Herb Library

Medeola virginiana

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

Heliotropium indicus

A medicinal plant (Heliotropium indicus) from the Boraginaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Castilleja affinis

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

Zanthoxylum alatum

Traditional medicinal plant used for dentifrice, odontitis, piscicide, stomachic.

Darmera peltata

Native American medicinal plant used as gynecological aid. Documented among Karok.

Thespesia populnea

Traditional medicinal plant used for ache(head), bactericide, bite(bug), bite(insect), cancer, cardiotonic, cholera, cold, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Valeriana jatamansi

Traditional medicinal plant used for analgesic, anodyne, antibiotic, carminative, dysuria, hypnotic, hypochondria, hysteria, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Gaultheria fragrantissima

Traditional medicinal plant used for abortifacient, antiseptic, carminative, cough, fatality, hair, insecticide, neuralgia, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Indigofera arrecta

Tropical African and Asian indigo plant used in East African traditional medicine for epilepsy, liver complaints, and wound healing. Leaf preparations for skin infections. Contains indican and indirubin. Indirubin is now studied as anti-leukemia compound.

Acrostichum danaeifolium

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

Distichlis spicata

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, heart medicine, laxative, venereal aid, cold remedy, dietary aid. Documented among Kawaiisu, Yokut.

Quercus wislizeni

Native American medicinal plant used as cough medicine, dermatological aid, pediatric aid. Documented among Miwok.

Apocynum ?floribundum

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

Lupinus pusillus

Native American medicinal plant used as disinfectant, ear medicine, hemostat. Documented among Navajo, Kayenta.

Osmunda claytoniana

Native American medicinal plant used as blood medicine, venereal aid. Documented among Iroquois.

Chondrus crispus

A red seaweed rich in minerals and carrageenan, used as a nutritive tonic and respiratory soother.

Solanum tuberosum

Native American medicinal plant used as emetic, psychological aid, eye medicine, dermatological aid. Documented among Cherokee, Iroquois, Rappahannock.

Eucalyptus sideroxylon

Aboriginal medicine tree with kino (gum) used for diarrhea and sore throat gargle. The red gum exudate is astringent and antiseptic.

Ipomopsis laxiflora

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

Vernonia sp.

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

Iris germanica

Unani medicine herb for liver enlargement, dropsy, and skin disorders. The dried aged rhizome (orris root) develops a violet-like scent used in perfumery and medicine.

Irvingia gabonensis (bark)

West African bush mango BARK (distinct from the well-known weight loss seed) used in Cameroonian and Gabonese traditional medicine for diarrhea, hernia, and wound healing. High tannin content. Bark decoction for dysentery and toothache.

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.

Delphinium semibarbatum

Central Asian traditional herb used in Uzbek and Tajik medicine for fever, pain, and as a yellow dye plant. Contains diterpene alkaloids requiring careful dosing.

Coccinia grandis

A medicinal plant (Coccinia grandis) from the Cucurbitaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Cymbopogon schoenanthus

Central Asian aromatic grass used in Unani medicine for urinary disorders, kidney stones, and digestive complaints. The essential oil has antimicrobial properties.

Populus ?jackii

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

Ferula jaeschkeana

Traditional medicinal plant used for wound.

Penstemon jamesii

Native American medicinal plant used as emetic, pediatric aid, analgesic, ceremonial medicine, throat aid. Documented among Navajo, Kayenta, Navajo, Ramah.

Mahonia japonica

Traditional medicinal plant used for ache(back), alexiteric, cough, dysentery, enteritis, fever, hepatoma, knee, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Cryptotaenia japonica

A medicinal plant (Cryptotaenia japonica) from the Apiaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Abies sachalinensis

A medicinal plant (Abies sachalinensis) from the Pinaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Ligustrum japonicum

Traditional medicinal plant used for bactericide, coffee, tonic.

Cymbopogon winterianus

A medicinal plant (Cymbopogon winterianus) from the Poaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Curcuma xanthorrhiza

Traditional medicinal plant used for amenorrhea, choleretic, constipation, dyspepsia, emmenagogue, gallstones, hepatosis, parturition, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Oenanthe javanica

A medicinal plant (Oenanthe javanica) from the Apiaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Abrus precatorius

Extremely toxic plant whose seeds contain abrin. Root and leaves contain glycyrrhizin and are used under professional supervision for chronic conjunctivitis. Strong antifertility effects in research.

Dracontium loretense

Peruvian Amazonian plant used by indigenous healers as snakebite antidote — the spotted stem resembles a fer-de-lance snake (doctrine of signatures). Also for HIV support, immune stimulation, and viral infections in modern herbalism.

Anastatica hierochuntica

Traditional medicinal plant used for parturition.

Ceanothus herbaceus

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

Chenopodium botrys

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, anthelmintic, cold remedy, misc. disease remedy. Documented among Cherokee.

Crescentia alata

Traditional medicinal plant used for abortifacient, alopecia, astringent, chest, cough, diarrhea, emollient, expectorant, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Cosmos sp.

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

Coix lacryma-jobi

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

Yucca brevifolia

Traditional medicinal plant used for emetic, gonorrhea.

Juniperus communis

A traditional urinary tract herb used for its diuretic and antiseptic properties. Not for long-term use.

Phoradendron juniperinum

Native American medicinal plant used as gastrointestinal aid, witchcraft medicine, antidiarrheal, antirheumatic (external), pediatric aid, dermatological aid. Documented among Hopi, Keres, Western, Navajo.

Juniperus sp.

Native American medicinal plant used as pulmonary aid, antirheumatic (external), dermatological aid, orthopedic aid, tonic, analgesic. Documented among Apache, Western, Blackfoot, Creek.