Herb Library

Cupaniopsis anacardioides

Aboriginal plant used for fish poisoning treatment and skin infections. The bark decoction is used as a wash for sores and the tree provides shade medicine camps.

Oenothera caespitosa

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, ceremonial medicine, gynecological aid. Documented among Blackfoot, Isleta, Navajo, Kayenta.

Lysimachia thyrsiflora

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

Phlox caespitosa

Native American medicinal plant used as burn dressing, cathartic, ceremonial medicine, diuretic, gynecological aid, toothache remedy. Documented among Navajo.

Angelica laxiflora

A medicinal plant (Angelica laxiflora) from the Apiaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Liriodendron tulipifera

A North American tree bark used in Appalachian folk medicine for fever, rheumatism, and as a digestive bitter. Contains alkaloids including liriodenine.

Aleurites fordii

Traditional medicinal plant used for burn, edema, ejaculation, emetic, hemostat, masturbation, poison, scabies, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Phyla nodiflora

Native American medicinal plant used as orthopedic aid, pediatric aid. Documented among Houma.

Satureja cilicica

A medicinal plant (Satureja cilicica) from the Lamiaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Thamnosma montana

Native American medicinal plant used as emetic, gastrointestinal aid, laxative, analgesic, cold remedy, dermatological aid. Documented among Havasupai, Kawaiisu, Paiute.

Turraea robusta

East African Meliaceae tree used in Kenyan and Tanzanian traditional medicine for malaria, convulsions, and stomachache. Contains limonoids (turranolide) with insecticidal and antimicrobial properties. Root decoction for fever in children.

Lonicera involucrata

Native American medicinal plant used as cough medicine, dermatological aid, venereal aid, cathartic, emetic, gastrointestinal aid. Documented among Bella Coola, Blackfoot, Carrier.

Allium bisceptrum

Native American medicinal plant used as dietary aid. Documented among Mahuna.

Linnaea borealis

Native American medicinal plant used as orthopedic aid, analgesic, pediatric aid, psychological aid. Documented among Montagnais, Tanana, Upper.

Cenchrus biflorus

A medicinal plant (Cenchrus biflorus) from the Poaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Maianthemum dilatatum

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, tuberculosis remedy, reproductive aid, burn dressing, eye medicine. Documented among Hesquiat, Makah, Nitinaht.

Mitella diphylla

Native American medicinal plant used as emetic, eye medicine. Documented among Iroquois.

Pycnanthemum pycnanthemoides

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

Waltheria indica

Native American medicinal plant used as dietary aid, laxative, pediatric aid, pulmonary aid, respiratory aid, strengthener. Documented among Hawaiian.

Dioscorea sp.

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

Acacia tortilis

A medicinal plant (Acacia tortilis) from the Fabaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Penstemon virgatus

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

Ratibida columnifera

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, dermatological aid, snake bite remedy, panacea, gynecological aid, gastrointestinal aid. Documented among Cheyenne, Dakota, Keres, Western.

Lonicera utahensis

Native American medicinal plant used as hunting medicine, blood medicine, dermatological aid, laxative. Documented among Navajo, Ramah, Okanagan-Colville.

Meconopsis horridula

Himalayan blue poppy used in Tibetan medicine for liver-heat, pain, and fever. Contains isoquinoline alkaloids. Grows in high-altitude alpine meadows.

Boschniakia hookeri

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

Equisetum variegatum

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

Nuphar lutea

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, disinfectant, analgesic, antirheumatic (external), panacea, venereal aid. Documented among Algonquin, Quebec, Cree, Woodlands, Flathead.

Cinnamomum impressicostatum

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

Rumex venosus

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, gynecological aid, analgesic, antidiarrheal, antirheumatic (internal), blood medicine. Documented among Arapaho, Lakota, Paiute.

Melaleuca cajuputi

A medicinal plant (Melaleuca cajuputi) from the Myrtaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Viola tricolor

Traditional European remedy used for skin conditions including eczema, acne, and cradle cap in babies. Also used as a mild expectorant and anti-inflammatory for respiratory catarrh and rheumatic conditions.

Collinsia violacea

Native American medicinal plant used as tuberculosis remedy, cold remedy, cough medicine, pulmonary aid. Documented among Creek, Natchez.

Viola odorata

Gentle lymphatic and respiratory herb — for breast lumps, coughs, and skin conditions. Poultice traditionally applied to breast cysts and tumors. Flowers make beautiful syrup. Contains salicylates. Safe for children. Spring tonic.

Dalea purpurea

Native American medicinal plant used as heart medicine, antidiarrheal, misc. disease remedy, pulmonary aid, panacea. Documented among Chippewa, Meskwaki, Navajo.

Oxalis violacea

Native American medicinal plant used as anthelmintic, antiemetic, blood medicine, cancer treatment, dermatological aid, oral aid. Documented among Cherokee, Pawnee.

Salicornia virginica

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, antirheumatic (external). Documented among Heiltzuk.

Physalis virginiana

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

Triadenum virginicum

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

Pycnanthemum virginianum

Traditional medicinal plant used for diaphoretic, sclerosis(belly), spasm, spice.

Obolaria virginica

Native American medicinal plant used as cold remedy, cough medicine, diaphoretic, gastrointestinal aid, dermatological aid. Documented among Cherokee, Choctaw.

Rosa virginiana

Native American medicinal plant used as anthelmintic, pediatric aid, dermatological aid, hemostat, eye medicine. Documented among Cherokee, Ojibwa, Ojibwa, South.

Tradescantia virginiana

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

Gnaphalium viscosum

Traditional medicinal plant used for carminative, colic, collyrium, rheumatism, spasm, stomachic.

Vitex doniana

West African savanna tree used in Nigerian and Ghanaian traditional medicine for hypertension, diabetes, infertility, and liver complaints. Bark decoction for rheumatism. Fruit edible (black plum). Contains vitexin, aucubin, and casticin.

Voacanga africana

West and Central African tree whose bark and seeds contain the alkaloid voacangine (precursor to ibogaine). Used traditionally as a cerebral stimulant, aphrodisiac, and in local medicine for infectious diseases.

Euonymus atropurpureus

Eclectic liver and gallbladder herb — for constipation from liver congestion and gallbladder disease. Contains cardiac glycosides. PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY due to toxicity. The ornamental "Burning Bush" in gardens is a related species.

Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides

Native American medicinal plant used as gynecological aid, tonic. Documented among Paiute.