European Folk Medicine

Recognized in Europe as a traditional herbal medicine, used on the skin for bruises, sprains and muscle pain.

Recognized in Europe as a traditional herbal medicine for indigestion, based on at least 30 years of use, including 15 in the EU.

Dried bilberries are a traditional EU herbal medicine for mild diarrhea and for minor inflammation inside the mouth.

Leaves used by the Basque people for sleeplessness, stomach aches and palpitations.

Used as a medicine in Germany since the late 1800s. The European Medicines Agency recognizes it for menopausal hot flushes and heavy sweating.

A traditional herbal medicine in the EU, used alongside a reduced-calorie diet to help weight loss.

Recognized in Europe as a traditional herbal medicine for loss of appetite, minor urinary complaints and oily, flaky skin.

Recognized in Europe as a traditional herbal medicine for minor skin inflammation, minor wounds, and mouth or throat inflammation.

Recognized in Europe as a traditional herbal medicine for bloating and wind, based on long-standing use.

Long used as a folk remedy in Western Siberia and Russia for immunity and inflammation.

Once believed to promote chastity and used by monks in the Middle Ages. Recognized by the European Medicines Agency as a traditional remedy for minor symptoms in the days before a period.

Coriander seed is a minor ingredient (about 13–40% by weight) in traditional German and Spanish herbal tea blends for digestive complaints such as fullness and gas, alongside fennel, caraway, chamomile, peppermint or yarrow. This is documented in a European Medicines Agency report. Coriander has no official European herbal profile of its own.

Recognized by the European Medicines Agency as a traditional herbal medicine for mild digestive cramps, bloating and gas, and for mild diarrhea.

Clove oil is recognized in Europe as a traditional medicine for toothache and minor mouth and throat inflammation.

Used for centuries on painful muscles and joints; recognised in Europe as a traditional cream for minor sprains and bruises.

Probably recommended for dressing wounds and stopping bleeding in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Used for coughs, colds, rheumatic aches, ulcers, and stomach and kidney problems; the bark for stomach or uterine bleeding and haemorrhoids.

Used in Europe for mild digestive complaints historically linked to bile flow, and to increase urination. Some German dandelion medicines have been sold since 1976.

Dill comes from southern Europe and has a long history of folk use there. Egyptian physicians used it about 5,000 years ago, and traces have been found in Roman ruins in Britain. Dill is the classic ingredient in gripe water, a traditional European remedy given to babies for colic and gas.

Berries used for colds and flu; elder flower recognized in Europe as a traditional medicine for early cold symptoms.

Used in Irish and wider European medicine for coughs, lung problems and skin ailments.

Recognized in Europe as a traditional herbal medicine for sore throats, dry and cold-related coughs, and minor skin inflammation.

Recognized in Europe as a traditional herbal medicine for cough with a cold.

Leaves used since Greek and Roman times; recognized by the EMA for urine flow.

Recognised in Europe as a traditional remedy to help prevent migraines.

Pumpkin seed is an EU traditional herbal medicine for urinary symptoms.

Recognized by the European Medicines Agency for constipation and, based on long-standing use, for mild stomach and gut discomfort.

Recognized by the European Medicines Agency as a traditional herbal medicine to help prevent hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), alongside other measures, and to relieve cold symptoms.

Recognized by the European Medicines Agency as a traditional herbal medicine for heavy legs and cold hands and feet linked to minor circulation problems.

Recognised in Europe as a traditional remedy to increase urine flow in minor urinary complaints.

Recognized in Europe for long-term poor circulation in the leg veins, and traditionally for heavy legs, piles and fragile skin capillaries.

Recognized in Europe as a traditional herbal medicine for cough with a cold.

Recognized by the European Medicines Agency as a traditional herbal medicine for heart complaints linked to nervousness, such as palpitations, and for mild stress and sleep.

Recognised in Europe as a traditional remedy for mild stress and to help sleep.

Recognized in Europe as a traditional herbal medicine for cough with a cold, indigestion and poor appetite.

Recognized in Europe as a traditional herbal medicine for minor urinary complaints and, used on the skin, for superficial wounds.

Recognized in Europe as a traditional herbal medicine for mouth and throat irritation, dry cough and loss of appetite.

Recognised in Europe as a traditional remedy for mild stress, sleep and mild digestive complaints.

Recognized in Europe as a traditional medicine for cough with a cold and for heartburn and indigestion.

Recognized by the European Medicines Agency as a traditional herbal medicine for cold symptoms and mild mental stress. Traditionally drunk as a tea for anxiety-related indigestion, heart palpitations and vomiting.

Lovage root is an EU traditional herbal medicine for flushing the urinary tract.

Recognized in Europe as a traditional herbal medicine for mouth and throat irritation with dry cough, and mild stomach and gut discomfort.

Recognized in Europe as a traditional herbal medicine for indigestion and to support liver function, based on long-standing use.

Green oat herb is recognised in Europe as a traditional remedy for mild stress and to help sleep.

Used for centuries in Europe for seizures, headaches and menopause symptoms; extracts are now widely prescribed there for people with cancer.

Recognized by the European Medicines Agency as a traditional herbal medicine for nervous tension and nervous heart complaints such as palpitations.

In medieval Europe it was called the "mother of herbs" and used on wounds, for gout, leg tiredness, fever and stomach complaints.

Recognized in Europe as a traditional herbal medicine for sore throat with a dry cough and cold.

Nettle has long been used across Europe as food (a spring vegetable eaten cooked or dried) and in folk medicine: the leaf for joint and muscle pain and to increase urination, and the root for urinary complaints. The official European herbal profiles list local names for nettle root in more than 20 European languages, a sign of how widely it has been used.

Recognised in Europe as a traditional remedy for mild water retention.

In European herbal medicine, parsley has long been used to flush the urinary tract, increase urination, and prevent or treat kidney gravel (small kidney stones). Germany's Commission E formally recognized this use for parsley leaf and root on March 2, 1989.

Technical detail: diuretic.

Brought to Europe by Spanish explorers in the 1500s and used in folk medicine; recognized today as a traditional medicine for mild stress and sleep.

Recognized by the European Medicines Agency as a traditional herbal medicine for minor period cramps, mild mouth or throat inflammation and mild diarrhea.

A traditional EU herbal medicine for relief of stress symptoms such as fatigue and exhaustion.

Recognized in Europe as a traditional medicine for tiredness and weakness.

Used in Europe as a wound dressing, and as nappies and bedding for babies.

Bearberry leaf has been used in Europe for at least 30 years for mild bladder infections.

Recognized in Europe for short-term lower back pain, and traditionally for minor joint pain, fever with colds and headache.

Recognized in Europe as a traditional herbal medicine for minor skin inflammation, itchy piles and mouth inflammation.

Recognized in Europe as a traditional herbal medicine for loss of appetite and mild stomach and gut complaints.

Recognised in Europe as a traditional remedy for appetite, digestion, period cramps and small wounds.