Herb Library

Pentaclethra macrophylla

West African tree whose fermented seeds (ugba) are an Igbo delicacy. Bark decoction for wound healing, gonorrhea, and convulsions. Seed oil for skin conditions. Contains paucine and pentaclethra saponins. Important in Nigerian ethnomedicine.

Arabis perennans

Native American medicinal plant used as anticonvulsive, psychological aid, analgesic. Documented among Navajo, Kayenta, Navajo, Ramah.

Desmodium perplexum

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, oral aid. Documented among Cherokee.

Jatropha curcas

Traditional medicinal plant used for abortifacient, ache(stomach), ache(tooth), alopecia, anasarca, anodyne, antidote, antidote(comocladia), and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Pontederia cordata

Native American medicinal plant used as contraceptive, panacea. Documented among Malecite, Micmac, Montagnais.

Picrorhiza kurrooa

Traditional medicinal plant used for bilious, dyspepsia.

Pimenta racemosa

Caribbean tree whose leaves produce bay rum oil used in Caribbean folk medicine for muscle pain, scalp health, and as rubefacient. Traditional bay rum aftershave has medicinal origins. Contains eugenol, myrcene, and chavicol. EXTERNAL USE primarily.

Prunus pensylvanica

Native American medicinal plant used as blood medicine, cough medicine, disinfectant, pulmonary aid, hemostat, pediatric aid. Documented among Algonquin, Quebec, Algonquin, Tete-de-Boule, Cherokee.

Juniperus pinchotii

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, ceremonial medicine, gynecological aid, other. Documented among Comanche.

Clematis lasiantha

Native American medicinal plant used as burn dressing, dermatological aid, cold remedy, herbal steam. Documented among Miwok, Shasta.

Pistacia atlantica

Persian and North African tree whose resin, fruits, and leaves all have medicinal uses. Resin (bane) chewed for oral health and digestion. Fruit for stomach complaints. Used extensively in Iranian traditional medicine for GI disorders, liver conditions, and wounds.

Sarracenia sp.

A medicinal plant (Sarracenia sp.) from the Sarraceniaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Pinus rigida

Native American medicinal plant used as antirheumatic (internal), burn dressing, dermatological aid, laxative. Documented among Iroquois, Shinnecock.

Populus deltoides

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, ceremonial medicine. Documented among Ojibwa, South, Omaha.

Opuntia polyacantha

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, antidiarrheal, poison, dermatological aid, diuretic. Documented among Flathead, Navajo, Okanagan-Colville.

Plantago major (fresh poultice)

The classic herbal first aid — chew a fresh plantain leaf and apply to insect bites, stings, or splinters. Draws out venom/irritants. Works in minutes. Free and everywhere.

Coleus amboinicus

Pan-tropical aromatic succulent herb used in Indonesian (daun jinten), Indian, and Caribbean folk medicine for cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, and digestive complaints. Leaf juice for insect bites. Contains carvacrol and thymol. Culinary herb in many cultures.

Pluchea indica

Southeast Asian shrub used in Thai, Indonesian, and Vietnamese traditional medicine for fever, hemorrhoids, lumbago, and leucorrhea. Young leaves eaten as vegetable in Java. Contains thiophene derivatives and flavonoids.

Brickellia brachyphylla

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

Desmodium glutinosum

Native American medicinal plant used as basket medicine. Documented among Iroquois.

Angelica lineariloba

Native American medicinal plant used as antihemorrhagic, pulmonary aid. Documented among Paiute, Northern.

Conium maculatum

Traditional medicinal plant used for anodyne, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, asthma, cns sedative, cancer, cancer(breast), chorea, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Sanicula bipinnata

Native American medicinal plant used as snake bite remedy. Documented among Miwok.

Toxicodendron vernix

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, febrifuge, misc. disease remedy, poison, respiratory aid, urinary aid. Documented among Cherokee, Chippewa.

Rhododendron ponticum

Traditional medicinal plant used for gout, hydrocoele, intoxicant, narcotic, rheumatism.

Cinnamomum porrectum

A medicinal plant (Cinnamomum porrectum) from the Lauraceae family used in traditional medicine.

Malus ioensis

Native American medicinal plant used as misc. disease remedy. Documented among Meskwaki.

Astragalus laxmannii

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

Ribes lacustre

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, laxative, analgesic, antidiarrheal, cold remedy, poison. Documented among Bella Coola, Lummi, Okanagan-Colville.

Thymophylla acerosa

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

Lactuca scariola

Traditional medicinal plant used for antiphlogistic, chafe, diuretic, emollient, lactogogue, medicine, nervine, poison, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Opuntia humifusa

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, snake bite remedy. Documented among Dakota, Lakota, Nanticoke.

Opuntia sp.

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, disinfectant, eye medicine, antidiarrheal, burn dressing, laxative. Documented among Apache, Mescalero, Apache, Western, Costanoan.

Argemone mexicana

Traditional medicinal plant used for ache(head), ache(tooth), anodyne, antidote(scorpion), antifertility, aperient, bladder, cancer, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Rosa acicularis

Native American medicinal plant used as cough medicine, eye medicine, gynecological aid, witchcraft medicine, ceremonial medicine, dermatological aid. Documented among Cree, Woodlands, Iroquois, Okanagan-Colville.

Salsola tragus

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, misc. disease remedy. Documented among Navajo, Navajo, Ramah.

Arenaria aculeata

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

Pseudostellaria heterophylla

A gentle TCM Qi tonic suitable for children and the elderly — milder than Ginseng or Astragalus. Used for fatigue, poor appetite, and dry cough.

Prosopis cineraria

Arabian and Indian desert tree sacred in Hindu tradition. Bark decoction for asthma, cough, and skin diseases in Rajasthani folk medicine. Flowers for diabetes. Pods are edible (sangri). Important in desert agroforestry and Emirati cultural heritage.

Pterocarpus erinaceus

West African rosewood tree used in traditional medicine across Guinea, Mali, and Senegal for dysentery, fever, wounds, and anemia. Bark decoction is blood-red and prescribed for blood-building. Now endangered due to Chinese rosewood timber demand.

Rhus trilobata

Native American medicinal plant used as eye medicine, pediatric aid. Documented among Diegueno.

Pulicaria crispa

Arabian and North African desert herb used in Saudi, Yemeni, and Sudanese traditional medicine for stomach complaints, colds, fever, and as poultice for wounds. Contains sesquiterpene lactones and flavonoids with antimicrobial activity.

Pellaea atropurpurea

Native American medicinal plant used as blood medicine, kidney aid, preventive medicine. Documented among Mahuna.

Echinacea sp.

Native American medicinal plant used as throat aid, toothache remedy. Documented among Comanche.

Coronilla varia

Native American medicinal plant used as antirheumatic (external), emetic, orthopedic aid. Documented among Cherokee.

Comarum palustre

Native American medicinal plant used as antidiarrheal, analgesic, gastrointestinal aid. Documented among Chippewa, Ojibwa.

Sarracenia purpurea

Native American medicinal plant used as gynecological aid, urinary aid, diuretic, abortifacient, orthopedic aid, venereal aid. Documented among Algonquin, Quebec, Algonquin, Tete-de-Boule, Cree, Woodlands.

Dalea purpurea

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid. Documented among Montana Indian.