Herb Library

Hura crepitans

Traditional medicinal plant used for anodyne, antidote, aperient, arrow, carcinogenic, dentifuge, elephantiasis, emetic, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Orobanche ludoviciana

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

Sporobolus cryptandrus

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

Ipomopsis gunnisonii

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

Erysimum capitatum

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

Thysanocarpus curvipes

Native American medicinal plant used as gastrointestinal aid. Documented among Mendocino Indian.

Vitis rupestris

Native American medicinal plant used as reproductive aid, strengthener, tonic. Documented among Delaware, Delaware, Oklahoma.

Carya pallida

Native American medicinal plant used as abortifacient, analgesic, cold remedy, dermatological aid, diaphoretic, emetic. Documented among Cherokee.

Eriodictyon trichocalyx

Native American medicinal plant used as cold remedy, cough medicine. Documented among Diegueno.

Leiophyllum buxifolium

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

Reverchonia arenaria

Native American medicinal plant used as gynecological aid, veterinary aid. Documented among Hopi, Navajo, Kayenta.

Artemisia filifolia

Native American medicinal plant used as gynecological aid, dermatological aid, gastrointestinal aid, snake bite remedy, carminative. Documented among Comanche, Hopi, Navajo, Ramah.

Eleocharis montevidensis

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

Arenaria sp.

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

Calcium silicate mineral

Unani mineral medicine (purified talc/steatite) used for urinary burning, kidney heat, and as a cooling agent. Processed through traditional purification methods.

Smilax glabra

Kampo herb for joint pain, turbid urination, mercury detoxification (historical), and syphilis. Also used for skin conditions and chronic inflammatory disorders.

Tagetes lucida

Has antifungal, antibacterial, antidepressant, antioxidant, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Used to treat diarrhea, abdominal pains, respiratory infections, rheumatism, and inflammatory skin diseases. Also has psychoactive properties used to relax nerves and enhance dreams.

Smilax ornata

A traditional Central American herb used as a blood purifier and tonic. Popular in early American root beers.

Amelanchier alnifolia

Native American medicinal plant used as cathartic, ear medicine, eye medicine, gastrointestinal aid, laxative, pediatric aid. Documented among Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Cree, Woodlands.

Citrus unshiu

A medicinal plant (Citrus unshiu) from the Rutaceae family used in traditional medicine.

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.

Satureja montana

A culinary herb with antimicrobial properties. Used for digestive support, respiratory comfort, and as a warming tonic. Oil is very potent.

Smilax bona-nox

Native American medicinal plant used as tonic, other, urinary aid. Documented among Choctaw, Creek, Houma.

Rubus argutus

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

Helianthus grosseserratus

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

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.

Boronia megastigma

A medicinal plant (Boronia megastigma) from the Rutaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Pelargonium roseum

A medicinal plant (Pelargonium roseum) from the Geraniaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Satureja odora

A medicinal plant (Satureja odora) 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.

Schwenckia americana

West African and South American herb used in Yoruba traditional medicine (Nigeria) as sedative, for insomnia, and convulsions in children. Whole plant decoction for epilepsy. Contains withanolides. One of the lesser-known Solanaceae medicinals.

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.

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.