Herb Library

Croton californicus

Native American medicinal plant used as ear medicine, pediatric aid, poison, respiratory aid, cough medicine, abortifacient. Documented among Cahuilla, Diegueno, Luiseno.

Aristolochia californica

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

Veratrum californicum

Native American medicinal plant used as antirheumatic (external), burn dressing, contraceptive, dermatological aid, disinfectant, febrifuge. Documented among Paiute, Paiute, Northern, Shoshoni.

Scrophularia californica

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, disinfectant, eye medicine. Documented among Costanoan, Pomo, Pomo, Kashaya.

Fremontodendron californicum

Native American medicinal plant used as cathartic. Documented among Kawaiisu.

Pinus sabiniana

Native American medicinal plant used as antirheumatic (internal), burn dressing, dermatological aid, analgesic, antirheumatic (external), diaphoretic. Documented among Costanoan, Mendocino Indian, Miwok.

Mirabilis californica

Native American medicinal plant used as cathartic, febrifuge. Documented among Luiseno, Mahuna.

Thermopsis macrophylla

Native American medicinal plant used as eye medicine, gynecological aid. Documented among Pomo, Pomo, Kashaya.

Solidago californica

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, gynecological aid, burn dressing, antirheumatic (external), toothache remedy. Documented among Cahuilla, Costanoan, Diegueno.

Chenopodium californicum

Native American medicinal plant used as gastrointestinal aid, orthopedic aid, dermatological aid, emetic, poison. Documented among Cahuilla, Costanoan, Kawaiisu.

Stachys bullata

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid, disinfectant, ear medicine, gastrointestinal aid, throat aid. Documented among Costanoan, Pomo, Kashaya.

Horkelia californica

Native American medicinal plant used as blood medicine. Documented among Pomo, Kashaya.

Ephedra californica

Native American medicinal plant used as blood medicine, dietary aid, gastrointestinal aid, kidney aid. Documented among Diegueno.

Juniperus californica

Native American medicinal plant used as anticonvulsive, cold remedy, cough medicine, gynecological aid, analgesic, diaphoretic. Documented among Apache, White Mountain, Costanoan, Diegueno.

Ceanothus sp.

Native American medicinal plant used as antihemorrhagic, pulmonary aid, dermatological aid. Documented among Choctaw, Costanoan.

Quercus agrifolia

Native American medicinal plant used as hemostat, pediatric aid. Documented among Mahuna.

Lomatium californicum

Native American medicinal plant used as dietary aid, cold remedy, emetic, gastrointestinal aid, throat aid, analgesic. Documented among Karok, Kawaiisu, Yuki.

Lythrum californicum

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

Adiantum jordanii

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, blood medicine, gastrointestinal aid, gynecological aid. Documented among Costanoan.

Marah fabaceus

Native American medicinal plant used as dermatological aid. Documented among Pomo, Pomo, Kashaya.

Asclepias californica

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

Pycnanthemum californicum

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

Torreya californica

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, diaphoretic, febrifuge, gastrointestinal aid, tuberculosis remedy. Documented among Costanoan, Pomo, Pomo, Kashaya.

Lathyrus jepsonii

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

Paeonia californica

Native American medicinal plant used as gastrointestinal aid. Documented among Diegueno.

Schinus molle

Traditional medicinal plant used for amenorrhea, aposteme, astringent, balsamic, blennorrhagia, bronchitis, cataract, collyrium, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.

Polypodium californicum

Native American medicinal plant used as eye medicine, antirheumatic (external), dermatological aid, disinfectant. Documented among Mendocino Indian, Wailaki, Yurok.

Eschscholzia californica

A gentle, non-addictive sedative herb native to the American West, used for sleep support and nervous tension. NOT an opiate.

Cercis canadensis

Native American medicinal plant used as febrifuge. Documented among Mendocino Indian.

Artemisia californica

Native American medicinal plant used as cold remedy, gynecological aid, pediatric aid, analgesic, antirheumatic (external), cough medicine. Documented among Cahuilla, Costanoan, Mahuna.

Phacelia californica

Native American medicinal plant used as febrifuge, cold remedy, cough medicine, gastrointestinal aid, stimulant, dermatological aid. Documented among Costanoan, Kawaiisu, Pomo, Kashaya.

Quercus dumosa

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

Limonium californicum

Native American medicinal plant used as blood medicine, respiratory aid, urinary aid, venereal aid. Documented among Costanoan.

Scutellaria californica

Native American medicinal plant used as febrifuge. Documented among Mendocino Indian.

Aralia californica

Native American medicinal plant used as antirheumatic (external), cold remedy, febrifuge, gastrointestinal aid, pulmonary aid, tuberculosis remedy. Documented among Karok, Mendocino Indian, Pomo.

Osmorhiza brachypoda

Native American medicinal plant used as cold remedy, cough medicine, dermatological aid. Documented among Kawaiisu.

Hierochloe occidentalis

Native American medicinal plant used as gynecological aid, veterinary aid. Documented among Karok.

Platanus racemosa

Native American medicinal plant used as panacea, blood medicine, respiratory aid. Documented among Costanoan, Diegueno.

Juglans californica

Native American medicinal plant used as blood medicine. Documented among Costanoan.

Quercus lobata

Native American medicinal plant used as burn dressing, dermatological aid, eye medicine, cough medicine, pediatric aid, antidiarrheal. Documented among Kawaiisu, Miwok, Yuki.

Rosa californica

Native American medicinal plant used as analgesic, pediatric aid, antirheumatic (internal), cold remedy, dermatological aid, febrifuge. Documented among Cahuilla, Costanoan, Diegueno.

Calligonum comosum

Arabian and North African desert shrub used in Saudi and Algerian folk medicine for diabetes, gastric ulcers, and wound healing. Flower decoction for stomach complaints. Contains flavonoids and anthraquinones. Important sand-stabilizing plant across Arabian deserts.

Caloncoba echinata

West African tree whose seed oil (gorli oil) contains chaulmoogric acid — historically important for leprosy treatment. Used in Congolese and Cameroonian traditional medicine for skin diseases and Hansen's disease before modern antibiotics.

Calophyllum brasiliense

South American rainforest tree used in Brazilian and Costa Rican traditional medicine for wound healing, ulcers, and pain. Resin applied to wounds. Bark decoction for rheumatism. Contains calophyllolide and brasiliensic acid with anti-HIV research interest.

Calotropis procera (leaf)

Pan-tropical shrub leaf (distinct from more toxic latex) used in Sahelian and Indian traditional medicine as poultice for joint pain, swelling, and skin conditions. Contains calotropin cardenolides. Ayurvedic external use for filariasis and rheumatism.

Calpurnia aurea

East African shrub used in Ethiopian, Kenyan, and South African traditional medicine for intestinal worms, ectoparasites (lice, ticks), and skin diseases. Contains calpurmenine quinolizidine alkaloids. Important traditional veterinary medicine.

Geum calthifolium

Native American medicinal plant used as cold remedy, dermatological aid, throat aid, tonic. Documented among Aleut.

Jateorhiza palmata

Traditional medicinal plant used for antiseptic, apertif, diarrhea, dysentery, dyspepsia, gastrotonic, restorative, sore, and other conditions. Known from ethnobotanical records across multiple cultures.