Western Herbalism
A living tradition rooted in ancient Greek and Roman medicine, refined over centuries into modern phytotherapy.
Europe & Americas
History & Philosophy
Origins
Western herbalism traces to ancient Greek and Roman medicine — particularly Hippocrates and Galen — carried through medieval European monastery gardens, and later codified in influential texts like Nicholas Culpeper's 1653 herbal.
Core philosophy
Historically rooted in humoral theory (the balance of blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile), the tradition evolved through Eclectic and Thomsonian movements in 19th-century America into what's now largely evidence-informed clinical phytotherapy.
Practiced today
Modern Western herbalists train through formal clinical herbalism programs, working alongside — rather than instead of — conventional medicine, with an emphasis on whole-plant preparations, individualized formulas, and a growing evidence base from pharmacognosy research.
Herbs, foods & remedies
201 herbs traditionally used within Western Herbalism — most often for Digestive Issues, Inflammation, Skin Health.
Agrimony
Agrimonia eupatoria
Andrographis
Andrographis paniculata
Arnica
Arnica montana
Ashoka
Saraca asoca
Bayberry
Myrica cerifera
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Beth Root
Trillium erectum
Bistort
Persicaria bistorta
Black Cohosh
Actaea racemosa
Black Haw
Viburnum prunifolium
Black Walnut Hull
Juglans nigra
Bladderwrack
Fucus vesiculosus
Blessed Thistle
Cnicus benedictus
Blood Root
Sanguinaria canadensis
Blue Cohosh
Caulophyllum thalictroides
Blue Flag
Iris versicolor
Boneset
Eupatorium perfoliatum
Borage
Borago officinalis
Bugleweed
Lycopus virginicus
Burdock Root
Arctium lappa
Butcher's Broom
Ruscus aculeatus
Calendula
Calendula officinalis
California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
Capsicum (Cayenne)
Capsicum annuum
Caraway
Carum carvi
Cascara Sagrada
Frangula purshiana
Cat's Claw
Uncaria tomentosa
Catnip
Nepeta cataria
Celery Seed
Apium graveolens
Centaury
Centaurium erythraea
Chamomile
Matricaria chamomilla
Chickweed
Stellaria media
Cinnamon
Cinnamomum verum
Clary Sage
Salvia sclarea
Cleavers
Galium aparine
Clove
Syzygium aromaticum
Coltsfoot
Tussilago farfara
Comfrey
Symphytum officinale
Cornsilk
Zea mays
Couch Grass
Elymus repens
Showing the first 40 of 201 — use “See all” above for the full, filterable list.