Herb Library

Banisteriopsis muricata

South American vine related to ayahuasca (B. caapi) but used distinctly in Colombian and Venezuelan folk medicine for wound healing, fever, and malaria. Contains dimethoxyflavones rather than harmine alkaloids. Not psychoactive.

Pereskia aculeata

A medicinal plant (Pereskia aculeata) from the Cactaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Hippeastrum vittatum

A medicinal plant (Hippeastrum vittatum) from the Liliaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Dioscorea composita

Traditional medicinal plant used for piscicide.

Lomatium nudicaule

Native American medicinal plant used as cold remedy, throat aid, analgesic, antirheumatic (external), cough medicine, dermatological aid. Documented among Cowichan, Kwakiutl, Nitinaht.

Hyptis verticillata

Traditional medicinal plant used for ache(head), dyspepsia, emmenagogue, itch, pectoral, rheumatism, sedative, spasm, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Barringtonia asiatica

Pacific Island and Southeast Asian coastal tree used in Polynesian and Filipino medicine for cough, skin conditions, and as fish poison. Seed contains saponins used to stun fish. EXTERNAL USE primarily — bark poultice for rheumatism and skin infections.

Barringtonia racemosa

Southeast Asian and Pacific coastal tree used in Malay, Indonesian, and Fijian medicine for cough, diarrhea, and skin conditions. Bark decoction for stomach complaints. Seeds contain saponins used as fish poison. Leaf poultice for chickenpox.

Amomum xanthioides

Traditional medicinal plant used for cancer(stomach), cancer(uterus), nausea, sore(throat), stomachic, stomatitis, tonic.

Comandra umbellata

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, kidney aid, analgesic, cold remedy, pulmonary aid, respiratory aid. Documented among Cherokee, Meskwaki.

Centaurea sp.

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

Salix myricoides

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

Myosotis laxa

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

Ipomoea pes-caprae

Native American medicinal plant used as reproductive aid. Documented among Hawaiian.

Pycnanthemum beadlei

A medicinal plant (Pycnanthemum beadlei) from the Lamiaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Shinnersoseris rostrata

Native American medicinal plant used as sedative. Documented among Navajo.

Potentilla crinita

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

Penstemon barbatus

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, burn dressing, cough medicine, dermatological aid, gastrointestinal aid, gynecological aid. Documented among Navajo, Ramah.

Quercus ilicifolia

Native American medicinal plant used as gynecological aid, other. Documented among Iroquois.

Heuchera cylindrica

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, eye medicine, snake bite remedy, veterinary aid. Documented among Blackfoot.

Salix bebbiana

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, gynecological aid, hemostat, orthopedic aid, pediatric aid. Documented among Cree, Woodlands, Okanagan-Colville.

Epifagus virginiana

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

Davilla sp.

A medicinal plant (Davilla sp.) from the Dilleniaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Atropa bella-donna

Traditional medicinal plant used for poison.

Commelina benghalensis

Traditional medicinal plant used for eye, fertility, leprosy, medicine, stomach.

Montmorillonite clay

Volcanic clay used internally (liquid) for GI detox and externally as a face mask/poultice. Binds toxins through ionic charge. Internal use is controversial.

Styrax benzoin

Aromatic resin from Southeast Asian tree — used as compound tincture of benzoin (Friar's Balsam) for respiratory steam inhalation. Wound sealant and skin protectant. Used in incense and perfumery.

Trillium erectum

A traditional Appalachian and Native American herb used for uterine support and as an astringent.

Stachys officinalis

Ancient European headache and anxiety herb — Anglo-Saxons considered it a cure-all and protection against evil. Modern use for tension headaches, anxiety, and digestive upset. Gentle nervine.

Artemisia biennis

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, anthelmintic, dermatological aid, gastrointestinal aid, gynecological aid. Documented among Cherokee.

Mirabilis bigelovii

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

Hymenoxys bigelovii

Native American medicinal plant used as antirheumatic (external), cathartic, gynecological aid, stimulant. Documented among Hopi.

Nicotiana quadrivalvis

Native American medicinal plant used as cathartic, ceremonial medicine, ear medicine, emetic, analgesic, dermatological aid. Documented among Costanoan, Kawaiisu.

Tellima grandiflora

Native American medicinal plant used as psychological aid, dietary aid, panacea. Documented among Nitinaht, Skagit.

Cuscuta megalocarpa

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

Magnolia macrophylla

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, antidiarrheal, gastrointestinal aid, respiratory aid, toothache remedy. Documented among Cherokee.

Lomatium macrocarpum

Native American medicinal plant used as strengthener, veterinary aid, antirheumatic (external), cold remedy, throat aid, misc. disease remedy. Documented among Blackfoot, Crow, Okanagan-Colville.

Populus grandidentata

Native American medicinal plant used as abortifacient, gynecological aid, dermatological aid, dietary aid, hemostat. Documented among Cree, Iroquois, Malecite.

Cercocarpus montanus

Native American medicinal plant used as burn dressing, cough medicine, internal medicine, venereal aid. Documented among Apache, White Mountain, Kawaiisu, Mahuna.

Commelina dianthifolia

Native American medicinal plant used as tuberculosis remedy, veterinary aid. Documented among Keres, Western, Navajo, Ramah.

Pellaea mucronata

Native American medicinal plant used as antihemorrhagic, blood medicine, dermatological aid, emetic, febrifuge, gynecological aid. Documented among Costanoan, Yavapai.

Viola ?pedata

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, antidiarrheal, blood medicine, cold remedy, cough medicine, dermatological aid. Documented among Cherokee.

Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Traditional medicinal plant used for abortifacient, astringent, bechic, catarrh, cathartic, cold, convulsion, cough, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Lomatium sp.

Native American medicinal plant used as antirheumatic (external), dermatological aid, love medicine. Documented among Cheyenne, Oregon Indian.

Persicaria bistorta

Bistort is used to stop bleeding through its strong astringent action, useful for overflow of menses, nosebleeds, lung hemorrhages, diarrhea, and bleeding hemorrhoids.

Rumex obtusifolius

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, pediatric aid, blood medicine, liver aid, contraceptive, gynecological aid. Documented among Chippewa, Delaware, Delaware, Oklahoma.

Carya cordiformis

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, diuretic, laxative, panacea. Documented among Iroquois, Meskwaki.

Apocynum androsaemifolium

Traditional medicinal plant used for ache(head), cardiotonic, cathartic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, heart, kidney, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.