Herb Library

Stenochlaena palustris

Southeast Asian climbing fern eaten as vegetable and used in Malay and Dayak traditional medicine for fever, skin conditions, and wound healing. Young red fronds eaten as ulam (Malaysian herb salad). Rich in phenolics and antioxidants.

Stephania tetrandra

Traditional medicinal plant used for ache, arthrodynia, beri-beri, edema, hypertension, numbness.

Sterculia lychnophora

Used in TCM for sore throat, hoarseness, and dry cough. Moistens the throat, opens the lungs, and relieves constipation.

Sterculia setigera

West African tree producing gum (karaya gum) used in Senegalese and Malian traditional medicine for cough, dysentery, and wound healing. Gum used as bulk laxative and pharmaceutical excipient. Bark decoction for syphilis and tuberculosis.

Chaenactis stevioides

Native American medicinal plant used as heart medicine, pediatric aid. Documented among Nevada Indian.

Mentzelia sp.

Native American medicinal plant used as poultice. Documented among Miwok.

Geranium viscosissimum

Native American medicinal plant used as cold remedy, eye medicine, other, dermatological aid, gynecological aid, love medicine. Documented among Blackfoot, Sanpoil, Thompson.

Arctostaphylos viscida

Native American medicinal plant used as dietary aid, gastrointestinal aid. Documented among Miwok.

Thelesperma filifolium

Native American medicinal plant used as pediatric aid, tuberculosis remedy. Documented among Keres, Western.

Galium tinctorium

Native American medicinal plant used as pulmonary aid. Documented among Ojibwa.

Linum rigidum

Native American medicinal plant used as psychological aid. Documented among Keres, Western.

Ribes bracteosum

Native American medicinal plant used as venereal aid, dermatological aid, reproductive aid, laxative, cold remedy, pediatric aid. Documented among Bella Coola, Haisla, Nitinaht.

Pluchea foetida

Native American medicinal plant used as febrifuge. Documented among Choctaw.

Ailanthus altissima

Antidiarrheal herb used to treat dysentery and duodenal ulcers. Also used as an astringent and anthelmintic.

Anthemis cotula

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, anticonvulsive, antirheumatic (internal), dermatological aid, diaphoretic, emetic. Documented among Cherokee, Iroquois, Karok.

Lesquerella rectipes

Native American medicinal plant used as ceremonial medicine, eye medicine, respiratory aid, toothache remedy. Documented among Navajo, Ramah.

Viola striata

Native American medicinal plant used as witchcraft medicine. Documented among Iroquois.

Acer pensylvanicum

Native American medicinal plant used as respiratory aid, veterinary aid, emetic, laxative, orthopedic aid, antihemorrhagic. Documented among Abnaki, Algonquin, Quebec, Iroquois.

Desmodium incanum

Jamaican male vitality tonic for back pain, erectile dysfunction, and kidney complaints; root decoction is most common form.

Struchium sparganophorum

West African aquatic herb used in Yoruba (Nigeria) traditional medicine for malaria, fever, and headache. Leaves eaten as bitter vegetable. Related to bitterleaf (Vernonia) but aquatic habitat. Contains sesquiterpene lactones and flavonoids.

Abies lasiocarpa

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, ceremonial medicine, cold remedy, dermatological aid, emetic, febrifuge. Documented among Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Crow.

Erigeron peregrinus

Native American medicinal plant used as orthopedic aid, other, stimulant. Documented among Cheyenne.

Athyrium filix-femina

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

Citrus sudachi

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

Hemigraphis alternata

Siddha wound-healing leaf applied to cuts, bruises, and hemorrhoids; also used for kidney stones and urinary infections in Tamil folk practice.

Celtis laevigata

Native American medicinal plant used as throat aid, venereal aid. Documented among Houma.

Acer saccharum

Native American medicinal plant used as blood medicine, dermatological aid, eye medicine, pulmonary aid, cough medicine, expectorant. Documented among Iroquois, Mohegan, Potawatomi.

Pinus lambertiana

Native American medicinal plant used as carminative, eye medicine, laxative, pediatric aid, cathartic. Documented among Kawaiisu, Mendocino Indian, Miwok.

Rhus ovata

Native American medicinal plant used as cold remedy, cough medicine, analgesic, gynecological aid. Documented among Cahuilla, Coahuilla, Diegueno.

Eriogonum umbellatum

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

Eriogonum umbellatum

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, venereal aid, gastrointestinal aid, disinfectant, emetic, cold remedy. Documented among Kawaiisu, Mahuna, Navajo, Kayenta.

Rhus sp.

Native American medicinal plant used as abortifacient, analgesic, anthelmintic, anticonvulsive, carminative, cathartic. Documented among Iroquois, Winnebago.

Rhus glabra

Sumach is used for all excessive watery states where discharges need to be toned and healed. It tones the entire alimentary canal, heals internal ulcers, and helps regulate blood sugar.

Taxus sumatrana

A medicinal plant (Taxus sumatrana) from the Taxaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Corallorrhiza maculata

Native American medicinal plant used as basket medicine, hunting medicine, love medicine, tuberculosis remedy, veterinary aid, witchcraft medicine. Documented among Iroquois, Navajo, Kayenta, Nevada Indian.

Vitis aestivalis

Native American medicinal plant used as antidiarrheal, blood medicine, gastrointestinal aid, gynecological aid, liver aid, oral aid. Documented among Cherokee, Choctaw.

Satureja hortensis

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic. Documented among Cherokee.

Lupinus perennis

Native American medicinal plant used as antiemetic, antihemorrhagic, veterinary aid, witchcraft medicine. Documented among Cherokee, Menominee.

Flagellaria indica

Aboriginal vine medicine used for stomach cramps, headache, and topically for sores. The roots are crushed and soaked for internal use.

Solanum torvum

Traditional medicinal plant used for ache(tooth), antidote, arthritis, asthma, bladder, convulsion, cough, cracked feet, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Tylophora indica

Traditional medicinal plant used for anodyne, asthma, bronchitis, cathartic, diaphoretic, diarrhea, dysentery, emetic, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Persea palustris

Native American medicinal plant used as alterative, diaphoretic, febrifuge, kidney aid. Documented among Creek.

Rumex verticillatus

Native American medicinal plant used as misc. disease remedy. Documented among Choctaw.

Lonicera oblongifolia

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, gynecological aid, psychological aid, sedative, urinary aid. Documented among Iroquois.

Asclepias incarnata

Native American medicinal plant used as pediatric aid, strengthener, dermatological aid, diuretic, kidney aid, orthopedic aid. Documented among Chippewa, Iroquois, Meskwaki.

Rosa palustris

Native American medicinal plant used as anthelmintic, antidiarrheal. Documented among Cherokee.

Cyrtosperma chamissonis

A medicinal plant (Cyrtosperma chamissonis) from the Araceae family used in traditional medicine.

Quercus bicolor

Native American medicinal plant used as misc. disease remedy, orthopedic aid, respiratory aid, tuberculosis remedy, witchcraft medicine. Documented among Iroquois.