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.

All categories Aromatic Culinary Medicinal

Results

11 herbs

No. 001Medicinal

Alysicarpus Vaginalis

Alysicarpus vaginalis

A small creeping plant of the pea family, called medina in Jamaica, where it's one of the herbs boiled into the "strong back" root tonic drunk by men for stamina. Research so far is only in the lab and in animals.

No. 002Medicinal

Ashwagandha

Withania somnifera

A root from Ayurvedic medicine, traditionally used to help the body cope with stress.

No. 003Medicinal

Chaney Root

Smilax balbisiana

A Jamaican climbing plant related to sarsaparilla. Its root is boiled into the popular "root tonic" drunk for stamina, and into teas for colds and flu. It hasn't been studied in people.

No. 004Medicinal

Cuscuta

Cuscuta chinensis

Dodder, a leafless-looking parasitic vine. Its seed, tu si zi, is a top-grade Chinese tonic for the liver and kidneys, eyesight, fertility and keeping pregnancies stable.

No. 005Medicinal

Damiana

Turnera diffusa

A plant used in folk medicine as an aphrodisiac. Lab and animal studies suggest effects on sexual function, but it hasn't been tested on its own in people.

No. 006Medicinal

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.

No. 007Medicinal

Maca

Lepidium meyenii

A root vegetable from the high Andes of Peru, used for centuries as food and to boost energy and fertility. Its effects haven't been proven in rigorous trials.

No. 008Medicinal

Ra-Moon

Trophis racemosa

Ramoon, a Jamaican tree whose bark is made into tea and roots drinks as a traditional remedy for libido, and whose leaves feed livestock. It hasn't been studied in people.

No. 009Medicinal

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.

No. 010Medicinal

Strong Back Root

Morinda royoc

Redgal, a root boiled into Jamaica's "strong back" roots tonic, used by men for impotence and stamina. It hasn't been studied in people.

No. 011Medicinal

Yohimbe

Pausinystalia johimbe

The bark of a central and west African tree, promoted for erectile dysfunction, sports performance and weight loss. There's little research in people, and yohimbine, its main compound, has been linked to heart attacks and seizures.