Herb Library

Euonymus atropurpurea

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, eye medicine, cathartic, gynecological aid. Documented among Meskwaki, Mohegan, Winnebago.

Cymbopogon flexuosus

Traditional medicinal plant used for cholera, repellant(insect), rheumatic.

Arctostaphylos glandulosa

Native American medicinal plant used as antidiarrheal, dermatological aid. Documented among Cahuilla, Pomo, Kashaya.

Mimulus eastwoodiae

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

Arenaria eastwoodiae

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

Penstemon eatonii

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, disinfectant, emetic, gastrointestinal aid, hemostat, orthopedic aid. Documented among Navajo, Kayenta, Shoshoni.

Asplenium platyneuron

A medicinal plant (Asplenium platyneuron) from the Aspleniaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Elaeagnus latifolia

Southeast Asian shrub used in Thai and Indian hill-tribe medicine for diarrhea, cough, and as astringent. Fruit edible (acidic). Root decoction for itch and skin conditions. Contains lycopene, beta-carotene, and flavonoids.

Polemonium elegans

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

Pedicularis groenlandica

Native American medicinal plant used as cough medicine. Documented among Cheyenne.

Solidago ulmifolia

Native American medicinal plant used as stimulant. Documented among Meskwaki.

Sideritis pauli

A medicinal plant (Sideritis pauli) from the Lamiaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Stachys mexicana

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, tonic. Documented among Green River Group, Puyallup, Saanich.

Sphaeralcea emoryi

Native American medicinal plant used as antidiarrheal. Documented among Pima.

Ilex aquifolium

Native American medicinal plant used as cough medicine, febrifuge, tuberculosis remedy, urinary aid. Documented among Micmac.

Quercus robur

Traditional medicinal plant used for astringent, cancer, cancer(brain), cancer(lip), cancer(stomach), coffee, depurative, emmenagogue, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Enterolobium contortisiliquum

South American tree with ear-shaped pods used in Brazilian and Argentine folk medicine for respiratory conditions, wound healing, and as soap substitute. Bark contains saponins. Fruit decoction for cough and bronchitis. Contains enterolobine.

Rhodiola integrifolia

Native American medicinal plant used as oral aid. Documented among Eskimo, Alaska.

Aureolaria laevigata

Native American medicinal plant used as antidiarrheal, other. Documented among Cherokee.

Eriodictyon californicum

California native respiratory herb — Spanish missionaries named it "holy herb" for its healing power. For asthma, allergies, bronchitis, and colds. Also masks bitter flavors in medicine (pharmaceutical excipient). Contains eriodictyol and homoeriodictyol.

Eriosema chinense

Vietnamese and southern Chinese medicinal root used for low back pain, joint problems, and male reproductive health. Contains genistein and luteolin isoflavones. Common in Vietnamese thuoc nam (southern medicine) for bone and tendon strengthening.

Eryngium campestre

European and Native American remedy — root is diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and expectorant. E. yuccifolium was used by Native Americans for rattlesnake bites. Ornamental garden plant.

Salvia nilotica

East African sage for cough, cold, stomach pain, and malaria; leaf chewed or decocted in Ethiopian and Kenyan traditional medicine.

Melicope pteleifolia

Vietnamese and Chinese medicinal plant used for sore throat, toothache, itching, and skin infections. Leaf decoction for bathing skin conditions. Root chewed for dental pain. Contains acridone alkaloids and coumarins. Important in Vietnamese folk medicine.

Actaea spicata

Traditional medicinal plant used for angina pectoris, antidote, asthma, cardiotonic, dropsy, hysteria, nerves, nervine, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Lycopus europeus

A medicinal plant (Lycopus europeus) from the Lamiaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Petasites hybridus

Traditional medicinal plant used for tumor.

Cuscuta europaea

Traditional medicinal plant used for alterative, anodyne, aperient, apertif, aphrodisiac, cancer, carminative, demulcent, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Ribes uva-crispa

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

Lithospermum officinale

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

Sorbus aucuparia

Native American medicinal plant used as cold remedy, emetic, misc. disease remedy, pulmonary aid. Documented among Potawatomi.

Sambucus racemosa

Native American medicinal plant used as orthopedic aid, abortifacient, gastrointestinal aid, reproductive aid, analgesic, antirheumatic (external). Documented among Cowlitz, Haisla and Hanaksiala, Hanaksiala.

Euonymus europaea

Native American medicinal plant used as anthelmintic, cathartic, dietary aid, pediatric aid, urinary aid. Documented among Iroquois.

Urginea maritima

Traditional medicinal plant used for bronchitis, cancer, cardiac, cardiotonic, catarrh, cathartic, diuretic, dropsy, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Lappula squarrosa

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic. Documented among Ojibwa, South.

Euterpe precatoria

Wild Amazonian acai relative (not the cultivated E. oleracea) whose ROOT is the primary medicinal part in traditional Amazonian medicine. Root decoction for malaria, diabetes, hepatitis, and kidney pain. Contains apigenin and vanillic acid.

Fagopyrum esculentum

Native American medicinal plant used as pediatric aid, witchcraft medicine. Documented among Iroquois.

Fagraea berteroana

Pacific Island tree with intensely fragrant flowers used in Hawaiian, Samoan, and Tongan traditional medicine. Bark decoction for fever and diarrhea. Leaf poultice for skin conditions. Culturally important lei flower throughout Polynesia.

Calypso bulbosa

Native American medicinal plant used as anticonvulsive. Documented among Thompson.

Manfreda virginica

Native American medicinal plant used as kidney aid, snake bite remedy, anthelmintic, antidiarrheal, liver aid. Documented among Catawba, Cherokee, Creek.

Brickellia eupatorioides

Native American medicinal plant used as cough medicine, other. Documented among Navajo, Ramah.

Veratrum sp.

Native American medicinal plant used as snake bite remedy, veterinary aid. Documented among Shoshoni.

Baptisia sp.

Native American medicinal plant used as venereal aid, pediatric aid, stimulant. Documented among Cree, Creek.

Hedeoma nana

Native American medicinal plant used as ceremonial medicine, cathartic, gastrointestinal aid. Documented among Navajo, Shoshoni.

Isanthus brachiatus

A medicinal plant (Isanthus brachiatus) from the Lamiaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Smilacina sp.

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

Geocaulon lividum

Native American medicinal plant used as cathartic, dermatological aid, emetic. Documented among Cree, Hudson Bay.

Chamaelirium luteum

Eclectic medicine uterine tonic — for threatened miscarriage, infertility, and ovarian cysts. Endangered in the wild. Contains steroidal saponins. One of the most valuable American herbs historically.