Medicinal Herbs Database

Large-flowered autumn crocus from Turkey and the Caucasus, colchicine source similar to common autumn crocus.

Highly toxic European plant historical used to execute Socrates; minute pharmaceutical doses used for nerve pain historically.

Shrub endemic to New Zealand considered highly toxic to livestock, but used by Maori in very dilute preparations for pain and as an analgesic — strictly medicinal use only.

Shrub native to North America widely used by Indigenous peoples as medicine and for arrow-making; bark and berries used for pain, fever, and skin conditions.

A TCM herb containing L-tetrahydropalmatine (THP), a dopamine antagonist and potent analgesic; used for pain management including menstrual pain, chest pain, and traumatic injury.

Large bulbous plant of tropical Asian coastlines with fragrant white flowers, used in traditional medicine.

Devil's claw is native to southern Africa and has been used by indigenous San and Khoi peoples for centuries for pain and digestive complaints. It gained popularity in Europe in the 1950s and is now one of the most commonly used herbal analgesics. Its name refers to the fruit's hooked thorns.

Pan-tropical shrub used in African and Indian folk medicine for toothache, wounds, and snakebite.

Bitter tasting wild yam found across tropical Africa, used in traditional medicine for diabetes, pain, and antimicrobial purposes despite toxicity concerns.

Japanese alpine plant; flowers turn translucent when wet; used in Japanese folk medicine for pain relief.

Large evergreen tree native to East and South Africa, used in Zulu and Xhosa traditional medicine for headache, fever, respiratory conditions, and stomach complaints.

East African coral tree used for wound healing, eye conditions, sexually transmitted infections, and as a sedative in traditional medicine.

Moroccan cactus-like succulent; source of resiniferatoxin, one of the most potent natural analgesics known.

Warming TCM herb that disperses cold, relieves pain, and redirects rebellious qi downward. Key herb for cold-type headaches and nausea.

The roots of the African prickly ash tree used in West African traditional medicine for sickle cell disease.

Feverfew is a flowering plant of the daisy family, native to Eurasia but now found worldwide. It has been used since ancient Greek times, primarily for headaches and fever. Modern research has focused on its use for migraine prevention, where it has shown promising results in clinical trials.

A North American woodland plant yielding oil of wintergreen (methyl salicylate); a topical pain reliever with aspirin-like activity; widely used for muscle and joint pain.