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

Also found

Chinese formulas: Shu jing huo xue tang Du huo ji sheng tang Juan bi tang Fang ji huang qi tang

Caution
South America · Herb · № 896
Altamisa
Ambrosia peruviana
An aromatic, hairy ragweed. In its native range it is used as a painkilling, anti-inflammatory, deworming and antiseptic remedy; good research is lacking.
Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
Caution
North America · Herb · № 951
American spikenard
Aralia racemosa
A tall perennial of the ivy family, related to ginseng, with a thick, aromatic root. Little studied.
Haudenosaunee medicine+1
Caution
South America · Herb · № 1003
Calaguala
Campyloneurum angustifolium (en verwante varens, o.a. Polypodium)
A narrow-leaved fern that grows on trees and rocks. The rhizome has been traded as a medicine for centuries; good research on its effect in people is lacking.
Kallawaya healing knowledge
Caution
South America · Herb · № 1002
Chachacomo
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.
Kallawaya healing knowledge
Caution
South America · Herb · № 890
Chilca
Baccharis latifolia (en verwante soorten, o.a. B. pentlandii)
A fast-growing, densely branched shrub with glossy, sticky leaves. Little is known from research about its effect in people.
Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
Caution
South America · Herb · № 917
Chuchuhuasi
Maytenus macrocarpa (syn. Monteverdia macrocarpa); in Noord-Peru ook Heisteria acuminata
A large tree with thick, reddish-brown bark. The bark contains triterpenes and sesquiterpenes, among other compounds; extracts were anti-inflammatory in experiments. Studies in people are lacking.
Curanderismo of northern Peru
Caution
North America · Herb · № 995
Devil's walking stick
Aralia spinosa
A shrub or small tree of the ivy family, related to American spikenard, with very prickly stems, huge doubly pinnate leaves and in late summer large sprays of small white flowers with purple berries. The fresh root is sharp and emetic.
Cherokee medicine
Caution
South America · Herb · № 860
Peumo
Cryptocarya alba
An evergreen tree of the laurel family with fragrant leaves and edible red fruits. Traditionally for liver and joint complaints; research is lacking.
Mapuche medicine
Caution
North America · Herb · № 941
Purple-stem angelica
Angelica atropurpurea
A tall umbellifer with a purple stem, related to European garden angelica. Contains essential oil and furanocoumarins, which make the skin sensitive to sunlight.
Haudenosaunee medicine
Caution
South America · Herb · № 1012
Roq'e
Colletia spinosissima
A thorny shrub with green thorns set crosswise and hardly any leaves. It lives together with nitrogen-fixing Frankia bacteria. The bark contains saponins; little has been studied about its effect in people.
Kallawaya healing knowledge
Caution
North America · Herb · № 953
Stoneroot
Collinsonia canadensis
A perennial of the mint family with lemon-scented leaves and a very hard, knobbly root. Eclectic physicians used it for piles and varicose veins; research is lacking.
Haudenosaunee medicine+1
Caution
South America · Food · № 1011
Tarwi
Lupinus mutabilis
A lupin with white to purple flowers and protein-rich, oily beans. The raw beans are bitter from lupin alkaloids, which are removed by days of soaking and rinsing.
Kallawaya healing knowledge
Caution
South America · Herb · № 893
Yareta
Azorella compacta (en verwante soorten)
An evergreen cushion plant that grows over the ground like a green boulder. It grows about one and a half centimetres a year; some plants are estimated to be over 3,000 years old. The plant contains a sticky resin.
Kallawaya healing knowledge
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 418
Agarwood
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.
Ayurveda+3
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 523
Corn mint
Mentha arvensis
Traditionally attributed effects: aromatic, carminative, stimulating, antispasmodic, promotes menstruation, antiseptic, stomachic, cooling, diuretic; leaf juice for diarrhoea and dysentery, tea for rheumatism and indigestion.
Ayurveda+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 405
Sage-leaved alangium
Alangium salviifolium
Traditionally attributed effects: expels worms, laxative, emetic, diuretic; antidote in poisoning, for diarrhoea, leprosy and skin diseases, dog bites, worms, acute rheumatism.
Ayurveda
Caution
South America · Food · № 916
Algarrobo (Peruvian mesquite)
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.
Curanderismo of northern Peru
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 550
Ashoka tree
Saraca indica
Traditionally attributed effects: strongly astringent, calms the uterus; for uterine disorders, especially heavy menstruation, internal bleeding, haemorrhoids, bloody dysentery; root aphrodisiac and tonic, for cough, asthma, rheumatism, skin diseases, indigestion.
Ayurveda
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 17
Ashwagandha
Withania somnifera
An Ayurvedic medicinal plant. Some preparations have been studied for stress and sleep, but evidence is limited and products vary.
Ayurveda+2
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 552
Country mallow
Sida cordifolia
Traditionally attributed effects: cooling, astringent, stomachic, tonic, fever-reducing, soothing, diuretic; contains an ephedrine-like substance.
Ayurveda
Caution
North America · Herb · № 574
Balsam poplar
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.
Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 496
Banyan
Ficus benghalensis
Traditionally attributed effects: antiseptic, aphrodisiac, astringent, cooling, stops bleeding, lowers blood sugar; leaves for diarrhoea and dysentery; milky sap externally for pain, bruises, ulcers, rheumatism, lumbago; bark for diabetes, gonorrhoea.
Ayurveda
Caution
Africa · Herb · № 413
Pellitory root
Anacyclus pyrethrum
Traditionally attributed effects: promotes salivation, strengthens the nerves; for toothache and caries, sore throat, tonsillitis, epilepsy, rheumatism.
Ayurveda+3
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 354
Bhringraj
Eclipta prostrata
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the liver, decongestant, tonic, cleansing, antiviral; for enlarged liver and spleen, skin diseases, fever, oedema, rheumatism; hair oil for black and full hair; for swollen glands, elephantiasis, headache and toothache.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 563
Bibhitaki
Terminalia bellerica
Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, tonic, expectorant, laxative (unripe fruit), cleansing.
Ayurveda+2
Caution
Europe · Herb · № 278
Bitter candytuft
Iberis amara
Traditionally attributed effects: antispasmodic, relaxing, strengthens the digestive tract, carminative; traditionally for gout and rheumatism.
Western herbal medicine
Caution
Europe · Other · № 74
Bladderwrack
Fucus vesiculosus
A brown seaweed rich in iodine; formerly used for an underactive thyroid and for weight loss. Weight-loss claims are unproven.
Western herbal medicine
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 557
Nux vomica
Strychnos nux-vomica
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens the nerves, stomachic, tonic, aphrodisiac, stimulates the spinal cord, breathing and heart.
Ayurveda+1
Caution
Europe · Food · № 48
Stinging nettle
Urtica dioica
A food and fiber plant with a long tradition in folk medicine. Medical claims are not established.
Monastic and folk knowledge+3Folklore
Caution
North America · Herb · № 931
Eastern hemlock
Tsuga canadensis
An evergreen conifer with short, flat needles. The bark is rich in tannins and was once used to tan leather. Medicinal effects have not been studied.
Haudenosaunee medicine+1
Caution
Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 161
Cayenne pepper
Capsicum frutescens
Capsaicin from chilli peppers is used externally for nerve pain and joint pain; high-dose capsaicin patches are an approved medicine. Internally it is mainly a warming spice.
Maya healing knowledge+6Folklore
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 525
Champak
Michelia champaca
Traditionally attributed effects: decongestant, cleansing, stomachic, tonic, laxative, carminative; for gastritis, chronic rheumatism, abscesses, fever, indigestion, nausea, kidney diseases, gonorrhoea; flower oil for headache, eye inflammation and gout.
Ayurveda
Caution
South America · Herb · № 894
Chinchircuma
Mutisia acuminata
A climbing shrub with tendrils and striking orange-red flowers. Quercetin and arbutin are among the compounds found in it; its effect in people has not been studied.
Kallawaya healing knowledge
Caution
Asia · Food · № 572
Chinese jujube
Zizyphus vulgaris
Traditionally attributed effects: diuretic, lowers blood sugar, soothing, soothing to the chest.
Ayurveda+3
Caution
Asia · Herb · № 660
Chinese lovage root (gao ben)
Ligusticum sinense
Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind-cold and relieves above all headache at the crown, toothache and rheumatic pain.
Chinese medical traditions
Caution
South America · Herb · № 926
Chiricaspi
Brunfelsia grandiflora
A shrub of the nightshade family up to three metres tall, with fragrant flowers that fade from purple to white. Contains scopoletin, among others, and compounds that cause convulsions in animals. Gives a feeling of cold and tingling, and in larger amounts dizziness and paralysis.
Herbal knowledge of the Amazon+1

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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