There are hundreds, if not thousands of medicinal plants around the world. The beneficial effects of these plants have been known since ancient times. This is a handy table of some of those herbs with known medicinal properties.
For each medicinal plant, there is both the Latin name and the common name by which it is more usually known.
Each medicinal herb often has unique active ingredients. So, when we are using a plant for a medicinal purpose it is important to know its Latin name. It is important because the Latin name is unique to a particular plant. Whereas, common names can refer to multiple different plants that may have different herbal ingredients.
Medicinal Herbs by Latin name
| Latin Name | Common Name |
| Abies alba | Silver fir |
| Acacia senegal | Acacia gum |
| Achillea millefolium | Yarrow |
| Acorus calamus | Sweet flag |
| Adhatoda vasica | Malabar nut tree |
| Adiantum pedatum | Maidenhair fern |
| Adonis vernalis | False hellebore |
| Aegopodium podagraria | Ground elder |
| Aesculus hippocastanum | Horse chestnut |
| Agrimonia eupatoria | Agrimony |
| Agropyron repens/ Elymus repens | Couch grass |
| Ajuga reptans | Bugle |
| Albizia julibrissin | Mimosa |
| Alchemilla arvensis | Parsley piert |
| Alchemilla vulgaris | Ladies mantle |
| Alliaria petiolata | Garlic mustard |
| Allium sativum | Garlic |
| Allium ursinum | Wild garlic |
| Alnus glutinosa | Alder |
| Aloe vera | Aloes |
| Aloysia citriodora | Lemon verbena |
| Alpinia officinarum | Galangal |
| Althaea officinalis/ rosea | Marshmallow/ hollyhock |
| Amenopsis californica | Yerba mansa |
| Ammi visnaga | Kella |
| Andrographis paniculata | Andrographis |
| Anethum graveolens | Dill |
| Angelica archangelica | Angelica |
| Angelica sinensis | Dong-quai |
| Apium graveolens | Celery |
| Aralia racemose | Spikenard |
| Arctium lappa | Burdock |
| Arctostaphylos uva ursi | Bearberry |
| Areca catechu | Betel nuts |
| Armoracia rusticana | Horseradish |
| Arnica montana | Arnica |
| Artemisia abrotanum | Southernwood |
| Artemisia absinthium | Wormwood |
| Artemisia annua | Sweet wormwood |
| Artemisia vulgaris | Mugwort |
| Asclepias tuberosa | Pleurisy root |
| Asparagus racemosa | Shatavari, Wild asparagus |
| Astragalus membranaceus | Milk vetch |
| Avena sativa | Oats |
| Azadirachta indica | Neem |
| Bacopa monniera | Bacopa |
| Ballota nigra | Black horehound |
| Baptisia tinctoria | Indigo |
| Barosma betulina | Buchu |
| Bellis perennis | Daisy |
| Berberis aquifolium | Oregon grape |
| Berberis vulgaris | Barberry |
| Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima | Sea beet |
| Betula alba/ pendula | Silver birch |
| Borago officinalis | Borage |
| Boswellia serrata | Frankincense |
| Bupleurum falcatum | Hares ear root |
| Calendula officinalis | Marigold |
| Calluna vulgaris | Heather |
| Capsella bursa-pastoris | Shepherd's purse |
| Capsicum spp. | Cayenne |
| Carica papaya | Pawpaw |
| Carum carvi | Caraway |
| Cassia acutifolia/ angustifolia | Senna |
| Caulophyllum thalictroides | Blue cohosh |
| Centaurium erythraea | Centaury |
| Centella asiatica | Gotu kola |
| Cetraria islandica | Iceland moss |
| Chamaelirium luteum | False unicorn root, helonias root |
| Chamaemelum nobile | Roman chamomile |
| Chamomilla recutita | German chamomile |
| Chelone glabra | Balmony |
| Chionanthus virginicus | Fringetree |
| Chondrus crispus | Irish moss |
| Cimicifuga racemosa | Black cohosh |
| Cinnamomum zeylandicum | Cinnamon |
| Citrus aurantium /limon | Orange and lemon peel |
| Cnicus benedictus | Holy thistle |
| Codonopsis pilosula | Bellflower |
| Coleus forskohlii | Coleus |
| Collinsonia canadensis | Stone root |
| Commiphora molmol | Myrrh |
| Commiphora mukul | Guggul |
| Coptis chinensis | Goldthread |
| Corydalis ambigua | Yan Hu Suo |
| Crataegus spp. | Hawthorn |
| Crataeva nurvala | Varuna |
| Crocus sativus | Saffron |
| Croton eleuteria | Cascarilla |
| Curcuma longa | Turmeric |
| Cyamopsis tetragonolobus | Guar gum |
| Cymbopogon citratus | Lemon grass |
| Cynara scolymus | Globe artichoke leaf |
| Cytisus scoparius | Broom |
| Daucus carota | Wild carrot |
| Dicentra canadensis | Turkey corn |
| Dioscorea villosa | Wild yam |
| Dipsacus sylvestris | Teasel |
| Drosera rotundifolia | Sundew |
| Echinacea purpurea/pallida/angustifolia | Echinacea / Coneflower |
| Echium vulgare | Bugloss |
| Elaeis guineensis | Palm tree |
| Elettaria cardamomum | Cardamom |
| Eleutherococcus senticosus | Siberian ginseng |
| Epilobium parvifoleum | Rosebay willow herb |
| Equisetum arvense | Horsetail |
| Erigeron canadense | Fleabane |
| Eryngium maritinum | Sea holly |
| Eschscholzia californica | Californian poppy |
| Eucalyptus globulus | Eucalyptus |
| Euonymus atropurpureus | Spindle bark |
| Eupatorium perfoliatum | Boneset |
| Eupatorium purpureum | Gravel root |
| Euphrasia officinalis | Eyebright |
| Ferrula asa-foetida | Asafoetida |
| Filipendula ulmaria | Meadowsweet |
| Foeniculum vulgare | Fennel |
| Fucus vesiculosis | Kelp |
| Fumaria officinalis | Fumitory |
| Galega officinalis | Goats rue |
| Galium aparine | Cleavers |
| Galium odoratum | Sweet woodruff |
| Ganoderma lucidum | Reishi mushroom |
| Gaultheria procumbens | Wintergreen |
| Gentiana lutea | Gentian |
| Geranium maculatum | Cranesbill |
| Geum urbanum | Avens |
| Ginkgo biloba | Maidenhair tree |
| Glechoma hederacea | Ground ivy |
| Glycyrrhiza glabra | Liquorice |
| Gnaphalum ulignosum | Cudweed |
| Gossypium hirsutum | Cotton |
| Grifolia frondosa | Maitake |
| Grindelia camporum /robusta | Grindelia |
| Guaiacum officinale | Lignum vitae, tree of life |
| Gymnema sylvestre | Gymnema |
| Gynostemma pentaphyllum | Jiaogulan |
| Hamamelis virginia | Witch hazel |
| Harpagophytum procumbens | Devils claw |
| Hedera helix | Ivy |
| Hemidesmus indica | Indian sarsaparilla |
| Humulus lupulus | Hops |
| Hydrangea arborescens | Seven barks |
| Hydrastis canadensis | Golden seal |
| Hyoscyamus niger | Henbane |
| Hypericum perforatum | St. John's wort |
| Hyssopus officinalis | Hyssop |
| Inula helenium | Elecampane |
| Iris versicolor | Blue flag |
| Juglans cinera /regia | Walnut |
| Juniperus communis | Juniper |
| Lactuca virosa | Wild lettuce |
| Lamium album | White deadnettle |
| Larrea tridentata | Chapparral |
| Lavandula angustifoia | Lavender |
| Leonurus cardiaca | Motherwort |
| Levisticum officinale | Lovage |
| Ligusticum porteri | Osha |
| Linum usitatissimum | Linseed, flaxseed |
| Lycium chinensis | Chinese wolfberry; Goji berry |
| Lycopus europaeus | Gypsywort |
| Magnolia officinalis | Magnolia bark |
| Malva sylvestris | Common mallow |
| Marrubium vulgare | White horehound |
| Medicago sativa | Alfalfa |
| Melaleuca alternifolia | Tea tree |
| Melilotus officinalis | Sweet melilot |
| Melissa officinalis | Lemon balm |
| Mentha piperita | Peppermint |
| Menyanthes trifoliata | Bogbean |
| Mitchella repens | Partridge berry |
| Morus alba /nigra | Mulberry |
| Myrica cerifera | Bayberry |
| Myristica fragrans | Nutmeg |
| Myrrhis odorata | Sweet cicely |
| Narcissus pseudonarcissus | Daffodil |
| Nepeta cataria | Catnip |
| Nigella sativa | Black cumin |
| Ocimum basilicum | Sweet basil |
| Ocimum tenuiflorum | Holy basil, tulsi |
| Oenothera biennis | Evening primrose |
| Olea europaea | Olive |
| Origanum vulgare | Oregano, marjoram |
| Paecilomyces hepialid | cordyceps |
| Paeonia lactiflora | White peony |
| Panax ginseng | Ginseng |
| Papaver somniferum | Opium |
| Parietaria diffusa | Pellitory of the wall |
| Passiflora incarnata | Passionflower |
| Pelargonium sidoides | Pelargonium |
| Petasites hybridus | Butterbur |
| Petroselinum crispum | Parsley |
| Peumus boldo | Boldo |
| Picrasma excelsa | Quassia |
| Pimento dioica | Allspice |
| Pimpinella anisum | Aniseed |
| Pinus sylvestris | Scots pine |
| Piper methysticum | Kava kava |
| Piscidia erythrina | Jamaican dogwood |
| Plantago lanceolata /major | Ribwort, plantain |
| Plantago ovata /psyllium | Psyllium |
| Polygonatum multiflorum | Solomons seal |
| Polygonum bistorta | Bistort |
| Polygonum multiflorum | Flowery knotweed |
| Populus gileadensis | Balm of Gilead |
| Potentilla erecta | Tormentil |
| Primula veris | Cowslip |
| Primula vulgaris | Primrose |
| Prunella vulgaris | Self heal |
| Prunus serotina | Wild cherry |
| Pueraria lobata | Kudzu |
| Pulmonaria vulgaris | Lungwort |
| Pulsatilla vulgaris | Pasque flower |
| Quercus robur | Oak |
| Ranunculus ficaria | Pilewort |
| Rehmannia glutinosa | Chinese foxglove |
| Rhamnus frangula /cathartica | Alder buckthorn |
| Rhamnus purshiana | Cascara sagrada, Californian buckthorn |
| Rheum palmatum /officinale | Rhubarb |
| Rhodiola rosea | Roseroot |
| Rhus aromatica /glabra | Sumach |
| Ribes nigrum and rubrum | Blackcurrant, redcurrant |
| Ricinus communis | Castor oil |
| Rosa damascena | Rose |
| Rosmarinus officinalis | Rosemary |
| Rubus idaeus | Raspberry |
| Rumex acetosa | Common sorrel |
| Rumex crispus | Curled dock |
| Ruscus aculeatus | Butchers broom |
| Ruta graveolens | Rue |
| Salix alba | White willow |
| Salix nigra | Black willow |
| Salvia miltiorrhiza | Red root sage, dan shen |
| Salvia officinalis | Sage |
| Sambucus nigra | Elder |
| Sanguinaria canadensis | Bloodroot |
| Santalum album | Sandalwood |
| Saponaria officinalis | Soapwort |
| Schizandra chinensis | Chinese Mongolian vine |
| Scrophularia nodosa | Figwort |
| Scutellaria baicalensis | Baical skullcap |
| Scutellaria lateriflora | Skullcap |
| Selenicerus grandiflorus | Night blooming cactus |
| Sempervirum tectorum | Houseleek |
| Seneco aureus | Liferoot |
| Seneco vulgaris | Groundsel |
| Serenoa repens | Saw palmetto |
| Silybum marianum | Milk thistle |
| Smilax ornata | Sarsaparilla |
| Smyrnium olusatrum | Alexanders |
| Solanum dulcamara | Bittersweet |
| Solidago virgaurea | Goldenrod |
| Sonchus spp | Sow thistle |
| Sophora japonica | Chinese scholar tree |
| Spirulina | Blue green algae |
| Stachys betonica | Wood betony |
| Stellaria media | Chickweed |
| Stemona japonica | Stemona root |
| Stillingia sylvatica | Queen's delight |
| Symphytum officinale | Comfrey |
| Syringia vulgaris | Lilac |
| Syzygium aromaticum | Cloves |
| Tabebuia impetigonosa | Pau d'arco |
| Tanacetum parthenium | Feverfew |
| Tanacetum vulgare | Tansy |
| Taraxacum officinale | Dandelion |
| Terminalia arjuna | Arjun |
| Thuja occidentalis | Arbor vitae |
| Thymus vulgaris /serphyllum | Thyme |
| Tilia cordata /europaea | Linden, Limeflower |
| Tinospora cordifolia | Amrita |
| Tribulus terrestris | Tribulus |
| Trifolium pratense | Red clover |
| Trigonella foenum graecum | Fenugreek |
| Trillium erectum | Bethroot |
| Tropaeolum majus | Nasturtium |
| Turnera diffusa | Damiana |
| Ulmus fulva /glabra | Slippery elm |
| Uncaria tomentosa | Cat's claw |
| Urtica dioica | Nettle |
| Usnea barbata | Old man's beard |
| Vaccinium macrocarpon | Cranberry |
| Vaccinium myrtillus | Bilberry |
| Valeriana officinalis | Valerian |
| Verbascum thapsus | Mullein |
| Verbena officinalis | Vervain |
| Veronica beccabunga | Brooklime |
| Viburnum opulus | Guelder rose, cramp bark |
| Viburnum prunifolium | Black haw bark |
| Vinca major | Periwinkle |
| Vinca minor | Lesser periwinkle |
| Viola odorata | Sweet violet |
| Viola tricolor | Heartsease |
| Viscum album | Mistletoe |
| Vitex agnus-castus | Chaste tree |
| Withania somnifera | Ashwagandha |
| Zanthoxylum americanum /clava herculis | Prickly ash |
| Zea mays | Corn silk |
| Zingiber officinale | Ginger |
| Zizyphus jujube | Chinese sour date |
This table of medicinal plants is provided for information and educational use.
Each plant here has medicinal uses and may be called a herbal remedy. They all have a tradition of use in folk medicine. However, to use a plant or herb in herbal medicine it is important to learn about it first.
A medicinal herb or herbal product can interfere with prescription medicine. So, unless you are trained to use herbal medicine it is best to seek the advice of a qualified medical herbalist.