Herb Library

Cryptantha fendleri

Native American medicinal plant used as cough medicine. Documented among Navajo, Ramah.

Ipomopsis gunnisonii

Native American medicinal plant used as blood medicine, dermatological aid. Documented among Navajo, Kayenta.

Erysimum capitatum

Native American medicinal plant used as tuberculosis remedy, analgesic, ceremonial medicine, emetic, gynecological aid, respiratory aid. Documented among Hopi, Navajo, Ramah, Zuni.

Thysanocarpus curvipes

Native American medicinal plant used as gastrointestinal aid. Documented among Mendocino Indian.

Gilia leptomeria

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, sedative, tonic. Documented among Navajo, Kayenta.

Vitis rupestris

Native American medicinal plant used as reproductive aid, strengthener, tonic. Documented among Delaware, Delaware, Oklahoma.

Carya pallida

Native American medicinal plant used as abortifacient, analgesic, cold remedy, dermatological aid, diaphoretic, emetic. Documented among Cherokee.

Eriodictyon trichocalyx

Native American medicinal plant used as cold remedy, cough medicine. Documented among Diegueno.

Leiophyllum buxifolium

Native American medicinal plant used as tonic. Documented among Nanticoke.

Reverchonia arenaria

Native American medicinal plant used as gynecological aid, veterinary aid. Documented among Hopi, Navajo, Kayenta.

Artemisia filifolia

Native American medicinal plant used as gynecological aid, dermatological aid, gastrointestinal aid, snake bite remedy, carminative. Documented among Comanche, Hopi, Navajo, Ramah.

Eleocharis montevidensis

Native American medicinal plant used as ceremonial medicine, emetic. Documented among Navajo, Ramah.

Astragalus sesquiflorus

Native American medicinal plant used as ceremonial medicine, dermatological aid, emetic. Documented among Navajo, Kayenta.

Arenaria sp.

Native American medicinal plant used as cathartic, gastrointestinal aid. Documented among Yavapai.

Calcium silicate mineral

Unani mineral medicine (purified talc/steatite) used for urinary burning, kidney heat, and as a cooling agent. Processed through traditional purification methods.

Flemingia macrophylla

Philippine folk remedy for stomach ache, fever, and as a postpartum bath; root decoction for epilepsy in some communities.

Sanicula europaea

Medieval wound herb — "He who keeps sanicle has no need of a physician." Astringent and vulnerary for wounds, hemorrhage, and diarrhea. Also used for coughs and sore throats. Not well-studied but long traditional use.

Gutierrezia californica

Native American medicinal plant used as orthopedic aid. Documented among Kawaiisu.

Smilax glabra

Kampo herb for joint pain, turbid urination, mercury detoxification (historical), and syphilis. Also used for skin conditions and chronic inflammatory disorders.

Cimicifuga japonica

A medicinal plant (Cimicifuga japonica) from the Ranunculaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Licania platypus

A medicinal plant (Licania platypus) from the Chrysobalanaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Zanthoxylum piperitum

Kampo warming herb used for abdominal cold pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and intestinal parasites. The numbing peel is a key Japanese culinary spice and digestive aid.

Tagetes lucida

Has antifungal, antibacterial, antidepressant, antioxidant, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Used to treat diarrhea, abdominal pains, respiratory infections, rheumatism, and inflammatory skin diseases. Also has psychoactive properties used to relax nerves and enhance dreams.

Pothomorphe sp.

A medicinal plant (Pothomorphe sp.) from the Piperaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Chaenactis santolinoides

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, orthopedic aid. Documented among Kawaiisu.

Sapium ellipticum

East and Central African tree used in Rwandan, Kenyan, and Congolese traditional medicine for stomach complaints, malaria, and wound healing. Latex applied to warts. Bark decoction for cough and fever. Contains diterpenes and phorbol esters.

Eryngium carlinae

Has hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Used in traditional medicine to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood and arteries, and to treat gallstones and kidney stones.

Caesalpinia sappan

Activates blood flow, removes blood stasis, and reduces swelling. Contains brasilin with activity against human cancer cells.

Smilax ornata

A traditional Central American herb used as a blood purifier and tonic. Popular in early American root beers.

Amelanchier alnifolia

Native American medicinal plant used as cathartic, ear medicine, eye medicine, gastrointestinal aid, laxative, pediatric aid. Documented among Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Cree, Woodlands.

Chrysophyllum oliviforme

Native American medicinal plant used as love medicine. Documented among Seminole.

Citrus unshiu

A medicinal plant (Citrus unshiu) from the Rutaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Simaba morettii

A medicinal plant (Simaba morettii) from the Simaroubaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Ludwigia virgata

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid. Documented among Seminole.

Lycopodium sabinifolium

Native American medicinal plant used as venereal aid. Documented among Iroquois.

Satureja montana

A culinary herb with antimicrobial properties. Used for digestive support, respiratory comfort, and as a warming tonic. Oil is very potent.

Smilax bona-nox

Native American medicinal plant used as tonic, other, urinary aid. Documented among Choctaw, Creek, Houma.

Rubus argutus

Native American medicinal plant used as antidiarrheal, antirheumatic (internal), dermatological aid, hemorrhoid remedy, oral aid, stimulant. Documented among Cherokee.

Hazardia squarrosa

Native American medicinal plant used as antirheumatic (external). Documented among Diegueno.

Helianthus grosseserratus

Native American medicinal plant used as burn dressing. Documented among Meskwaki.

Penstemon deustus

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, eye medicine, gastrointestinal aid, pediatric aid, analgesic, antirheumatic (internal). Documented among Paiute, Paiute, Northern, Shoshoni.

Cuscuta gronovii

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid. Documented among Cherokee.

Gaura coccinea

Native American medicinal plant used as antiemetic, panacea, pediatric aid. Documented among Navajo, Ramah.

Penstemon centranthifolius

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, disinfectant. Documented among Costanoan.

Hamelia patens

Traditional medicinal plant used for ache(head), cancer, diarrhea, dysentery, erysipelas, fever, jaundice, malaria, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Sambucus racemosa

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, cathartic, emetic, gastrointestinal aid, witchcraft medicine, antirheumatic (external). Documented among Bella Coola, Carrier, Northern, Carrier, Southern.

Mirabilis coccinea

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, venereal aid. Documented among Hopi, Yavapai.

Sphaeralcea coccinea

Native American medicinal plant used as ceremonial medicine, dermatological aid, dietary aid, disinfectant, other, strengthener. Documented among Cheyenne, Lakota, Navajo, Kayenta.