Herb Library

Baccharis douglasii

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

Ipomoea sagittata

Native American medicinal plant used as blood medicine, dermatological aid, heart medicine, snake bite remedy. Documented among Houma.

Delphinium parryi

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

Salix exigua

Native American medicinal plant used as adjuvant, antirheumatic (external), cold remedy, febrifuge, ceremonial medicine, emetic. Documented among Montana Indian, Navajo, Ramah, Paiute, Northern.

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.

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.

Reverchonia arenaria

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Smilax bona-nox

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

Castilleja coccinea

Native American medicinal plant used as poison, cold remedy, orthopedic aid, love medicine. Documented among Cherokee, Chippewa, Menominee.

Sceletium emarcidum

South African succulent closely related to S. tortuosum (kanna) with similar but distinct alkaloid profile. Used by San and Khoikhoi peoples for mood elevation and pain relief. Contains mesembrenol and mesembrenone. Traditionally fermented before use.

Boronia megastigma

A medicinal plant (Boronia megastigma) from the Rutaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Pelargonium roseum

A medicinal plant (Pelargonium roseum) from the Geraniaceae family used in traditional medicine.

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.

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.

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.

Suaeda sp.

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

Pancratium maritimum

Traditional medicinal plant used for emetic, purgative, splenitis.

Hibiscus tiliaceus

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