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.

Rubus cuneifolius

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

Erysimum capitatum

Native American medicinal plant used as tuberculosis remedy, analgesic, ceremonial medicine, emetic, gynecological aid, respiratory aid. Documented among Hopi, Navajo, Ramah, Zuni.

Gilia leptomeria

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, sedative, tonic. Documented among Navajo, Kayenta.

Leiophyllum buxifolium

Native American medicinal plant used as tonic. Documented among Nanticoke.

Astragalus sesquiflorus

Native American medicinal plant used as ceremonial medicine, dermatological aid, emetic. Documented among Navajo, Kayenta.

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.

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.

Chrysophyllum oliviforme

Native American medicinal plant used as love medicine. Documented among Seminole.

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.

Rubus argutus

Native American medicinal plant used as antidiarrheal, antirheumatic (internal), dermatological aid, hemorrhoid remedy, oral aid, stimulant. Documented among Cherokee.

Hazardia squarrosa

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

Helianthus grosseserratus

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

Penstemon deustus

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, eye medicine, gastrointestinal aid, pediatric aid, analgesic, antirheumatic (internal). Documented among Paiute, Paiute, Northern, Shoshoni.

Cuscuta gronovii

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

Gaura coccinea

Native American medicinal plant used as antiemetic, panacea, pediatric aid. Documented among Navajo, Ramah.

Penstemon centranthifolius

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

Hamelia patens

Traditional medicinal plant used for ache(head), cancer, diarrhea, dysentery, erysipelas, fever, jaundice, malaria, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Sambucus racemosa

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, cathartic, emetic, gastrointestinal aid, witchcraft medicine, antirheumatic (external). Documented among Bella Coola, Carrier, Northern, Carrier, Southern.

Mirabilis coccinea

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

Sphaeralcea coccinea

Native American medicinal plant used as ceremonial medicine, dermatological aid, dietary aid, disinfectant, other, strengthener. Documented among Cheyenne, Lakota, Navajo, Kayenta.

Echinocereus coccineus

Native American medicinal plant used as heart medicine, poison. Documented among Navajo.

Castilleja coccinea

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

Ipomopsis aggregata

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

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.

Platanthera dilatata

Native American medicinal plant used as urinary aid, poison. Documented among Micmac, Shuswap.

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.

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.

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.

Suaeda sp.

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

Pancratium maritimum

Traditional medicinal plant used for emetic, purgative, splenitis.

Glaux maritima

Native American medicinal plant used as sedative. Documented among Kwakiutl.

Postelsia palmaeformis

Native American medicinal plant used as strengthener, anticonvulsive, psychological aid. Documented among Hesquiat, Nitinaht, Nootka.

Lupinus littoralis

Native American medicinal plant used as pediatric aid, sedative. Documented among Kwakiutl.