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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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137 results

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Chinese formulas
Qi li san
Treatment by condition
Injuries, wounds, burns and cuts
  • Caution

    Europe · 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
  • Caution

    Central America and the Caribbean · Herb · № 374

    Amaranth

    Amaranthus spp.

    Traditionally attributed effects: flowers, leaf and root strongly antiseptic; wound healing.

    Folk magic and herbal magicFolklore
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 992

    American sweetgum

    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.

    Cherokee medicine
  • 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 · № 866

    Monkey puzzle (pehuén)

    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.

    Mapuche medicine
  • Caution

    Europe · Other · № 597

    Usnea

    Usnea barbata

    Traditionally attributed effects: antimicrobial, antifungal, immunomodulating, soothing, laxative, nourishing; against streptococci (sore throat), staphylococci, cellulitis and infected wounds, antiviral (HPV), yeast infections.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 573

    Balsam fir

    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.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+3
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 439

    Blepharis

    Blepharis edulis

    Traditionally attributed effects: resolvent, diuretic, aphrodisiac, expectorant; for impotence, blood, chest, lung and liver diseases; leaves for fever, urinary discharge, leucoderma; root regulates menstruation.

    Ayurveda+1
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 735

    Bletilla rhizome (bai ji)

    Bletilla striata

    Traditionally attributed effects: stops bleeding in lung and stomach and promotes wound healing.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 582

    Canadian goldenrod

    Solidago canadensis

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing; heals the bladder wall (incontinence, irritation), for allergies and stuck mucus after a cold, eyewash for hay fever.

    Indigenous healing traditions of North America+2
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 852

    Canelo (Winter's bark)

    Drimys winteri

    A tree with a peppery, bitter bark. As Winter's bark it was a remedy for scurvy for centuries; otherwise its effects are little studied.

    Mapuche medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 396

    Catechu

    Acacia catechu

    Traditionally attributed effects: strongly astringent; for chronic diarrhoea and dysentery, bleeding haemorrhoids, uterine bleeding, leucorrhoea; bleeding or inflamed gums, mouth ulcers, enlarged tonsils; bedsores; promotes milk flow.

    Ayurveda+2
  • 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 · Herb · № 790

    Diverse wormwood (liu ji nu)

    Artemisia anomala

    Traditionally attributed effects: lets the blood flow, promotes menstruation and relieves pain from injury.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    North America · Herb · № 579

    Chaparral

    Larrea divaricata

    Traditionally attributed effects: astringent, stimulating, cleansing, diuretic; detoxifies the liver and body, anti-inflammatory, for arthritis, strengthens bladder and kidneys, externally for haemorrhoids, boils, bedsores and bruises.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 856

    Culén

    Grimolobium glandulosum (syn. Otholobium glandulosum, Psoralea glandulosa)

    A shrub of the pea family with glandular, fragrant leaves. Traditionally used for digestive complaints, diarrhoea and on wounds; good research is lacking.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge+1
  • Caution

    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.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 56

    Yarrow

    Achillea millefolium

    Traditionally used to stop bleeding from minor wounds, for fevers and colds, and as a digestive bitter. Clinical evidence is limited.

    Greco-Roman medicine+6Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 111

    European goldenrod

    Solidago virgaurea

    In Europe it is used to flush the urinary tract in mild complaints and is listed in European herbal monographs as a traditional remedy. Clinical evidence is limited.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 433

    Yellow bauhinia

    Bauhinia tomentosa

    Traditionally attributed effects: against dysentery, expels worms; fruit diuretic; seeds tonic and aphrodisiac; for hepatitis, dysentery, tumours and wounds, snake bites.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 88

    Self-heal

    Prunella vulgaris

    In Europe an old wound herb and gargle for sore throats; in Chinese medicine used for 'heat' and swollen glands. Research is mostly laboratory work.

    Western herbal medicine+2
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 505

    Gulsakri

    Grewia hirsuta

    Traditionally attributed effects: fever-reducing, diuretic, expectorant, antiviral; fruit for diarrhoea and dysentery, wound healing, heart disease, seminal loss and leucorrhoea.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Oceania · Herb · № 845

    Harakeke (New Zealand flax)

    Phormium tenax

    The gel-like sap from the leaf base is traditionally applied to wounds, burns, ulcers and grazes; the root was regarded as laxative and worm-expelling. Scientific evidence is limited.

    Rongoā Māori
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 438

    Himalayan birch

    Betula utilis

    Traditionally attributed effects: antiseptic, carminative; for washing wounds and ulcers, skin diseases, hysteria.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 501

    Indian gamboge

    Garcinia morella

    Traditionally attributed effects: laxative, expels worms, wound-healing; for oedema, absent menstruation, stubborn constipation, worms.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    Africa · Herb · № 504

    Levant cotton

    Gossypium herbaceum

    Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, laxative, expectorant, aphrodisiac, promotes milk flow, promotes menstruation; seeds for intermittent fever and dysentery; oil for rheumatism, freckles, herpes, scabies, wounds, nerve pain; compress on bruises and burns.

    Ayurveda
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 925

    Jurema

    Mimosa tenuiflora (syn. Mimosa hostilis)

    A thorny tree or shrub of the pea family with feathery leaves and white, fragrant flower spikes. The root bark contains much DMT. Taken by mouth, DMT normally does not work without an MAO inhibitor; why the jurema drink is still said to work is not clear.

  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 1007

    Kiswara

    Buddleja coriacea (en verwante Andes-soorten)

    A tough shrub or tree with small, leathery leaves, rusty-brown underneath, and fragrant orange-yellow flowers. Little has been studied about its effect in people.

    Kallawaya healing knowledge
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 883

    Manayupa

    Desmodium molliculum

    A low plant of the pea family. Traditionally used for inflammation and wounds; research is limited.

    Curanderismo of northern Peru
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 851

    Maqui

    Aristotelia chilensis

    A shrub with dark purple berries rich in anthocyanins. The leaf was traditionally used for wounds and sore throats. Health claims for 'superfood' products are unproven.

    Mapuche medicine
  • Caution

    South America · Herb · № 853

    Matico

    Buddleja globosa

    A shrub with orange, ball-shaped flowers. The leaf contains anti-inflammatory compounds such as verbascoside; clinical research on wound healing is lacking.

    Mapuche medicine
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 335

    Marsh woundwort

    Stachys palustris

    Traditionally attributed effects: antiseptic, antispasmodic, wound-healing.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 527

    Moringa

    Moringa oleifera

    Traditionally attributed effects: antispasmodic, stimulating, expectorant, diuretic, dissolves stones; leaves for scurvy and catarrh, flatulence in children, wounds and swellings; bark stimulates the heart in asthma and cough.

    Ayurveda+2
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 314

    Mouse-ear hawkweed

    Pilosella officinarum (syn. Hieracium pilosella)

    Traditionally attributed effects: antispasmodic, expectorant, anticatarrhal, diuretic, wound-healing.

    Western herbal medicine
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 638

    Notoginseng (san qi)

    Panax notoginseng

    Traditionally attributed effects: purifies the blood and improves circulation, stops bleeding, soothes pain and helps bruises and swellings recover.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 421

    Elephant creeper

    Argyreia speciosa

    Traditionally attributed effects: cleansing, aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, tonic, soothing; for elephantiasis, arthritis, rheumatic swelling, overweight, skin diseases, boils, ear infection.

    Ayurveda
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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