CautionAsia · Food · № 272
Apricot
Prunus armeniaca
Traditionally attributed effects: cough-suppressing, astringent, antibacterial, pain-relieving, diuretic, anti-inflammatory; wild cherry suppresses cough.
Chinese medical traditions+2
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.
GrapeFolk magic and herbal magic
BuchuLocal African healing traditions
Indian tobaccoCherokee medicine
Lignum vitaeHerbal knowledge of the Caribbean
Yerba mateKallawaya healing knowledge
- Caution
CautionAsia · Herb · № 303
Achyranthes root (huai niu xi)
Achyranthes bidentata
Traditionally attributed effects: promotes circulation, liver tonic, pain-relieving.
Chinese medical traditions+2
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 793
Actinolite (yang qi shi)
Actinolitum
Traditionally attributed effects: was used to strengthen kidney yang; actinolite is a form of asbestos.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · 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
CautionEurope · Herb · № 57
Agrimony
Agrimonia eupatoria
An astringent, tannin-rich herb traditionally used for diarrhoea, sore throats and minor wounds. Good human research is lacking.
Western herbal medicine+2
CautionAsia · Herb · № 705
Akebia stem (mu tong)
Akebia trifoliata (en A. quinata)
Traditionally attributed effects: drains heat via the urine in painful urination, mouth ulcers and restlessness; promotes milk flow.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionEurope · 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
CautionAsia · Herb · № 739
Cogon grass root (bai mao gen)
Imperata cylindrica
Traditionally attributed effects: cools the blood and stops bleeding; promotes urination and cools lung and stomach.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionAfrica · Herb · № 4
Aloe vera
Aloe vera
The gel from the leaf is used externally to soothe the skin and for minor burns. Research on wound healing gives mixed results; the gel is no substitute for wound care.
Kallawaya healing knowledge+6Folklore
CautionAsia · Herb · № 754
Sharp-leaf galangal fruit (yi zhi ren)
Alpinia oxyphylla
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang and holds in urine and semen; warms the spleen in diarrhoea and drooling.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 780
Alum (ming fan)
Alumen (kaliumaluminiumsulfaat)
Traditionally attributed effects: externally astringent and anti-itch; stanches bleeding.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 743
Sweetgum fruit (lu lu tong)
Liquidambar formosana
Traditionally attributed effects: lets qi and blood flow and opens the meridians.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionNorth 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
CautionNorth 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
CautionAsia · Herb · № 678
Amur cork tree bark (huang bai)
Phellodendron amurense
Traditionally attributed effects: drains damp heat from the lower body and cools heat from kidney yin deficiency.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionAsia · 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
CautionEurope · Herb · № 197
Carnation
Dianthus spp.
The clove pink has fragrant, edible petals. In Chinese medicine the related Dianthus superbus (qu mai) is used for bladder infections; no medicinal effect is described for the garden carnation.
Folk magic and herbal magic+1Folklore
CautionAsia · 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
CautionAsia · Herb · № 757
Flattened milkvetch seed (sha yuan zi)
Astragalus complanatus
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens kidney yang, holds in the essence and strengthens the eyesight.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Herb · № 36
Asian ginseng
Panax ginseng (ook P. quinquefolius)
Research consists mostly of small, short studies; there is little evidence of health effects.
Chinese medical traditions+3
CautionAsia · Herb · № 542
Babchi
Psoralea corylifolia
Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, expels worms, diuretic, induces sweating, antibacterial; for leprosy and leucoderma (vitiligo) internally and externally, bile complaints.
Ayurveda+1
CautionAsia · 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
CautionAsia · Herb · № 310
Balloon flower
Platycodon grandiflorus
Traditionally attributed effects: expectorant, antifungal, antibacterial, lowers blood sugar.
Chinese medical traditions+3
CautionAsia · 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
CautionAsia · Herb · № 293
Pubescent angelica (du huo)
Angelica pubescens
Traditionally attributed effects: antirheumatic, pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory.
Chinese medical traditions+2
CautionAsia · Herb · № 229
Benzoin
Styrax benzoin
Traditionally attributed effects: expectorant, astringent, antispasmodic.
Chinese medical traditions+3Folklore
CautionAsia · 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.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionEurope · Herb · № 67
Borage
Borago officinalis
The seed oil, rich in gamma-linolenic acid, has been studied for eczema and joint inflammation with mixed results. The leaf was traditionally used to reduce fever and as a tonic.
Western herbal medicine+2
CautionAsia · Herb · № 419
Areca nut
Areca catechu
Traditionally attributed effects: stimulating, astringent, expels tapeworm, laxative, carminative, aphrodisiac; against roundworms and tapeworms, strengthens the gums, for urinary complaints, heartburn during pregnancy, lumbago.
Ayurveda+2
CautionAsia · 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
CautionAsia · 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
CautionAsia · Herb · № 735
Bletilla rhizome (bai ji)
Bletilla striata
Traditionally attributed effects: stops bleeding in lung and stomach and promotes wound healing.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Food · № 284
Buckwheat
Fagopyrum esculentum
Traditionally attributed effects: lowers blood pressure, vasodilating, restores the vessel walls.
Chinese medical traditions+1
CautionAsia · Mineral · № 781
Borax (peng sha)
Borax (natriumtetraboraat)
Traditionally attributed effects: externally for small ulcers in mouth, throat and vagina and for athlete's foot.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · Other · № 770
Borneol (bing pian)
Dryobalanops aromatica (borneol)
Traditionally attributed effects: opens the sense orifices, cools heat and relieves pain; mainly external.
Chinese medical traditions
CautionAsia · 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
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.
Read moreFrom 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.
113 recipes
Recipes
Soups, teas and dishes in which herbs play a leading role.
146 formulas
Chinese formulas
The classical Chinese formulas, also listed by condition.