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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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43 results

  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 119

    Galangal

    Alpinia galanga

    A relative of ginger traditionally used for nausea, wind and sluggish digestion. Clinical evidence is limited.

    Ayurveda+6
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 38

    Cinnamon

    Cinnamomum verum

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

    Ayurveda+8Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 42

    Clove

    Syzygium aromaticum

    A spice. Clove oil containing eugenol may help with toothache; other claims are unproven.

    Ayurveda+5Folklore
  • Caution

    Africa · Other · № 28

    Myrrh

    Commiphora myrrha

    A gum resin with a long history in medicine, ritual, perfume, and incense. Modern treatment claims are not established.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+6Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 129

    Nutmeg

    Myristica fragrans

    A spice used in small amounts in Ayurveda and Arabic medicine for diarrhoea, nausea and insomnia. There is no good clinical evidence.

    Ayurveda+6Folklore
  • Caution

    Oceania · Herb · № 841

    Pituri

    Duboisia hopwoodii

    A shrub containing nicotine and related compounds; the dried leaves were chewed as a stimulant.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 135

    Black pepper and long pepper

    Piper nigrum

    Important warming spices in Ayurveda, used for sluggish digestion and colds. Piperine from pepper increases the absorption of some substances, such as curcumin.

    Ayurveda+5Folklore
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 812

    African potato

    Hypoxis hemerocallidea

    A corm widely traded as a tonic. The evidence for its effects is weak.

    Traditional healers of Southern Africa
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 160

    American ginseng

    Panax quinquefolius

    Chinese medicine regards it as more 'cooling' than Asian ginseng and uses it for fatigue and thirst. Some studies find a slight effect on post-meal blood sugar and colds; evidence is limited.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3
  • Caution

    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.

    Herbal knowledge of the Amazon+3
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 492

    Ayapana

    Eupatorium triplinerve

    Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, tonic, stimulates the heart, induces sweating, stops bleeding; bitter tonic for indigestion, cough and fever, against scurvy; cleanses foul ulcers.

    Herbal knowledge of the Amazon+1
  • 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

    Asia · Herb · № 123

    Bitter orange

    Citrus × aurantium

    The dried unripe fruit (zhi shi) and peel are used in Chinese medicine for bloating and sluggish digestion. NCCIH warns that weight-loss products containing bitter orange (synephrine) pose risks to the heart and blood pressure.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • 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

    Africa · Herb · № 287

    Calumba

    Jateorhiza palmata

    Traditionally attributed effects: bitter digestive tonic, carminative, lowers blood pressure.

    Local African healing traditions+1
  • Caution

    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.

    Chinese medical traditions+4
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 855

    Copaiba

    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.

    Herbal knowledge of the Amazon
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 779

    Cremastra (shan ci gu)

    Cremastra appendiculata (ook Pleione en Tulipa edulis)

    Traditionally attributed effects: externally for swollen glands, lumps, sores and abscesses.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 1

    Ginger

    Zingiber officinale

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

    Ayurveda+6Folklore
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 887

    Huamanripa

    Laccopetalum giganteum

    A giant buttercup with a rosette of thick leaves and large greenish-yellow flowers. Its compounds and effects have barely been studied.

    Curanderismo of northern Peru
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 914

    Huanarpo

    Corynaea crassa

    An unusual parasitic plant without chlorophyll that lives on the roots of trees and shrubs; only a club-shaped flower spike appears above ground. Little is known about its effect in people.

    Curanderismo of northern Peru
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 461

    Indian bay leaf

    Cinnamomum tamala

    Traditionally attributed effects: carminative, stimulating, diuretic and sudorific, decongestant, promotes milk flow; for lack of appetite, bladder complaints, dry mouth, colds, diarrhoea, nausea, indigestion, flatulence, vomiting.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 514

    Japanese morning glory

    Ipomoea nil

    Traditionally attributed effects: strongly laxative, expels worms; for constipation, substitute for jalap root.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 130

    Spikenard (jatamansi)

    Nardostachys jatamansi

    Used in Ayurveda as a calming remedy for insomnia and restlessness. There is mostly animal research; clinical evidence is lacking.

    Ayurveda+4
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 483

    Jivanti orchid

    Dendrobium macraei

    Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, soothing, tonic, cooling, lowers blood pressure; for weakness from seminal loss, snake bites and scorpion stings.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    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.

    Jamu in Indonesia+1Folklore
  • Caution

    South America · Food · № 32

    Maca

    Lepidium meyenii

    A root crop eaten as food. Claims about fertility and energy are unproven.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Other · № 771

    Oriental sweetgum (su he xiang)

    Liquidambar orientalis

    Traditionally attributed effects: the resin opens the sense orifices and relieves pain with a tight chest.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 241

    Patchouli

    Pogostemon cablin

    Traditionally attributed effects: inhibits sebum production, draws oil from the skin, fights acne bacteria; against dandruff.

    Chinese medical traditions+2Folklore
  • Caution

    Oceania · Herb · № 178

    Asthma weed

    Euphorbia hirta

    Traditionally used for asthma and bronchitis (the name asthma weed comes from Queensland), for diarrhoea and externally for warts. There is laboratory research but no good clinical evidence.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge+4
  • Caution

    North America · Food · № 936

    Ramps

    Allium tricoccum

    A wild leek with broad leaves and a small bulb, related to European wild garlic. Leaves and bulb taste of onion and garlic.

    Haudenosaunee medicine+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 568

    Rasna orchid

    Vanda roxburghii

    Traditionally attributed effects: pain-relieving, carminative, expectorant, strengthens the nerves, lowers blood pressure; oil for rheumatism and nervous diseases; for syphilis, scorpion stings, fever, middle ear infection, indigestion, bronchitis, inflammation, hiccups and trembling.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 900

    Sabadilla

    Schoenocaulon officinale

    A lily-like plant with highly poisonous seeds containing alkaloids such as veratridine and cevadine. Pharmacists around the world made louse treatments and insecticides from them.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 426

    Safed musli

    Asparagus adscendens

    Traditionally attributed effects: nourishing, tonic, promotes milk flow, soothing, cooling; for seminal loss, chronic leucorrhoea, diarrhoea, dysentery, general weakness, impotence.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 854

    Dragon's blood (sangre de drago)

    Croton lechleri

    A tree with a thick, blood-red sap. On the skin it dries quickly into a protective layer. Crofelemer, approved in the US since 2013 for diarrhoea in people with HIV, was developed from the sap.

    Herbal knowledge of the Amazon+1
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 117

    Senna

    Senna alexandrina

    Leaves and pods contain sennosides, a stimulant laxative that works for short-term constipation. It is used in modern over-the-counter laxatives.

    Ancient Egyptian medicine+5
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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