Herb Library

Indigofera arrecta

Tropical African and Asian indigo plant used in East African traditional medicine for epilepsy, liver complaints, and wound healing. Leaf preparations for skin infections. Contains indican and indirubin. Indirubin is now studied as anti-leukemia compound.

Cinnamomum javanicum

Traditional medicinal plant used for parturition, splenomegaly.

Acrostichum danaeifolium

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

Quercus wislizeni

Native American medicinal plant used as cough medicine, dermatological aid, pediatric aid. Documented among Miwok.

Apocynum ?floribundum

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

Lupinus pusillus

Native American medicinal plant used as disinfectant, ear medicine, hemostat. Documented among Navajo, Kayenta.

Osmunda claytoniana

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

Ipomopsis laxiflora

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

Vernonia sp.

Native American medicinal plant used as antidiarrheal. Documented among Natchez.

Irvingia gabonensis (bark)

West African bush mango BARK (distinct from the well-known weight loss seed) used in Cameroonian and Gabonese traditional medicine for diarrhea, hernia, and wound healing. High tannin content. Bark decoction for dysentery and toothache.

Iryanthera juruensis

Amazonian nutmeg relative whose seed fat (ucuuba butter) is used in Brazilian ribeirinho medicine for arthritis, wound healing, and skin inflammation. Fat applied topically as anti-inflammatory. Contains trimyristin and juruenolide. Sustainable forest product.

Origanum vulgare var. hirtum

Traditional medicinal plant used for ache(ear), ache(tooth), alopecia, anodyne, bronchitis, cancer, carminative, catarrh, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Pinus pinea

Traditional medicinal plant used for tumor(bladder).

Ajuga iva

Traditional medicinal plant used for spasm, tumor(liver).

Cymbopogon schoenanthus

Central Asian aromatic grass used in Unani medicine for urinary disorders, kidney stones, and digestive complaints. The essential oil has antimicrobial properties.

Chromolaena odorata

Caribbean wound herb; fresh crushed leaves applied to stop bleeding and promote healing; also used for colds and malaria.

Arisaema triphyllum

Traditional medicinal plant used for ache(head), aptha, asthma, bactericide, bite(snake), bronchitis, cancer, carminative, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Pinus banksiana

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, anticonvulsive, stimulant, pulmonary aid. Documented among Cree, Woodlands, Ojibwa, Potawatomi.

Ferula jaeschkeana

Traditional medicinal plant used for wound.

Penstemon jamesii

Native American medicinal plant used as emetic, pediatric aid, analgesic, ceremonial medicine, throat aid. Documented among Navajo, Kayenta, Navajo, Ramah.

Eriogonum jamesii

Native American medicinal plant used as ceremonial medicine, oral aid, heart medicine, psychological aid, analgesic, contraceptive. Documented among Apache, White Mountain, Keres, Western, Navajo, Kayenta.

Cryptantha cinerea

Native American medicinal plant used as disinfectant, pediatric aid, snake bite remedy, veterinary aid, ceremonial medicine, dermatological aid. Documented among Navajo, Kayenta, Navajo, Ramah.

Caesalpinia jamesii

Native American medicinal plant used as veterinary aid. Documented among Zuni.

Telesonix jamesii

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

Mahonia japonica

Traditional medicinal plant used for ache(back), alexiteric, cough, dysentery, enteritis, fever, hepatoma, knee, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Aucuba japonica

Traditional medicinal plant used for burn, swelling.

Cinnamomum sieboldii

Traditional medicinal plant used for balsamic, diaphoretic, febrifuge, stomachic.

Cryptotaenia japonica

A medicinal plant (Cryptotaenia japonica) from the Apiaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Abies sachalinensis

A medicinal plant (Abies sachalinensis) from the Pinaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Gentiana scabra

Traditional medicinal plant used for abscess, ache(head), ache(stomach), apertif, arthritis, bitter-principle, boil, cold, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Cephalotaxus harringtonii

A medicinal plant (Cephalotaxus harringtonii) from the Cephalotaxaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Ligustrum japonicum

Traditional medicinal plant used for bactericide, coffee, tonic.

Skimmia japonica

Traditional medicinal plant used for atrophy, cachexia, palsy, poison, restorative, tonic.

Stephania japonica

Traditional medicinal plant used for astringent, cancer, fever, itch, tumor, urogenital.

Jasminum officinale

Jasmine flowers used in aromatherapy for mood elevation, relaxation, and as an aphrodisiac. The tea is antioxidant-rich and mildly sedating.

Cymbopogon winterianus

A medicinal plant (Cymbopogon winterianus) from the Poaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Curcuma xanthorrhiza

Traditional medicinal plant used for amenorrhea, choleretic, constipation, dyspepsia, emmenagogue, gallstones, hepatosis, parturition, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Oenanthe javanica

A medicinal plant (Oenanthe javanica) from the Apiaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Abrus precatorius

Extremely toxic plant whose seeds contain abrin. Root and leaves contain glycyrrhizin and are used under professional supervision for chronic conjunctivitis. Strong antifertility effects in research.

Dracontium loretense

Peruvian Amazonian plant used by indigenous healers as snakebite antidote — the spotted stem resembles a fer-de-lance snake (doctrine of signatures). Also for HIV support, immune stimulation, and viral infections in modern herbalism.

Anastatica hierochuntica

Traditional medicinal plant used for parturition.

Ceanothus herbaceus

Native American medicinal plant used as cough medicine. Documented among Chippewa.

Chenopodium botrys

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, anthelmintic, cold remedy, misc. disease remedy. Documented among Cherokee.

Impatiens capensis

Native American medicinal plant used as ceremonial medicine, dermatological aid, gastrointestinal aid, gynecological aid, misc. disease remedy, pediatric aid. Documented among Cherokee, Chippewa, Iroquois.

Cosmos sp.

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

Datura stramonium

Toxic herb used in TCM as spasmolytic, analgesic, antiasthmatic, and antirheumatic agent. Historically used as general anesthetic for operations.

Datura sp.

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, ceremonial medicine, eye medicine, febrifuge, toothache remedy, veterinary aid. Documented among Navajo.

Coix lacryma-jobi

Native American medicinal plant used as pediatric aid, toothache remedy. Documented among Cherokee.