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

9 herbs

No. 001Medicinal

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.

No. 002Medicinal

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.

No. 003Medicinal

Belladonna

Atropa belladonna

Deadly nightshade, a poisonous plant whose alkaloids can cause confusion, a racing heart, seizures, coma and death.

No. 004Medicinal

Castor Oil

Ricinus communis

Oil pressed from castor seeds, a strong traditional laxative also used to bring on labour. The seeds themselves contain ricin, one of the most toxic plant substances.

No. 005Medicinal

Elderberry

Sambucus nigra

The European elder, whose berries are used in folk medicine for colds and flu and whose flowers are recognized in Europe for early cold symptoms. Raw berries, leaves and stems are poisonous.

No. 006Medicinal

Foxglove

Digitalis purpurea

A tall garden flower and the source of digitalis heart medicines. All parts of the plant are poisonous and affect the heart.

No. 007Medicinal

Mistletoe

Viscum album

European mistletoe, used for centuries for seizures and headaches. Injected extracts are widely prescribed in Europe for people with cancer, but it isn't a proven cancer treatment.

No. 008Medicinal

Jamaican pennyroyal, one of the island's popular bush medicines for breathing and digestive problems. It is a different plant from European pennyroyal, but its oil contains the same toxic compound, pulegone.

No. 009Medicinal

Pokeberry

Phytolacca americana

American pokeweed, a tall plant with purple-black berries. All parts are poisonous, especially the root. Some people eat the young leaves as "poke sallet" after boiling them twice, but this doesn't guarantee safety.