Herb Library

Struchium sparganophorum

West African aquatic herb used in Yoruba (Nigeria) traditional medicine for malaria, fever, and headache. Leaves eaten as bitter vegetable. Related to bitterleaf (Vernonia) but aquatic habitat. Contains sesquiterpene lactones and flavonoids.

Abies lasiocarpa

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, ceremonial medicine, cold remedy, dermatological aid, emetic, febrifuge. Documented among Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Crow.

Erigeron peregrinus

Native American medicinal plant used as orthopedic aid, other, stimulant. Documented among Cheyenne.

Acer saccharum

Native American medicinal plant used as blood medicine, dermatological aid, eye medicine, pulmonary aid, cough medicine, expectorant. Documented among Iroquois, Mohegan, Potawatomi.

Pinus lambertiana

Native American medicinal plant used as carminative, eye medicine, laxative, pediatric aid, cathartic. Documented among Kawaiisu, Mendocino Indian, Miwok.

Potentilla recta

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, internal medicine. Documented among Okanagan-Colville.

Eriogonum umbellatum

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

Lupinus sulphureus

Native American medicinal plant used as eye medicine. Documented among Okanagan-Colville.

Eriogonum umbellatum

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, venereal aid, gastrointestinal aid, disinfectant, emetic, cold remedy. Documented among Kawaiisu, Mahuna, Navajo, Kayenta.

Vitis aestivalis

Native American medicinal plant used as antidiarrheal, blood medicine, gastrointestinal aid, gynecological aid, liver aid, oral aid. Documented among Cherokee, Choctaw.

Lupinus perennis

Native American medicinal plant used as antiemetic, antihemorrhagic, veterinary aid, witchcraft medicine. Documented among Cherokee, Menominee.

Crotalaria juncea

Traditional medicinal plant used for depurative, emmenagogue, impetigo, poison, psoriasis.

Flagellaria indica

Aboriginal vine medicine used for stomach cramps, headache, and topically for sores. The roots are crushed and soaked for internal use.

Persea palustris

Native American medicinal plant used as alterative, diaphoretic, febrifuge, kidney aid. Documented among Creek.

Rumex verticillatus

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

Lonicera oblongifolia

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, gynecological aid, psychological aid, sedative, urinary aid. Documented among Iroquois.

Asclepias incarnata

Native American medicinal plant used as pediatric aid, strengthener, dermatological aid, diuretic, kidney aid, orthopedic aid. Documented among Chippewa, Iroquois, Meskwaki.

Rosa palustris

Native American medicinal plant used as anthelmintic, antidiarrheal. Documented among Cherokee.

Cyrtosperma chamissonis

A medicinal plant (Cyrtosperma chamissonis) from the Araceae family used in traditional medicine.

Quercus bicolor

Native American medicinal plant used as misc. disease remedy, orthopedic aid, respiratory aid, tuberculosis remedy, witchcraft medicine. Documented among Iroquois.

Malus coronaria

Native American medicinal plant used as gastrointestinal aid, hemorrhoid remedy, oral aid. Documented among Cherokee.

Ipomoea batatas

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

Cymopterus newberryi

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

Eupatorium purpureum

Native American medicinal plant used as adjuvant, antirheumatic (internal), diuretic, gynecological aid, kidney aid, misc. disease remedy. Documented among Cherokee, Chippewa, Mahuna.

Tacca leontopetaloides

Polynesian medicinal and food plant — one of the original canoe plants brought by Pacific voyagers. Starch extracted for food; whole rhizome used medicinally for stomachache and as poultice for stings. Important famine food across Pacific Islands.

Pandanus tectorius

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, laxative, pediatric aid, strengthener. Documented among Hawaiian.

Abies spectabilis

Ayurvedic and Unani herb from Himalayan fir needles used for respiratory conditions including bronchitis, asthma, and cough. The leaves are aromatic and expectorant.

Ranunculus acris

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, dermatological aid, oral aid, sedative, throat aid, antidiarrheal. Documented among Abnaki, Bella Coola, Cherokee.

Delphinium scaposum

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

Astragalus kentrophyta

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

Camissonia tanacetifolia

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

Micromeria fruticosa subsp. barbata

A medicinal plant (Micromeria fruticosa) from the Lamiaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Phaseolus acutifolius

A medicinal plant (Phaseolus acutifolius) from the Fabaceae family used in traditional medicine.

Terminalia superba

West African timber tree with bark used in Congolese and Cameroonian traditional medicine for malaria, diarrhea, and wound healing. Contains tannins and triterpenoids with antimicrobial properties.

Saxifraga parnassifolia

Tibetan alpine herb used for liver disorders, bile-heat, and infectious fevers. Grows at extremely high altitudes and is collected by traditional Tibetan herbalists.

Astragalus pachypus

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, gynecological aid. Documented among Kawaiisu.

Cryptantha crassisepala

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, poison, stimulant. Documented among Hopi, Keres, Western, Navajo, Kayenta.

Castilleja thompsonii

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid. Documented among Okanagan-Colville.

Datura innoxia

Traditional medicinal plant used for ache(ear), anesthetic, asthma, demulcent, expectorant, motion-sickness, ophthalmia, parkinsonianism, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Acanthopanax gracilistylus

Used for arthritis, backache, and beriberi in TCM. Has anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antipyretic effects.

Phacelia linearis

Native American medicinal plant used as cold remedy. Documented among Shuswap.

Mitella trifida

Native American medicinal plant used as gastrointestinal aid, pediatric aid. Documented among Gosiute.

Galium trifidum

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, tuberculosis remedy. Documented among Ojibwa.

Artemisia tripartita

Native American medicinal plant used as cold remedy, diaphoretic, oral aid, throat aid. Documented among Okanagan-Colville.

Lechea minor

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, antidiarrheal, antiemetic, dietary aid, febrifuge, gastrointestinal aid. Documented among Seminole.

Veronica serpyllifolia

Native American medicinal plant used as cough medicine, dermatological aid, ear medicine, febrifuge. Documented among Cherokee.

Tinospora crispa

Climbing vine cultivated in India and the Philippines used in traditional medicine as a bitter tonic, febrifuge, and for diabetes, malaria, and digestive disorders. Related to Tinospora cordifolia (Guduchi) but a distinct species.

Tinospora bakis

West African vine related to guduchi used in Senegalese and Malian traditional medicine for malaria, hepatitis, and diabetes. Contains protoberberine alkaloids and columbin. Important in Wolof and Serer traditional healing systems.