence is lacking.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 591
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.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 322
Cornus officinalis
Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, diuretic, lowers blood pressure, antimicrobial.
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.
Read moreFrom plant to use
Discover more
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.