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 · № 1002
Escallonia resinosa (en verwante soorten, o.a. E. micrantha)
A shrub or tree of 2 to 10 metres with reddish, papery bark and small, finely toothed leaves full of resin and essential oil. Almost nothing has been studied about its effect in people.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 992
Liquidambar styraciflua
A tall tree with star-shaped leaves, splendid autumn colours and spiky round seed balls. When the bark is wounded a fragrant resin, American storax, seeps out; for centuries it has gone into ointments, perfume and incense. The resin is mildly antiseptic.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 855
Copaifera officinalis en verwante soorten
A tree whose oleoresin is rich in beta-caryophyllene. Used on the skin for inflammation and small wounds; the evidence comes mainly from animal and laboratory studies.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 142
Commiphora wightii (syn. C. mukul)
The resin is used in Ayurveda for joint complaints, overweight and high cholesterol. A US study found no reduction in cholesterol; LDL even rose slightly.
CautionAfrica · Other · № 28
Commiphora myrrha
A gum resin with a long history in medicine, ritual, perfume, and incense. Modern treatment claims are not established.
CautionAsia · Other · № 771
Liquidambar orientalis
Traditionally attributed effects: the resin opens the sense orifices and relieves pain with a tight chest.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 898
Myroxylon balsamum (var. pereirae)
A large tree whose resin, the balsam, smells of vanilla and cinnamon. The balsam contains cinnamic acid, benzyl benzoate and vanillin, among other compounds, and is used in perfume, food and ointments for skin and wounds.
CautionOceania · Food · № 173
Acacia spp. (o.a. A. holosericea, A. decurrens)
Roasted wattleseed is a protein- and fibre-rich bushfood. The bark of some species is rich in tannins and was used for wounds and diarrhoea. There is little clinical research.
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.
CautionSouth America · Food · № 916
Neltuma pallida (syn. Prosopis pallida)
A thorny tree of the pea family, related to mesquite, with sweet pods full of sugars. With its deep roots the tree holds the dry forest together.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 826
Podophyllum peltatum
A poisonous plant whose resin, podophyllin, was once used as a laxative. Now only used in the form of medicines against warts.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 866
Araucaria araucana
An ancient conifer that lives for more than a thousand years. The large, starchy seeds are a nourishing food; the resin was used on wounds.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 869
Haplopappus baylahuen
A resinous shrub of the daisy family. A well-known Chilean tea for liver and bowel complaints; an effect has not been proven.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 574
Populus balsamifera
Traditionally attributed effects: buds: stimulating, tonic, diuretic, soothing, expectorant; bark: expectorant, laxative; for skin problems (eczema, psoriasis), dry cough, constipation, kidney/bladder support, rheumatism and gout.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 573
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.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 229
Styrax benzoin
Traditionally attributed effects: expectorant, astringent, antispasmodic.
CautionAsia · Other · № 770
Dryobalanops aromatica (borneol)
Traditionally attributed effects: opens the sense orifices, cools heat and relieves pain; mainly external.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 631
Angelica breweri, A. arguta, A. hendersonii
Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind, dampness and cold in stiff, painful joints, opens the surface in wind-cold and moves qi and blood in pain.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 627
Aralia californica
Traditionally attributed effects: opens the surface in wind-cold and fever without sweating, warms the lung and stops cough with abundant white or clear phlegm, and (roasted with honey) strengthens the energy of lung and spleen.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 233
Cupressus sempervirens
Traditionally attributed effects: antiseptic, antispasmodic, calming, diuretic.
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Other · № 817
Protium copal
Resin from tropical trees that is burned as incense at ceremonies.
CautionNorth America · Herb · № 189
Pinus spp.
The scent of needles and resin is experienced as fresh and cleansing. Pine buds and needles contain essential oil and vitamin C; a medicinal effect has hardly been studied.
CautionAsia · Other · № 744
Daemonorops draco (ook Dracaena cochinchinensis)
Traditionally attributed effects: stops bleeding, resolves blood stagnation and promotes wound healing.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 495
Ferula foetida
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, carminative, antispasmodic, expectorant, mildly laxative, expels worms, promotes menstruation, stimulates nerves and lungs.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 908
Virola theiodora (en verwante Virola-soorten)
A tree of the nutmeg family with blood-red resin in its bark. The resin contains a lot of 5-MeO-DMT and DMT, and also beta-carbolines. As snuff it brings excitement, numb limbs, nausea and visions within minutes.
CautionOceania · Herb · № 174
Pittosporum spp.
Leaves, seeds or wood were steeped in hot water and drunk or used externally, for example for colds, coughs, eczema and cramps. Laboratory research points to antimicrobial compounds; clinical studies are lacking.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 486
Dipterocarpus indicus
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, diuretic, cleansing; for chronic bronchitis, gonorrhoea, leucorrhoea, vaginal discharge, leprosy and skin diseases.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 501
Garcinia morella
Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, expels worms, wound-healing; for oedema, absent menstruation, stubborn constipation, worms.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 451
Cannabis indica
Traditionally attributed effects: intoxicating, stomachic, antispasmodic, pain-relieving, stimulating, aphrodisiac, calming; sleep-inducing, for painful menstruation, itchy skin diseases, headache, mania, whooping cough, asthma, nervous vomiting.
CautionAsia · Herb · № 444
Boswellia serrata
Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, diuretic, aromatic, soothing, mildly laxative, cleansing, promotes menstruation; for chronic lung diseases, diarrhoea, dysentery, menstrual complaints, gonorrhoea, haemorrhoids, liver disorders.
CautionEurope · Herb · № 81
Juniperus communis
The berries are traditionally used as a diuretic, for digestive complaints and externally for joint pain. Clinical evidence is limited.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 981
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.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 870
Fabiana imbricata
A small shrub of the nightshade family that looks like a conifer. Traditionally for bladder and urinary complaints and for digestion; laboratory research points to a stomach-protecting effect.
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 822
Schinus molle
A tree with aromatic leaves and pink berries, used in cleansing rituals and as a folk remedy.
CautionCentral America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 167
Guaiacum officinale
The resin and wood were used for rheumatic complaints and gout; guaiac resin is still used in the guaiac test for blood in stool. There is no modern evidence for its classic uses.
CautionSouth America · Herb · № 1014
Polylepis (o.a. P. besseri en P. tarapacana)
Gnarled trees and shrubs of the rose family with reddish-brown bark that peels in thin layers and protects against the cold. Nothing has been studied about its effect in people.
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.
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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.