Herb Library

Lepechinia schiediana

A medicinal plant (Lepechinia schiediana) from the Lamiaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Schinopsis brasiliensis

Brazilian caatinga tree with extremely hard, dense wood. Bark decoction used in northeastern Brazilian folk medicine for wound healing, diarrhea, and inflammation. Very high tannin content (up to 30%). Endangered hardwood species.

Schizonepeta tenuifolia

Used in TCM for diaphoresis, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic effects. Also has antidiabetic and anticonvulsive properties.

Schwenckia americana

West African and South American herb used in Yoruba traditional medicine (Nigeria) as sedative, for insomnia, and convulsions in children. Whole plant decoction for epilepsy. Contains withanolides. One of the lesser-known Solanaceae medicinals.

Sclerocarya birrea (bark)

Southern African marula tree bark (distinct from the fruit/oil) used in Zulu, Venda, and Tswana medicine for malaria, dysentery, and diarrhea. Contains procyanidins and gallotannins. Bark decoction is astringent and antimicrobial. Important ethnoveterinary medicine.

Scopolia carniolica

Traditional medicinal plant used for anodyne, antispasmodic, diuretic, hypnotic, mydriatic, narcotic, poison, sedative.

Onopordum acanthium

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

Pinus sylvestris

Pine needles are rich in vitamin C and have been used in European folk medicine for respiratory support, circulation, and as a winter tonic.

Silene scouleri

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, emetic, gastrointestinal aid, veterinary aid. Documented among Gosiute.

Hypericum scouleri

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, dermatological aid, orthopedic aid, toothache remedy, venereal aid. Documented among Paiute, Shoshoni.

Salix scouleriana

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, gynecological aid, hemostat, orthopedic aid, pediatric aid, antidiarrheal. Documented among Bella Coola, Okanagan-Colville, Sanpoil.

Equisetum hyemale

Native American medicinal plant used as veterinary aid, kidney aid, urinary aid, laxative, disinfectant, abortifacient. Documented among Blackfoot, Carrier, Cherokee.

Corydalis aurea

Native American medicinal plant used as antidiarrheal, dermatological aid, disinfectant, gynecological aid, veterinary aid, stimulant. Documented among Navajo, Kayenta, Ojibwa.

Prosopis pubescens

Native American medicinal plant used as ear medicine, eye medicine, dermatological aid, gynecological aid. Documented among Apache, Mescalero, Apache, Western, Paiute.

Dichanthelium oligosanthes

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

Hibiscus tiliaceus

Native American medicinal plant used as gynecological aid, laxative, pediatric aid, pulmonary aid, throat aid. Documented among Hawaiian.

Rhytidophyllum tomentosum

Jamaican bush tea for colds, chest congestion, stomach pain, and menstrual disorders; endemic to Jamaica.

Eriogonum latifolium

Native American medicinal plant used as cold remedy, cough medicine, analgesic, eye medicine, gastrointestinal aid, gynecological aid. Documented among Costanoan, Round Valley Indian.

Securidaca longipedunculata

Widespread African medicinal tree used in traditional medicine for snakebite, coughs, chest complaints, inflammatory conditions, and as a purgative. The root bark is highly valued but contains toxic saponins requiring careful dosing.

Polygala senega

Traditional medicinal plant used for alterative, asthma, bite(snake), bronchitis, cancer, diuretic, emetic, expectorant, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Pyrus sp.

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, misc. disease remedy, pulmonary aid. Documented among Cree, Hudson Bay.

Atriplex confertifolia

Native American medicinal plant used as anticonvulsive, veterinary aid, antirheumatic (external), cold remedy. Documented among Hopi, Navajo, Paiute, Northern.

Carya ovata

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, herbal steam, gynecological aid, tonic, anthelmintic, antirheumatic (external). Documented among Chippewa, Delaware, Ontario, Iroquois.

Hepatica nobilis

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, breast treatment, emetic, gastrointestinal aid, laxative, liver aid. Documented among Cherokee, Iroquois, Menominee.

Carya laciniosa

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

Lycopodium lucidulum

A medicinal plant (Lycopodium lucidulum) from the Lycopodiaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Desmodium canadense

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

Dasiphora floribunda

Native American medicinal plant used as ceremonial medicine, other, poison, gynecological aid. Documented among Cheyenne, Tanana, Upper.

Sophora pachycarpa

A medicinal plant (Sophora pachycarpa) from the Fabaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Rhus coriaria

Traditional medicinal plant used for astringent, cancer(breast), cancer(uterus), catarrh, diarrhea, dysentery, gargle, hemostat, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Thymus capitatus

Traditional medicinal plant used for pertussis, spice.

Senna obtusifolia

A medicinal plant (Senna obtusifolia) from the Fabaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Arabis sparsiflora

Native American medicinal plant used as antidiarrheal, contraceptive, eye medicine, gastrointestinal aid. Documented among Okanagan-Colville.

Cassia tora

Traditional medicinal plant used for ache(ear), ache(head), bactericide, bite(bug), bite(snake), cathartic, cheloid, coffee, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Stylosanthes biflora

Native American medicinal plant used as abortifacient, gynecological aid. Documented among Cherokee.

Cryptantha sericea

Native American medicinal plant used as gastrointestinal aid. Documented among Ute.

Dalea villosa

Native American medicinal plant used as cathartic, throat aid. Documented among Lakota.

Phacelia hastata

Native American medicinal plant used as gynecological aid. Documented among Thompson.

Pediomelum argophyllum

Native American medicinal plant used as febrifuge, veterinary aid, laxative, dermatological aid. Documented among Cheyenne, Chippewa, Lakota.

Arabis puberula

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

Atriplex argentea

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, dermatological aid, other, gastrointestinal aid. Documented among Navajo, Ramah, Zuni.

Argentina anserina

Native American medicinal plant used as antidiarrheal, dermatological aid, emetic, diuretic, pediatric aid, analgesic. Documented among Blackfoot, Iroquois, Kwakiutl.

Heimia salicifolia

Traditional medicinal plant used for antidote, astringent, bronchitis, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, dysentery, dyspepsia, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Cryptogramma sitchensis

Native American medicinal plant used as eye medicine, liver aid. Documented among Thompson.

Picea sitchensis

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, antirheumatic (external), burn dressing, ceremonial medicine, dermatological aid, disinfectant. Documented among Bella Coola, Carrier, Southern, Gitksan.

Rhus trilobata

Native American medicinal plant used as misc. disease remedy, burn dressing, cold remedy, diuretic, hemostat, reproductive aid. Documented among Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Comanche.

Symplocarpus foetidus

Eclectic medicine antispasmodic — for asthma, whooping cough, and nervous cough. Contains calcium oxalate crystals (fresh plant burns mouth). Must be thoroughly dried before use. Generates own heat to melt through snow.

Ribes glandulosum

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, gynecological aid. Documented among Chippewa, Cree, Woodlands.