Herb Library

Oenothera albicaulis

Native American medicinal plant used as ceremonial medicine, antirheumatic (external), orthopedic aid, panacea, throat aid. Documented among Hopi, Keres, Western, Navajo, Ramah.

Asclepias subverticillata

Native American medicinal plant used as gynecological aid. Documented among Hopi, Keres, Western.

Polygala verticillata

Native American medicinal plant used as other, pediatric aid. Documented among Cherokee, Iroquois.

Pycnanthemum verticillatum

A medicinal plant (Pycnanthemum verticillatum) from the Lamiaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Myriophyllum verticillatum

Native American medicinal plant used as other, pediatric aid, stimulant. Documented among Iroquois.

Monarda fistulosa

Traditional medicinal plant used for ache(head), ache(tooth), acne, bronchitis, carminative, catarrh, cold, cough, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Cynoglossum virginianum

Native American medicinal plant used as cancer treatment, ceremonial medicine, dermatological aid, psychological aid, urinary aid. Documented among Cherokee.

Echinocystis lobata

Native American medicinal plant used as abortifacient, antirheumatic (internal), febrifuge, kidney aid, analgesic, love medicine. Documented among Cherokee, Menominee, Meskwaki.

Geranium maculatum

A North American astringent used for diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and excessive bleeding. High tannin content makes it an effective tissue tightener.

Jasminum abyssinicum

Ethiopian folk remedy for tapeworms, skin infections, and eye diseases; leaf decoction used for fever.

Tagetes minuta

Traditional medicinal plant used for aperient, bedbug, bronchodilator, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, dyspepsia, emmenagogue, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Phlox maculata

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

Spiraea salicifolia

Native American medicinal plant used as cold remedy, cough medicine, antidiarrheal, hunting medicine. Documented among Mahuna, Meskwaki, Ojibwa.

Cephalotaxus wilsoniana

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

Lythrum alatum

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

Rhus copallinum

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

Hylotelephium telephium

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, liver aid, other, pediatric aid, veterinary aid, witchcraft medicine. Documented among Iroquois, Malecite, Micmac.

Prostanthera rotundifolia

Aboriginal bush medicine plant used for headache, colds, and muscular pain. The aromatic leaves contain cineole and other terpenes with analgesic properties.

Antennaria plantaginifolia

Native American medicinal plant used as gastrointestinal aid, gynecological aid, pediatric aid, toothache remedy. Documented among Cherokee, Iroquois, Meskwaki.

Eriophyllum lanatum

Native American medicinal plant used as love medicine, dermatological aid. Documented among Chehalis, Skagit.

Geranium erianthum

Native American medicinal plant used as throat aid. Documented among Aleut.

Arctostaphylos tomentosa

Native American medicinal plant used as antihemorrhagic, dietary aid, gastrointestinal aid. Documented among Costanoan (Olhonean), Miwok.

Astragalus mollissimus

Native American medicinal plant used as poison. Documented among Mahuna.

Astragalus purshii

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, disinfectant, hunting medicine. Documented among Thompson.

Asclepias eriocarpa

Native American medicinal plant used as cold remedy, dermatological aid, other, respiratory aid. Documented among Costanoan, Mendocino Indian.

Sedum stenopetalum

Native American medicinal plant used as venereal aid. Documented among Okanagan-Colville.

Erysimum cheiranthoides

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

Castilleja linariifolia

Native American medicinal plant used as contraceptive, gynecological aid, analgesic, gastrointestinal aid, blood medicine, cathartic. Documented among Hopi, Navajo, Ramah, Shoshoni.

Xanthosoma sagittifolium

Caribbean and West African food plant with medicinal leaf preparations. Heated leaf applied as poultice for boils and abscesses in Caribbean folk medicine. Rhizome (corm) eaten as staple food after cooking. Contains calcium oxalate — must be cooked.

Ximenia americana

Pan-tropical tree used in southern African and West African medicine for wound healing, skin conditions, and infections. Seed oil (ximenynic acid) for skin and hair. Bark for malaria and STIs. Contains cyanogenic glycosides in seeds — process before use.

Perideridia gairdneri

Native American medicinal plant used as antidiarrheal, antiemetic, breast treatment, cough medicine, dermatological aid, diuretic. Documented among Blackfoot.

Oenothera flava

Native American medicinal plant used as burn dressing, panacea, throat aid. Documented among Navajo, Ramah.

Caltha palustris

Native American medicinal plant used as poison, cold remedy, dermatological aid, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic. Documented among Abnaki, Alaska Native, Chippewa.

Polygala rugelii

Native American medicinal plant used as antirheumatic (external), blood medicine, heart medicine, respiratory aid, snake bite remedy. Documented among Seminole.

Penstemon confertus

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

Taenidia integerrima

Native American medicinal plant used as adjuvant, pulmonary aid, respiratory aid, hunting medicine. Documented among Menominee, Meskwaki, Ojibwa.

Anemopsis californica

Traditional Hispanic Southwest remedy — "herb of the taming." For infections of mucous membranes: sinusitis, sore throats, gum disease, and yeast infections. Also anti-inflammatory for joints. Important curanderismo (folk healing) herb.

Baccharis pteronioides

Native American medicinal plant used as antirheumatic (external), venereal aid. Documented among Yavapai.

Sauvagesia erecta

Traditional medicinal plant used for tumor.

Anemopsis californica

A Southwestern herb used by many Native American tribes for mucous membrane support, sore throat, urinary infections, and skin conditions.

Cimicifuga simplex

Traditional medicinal plant used for anodyne, bronchitis, febrifuge, rheumatism, sedative, throat, uteritis.

Zanthoxylum chalybeum

East African tree used by Maasai and other pastoralist communities for malaria, cough, and toothache. Bark chewed for dental pain (numbing effect from alkylamides). Contains pellitorine and chelerythrine. Important Maasai traditional medicine.

Desmodium incanum

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, febrifuge, gastrointestinal aid. Documented among Seminole.

Ziziphus mauritiana

Pan-tropical jujube relative used in Ayurveda, Unani, and African medicine. Bark decoction for diarrhea and wounds. Leaf paste for boils and abscesses. Root for fever. Different species from Chinese jujube (Z. jujuba). Fruit is popular snack across tropics.