Herb Library

Aletes acaulis

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

Townsendia exscapa

Native American medicinal plant used as veterinary aid, ceremonial medicine, gynecological aid. Documented among Blackfoot, Navajo, Navajo, Ramah.

Tetraneuris scaposa

Native American medicinal plant used as eye medicine. Documented among Zuni.

Stenochlaena palustris

Southeast Asian climbing fern eaten as vegetable and used in Malay and Dayak traditional medicine for fever, skin conditions, and wound healing. Young red fronds eaten as ulam (Malaysian herb salad). Rich in phenolics and antioxidants.

Stephania tetrandra

Traditional medicinal plant used for ache, arthrodynia, beri-beri, edema, hypertension, numbness.

Chaenactis stevioides

Native American medicinal plant used as heart medicine, pediatric aid. Documented among Nevada Indian.

Geranium viscosissimum

Native American medicinal plant used as cold remedy, eye medicine, other, dermatological aid, gynecological aid, love medicine. Documented among Blackfoot, Sanpoil, Thompson.

Arctostaphylos viscida

Native American medicinal plant used as dietary aid, gastrointestinal aid. Documented among Miwok.

Oligoneuron rigidum

Native American medicinal plant used as cathartic, diuretic, dermatological aid. Documented among Chippewa, Meskwaki.

Thelesperma filifolium

Native American medicinal plant used as pediatric aid, tuberculosis remedy. Documented among Keres, Western.

Ribes bracteosum

Native American medicinal plant used as venereal aid, dermatological aid, reproductive aid, laxative, cold remedy, pediatric aid. Documented among Bella Coola, Haisla, Nitinaht.

Pluchea foetida

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

Ailanthus altissima

Antidiarrheal herb used to treat dysentery and duodenal ulcers. Also used as an astringent and anthelmintic.

Anthemis cotula

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, anticonvulsive, antirheumatic (internal), dermatological aid, diaphoretic, emetic. Documented among Cherokee, Iroquois, Karok.

Astragalus praelongus

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

Antennaria dioica

Native American medicinal plant used as eye medicine. Documented among Gosiute.

Collinsonia canadensis

A traditional Eclectic medicine herb used for venous support, hemorrhoids, and urinary gravel.

Collinsonia canadensis

Eclectic medicine vein and hemorrhoid herb — for varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and venous congestion. Strengthens vascular tone. Also used for kidney stones (hence "stone root") and laryngitis. Fresh root tincture is most potent.

Chimaphila maculata

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, antirheumatic (internal), cancer treatment, cold remedy, dermatological aid, emetic. Documented among Cherokee, Nanticoke.

Desmodium incanum

Jamaican male vitality tonic for back pain, erectile dysfunction, and kidney complaints; root decoction is most common form.

Struchium sparganophorum

West African aquatic herb used in Yoruba (Nigeria) traditional medicine for malaria, fever, and headache. Leaves eaten as bitter vegetable. Related to bitterleaf (Vernonia) but aquatic habitat. Contains sesquiterpene lactones and flavonoids.

Abies lasiocarpa

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, ceremonial medicine, cold remedy, dermatological aid, emetic, febrifuge. Documented among Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Crow.

Erigeron peregrinus

Native American medicinal plant used as orthopedic aid, other, stimulant. Documented among Cheyenne.

Athyrium filix-femina

Native American medicinal plant used as febrifuge, reproductive aid, venereal aid. Documented among Iroquois.

Trifolium dubium

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

Hemigraphis alternata

Siddha wound-healing leaf applied to cuts, bruises, and hemorrhoids; also used for kidney stones and urinary infections in Tamil folk practice.

Pinus lambertiana

Native American medicinal plant used as carminative, eye medicine, laxative, pediatric aid, cathartic. Documented among Kawaiisu, Mendocino Indian, Miwok.

Potentilla recta

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, internal medicine. Documented among Okanagan-Colville.

Lupinus sulphureus

Native American medicinal plant used as eye medicine. Documented among Okanagan-Colville.

Taxus sumatrana

A medicinal plant (Taxus sumatrana) from the Taxaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Talinum parviflorum

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, veterinary aid. Documented among Navajo, Ramah.

Lupinus perennis

Native American medicinal plant used as antiemetic, antihemorrhagic, veterinary aid, witchcraft medicine. Documented among Cherokee, Menominee.

Cordylanthus sp.

Native American medicinal plant used as emetic. Documented among Luiseno.

Crotalaria juncea

Traditional medicinal plant used for depurative, emmenagogue, impetigo, poison, psoriasis.

Carex inops

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

Lonicera oblongifolia

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, gynecological aid, psychological aid, sedative, urinary aid. Documented among Iroquois.

Castanea sativa

Astringent herb whose leaves are used for whooping cough, paroxysmal coughs, and bronchitis. The bark is a traditional remedy for diarrhea and fever. Leaves also used as a gargle for sore throats.

Comptonia peregrina

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, anthelmintic, ceremonial medicine, febrifuge, blood medicine, dermatological aid. Documented among Algonquin, Quebec, Cherokee, Chippewa.

Santalum acuminatum

A medicinal plant (Santalum acuminatum) from the Santalaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Cymopterus newberryi

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

Eupatorium purpureum

Native American medicinal plant used as adjuvant, antirheumatic (internal), diuretic, gynecological aid, kidney aid, misc. disease remedy. Documented among Cherokee, Chippewa, Mahuna.

Arundinaria gigantea

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, kidney aid, stimulant. Documented among Choctaw, Houma.

Syzygium guineense

Pan-African tree used in Ethiopian, Congolese, and South African traditional medicine for diarrhea, abdominal pain, and malaria. Bark decoction widely used across East Africa. Fruit edible. Contains ellagic acid, gallic acid, and quercetin.

Tabernaemontana divaricata

South and Southeast Asian ornamental with medicinal uses in Ayurveda and Thai medicine. Root for toothache and worm infections. Latex for eye infections (diluted). Contains coronaridine and voacangine indole alkaloids with analgesic properties.

Tacca chantrieri

Southeast Asian ornamental with striking black flowers used in Thai and Chinese folk medicine for gastric ulcers, hypertension, and burns. Rhizome contains taccalonolide diterpenoids with documented anti-tumor activity in modern research.

Tacca leontopetaloides

Polynesian medicinal and food plant — one of the original canoe plants brought by Pacific voyagers. Starch extracted for food; whole rhizome used medicinally for stomachache and as poultice for stings. Important famine food across Pacific Islands.

Pandanus tectorius

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, laxative, pediatric aid, strengthener. Documented among Hawaiian.

Potentilla arguta

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