Table 1. Commonly used herbal remedies in Mexico.
| Medicinal plant | Popular names | Cultural uses. |
|---|---|---|
| Nopal | Nopal, Cactus* | Diabetes and others |
| Opuntia ficus-indica; Opuntia fuliginosa; Opuntia hyptiacantha; Opuntia lasciacantha; Opuntia macrocentra, Opuntia violacea; Opuntia megacantha; Opuntia puberula; Opuntia streptacantha, Opuntia cardona; Opuntia velutina | ||
| Pepermint or Mentha | Menta* | Gastrointestinal tract ailments and others |
| Mentha piperita; Mentha; lavanduliodora; Mentha arvensis; Mentha halpocalyx | ||
| Chaparral | ||
| Larrea divaricata; Larrea tridentata; Larrea mexicana; Zygophyllum tridentatum | Gobernadora*, Creosote Bush, Greasewood, Hediondilla, Larreastat. | Arthritis and others |
| Dandelion | ||
| Taraxacum officinale; Taraxacum vulgare; Leontodon taraxacum; Taraxacum dens-leonis | Diente de leon* Blowball, Cankerwort, Common Dandelion, Dudal, Herba Taraxaci, Lion's Tooth | Hepatic and biliary ailments, viral and bacterial infections, cancer and others |
| Mullein | ||
| Verbascum densiflorum; Verbascum phlomides; Verbascum thapiforme; Verbascum thapsus | Gordolobo*, Aaron's Rod, Adam's Flannel, American Mullein, Orange Mullein, Rag Paper | Inflammatory ailments in respiratory tract and others |
| Chamomile | ||
| Matricaria recutita, Chamomilla recutita; Matricaria chamomilla | Manzanilla*, Blue Chamomile, Camomilla, Camomille Allemande, Chamomilla, Echte Kamille, Fleur de Camomile | Gastrointestinal tract ailments and others |
| Nettle or Stinging Nettle | ||
| Urtica dioic; Urtica urens | Ortiga*, Bichu, Common Nettle, Nettle, Ortie, Small Nettle, Urtica, Urticae herba et folium | Genitourinary ailments, nephrolithiasis and others |
| Passionflower | ||
| Passiflora incarnata | Corona de Cristo*, Flor de Passion, Madre Selva, Passionflower, Passiflore, Passiflorina, Passionaria | Insomnia, and anxiety or nervousness |
| Linden | ||
| Tilia europaea; Tilia vulgaris; Tilia cordata, synonyms Tilia parvifolia, Tilia ulmifolia; Tilia tomentosa; Tilia argentea; Tilia platyphyllos; Tilia grandifolia; Tilia rubra | Tila*, European Linden, Lime Flower, Lime Tree, Linden Charcoal, Silver Lime, Tiliae Folium, Tiliae Flos | Insomnia and others |
| Aloe | ||
| Aloe vera; Aloe barbadensis, Aloe indica; Aloe africana; Aloe arborescens; Aloe natalenis, Aloe frutescens, Aloe ucriae; Aloe ferox; Aloe supralaevis; Aloe perryi; Aloe spicata | Zabila*, Aloe Vera, Aloe Latex, Aloe Perfoliata, Burn Plant, Elephant's Gall, Gvarapatha, Gvar Patha, Indian Aloe, and others | Gastrointestinal ailtments, wound healing and others |
Data from: De Smet., 2002; Heinrich, 2003; Federici et al., 2005.
*
Popular names in Mexico.