One of my all time-favorite websites is Dr. Leslie Taylor's Rain-tree.com She has compiled a plant database of the many plants and herbs used by indigenous peoples of the Brazilian and South American rain forests that has to be seen in order to fully appreciate it. The database has information about historical use, modern studies, plant compounds, side effects and more for each plant, as well as beautiful photos of each and every plant.
I urge everyone to go take a look and browse a bit. Here is the link to the common plant name database:
You can also search by botanical name, ethnic uses, conditions and actions. As an example, some of the plants used by indigenous peoples for cancer include:
When you look carefully at the history of uses and the studies that have verified many of those uses, you will wonder why we do not see more of them used by modern medicine. The answer is sadly simple: you cannot patent a plant and so they are unprofitable and unattractive to pharmaceutical companies. In fact, they are viewed as competition and information about them as well as products that contain them are suppressed.
Besides the comprehensive plant database, the rain-tree website contains much, much more information and some wonderful photos too. As you will find out, the endangered rain forests really are the natural lungs and pharmacy of the earth.
Like I said, go visit and take a tour around the site - it's a treat!