Herbal knowledge and the cultures that passed it on

Europe · Mineral · № 9

Epsom salt

Magnesium sulphate. In sufficient amounts it acts as a laxative because it holds water in the bowel. In a bath it is used to relax muscles; that magnesium is absorbed through the skin has not been shown.

Asia · Mineral · № 698

Glauber's salt (mang xiao)

Mirabilitum (natriumsulfaat)

Traditionally attributed effects: softens the stool in constipation from heat and dryness.

Asia · Mineral · № 793

Actinolite (yang qi shi)

Actinolitum

Traditionally attributed effects: was used to strengthen kidney yang; actinolite is a form of asbestos.

Asia · Food · № 223

Almond

Prunus dulcis

Traditionally attributed effects: sweet almond soothing, stimulating, nourishing, strengthens the nerves; bitter almond soothing, laxative, calming in cough.

South America · Herb · № 901

Ayahuasca

Banisteriopsis caapi

A giant liana up to thirty metres long. The stem contains harmine, harmaline and tetrahydroharmine, which inhibit the enzyme MAO. This makes the DMT from plants such as chacruna active by mouth. The drink brings visions, and usually vomiting and diarrhoea, which the tradition regards as cleansing.

Asia · Herb · № 431

Porcupine flower

Barleria prionitis

Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, diuretic, tonic, fever-reducing; catarrh in children, prevents cracked feet, bleeding gums, toothache, ear infection, oedema, whooping cough, snake bites.

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.

Asia · Mineral · № 781

Borax (peng sha)

Borax (natriumtetraboraat)

Traditionally attributed effects: externally for small ulcers in mouth, throat and vagina and for athlete's foot.

Asia · Mineral · № 783

Calcite (han shui shi)

Calcitum (calciumcarbonaat)

Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat in fever with thirst and summer heat; externally on hot small ulcers and burns.

Asia · Herb · № 714

Chinese clematis root (wei ling xian)

Clematis chinensis

Traditionally attributed effects: expels wind and dampness and moves the qi in pain anywhere in the body.

Asia · Herb · № 137

Chinese rhubarb

Rheum palmatum

The root (da huang) contains anthraquinones, making it a strong laxative. In small amounts its tannins have the opposite, binding effect. Its mechanism is well understood.

Asia · Herb · № 760

Cistanche (rou cong rong)

Cistanche deserticola

Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang, moistens the bowel and warms the uterus.

Asia · Herb · № 761

Dendrobium (shi hu)

Dendrobium nobile (en verwante soorten)

Traditionally attributed effects: nourishes the yin of lung and stomach, replenishes body fluids and cools heat from deficiency.

Asia · Other · № 744

Dragon's blood (xue jie)

Daemonorops draco (ook Dracaena cochinchinensis)

Traditionally attributed effects: stops bleeding, resolves blood stagnation and promotes wound healing.

Europe · Food · № 245

Grape

Vitis vinifera

Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, laxative, cooling, stomachic, diuretic; for bilious indigestion, bleeding, painful urination, chronic bronchitis, heart disease, gout; juice for constipation in children.

Europe · Other · № 377

Dulse

Palmaria palmata

A red seaweed with protein, iodine and minerals. It is eaten as food and worked into scrubs; a medicinal effect has not been shown.

Europe · Mushroom · № 115

Penny bun (porcini)

Boletus edulis, Cantharellus cibarius, Morchella esculenta, Pleurotus ostreatus

A prized edible mushroom with protein, fibre and minerals. Medicinal claims are unproven.

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.

Asia · Herb · № 1

Ginger

Zingiber officinale

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

Europe · Herb · № 60

Garden angelica

Angelica archangelica

An aromatic bitter traditionally used for bloating, poor appetite and colds. Clinical evidence is limited.

Europe · Food · № 66

Oats

Avena sativa

Oat flakes provide beta-glucan, a fibre that according to approved health claims can help maintain normal cholesterol. Oatmeal is also used in baths for dry, itchy skin. Its traditional role as a nerve tonic is unproven.

South America · Herb · № 983

Iochroma

Iochroma fuchsioides

A shrub of the nightshade family with clusters of tubular orange-red flowers. Withanolides, substances also found in ashwagandha, have been isolated from it. Why the plant acts as an intoxicant has not been explained.

Asia · Food · № 764

Japanese apricot (wu mei)

Prunus mume

Traditionally attributed effects: astringent in chronic cough and diarrhoea, replenishes body fluids and was used against worms.

Asia · Food · № 38

Cinnamon

Cinnamomum verum

A spice made from inner bark. Research on health effects is preliminary; cinnamon is not a treatment.

Europe · Other · № 382

Kelp

Laminaria spp. / Ascophyllum nodosum

Brown seaweeds are rich in iodine and alginate. They are used in scrubs and as food supplements; too much iodine can disrupt the thyroid.

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.

Oceania · Herb · № 842

Kukui (candlenut)

Aleurites moluccanus

A tree whose oil cares for the skin; the nuts are laxative.

Asia · Food · № 238

Lime

Citrus aurantiifolia

A sour citrus fruit rich in vitamin C. The juice was given against scurvy and is used in Asia with honey or salt for coughs and sore throat.

Asia · Herb · № 516

Indian laurel

Litsea glutinosa

Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, astringent, softens the skin, aphrodisiac, antispasmodic; for diarrhoea and dysentery; externally for bruises, sprains, rheumatic and gouty joints, scorpion stings, fractures.

Asia · Food · № 131

Sacred lotus

Nelumbo nucifera

Almost every part is used: seeds for diarrhoea and restlessness, rhizome as food, leaf for 'summer heat'. Scientific evidence is mostly laboratory research.

Asia · Herb · № 693

Blackberry lily (she gan)

Iris domestica (syn. Belamcanda chinensis)

Traditionally attributed effects: cools heat and detoxifies in severe sore throat and cough with much hot phlegm.

Asia · Mineral · № 795

Magnetite (ci shi)

Magnetitum (ijzeroxide)

Traditionally attributed effects: calms the mind and rising liver yang and helps the kidneys hold the lung energy.

Europe · Herb · № 3

Mint

Mentha × piperita

Peppermint oil has been studied in irritable bowel syndrome and may reduce abdominal pain. The tea is used for a full stomach and nausea. With heartburn peppermint can make complaints worse.

South America · Herb · № 865

Nalca (Chilean rhubarb)

Gunnera tinctoria

A giant plant with leaves up to two metres across. The peeled stalks are edible; root and stalks are rich in tannins.

South America · Herb · № 1009

Pinku pinku

Ephedra americana

A leafless shrub with green, jointed stems, related to the Chinese ma huang. Ephedra species contain ephedrine, which widens the airways but also raises heart rate and blood pressure; how much this species contains has been little studied.

Asia · Food · № 689

Purslane (ma chi xian)

Portulaca oleracea

Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood in dysentery and painful urination; externally for ulcers and insect bites.