Herb Compendium

Browse the herb library

A live herb reference grounded in route, safety, and botanical identity. Some herbs already carry full curated companion architecture; the broader index remains browsable while that depth expands.

100

herb entries

Route

preparation shapes the claim

Safety

front-loaded, not buried

A to Z

All herbs

Aloe Vera

Mixed

Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f.

The Gel Repairer

skin-externalArabian Peninsula and North Africa, now cultivated globally in warm climates2000+

Andrographis

Mixed

Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees

The Cold Bitter

immune-supportIndia and Sri Lanka, now cultivated across South and Southeast Asia1000+

Arnica

Mixed

Arnica montana L.

The Trauma Flower

healing-protectiveEuropean mountain regions1000+

Ashwagandha

Mixed

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal

The Recovery Root

calming-sleepIndia, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East3000+

Astragalus

Mixed

Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge

The Protective Root

adaptogens-mushroomsNorthern and Eastern China, Mongolia, and Korea2000+

Basil

Mixed

Ocimum basilicum L.

The Everyday Uplifter

kitchen-everydayTropical Asia and the Indian subcontinent2000+

Bee Balm

Mixed

Monarda fistulosa L.

The Aromatic Lift

immune-supportNorth America1000+ Indigenous use

Bergamot

Mixed

Citrus bergamia Risso & Poit.

The Balancer

energizing-clarityCalabria, Italy, with the modern commercial crop concentrated there500+

Black Cohosh

Mixed

Actaea racemosa L.

The Transition Root

womens-healthEastern North America1000+ Indigenous use

Black Seed

Mixed

Nigella sativa L.

The Hot Seed Tonic

immune-supportMediterranean region, Southwest Asia, and North Africa2000+

Blue Lotus

Mixed

Nymphaea caerulea Savigny

The Dream Bloom

nervine-sedativeNortheastern Africa, especially the Nile region3000+

Blue Vervain

Mixed

Verbena hastata L.

The Bitter Neck Herb

nervine-anxiolyticNorth America1000+ Indigenous use

Burdock

Mixed

Arctium lappa L.

The Deep Pulling Root

hepatic-detoxEurope and Asia, now naturalized broadly2000+

Calendula

Mixed

Calendula officinalis L.

The Surface Mender

healing-protectiveMediterranean region, now cultivated widely1000+

California Poppy

Mixed

Eschscholzia californica Cham.

The Soft Night Flower

nervine-sedativeWestern North America, especially California1000+ Indigenous use

Cardamom

Mixed

Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton

The Elegant Digestive

kitchen-everydaySouthern India and Sri Lanka, with broader cultivation in Guatemala and elsewhere2000+

Cat's Claw

Mixed

Uncaria tomentosa (Willd. ex Schult.) DC.

The Hooked Vine Rebuilder

immune-supportAmazonian regions of Peru and surrounding South America1000+ Indigenous use

Catnip

Mixed

Nepeta cataria L.

The Gentle Downshift

nervine-tonicEurope and Asia, now naturalized widely1000+

CBD

Mixed

Cannabis sativa L.

The Formulation Problem

nervine-anxiolyticCannabis lineages cultivated globally; commercial CBD is usually hemp-derivedmodern extract lane, built on older cannabis traditions

Cedarwood

Mixed

Cedrus atlantica (Endl.) Manetti ex Carriere / Juniperus virginiana L.

The Wooden Settler

grounding-sacredNorth Africa for Atlas cedar, eastern North America for Virginia cedar2000+

Ceremonial Tobacco

Mixed

Nicotiana rustica L.

The Sovereign Leaf

spiritual-ceremonialIndigenous cultivation across the Americas; *Nicotiana rustica* is a specific ceremonial lineage1000+ Indigenous ceremonial use

Chamomile

Mixed

Matricaria chamomilla L. / Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All.

The Soft Reset

calming-sleepEurope and Western Asia, now naturalized and cultivated widely3000+

Cinnamon

Mixed

Cinnamomum verum J.Presl

The Hot Bark

kitchen-everydaySri Lanka for true cinnamon; related cultivated lineages across South and Southeast Asia3000+

Clary Sage

Mixed

Salvia sclarea L.

The Loosener

heart-creativeMediterranean basin, Southern Europe, and Western Asia2000+

Comfrey

Mixed

Symphytum officinale L.

The Bone Knitter

skin-externalEurope and Western Asia2000+

Copal

Mixed

Bursera bipinnata (DC.) Engl.

The Bright Resin

spiritual-ceremonialMexico and Mesoamerica, with species variation by region2000+

Cordyceps

Mixed

Cordyceps militaris (L.) Fr.

The Endurance Builder

adaptogens-mushroomsTibetan Plateau and Himalayan regions for wild lineages; now widely cultivated in East Asia1000+

Damiana

Mixed

Turnera diffusa Willd. ex Schult.

The Brightening Leaf

nervine-tonicMexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean1000+

Dandelion

Mixed

Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg.

The Everyday Bitter

hepatic-detoxEurope and Asia, now naturalized globally2000+

Dong Quai

Mixed

Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels

The Blood Mover

womens-healthChina, Korea, and Japan2000+

Dragon's Blood

Mixed

Croton lechleri Mull. Arg.

The Sealing Resin

spiritual-ceremonialNorthwestern South America for *Croton lechleri* lineages used medicinally1000+ Indigenous use

Echinacea

Mixed

Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench

The Short-Course Defender

healing-protectiveCentral and Eastern North America1000+ Indigenous use

Elderberry

Mixed

Sambucus nigra L.

The Dark Hedge Berry

immune-supportEurope and Western Asia, with related medicinal species in North America2000+

Elecampane

Mixed

Inula helenium L.

The Rooted Expectorant

respiratory-supportEurope and Western Asia2000+

Eucalyptus

Mixed

Eucalyptus globulus Labill.

The Breath Opener

energizing-clarityAustralia, especially Tasmania and southeastern regions for *Eucalyptus globulus*50000+ Aboriginal use

Evening Primrose

Mixed

Oenothera biennis L.

The Softening Seed

womens-healthNorth America, now naturalized and cultivated widely1000+

Fennel

Mixed

Foeniculum vulgare Mill.

The Sweet Carminative

kitchen-everydayMediterranean basin, now naturalized widely2000+

Frankincense

Mixed

Boswellia sacra Flueck. / Boswellia carterii Birdw.

The Deepener

grounding-sacredArabian Peninsula (especially Oman and Yemen) and the Horn of Africa5000+

Gentian

Mixed

Gentiana lutea L.

The Bitter Switch

bitter-digestiveMountain regions of Central and Southern Europe2000+

Geranium

Mixed

Pelargonium graveolens L'Her.

The Balancing Rose

heart-creativeSouthern Africa, especially South Africa, now cultivated widely300+

Ginger

Mixed

Zingiber officinale Roscoe

The Warm Mover

energizing-claritySouth and Southeast Asia, now cultivated across the tropics3000+

Hawthorn

Mixed

Crataegus monogyna Jacq.

The Heart Guard

cardiovascular-nervineEurope, Western Asia, and North Africa1000+

Hops

Mixed

Humulus lupulus L.

The Heavy Quiet

calming-sleepEurope and Western Asia, now cultivated across temperate regions2000+

Jasmine

Mixed

Jasminum grandiflorum L. / Jasminum sambac (L.) Aiton

The Lifted Heart

heart-creativeSouth Asia and the Arabian region, with long cultivation through India, Persia, and the Mediterranean2000+

Kava

Mixed

Piper methysticum G. Forst.

The Social Unarmorer

nervine-sedativeSouth Pacific islands3000+

Lavender

Mixed

Lavandula angustifolia Mill.

The Calmer

calming-sleepWestern Mediterranean, now cultivated globally2500+

Lemon Balm

Mixed

Melissa officinalis L.

The Bright Soother

calming-sleepMediterranean basin and Western Asia, now cultivated broadly2000+

Lemongrass

Mixed

Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf

The Bright Edge

kitchen-everydaySouth and Southeast Asia1500+

Licorice

Mixed

Glycyrrhiza glabra L.

The Sweet Root

kitchen-everydaySouthern Europe, the Mediterranean, and Western Asia3000+

Linden

Mixed

Tilia europaea L.

The Evening Blossom

cardiovascular-nervineEurope and Western Asia1000+

Lion's Mane

Mixed

Hericium erinaceus (Bull.) Pers.

The Neural Nourisher

adaptogens-mushroomsTemperate forests of North America, Europe, and Asia1000+

Lobelia

Mixed

Lobelia inflata L.

The Small Sharp Corrective

respiratory-antispasmodicEastern North America1000+ Indigenous use

Maca

Mixed

Lepidium meyenii Walp.

The Builder

adaptogens-mushroomsCentral Andes of Peru1500+

Marshmallow Root

Mixed

Althaea officinalis L.

The Coating Root

healing-protectiveEurope, Western Asia, and North Africa2000+

Milk Thistle

Mixed

Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.

The Liver Guard

hepatic-detoxMediterranean basin, now cultivated widely2000+

Moringa

Mixed

Moringa oleifera Lam.

The Green Rebuilder

nutritive-tonicIndian subcontinent, now cultivated across tropical and subtropical regions1000+

Motherwort

Mixed

Leonurus cardiaca L.

The Heart Unclencher

cardiovascular-nervineEurope and Asia, now naturalized widely1000+

Mugwort

Mixed

Artemisia vulgaris L.

The Threshold Herb

healing-protectiveEurope, Asia, and North Africa, now naturalized widely2000+

Mullein

Mixed

Verbascum thapsus L.

The Lung Blanket

respiratory-supportEurope, North Africa, and Asia, now naturalized widely2000+

Myrrh

Mixed

Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl.

The Bitter Resin

grounding-sacredArabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa, especially Somalia and Ethiopia5000+

Neem

Mixed

Azadirachta indica A. Juss.

The Bitter Purifier

skin-externalIndian subcontinent2000+

Neroli

Mixed

Citrus aurantium L. var. amara

The Acute Softener

heart-creativeBitter orange is rooted in South and Southeast Asia, while neroli oil became established through Mediterranean cultivation1000+

Nettle Root

Mixed

Urtica dioica L.

The Hidden Root

mens-healthEurope, Asia, and North America1000+

Olive Leaf

Mixed

Olea europaea L.

The Bitter Mediterranean Guard

immune-supportMediterranean basin2000+

Oregano

Mixed

Origanum vulgare L.

The Hot Small Corrective

immune-supportMediterranean basin2000+

Oregon Grape

Mixed

Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt.

The Bitter Bark Corrector

hepatic-detoxWestern North America1000+ Indigenous use

Osha Root

Mixed

Ligusticum porteri J.M. Coult. & Rose

The Mountain Respiratory

respiratory-supportRocky Mountain regions of the western United States1000+ Indigenous use

Palo Santo

Mixed

Bursera graveolens (Kunth) Triana & Planch.

The Resinous Boundary

spiritual-ceremonialCoastal dry forests of South America, especially Ecuador and Peru1000+

Passionflower

Mixed

Passiflora incarnata L.

The Unwinder

calming-sleepSoutheastern United States, Central America, and parts of South America1000+

Patchouli

Mixed

Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth.

The Grounded Sensualist

grounding-sacredSoutheast Asia, especially Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia1000+

Peppermint

Mixed

Mentha x piperita L.

The Midday Reset

energizing-clarityEurope as a natural hybrid of watermint and spearmint3500+

Pine Pollen

Mixed

Pinus massoniana Lamb.

The Golden Provocation

mens-healthEast Asia for the most common medicinal lineages; pine species vary by source1000+

Plantain

Mixed

Plantago major L.

The Green Drawer

vulnerary-demulcentEurope and temperate Asia, now naturalized globally2000+

Red Raspberry Leaf

Mixed

Rubus idaeus L.

The Preparation Leaf

womens-healthEurope and Northern Asia, now cultivated widely1000+

Reishi

Mixed

Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst.

The Long-Game Mushroom

adaptogens-mushroomsEast Asia, with related cultivation and wild collection across temperate regions2000+

Rhodiola

Mixed

Rhodiola rosea L.

The Alpine Responder

adaptogens-mushroomsArctic and alpine regions of Europe, Asia, and North America1000+

Rose

Mixed

Rosa damascena Mill.

The Heart Softener

heart-creativeMiddle East and Central Asia, later cultivated widely across Europe and beyond2500+

Rosemary

Mixed

Salvia rosmarinus (syn. Rosmarinus officinalis L.)

The Activator

energizing-clarityMediterranean basin, now cultivated globally5000+

Saffron

Mixed

Crocus sativus L.

The Red Lift

nervine-nootropicEastern Mediterranean and Southwest Asia3000+

Sage

Mixed

Salvia officinalis L.

The Dry Clarifier

energizing-clarityMediterranean basin2500+

Sandalwood

Mixed

Santalum album L.

The Quiet Center

grounding-sacredIndia and parts of Southeast Asia3000+

Saw Palmetto

Mixed

Serenoa repens (W. Bartram) Small

The Protective Berry

mens-healthSoutheastern United States1000+ Indigenous use

Schisandra

Mixed

Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill.

The Five-Flavor Tonic

adaptogens-mushroomsNorthern China, Korea, and the Russian Far East2000+

Skullcap

Mixed

Scutellaria lateriflora L.

The Nerve Unclencher

nervine-sedativeNorth America and parts of Europe1000+

St. John's Wort

Mixed

Hypericum perforatum L.

The Sun-Threaded Herb

healing-protectiveEurope, Western Asia, and North Africa, now naturalized broadly2000+

Sweetgrass

Mixed

Anthoxanthum nitens (Weber) Y. Schouten & Veldkamp

The Braided Welcome

spiritual-ceremonialNorthern North America and parts of northern Eurasia1000+ Indigenous use

Tea Tree

Mixed

Melaleuca alternifolia (Maiden & Betche) Cheel

The Sterile Edge

skin-externalAustralia (New South Wales)40000+ Aboriginal use

Thyme

Mixed

Thymus vulgaris L.

The Hot Cleanser

kitchen-everydayMediterranean basin2000+

Tribulus

Mixed

Tribulus terrestris L.

The Thorny Drive Herb

mens-healthMediterranean region, Africa, Asia, and Australia1000+

Tulsi (Holy Basil)

Mixed

Ocimum tenuiflorum L. (syn. Ocimum sanctum L.)

The Uplifting Adaptogen

energizing-clarityIndian subcontinent3000+

Turmeric

Mixed

Curcuma longa L.

The Golden Root

heart-creativeSouth Asia, especially India, now cultivated throughout the tropics3000+

Valerian

Mixed

Valeriana officinalis L.

The Night Root

calming-sleepEurope and Western Asia, widely cultivated in temperate regions2000+

Vetiver

Mixed

Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty

The Anchor

grounding-sacredIndian subcontinent, now widely cultivated in Haiti, Indonesia, and other tropical regions1000+

Vitex

Mixed

Vitex agnus-castus L.

The Timing Berry

womens-healthMediterranean region and Western Asia2000+

White Sage

Mixed

Salvia apiana Jeps.

The Clearing Herb

grounding-sacredSouthern California and Baja California5000+ Indigenous use

Witch Hazel

Mixed

Hamamelis virginiana L.

The Astringent Bark

healing-protectiveEastern North America1000+ Indigenous use

Wood Betony

Mixed

Stachys officinalis (L.) Trevis.

The Head Clearer

nervine-tonicEurope, North Africa, and Western Asia1500+

Yarrow

Mixed

Achillea millefolium L.

The Boundary Herb

healing-protectiveEurope, Western Asia, and North America3000+

Yellow Dock

Mixed

Rumex crispus L.

The Sour Root Corrective

hepatic-detoxEurope and Western Asia, now naturalized widely1000+

Ylang Ylang

Mixed

Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook.f. & Thomson

The Unclencher

heart-creativeThe Philippines, Indonesia, and the wider Malay archipelago; now cultivated heavily in the Comoros1000+