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

Caution
North America · Herb · № 955
American licorice
Glycyrrhiza lepidota
A legume with long, tough, sweet roots, related to true licorice. The root tastes of licorice; it contains less glycyrrhizin than Glycyrrhiza glabra.
Lakota medicine
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 18
Licorice root
Glycyrrhiza glabra
A root with long use in several traditions; high-quality evidence does not support most health claims.
Ayurveda+9Folklore
Caution
Asia · Food · № 272
Apricot
Prunus armeniaca
Traditionally attributed effects: cough-suppressing, astringent, antibacterial, pain-relieving, diuretic, anti-inflammatory; wild cherry suppresses cough.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 36
Asian ginseng
Panax ginseng (ook P. quinquefolius)
Research consists mostly of small, short studies; there is little evidence of health effects.
Chinese medical traditions+3
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 310
Balloon flower
Platycodon grandiflorus
Traditionally attributed effects: expectorant, antifungal, antibacterial, lowers blood sugar.
Chinese medical traditions+3
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 747
Prepared aconite (fu zi)
Aconitum carmichaelii (bereide zijwortel)
Traditionally attributed effects: the most strongly warming remedy in Chinese medicine, for collapse of yang and pain from cold.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 125
Chinese ephedra (ma huang)
Ephedra sinica
Contains ephedrine, which widens the airways and stimulates the nervous system and heart. It is the origin of modern ephedrine and pseudoephedrine medicines. As a supplement it has proved dangerous.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 740
Corydalis (yan hu suo)
Corydalis yanhusuo
Traditionally attributed effects: moves blood and qi and is an important pain-relieving herb.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
North America · Herb · № 972
Single delight
Moneses uniflora
A small plant of the heath family with a single nodding, white, fragrant flower. The pounded plant irritates the skin and can raise blisters.
Kwakwaka'wakw medicine
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 675
Swallow-wort root (bai wei)
Cynanchum atratum
Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood in fever from deficiency, including after childbirth, and in painful urination.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 700
Genkwa flower (yuan hua)
Daphne genkwa
Traditionally attributed effects: was used as a strong fluid-draining remedy in chronic fluid accumulation in chest and abdomen.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Mineral · № 668
Gypsum (shi gao)
Gypsum fibrosum (calciumsulfaat)
Traditionally attributed effects: strongly cooling in high fever with thirst and sweating, lung heat and stomach fire.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 81
Juniper
Juniperus communis
The berries are traditionally used as a diuretic, for digestive complaints and externally for joint pain. Clinical evidence is limited.
Western herbal medicine+5Folklore
Caution
Asia · Food · № 645
Job's tears (coix seed)
Coix lacryma-jobi
Traditionally attributed effects: nourishing grain that drives dampness from the body; for arthritis and rheumatism, diuretic, and to relieve a full chest and stomach ulcers.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 695
Glabrous greenbrier (tu fu ling)
Smilax glabra
Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat, especially via the skin and in joint complaints.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 699
Kansui root (gan sui)
Euphorbia kansui
Traditionally attributed effects: was used as a very strong fluid-draining purgative for fluid in chest and abdomen.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 92
Figwort
Scrophularia nodosa (en S. ningpoensis)
Used in Western herbalism for skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis and for swollen glands. There is no good clinical evidence.
Monastic and folk knowledge+2
Caution
Asia · Food · № 730
Tangerine peel (chen pi)
Citrus reticulata
Traditionally attributed effects: the ripe peel (chen pi) moves the qi of spleen and lung and dissolves phlegm; the green peel (qing pi) moves liver qi.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Asia · Food · № 792
Maltose (yi tang)
Saccharum granorum (maltose)
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens qi and spleen, eases pain from cold in the middle and moistens the lungs.
Chinese medical traditions+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 275
Pinellia (ban xia)
Pinellia ternata
Traditionally attributed effects: cough-suppressing, expectorant, against vomiting, anticatarrhal.
Chinese medical traditions+3
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 132
Chinese peony (bai shao)
Paeonia lactiflora en P. suffruticosa
The peeled root (bai shao, white peony) is used in Chinese medicine for cramps, period pain and muscle pain. There are studies of combination formulas but few of peony alone.
Chinese medical traditions+3
Caution
Asia · Mushroom · № 146
Poria (fu ling)
Wolfiporia cocos
One of the most widely used remedies in Chinese medicine, for fluid retention, poor digestion and restless sleep. Clinical research on fu ling alone is scarce.
Chinese medical traditions+4
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 719
Sargassum (hai zao)
Sargassum pallidum (en S. fusiforme)
Traditionally attributed effects: softens hardenings from phlegm-fire such as goitre and swollen glands; drains fluid.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 592
Schisandra
Schisandra chinensis
Traditionally attributed effects: tonic, astringent, stimulating, adaptogen; supports exhausted adrenals (fatigue), promotes sleep and well-being, protects the liver.
Chinese medical traditions+3
Caution
Asia · Mineral · № 702
Talc (hua shi)
Talcum (hydromagnesiumsilicaat)
Traditionally attributed effects: cooling and soothing in painful urination and summer heat; externally drying on weeping skin.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
Asia · Food · № 268
Wheat
Triticum aestivum
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens, rejuvenates, soothes ulcers, stimulates appetite, promotes healing of fractures, gives stability, healthy complexion; mildly aphrodisiac; anti-stress breakfast.
Ayurveda+2Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 651
White atractylodes (bai zhu)
Atractylodes macrocephala
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the spleen and regulates the stomach; for diarrhoea and fluid retention, and traditionally to help prevent miscarriage.
Chinese medical traditions+2
Caution
Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 632
Yerba mansa
Anemopsis californica
Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind and dampness in joint pain that worsens in cold, wet weather, opens blocked sinuses and dries dampness in slow-healing wounds and swellings.
Curanderismo+2

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.

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