Plants & Sources

Eastern North America — Appalachian region, from southern Ontario to Georgia. Rich deciduous forests.

Squawroot (historical colonial name) (cherokee), Cohosh (algonquin), Cimicifugae Racemosae Rhizoma (latin_pharmaceutical)

Arabian Peninsula (origin); now pantropically naturalized. Cultivated worldwide in arid and semi-arid regions.

صبر (Sabr) (arabic), कुमारी (Kumari) (ayurveda), Ghritkumari (ayurveda), 'rw (eru) (egyptian), Sábila (Spanish colonial) (mesoamerican), Tzini (Nahuatl variant) (mesoamerican), Aloes Folium / Aloes Succus (latin_pharmaceutical)

Native to India and Sri Lanka; cultivated across South and Southeast Asia.

穿心莲 (Chuan Xin Lian) (tcm), நிலவேம்பு (Nilavembu) (tamil), Nilavembu (siddha), कालमेघ (Kalmegh) (ayurveda), Bhunimba (ayurveda), Andrographidis Herba (latin_pharmaceutical)

High-altitude regions of China (Gansu, Yunnan, Sichuan provinces), Japan, Korea. Cultivated at 2500-3000m elevation.

当归 (Dang Gui) (tcm), Touki (当帰) (kampo), 당귀 (Danggwi) (korean), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (latin_pharmaceutical)

Circumpolar distribution: northern Europe, northern Asia, North America. Grows in subarctic and alpine zones on sandy, acidic soils.

Bärentraube (german), Kinnikinnick (Algonquin) (native_american), Various tribal names (native_american), Uvae Ursi Folium (latin_pharmaceutical)

Native to temperate Asia; now cultivated in China, Vietnam, East Africa (Tanzania, Kenya, Madagascar), India, Brazil.

黄花蒿 (Huang Hua Hao) (tcm), 青蒿 (Qing Hao) (tcm), Mwarubaini (Swahili — from multiple-use context) (african), Artemisiae Annuae Herba (latin_pharmaceutical)

India (throughout), Sri Lanka, Nepal, Southeast Asia, eastern Africa, northern Australia.

Satavar (unani), தண்ணீர்விட்டான் (Thanneer Vittan) (siddha), शतावरी (Shatavari — 'she who possesses a hundred husbands') (ayurveda), Asparagi Racemosi Radix (latin_pharmaceutical)

Indian subcontinent (origin); now throughout tropical and subtropical Africa, Southeast Asia, Caribbean, Central America.

Neem (unani), வேம்பு (Vembu) (siddha), Dongoyaro (Hausa) (african), Mwarobaini (Swahili — 'tree of 40 cures') (african), निम्ब (Nimba) (ayurveda), Azadirachtae Folium / Cortex (latin_pharmaceutical)

India (Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar), North Africa, Arabian Peninsula

Λίβανος (Libanos) (greek), Olibanum (greek), لبان (Luban) (unani), کندر (Kundur) (unani), शल्लकी (Shallaki) (ayurveda), Kunduru (ayurveda), Olibanum Indicum (latin_pharmaceutical)

Mediterranean region (origin); cultivated worldwide in temperate to subtropical zones. Common garden plant.

Κρόκος κήπου (Krokos Kipou) (greek), Gul-e-Ashraf (unani), Calendulae Flos (latin_pharmaceutical)

Central Asia (origin); now globally distributed. Historically cultivated across Eurasia and Africa.

大麻 (Da Ma) (tcm), 火麻仁 (Huo Ma Ren — seeds) (tcm), Dagga (Southern African) (african), Djamba (Central African) (african), भाङ्ग (Bhang) (ayurveda), Vijaya (ayurveda), Shemshemet (egyptian), Cannabis Herba / Cannabis Semen (latin_pharmaceutical)

Pan-tropical: India, Sri Lanka, China, Southeast Asia, Madagascar, Southern Africa, South America. Grows in marshy, swampy areas.

积雪草 (Ji Xue Cao) (tcm), வல்லாரை (Vallarai) (siddha), Gotu kola (widespread adoption) (african), ब्राह्मी (Brahmi — also used for Bacopa) (ayurveda), Mandukaparni (ayurveda), Centellae Asiaticae Herba (latin_pharmaceutical)

Native to Andean cloud forests (Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia) at 1500-3000m elevation. Historically cultivated in Java, India, Sri Lanka, and East Africa.

Quina-quina (quechua), Quina (spanish), Cascarilla (spanish), Cinchonae Cortex (latin_pharmaceutical)

Sri Lanka (C. verum, origin); China, Vietnam, Indonesia (C. cassia). Cultivated pantropically.

肉桂 (Rou Gui — C. cassia bark) (tcm), 桂枝 (Gui Zhi — C. cassia twig) (tcm), Keishi (桂枝) (kampo), 계피 (Gyepi) (korean), दालचीनी (Dalchini) (ayurveda), Tvak (ayurveda), ti-sps (egyptian), Cinnamomi Cortex (latin_pharmaceutical)

Horn of Africa and Arabian Peninsula — Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Yemen, Oman.

Σμύρνα (Smyrna) (greek), Mur (unani), المر (Al-Murr) (arabic), Mur Makki (arabic), Bola (ayurveda), ꜥntyw (Antyu) (egyptian), Myrrha (latin_pharmaceutical)

Southeast Asia through Melanesia to Polynesia. Carried by Polynesian voyagers throughout the Pacific.

Tī kōuka (C. australis) (maori), Ti (samoan), Sī (tongan), Kī (hawaiian), Ti (hawaiian), Cordylines Folium (latin_pharmaceutical)

Western Amazonia — Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia.

Yawar wiki (quechua), Sangre de Drago (spanish), Sangre de Grado (spanish), Crotonis Lechleri Latex (latin_pharmaceutical)

Indian subcontinent (primary), Southeast Asia; cultivated pantropically

姜黄 (Jiang Huang) (tcm), மஞ்சள் (Manjal) (siddha), हरिद्रा (Haridra) (ayurveda), Haldi (ayurveda), Nisha (ayurveda), Renga (Māori) (polynesian), Olena (Hawaiian) (polynesian), Curcumae Longae Rhizoma (latin_pharmaceutical)

Central and eastern North America — Great Plains, eastern United States. Native to prairies, open woodlands.

Icahpe hu (lakota), Black Sampson (cheyenne), Echinaceae Purpureae Herba / Radix (latin_pharmaceutical)

Northern China, Mongolia, Central Asia. Arid steppes and desert margins.

麻黄 (Ma Huang) (tcm), Risala (unani), Ephedrae Herba (latin_pharmaceutical)

Native to southeastern Australia (Tasmania, Victoria). Now cultivated globally in Mediterranean and subtropical climates.

Various local names (aboriginal), Eucalypti Folium (latin_pharmaceutical)

Central Asia, China (Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Gansu), Russia, Kazakhstan. G. glabra native to Mediterranean/Middle East.

甘草 (Gan Cao) (tcm), Γλυκύρριζα (Glykyrrhiza) (greek), Kanzo (kampo), Asl-us-Soos (اصل السوس) (unani), 감초 (Gamcho) (korean), यष्टिमधु (Yashtimadhu) (ayurveda), Licorice root (egyptian), 甘草 (Kanzo) (japanese), Glycyrrhizae Radix (latin_pharmaceutical)

India (tropical and subtropical forests), Sri Lanka, Vietnam, parts of Africa and Australia.

Gurmar (hindi), சிறுகுறிஞ்சான் (Sirukurinjan) (siddha), गुड़मार (Gudmar) (ayurveda), Meshashringi (ayurveda), Gymnemae Sylvestris Folium (latin_pharmaceutical)

Kalahari Desert region — Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe.

Sengaparile (tswana), Duiwelsklou (afrikaans), Harpagophyti Radix (latin_pharmaceutical)

Eastern North America — southern Quebec to Georgia, west to Missouri. Rich deciduous forests, often near streams.

Tsi yu gi (yellow plant) (cherokee), Yellow paint root (iroquois), Hydrastis Rhizoma (latin_pharmaceutical)

Southern and Eastern Africa — South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe.

inKomfe (zulu), iLabatheka (zulu), Molikharatsa (sotho), iNongwe (xhosa), Hypoxidis Cormus (latin_pharmaceutical)

Mediterranean region — native to Southern Europe, North Africa, and western Asia.

Δάφνη (Daphne) (greek), Habb al-Ghaar (berry) (unani), Waraq al-Ghaar (leaf) (unani), الغار (Al-Ghaar) (arabic), ورق الغار (Waraq al-Ghaar) (arabic), Lauri Folium / Lauri Fructus (latin_pharmaceutical)

Peruvian Andes, exclusively at 3800-4500m elevation in Junín and Pasco regions. One of the highest-altitude food crops in the world.

Maca (quechua), Maka (quechua), Maca (spanish), Lepidii Meyenii Tuber (latin_pharmaceutical)

Western Amazon Basin — Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil.

Chucchu huasi (quechua), Chuchuhuasi (spanish), Chuchuhuasha (spanish), Mayteni Macrocarpae Cortex (latin_pharmaceutical)

Endemic to northeastern New South Wales, Australia. Grows in swampy, low-lying areas along creeks and rivers.

Various local names across Bundjalung country (aboriginal), Melaleucae Aetheroleum (latin_pharmaceutical)

Hybrid origin (M. aquatica x M. spicata); cultivated worldwide in temperate regions.

Μίνθα (Mintha) (greek), Ηδύοσμος (Hedyosmos) (greek), نعنع (Na'na) (arabic), पुदीना (Pudina) (ayurveda), Mint (general) (egyptian), Various tribal names (native_american), Menthae Piperitae Folium (latin_pharmaceutical)

Pan-tropical: native to tropical Africa, widely cultivated in Asia, Caribbean, South America. Major food and medicine crop.

苦瓜 (Ku Gua) (tcm), Karela (unani), करवेल्लक (Karavellaka) (ayurveda), Ampalaya (filipino), Momordicae Charantiae Fructus (latin_pharmaceutical)

Indo-Pacific region — from India through Southeast Asia to Pacific Islands and northern Australia. Widely distributed across Polynesia.

Noni (maori), Kura (fijian), Nonu (samoan), Nonu (tongan), Noni (hawaiian), Morindae Citrifoliae Fructus (latin_pharmaceutical)

East Asia — China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Siberia.

白芍 (Bai Shao) (tcm), 赤芍 (Chi Shao) (tcm), Shakuyaku (kampo), 작약 (Jakyak) (korean), 芍薬 (Shakuyaku) (japanese), Paeoniae Radix Alba / Paeoniae Radix Rubra (latin_pharmaceutical)

Northeast Asia — Korea, northeastern China (Manchuria), Russian Far East. Wild populations extremely rare; primarily cultivated.

人参 (Ren Shen) (tcm), 인삼 (Insam) (korean), 고려인삼 (Goryeo Insam) (korean), 人参 (Ninjin) (japanese), Ginseng Radix (latin_pharmaceutical)

Pan-tropical: native to tropical Americas; naturalized throughout India, Southeast Asia, Africa, Pacific Islands.

Chanca piedra (spanish), भूम्यामलकी (Bhumyamalaki) (ayurveda), Quebra-pedra (portuguese), Phyllanthi Niruri Herba (latin_pharmaceutical)

Pacific Islands — Vanuatu (likely center of domestication), Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Hawaii, Papua New Guinea. Cultivated vegetatively (does not produce seeds).

Kavakava (maori), Yaqona (fijian), 'Ava (samoan), Kava (tongan), 'Awa (hawaiian), Piperis Methystici Rhizoma (latin_pharmaceutical)

Endemic to Hawaiian Islands. Found in mesic to wet forests at 200-1800m elevation.

Māmaki (hawaiian), Pipturi Albidi Folium (latin_pharmaceutical)

Native to western Asia (Iran, India, Pakistan). India produces > 80% of world supply (Rajasthan, Gujarat).

Ispaghula (اسپغول) (unani), इसबगोल (Isabgol) (ayurveda), Plantaginis Ovatae Semen / Testa (latin_pharmaceutical)

Southern Europe, North Africa, Central Asia; naturalized throughout temperate regions

Λεύκη (Leuke) (greek), Populi Cortex (latin_pharmaceutical)

Afromontane forests across sub-Saharan Africa at 1500-3000m elevation.

umKhakhayi (zulu), iNyazangoma (zulu), Muiri (kikuyu), Pruni Africanae Cortex (latin_pharmaceutical)

Native to Mexico, Central America, and Caribbean; now pantropically distributed. One of the most widely cultivated tropical fruits.

番石榴 (Fan Shi Liu) (tcm), Mupeera (Luganda) (african), Mpera (Swahili) (african), Guayaba (spanish), अमृतफल (Amritaphala) (ayurveda), Psidii Guajavae Folium (latin_pharmaceutical)

Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Greece. Galls formed by wasp (Cynips gallae-tinctoriae) oviposition on twigs.

Manjakani (malay), Mazu (مازو) (unani), Mazuphali (unani), عفص (Afas) (arabic), மாசிக்காய் (Masikkai) (siddha), Quercus Infectoria Galla (latin_pharmaceutical)

Europe, Central Asia, North Africa; naturalized worldwide in temperate zones

柳 (Liu) (tcm), 柳白皮 (Liu Bai Pi — bark) (tcm), Ἰτέα (Itea) (greek), trt (Tjeret) (egyptian), Salicis cortex (latin_pharmaceutical)

China (Sichuan, Anhui, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu provinces), Japan, Korea

丹参 (Dan Shen) (tcm), Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (latin_pharmaceutical)

Indian subcontinent — northern India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar.

குங்கிலியம் (Kungiliyam — resin) (tamil), Saalai (tamil), Kungiliyam (siddha), Shala (ayurveda), Sarj (ayurveda), Shoreae Robustae Resina (latin_pharmaceutical)

Himalayan region — Nepal, northern India, Bhutan, southwestern China. Found at 1200-3000m elevation.

Chiraito (nepali), ཏིག་ཏ (Tig-ta) (tibetan), किरातटिक्त (Kiratatikta) (ayurveda), Chirayata (ayurveda), Swertiae Chirayitae Herba (latin_pharmaceutical)

South and Southeast Asia — India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, China.

诃子 (He Zi) (tcm), ཨ་རུ་ར (A-ru-ra) (tibetan), हरीतकी (Haritaki) (ayurveda), Terminalia Chebulae Fructus (latin_pharmaceutical)

Cosmopolitan weed: native to Mediterranean, southern Europe, southern Asia, Africa, and Australia. Found in warm temperate to tropical regions worldwide.

蒺藜 (Ji Li) (tcm), Khar-e-Khasak (خار خسک) (unani), गोक्षुर (Gokshura) (ayurveda), Tribuli Terrestris Herba / Fructus (latin_pharmaceutical)

Eastern Mediterranean and South Asia (origin). Cultivated worldwide — India, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco.

胡芦巴 (Hu Lu Ba) (tcm), Hulba (حلبة) (unani), मेथिका (Methika) (ayurveda), Methi (ayurveda), Hilbeh (egyptian), Trigonellae Foenugraeci Semen (latin_pharmaceutical)

Eastern and central North America — from southern Quebec to Florida, west to the Dakotas and Texas.

Ozhiishiigobag (ojibwe), Ladiga (cherokee), Ulmi Rubrae Cortex (latin_pharmaceutical)

Central and South American tropical rainforests — Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil. Primary commercial source: Peruvian Amazon.

Samento (quechua), Uña de Gato (spanish), Savéntaro (ashaninka), Uncariae Tomentosae Cortex (latin_pharmaceutical)

Europe and western Asia; naturalized in North America. Grows in moist grasslands and woodland margins.

Φου (Phu) (greek), Νάρδος (Nardos) (greek), Balchar (unani), Tagar (unani), Valerianae Radix (latin_pharmaceutical)

Mediterranean region, Central Asia; naturalized in subtropical zones worldwide. Grows along riverbanks and coastal areas.

Λυγαριά (Lygaria) (greek), Ἄγνος (Agnos) (greek), Sambhalu (unani), Mönchspfeffer (german), Agni Casti Fructus (latin_pharmaceutical)

Indian subcontinent, North Africa, Middle East; cultivated worldwide in dry subtropical regions

Asgandh (اسگند) (unani), Ubuvimba (Zulu) (african), अश्वगन्धा (Ashwagandha) (ayurveda), Vajigandha (ayurveda), Balya (ayurveda), Withaniae Radix (latin_pharmaceutical)

Originally from Southeast Asia; now pantropically cultivated. Major producers: India, China, Nigeria, Nepal, Indonesia.

生姜 (Sheng Jiang — fresh) (tcm), 干姜 (Gan Jiang — dried) (tcm), Shokyou (生姜) (kampo), Zanjabil (Adrak — fresh) (unani), Saunth (dried) (unani), زنجبیل (Zanjabil) (arabic), 생강 (Saenggang) (korean), Ga-bur (tibetan), आर्द्रक (Ardraka — fresh) (ayurveda), शुण्ठी (Shunthi — dried) (ayurveda), Awapuhi (Hawaiian) (polynesian), Zingiberis Rhizoma (latin_pharmaceutical)