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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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63 results

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Recipes
Steamed pears with bei mu
Chinese formulas
Xing su sanDing chuan tangQing zao jiu fei tangSheng mai sanBai he gu jin tangXiao qing long tangMai men dong yin zi
Treatment by condition
TuberculosisEczema, dermatitis, itching, acne, erysipelas and psoriasis
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 857

    Cachanlagua

    Centaurium cachanlahuen

    A small bitter herb with pink flowers, related to the European common centaury. Traditionally for fever and digestion; clinical research is lacking.

    Mapuche medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 642

    Chinese asparagus root (tian men dong)

    Asparagus cochinchinensis

    Traditionally attributed effects: moistening; for recovery after illness or surgery, chronically dry skin and for the production of sex hormones.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 635

    Chinese yam (shan yao)

    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.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 639

    Codonopsis (dang shen)

    Codonopsis pilosula

    Traditionally attributed effects: reduces fatigue, supports the production of blood cells and strengthens spleen, stomach and lungs.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 649

    Glehnia root (sha shen)

    Glehnia littoralis

    Traditionally attributed effects: nourishes the lungs and is good for the stomach; for persistent dry cough and to dissolve phlegm.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 981

    Justicia pectoralis (tilo)

    Justicia pectoralis (syn. Dianthera pectoralis)

    A low, creeping herb of the acanthus family. The dried leaf smells strongly of hay because of coumarin and umbelliferone. Reports of tryptamines in the plant have not been confirmed.

    Tukano medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 647

    Fritillaria bulb (bei mu)

    Fritillaria cirrhosa

    Traditionally attributed effects: dissolves phlegm and clears congested lungs; together with pear for dry airways and a heated chest.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 990

    Butterfly weed

    Asclepias tuberosa

    A milkweed with bright orange flower umbels that attract many butterflies, and a thick, tuberous root. For a milkweed it contains few cardiac glycosides, but it does contain steroids that in larger amounts can cause weakness, seizures and eye damage. The root was listed in the United States Pharmacopeia as pleurisy root, an expectorant.

    Cherokee medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 960

    Fringed puccoon

    Lithospermum incisum (syn. L. linearifolium)

    A member of the borage family with yellow trumpet-shaped flowers and a red root, related to Chinese gromwell (zi cao). Effects not studied.

    Lakota medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 801

    Fig

    Ficus carica

    Traditionally attributed effects: dried figs make Chinese soups naturally sweet, such as the watercress and spare-rib soup and the eight-treasure soup; they are regarded as moistening for lung and bowel.

    Chinese medical traditions+3
  • Caution

    Europe · Food · № 654

    Watercress

    Nasturtium officinale

    Traditionally attributed effects: rich in vitamin C, beta-carotene and vitamin E; used to support detoxification, cool body heat and support the lungs.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Mushroom · № 652

    Snow fungus (bai mu er)

    Tremella fuciformis

    Traditionally attributed effects: a tonic for the yin energy and the lungs; supports breathing, energy and a balanced blood pressure.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 79

    Elecampane

    Inula helenium

    The root is traditionally used for productive coughs and bronchitis; it is rich in inulin. Clinical evidence is limited.

    Greco-Roman medicine+4
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 628

    North American wild ginger

    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.

    Haudenosaunee medicine+4
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 593

    Skunk cabbage

    Lysichiton americanus

    Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the nerves, stimulating, antispasmodic, induces sweating, expectorant; opens the lungs and reduces cough and bronchial spasms (acute asthma), ointment against ringworm, relieves muscle and joint pain.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 670

    Anemarrhena (zhi mu)

    Anemarrhena asphodeloides

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat in lungs and stomach and nourishes yin in fever, thirst and night sweats.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 149

    Astragalus (huang qi)

    Astragalus membranaceus

    In Chinese medicine an important strengthening herb ('qi tonic') for fatigue, catching colds easily and sweating. NCCIH notes there is little reliable human research.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • 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

    Asia · Herb · № 310

    Balloon flower

    Platycodon grandiflorus

    Traditionally attributed effects: expectorant, antifungal, antibacterial, lowers blood sugar.

    Chinese medical traditions+3
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 134

    Bamboo

    Phyllostachys nigra

    In Chinese medicine bamboo shavings (zhu ru) and bamboo sap are used for coughs with yellow phlegm, nausea and restlessness. Ayurveda uses silica-rich bamboo manna. Clinical research is scarce.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 735

    Bletilla rhizome (bai ji)

    Bletilla striata

    Traditionally attributed effects: stops bleeding in lung and stomach and promotes wound healing.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • 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 · № 978

    California bay laurel

    Umbellularia californica

    An evergreen tree of the laurel family with strongly scented leaves. The leaf contains umbellulone, which causes headache when inhaled and is poisonous in large amounts.

    Hupa medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 636

    Jujube (red date)

    Ziziphus jujuba

    Traditionally attributed effects: sweet and strengthening in fatigue, anaemia and low energy; builds strength and blood and softens herbal dishes.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 663

    Chinese wild ginger (xi xin)

    Asarum sieboldii (en A. heterotropoides)

    Traditionally attributed effects: warms in wind-cold, relieves pain from cold and loosens cold phlegm in the lungs.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 768

    Polygala root (yuan zhi)

    Polygala tenuifolia

    Traditionally attributed effects: calms the mind and clears phlegm from 'the openings of the heart' and from the lungs.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Mushroom · № 147

    Caterpillar fungus (cordyceps)

    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.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 495

    Asafoetida

    Ferula foetida

    Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, carminative, antispasmodic, expectorant, mildly laxative, expels worms, promotes menstruation, stimulates nerves and lungs.

    Ayurveda+3
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 56

    Yarrow

    Achillea millefolium

    Traditionally used to stop bleeding from minor wounds, for fevers and colds, and as a digestive bitter. Clinical evidence is limited.

    Greco-Roman medicine+6Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 1

    Ginger

    Zingiber officinale

    Traditionally used for nausea and digestive discomfort; it has a warming flavor.

    Ayurveda+6Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 37

    Ginkgo

    Ginkgo biloba

    There is no conclusive evidence that ginkgo helps any health condition. A modest effect on dementia symptoms is possible, but results are inconsistent.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • 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

    Asia · Food · № 637

    Goji (Chinese wolfberry)

    Lycium barbarum, L. chinense

    Traditionally attributed effects: sweet tonic that according to tradition strengthens the yang energy, strength and stamina and supports the hormone system.

    Chinese medical traditions+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 788

    Inula flower (xuan fu hua)

    Inula japonica

    Traditionally attributed effects: moves stuck phlegm in the lungs and makes rebellious energy of lung and stomach descend.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 723

    Loquat leaf (pi pa ye)

    Eriobotrya japonica

    Traditionally attributed effects: cools hot phlegm in the lungs and makes rebellious lung and stomach energy descend.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • 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
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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