Herb Library

Mauritia flexuosa

Traditional medicinal plant used for digestive, intoxicant, laxative.

Erythroxylum cataractarum

A medicinal plant (Erythroxylum cataractarum) from the Erythroxylaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Mansoa alliacea

Amazonian "wild garlic" vine — smells like garlic but is unrelated. Used in Peruvian traditional medicine for body pain, arthritis, colds, and as an energy tonic. Shamanic plant medicine for protection and cleansing. Contains sulfur compounds.

Trachyspermum ammi

An Indian spice containing thymol — used for digestive complaints, colic, and respiratory congestion. Popular Ayurvedic home remedy. Strong thyme-like flavor.

Mixed herbal preparation

Nigerian Igbo postpartum multi-herb decoction of five plants for weight loss, uterine cleansing, and lactation support; culturally significant.

Trachyspermum ammi

An Indian spice used for digestive complaints — gas, bloating, colic, and as a respiratory decongestant. Contains thymol (like thyme).

Berchemia scandens

Native American medicinal plant used as blood medicine, reproductive aid, cough medicine, other. Documented among Choctaw, Houma, Koasati.

Polymnia edulis

A medicinal plant (Polymnia edulis) from the Asteraceae family used in traditional medicine.

Anthocleista djalonensis

West African tree used in Guinean, Nigerian, and Ghanaian traditional medicine for diabetes, hypertension, and malaria. Bark decoction for fever and liver complaints. Contains sweroside and fagaramide. Name references Fouta Djallon highlands of Guinea.

Ephedra fasciculata

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

Platycladus orientalis

Korean sedative herb used for insomnia, anxiety, palpitations, and constipation in the elderly. The oily seeds nourish the heart and calm the spirit.

Davilla sp.

A medicinal plant (Davilla sp.) from the Dilleniaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Lindera benzoin

Traditional medicinal plant used for circulation, cold, cough, dysentery, medicine, sudorific, tea, tonic, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Quercus marilandica

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, gynecological aid. Documented among Choctaw.

Melaleuca leucadendra

Used in TCM to treat dropsy and as an anodyne and antiseptic. Oil is inhaled to treat colds and rhinitis, and used externally for rheumatism and gout.

Simaba multiflora

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

Ephedra californica

Native American medicinal plant used as blood medicine, dietary aid, gastrointestinal aid, kidney aid. Documented among Diegueno.

Juniperus californica

Native American medicinal plant used as anticonvulsive, cold remedy, cough medicine, gynecological aid, analgesic, diaphoretic. Documented among Apache, White Mountain, Costanoan, Diegueno.

Sonchus oleraceus

Traditional medicinal plant used for abdomen, abscess, antiopiate, ascites, bite(snake), boil, cancer, cancer(breast), and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Cinnamomum sulphuratum

A medicinal plant (Cinnamomum sulphuratum) from the Lauraceae family used in traditional medicine.

Arisaema consanguineum

Traditional medicinal plant used for abscess, anodyne, bite(snake), boil, cancer(stomach), convulsion, decoagulant, epilepsy, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Hypericum brachyphyllum

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

Juniperus horizontalis

Native American medicinal plant used as kidney aid, veterinary aid, ceremonial medicine, cold remedy, cough medicine, febrifuge. Documented among Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Crow.

Crescentia cujete

Central American and Caribbean tree whose fruit pulp is used in Colombian, Venezuelan, and Mayan traditional medicine for respiratory conditions, cough, and bruises. Fruit syrup for bronchitis. Leaf decoction for hypertension. Contains aucubin and crescentic acid.

Dorstenia contrajerva

Central American fig relative whose rhizome was one of the most important medicines in colonial Latin America — used as universal antidote, for snakebite, and fever. Name means 'counter-poison.' Contains furanocoumarins and dorstenin.

Eriogonum fasciculatum

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, eye medicine, gastrointestinal aid, urinary aid, antidiarrheal, emetic. Documented among Coahuilla, Costanoan, Diegueno.

Polemonium elegans

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

Hypericum ascyron

Native American medicinal plant used as kidney aid, pulmonary aid, tuberculosis remedy, snake bite remedy. Documented among Menominee, Meskwaki.

Pilocarpus racemosus

A medicinal plant (Pilocarpus racemosus) from the Rutaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Thaspium barbinode

Native American medicinal plant used as gastrointestinal aid, pediatric aid. Documented among Chippewa.

Calcium oxide fossil

Unani mineral medicine (lithified sea urchin spine) calcined and powdered for kidney stones and urinary calculi; traditional lithotriptic.

Alpinia oxyphylla

Korean warming herb for frequent urination, urinary incontinence, diarrhea, and excessive salivation. Warms the kidney and secures essence in Korean medicine.

Caladium bicolor

Traditional medicinal plant used for ache(tooth), angina, antiseptic, ascaricide, emetic, larvicide, purgative, sore.

Juniperus macropoda

Traditional medicinal plant used for gleet, leucorrhea, skin.

Elsholtzia ciliata

A medicinal plant (Elsholtzia ciliata) from the Lamiaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Dioscorea tokoro

Korean herb for turbid urination, vaginal discharge, and rheumatic joint pain. Separates clear from turbid fluids in traditional Korean medicine theory.

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.

Myrciaria cauliflora

A medicinal plant (Myrciaria cauliflora) from the Myrtaceae family used in traditional medicine.

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.

Eupatorium odoratum

Traditional medicinal plant used for amenorrhea, amygdalitis, apertif, bite(leech), cataplasm, catarrh, cold, cough, 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.

Populus ?jackii

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

Ferula jaeschkeana

Traditional medicinal plant used for wound.

Ipomoea purga

Traditional medicinal plant used for cathartic, diuretic, hydragogue, purgative, sore.

Piscidia piscipula

A Caribbean tree bark used for nerve pain, insomnia, and muscle spasm. Potent — PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY in small doses. Contains rotenone-related compounds.

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.