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The Herbal Library

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Browse every herb in the database by name, category, or the body system it's traditionally associated with.

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19 herbs

No. 001Medicinal
Botanical illustration of Abrus Precatorius

Abrus Precatorius

Abrus precatorius

Rosary pea or jumbee bead, a vine whose leaves are used in traditional medicine. Its bright red-and-black seeds contain abrin, one of the deadliest poisons known.

Joint Discomfort

No. 002Medicinal
Botanical illustration of Ackee Leaf

Ackee Leaf

Blighia sapida

Leaves of the ackee tree, whose fruit is Jamaica's national dish. The leaves are used in folk medicine for pain, fever and stomach problems. Unripe ackee fruit is poisonous.

Joint Discomfort

No. 003Medicinal
Botanical illustration of Arnica

Arnica

Arnica montana

A yellow mountain daisy whose flowers are made into creams and gels, recognized in Europe as a traditional medicine for bruises, sprains and muscle pain. For use on unbroken skin only.

Sprains and Bruises

No. 004Medicinal
Botanical illustration of Cardiospermum Halicacabum

Cardiospermum Halicacabum

Cardiospermum halicacabum

Balloon vine, a climbing plant with papery, balloon-like seed pods, eaten as a leafy vegetable in India and used in traditional Indian medicine for rheumatism, pain, coughs and skin diseases.

Joint Discomfort

No. 005Medicinal
Botanical illustration of Cat's Claw

Cat's Claw

Uncaria tomentosa

A woody vine from the Amazon rainforest, named for its hooked thorns, used by Indigenous Amazonian peoples for centuries and now promoted for arthritis. There's no conclusive evidence it helps any health condition.

Joint Discomfort

No. 006Medicinal
Botanical illustration of Caulis Spatholobus

Caulis Spatholobus

Spatholobus suberectus

Ji xue teng, or "chicken blood vine", a woody vine whose cut stem oozes red sap. It's used in Chinese medicine for anemia, irregular periods and rheumatic joint pain.

Joint Discomfort

No. 007Medicinal
Botanical illustration of Clematis Root

Clematis Root

Clematis chinensis

The root of a Chinese climbing plant, known as wei ling xian, used in traditional Chinese medicine for rheumatic joint pain and stiff, numb limbs. It can be toxic.

Joint Discomfort

No. 008Medicinal
Botanical illustration of Comfrey

Comfrey

Symphytum officinale

A plant whose root is made into creams for minor sprains and bruises, recognised in Europe as a traditional remedy. Never take comfrey by mouth: it contains substances that damage the liver.

Joint Discomfort · Sprains and Bruises

No. 009Medicinal
Botanical illustration of Devil's Claw

Devil's Claw

Harpagophytum procumbens

A southern African root recognised in the EU as a traditional medicine for minor joint pain and mild digestive problems. Trials of variable quality suggest it helps osteoarthritis and back pain.

Joint Discomfort

No. 010Medicinal
Botanical illustration of Golden Eye Grass

Golden Eye Grass

Curculigo orchioides

Kali musli or xian mao, an endangered herb valued in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine as a tonic and aphrodisiac, and used for rheumatic conditions. Research so far is in the lab and in animals.

Joint Discomfort

No. 011Culinary
Botanical illustration of Gungo Peas

Gungo Peas

Cajanus cajan

Pigeon peas, a major food crop around the world. The leaves are used in Chinese medicine for bone conditions.

Joint Discomfort

No. 012Medicinal
Botanical illustration of John Charles

John Charles

Hyptis verticillata

A Caribbean bush in the mint family, used since Maya and Aztec times for breathing, digestive, women's health and skin problems. It hasn't been tested in clinical trials.

Joint Discomfort

No. 013Medicinal
Botanical illustration of Kadsura Pepper Stem

Kadsura Pepper Stem

Piper kadsura

Hai feng teng, the stem of a pepper plant, used in East Asian medicine for over 2,000 years for rheumatism and joint pain.

Joint Discomfort

No. 014Medicinal
Botanical illustration of Prickly Ash

Prickly Ash

Zanthoxylum americanum

The "toothache tree", a thorny North American shrub whose bark Native Americans used for toothache, rheumatism, fevers, colds and coughs.

Joint Discomfort

No. 015Medicinal
Botanical illustration of Red Peony Root

Red Peony Root

Paeonia lactiflora

Chi shao, a root from Paeonia lactiflora, used to "cool the blood" and relieve "blood stasis" and pain: for nosebleeds, sore eyes, period pain and injuries. Research is in animals.

Sprains and Bruises

No. 016Medicinal
Botanical illustration of Sarsaparilla

Sarsaparilla

Smilax ornata

A plant whose root is boiled into Jamaican roots tonics and used for colds and flu. Research on sarsaparilla plants is mostly preliminary lab and animal work.

Joint Discomfort

No. 017Medicinal
Botanical illustration of Speranskia

Speranskia

Speranskia tuberculata

A Chinese medicinal herb used to "dispel wind and dampness", promote circulation and relieve pain. Very little research has been published on it.

Joint Discomfort

No. 018Medicinal
Botanical illustration of White Willow

White Willow

Salix alba

Willow bark, a natural source of salicin, a relative of aspirin. Recognized in Europe for short-term lower back pain, and traditionally for joint pain, fever and headache.

Joint Discomfort

No. 019Medicinal
Botanical illustration of Yucca Root

Yucca Root

Yucca schidigera

A desert plant of the southwestern US and northern Mexico, used by Native Americans for arthritis. It's rich in soapy compounds called saponins and is approved as a food additive in the US, but evidence for arthritis is weak.

Joint Discomfort