SOURCE: http://www.liveindia.com/herbs/index.html

Aloe Vera

Family Name : LILIACEAE

Botanical Name : ALOE VERA, ALOE BARBADENSIS

Common Name : ALOE, BARBADOS ALOE, CURACAO ALOE, INDIAN ALOE, GHI KUNVAR

Part Used : FLOWERS, ROOTS

Habitat : South and South Western India.

Uses :It is useful for X ray burns, Dermatitis, Cutaneous and disorders of skin. Drug from juice is tonic and is used in jaundice, ameneorrhoea, atonic and piles. Aloe Vera Gel has the remarkable ability to heal wounds, ulcer and burns.

Medicinal uses :A. vera is commonly used externally to treat various skin conditions such as cuts, burns and eczema. It is alleged that sap from Aloe vera eases pain and reduces inflammation. Scientific evidence on the effects of Aloe vera sap on wound healing is contradictory (Vogler and Ernst, 1999). A study performed in the 1990s showed that the healing of a moderate to severe burn was sped up by six days when covering the wound on a regular basis with aloe vera gel, compared to the healing of the wound covered in a gauze bandage (Farrar, 2005). In contrast, another study suggested wounds to which Aloe vera gel was applied were significantly slower to heal (Schmidt and Greenspoon, 1991).

Many of Aloe vera's beneficial properties are attributed to mucopolysaccharides present in the inner gel of the leaf, especially acemannan (acetylated mannans). An injectable form of acemannan manufactured and marketed by Carrington Laboratories as Acemannan Immunostimulant™ has been approved in the USA for treatment of fibrosarcoma (a type of cancer) in dogs and cats after clinical trials. It has not been approved for use by humans, and although it is not a drug its sale is controlled and it can only be obtained through a veterinary doctor.

Many cosmetic companies add sap or other derivatives from Aloe vera to products such as makeup, moisturisers, soaps, sunscreens, shampoos and lotions. Aloe gel is alleged to be useful for dry skin conditions, especially eczema around the eyes and sensitive facial skin. In addition, it has been used for treating fungal infections such as ringworm.

An article published in the British Journal of General Practice suggests that A. vera is particularly good at treating long sufferers of athlete's foot. The topical application of A. vera is not an effective preventative for radiation-induced injuries. Whether or not it promotes wound healing is unclear, and even though there are some promising results, clinical effectiveness of oral or topical A. vera remains unclear at present.

Ashwagandha

 Family Name : SOLANACEAE

Botanical Name : WITHANIA SOMNIFERA

Common Name : WITHANIA, WINTER CHERRY, INDIAN WINTER CHERRY, INDIAN GINSENG, ASHWAGANDHA

Part Used : ROOT, LEAVES

Habitat : Cultivated throughout drier parts of India.

Uses : It is Tonic, Abortifacient, Astringent, Deobstruent, Nervine, Aphrodisiac and Sedative. It is official Indian Pharmacoepeia. It is popularly known as Indian Ginseng. It gives vitality and vigour and helps in building greater endurance. It has been used in diseases such as rheumatism, leprosy and arthritis. All parts of the plant are used in herbal medicine. In Ayurveda, the fresh roots are sometimes boiled in milk, prior to drying, in order to leach out undesirable constituents. The berries are used as a substitute for rennet, to coagulate milk in cheese making.

Ashwagandha in Sanskrit means "horse's smell", probably originating from the odor of its root which resembles that of sweaty horse. The species name somnifera means "sleep-bearing" in Latin, indicating it was considered a sedative, but it has been also used for sexual vitality and as an adaptogen. Some herbalists refer to ashwagandha as Indian ginseng, since it is used in ayurvedic medicine in a way similar to that ginseng is used in traditional Chinese medicine.

The product called "ashwagandha oil" is a combination of ashwagandha with almond oil and rose water designed to be used as a facial toner, therefore should not be consumed.

Asparagus Racemosus

 Family Name : LILIACEAE 

Botanical Name : ASPARAGUS RACEMOSUS 

Common Name : ASPARAGUS, WILD ASPARAGUS, ASPARAGUS ROOT, SATAVARI 

Part Used : TUBEROUS ROOTS 

Uses : The roots are bitter, sweet, emollient, cooling, nervine, tonic, constipating, opthalimic, anobyne, aphrodisiac. They are useful in nervous disorders, dyspepsia,

tumours, scalding of urine, throat infections, tuberclosis, cough bronchitis and general debility.  Asparagus racemosus is a creeper of the plant genus Asparagus. It contains adventitious root system with tuberous roots.

For each plant, many tuberous roots are present. These tuberous roots after proper processing and drying are used as Medicine in Ayurveda, with the name of

Shatavari . Leaves of it are reduced to cladodes. Branches contain spines on them. 

Azadirachta Indica (Neem)

 Family Name : MELIACEAE 

Botanical Name : AZADIRACHTA INDICA 

Common Name : LILAC, MARGOSA TREE, NEEM, NEEM CHAL 

Part Used : LEAVES, FLOWER, OIL, SEED 

Habitat : It is evergreen and grows throughout India. 

The neem tree is noted for its drought resistance. Normally it thrives in areas with sub-arid to sub-humid conditions, with an annual rainfall between 400 and 1200mm. It can grow in regions with an annual rainfall below 400 mm, but in such cases it depends largely on the ground water levels. Neem can grow in many differenttypes of soil, but it thrives best on well drained deep and sandy soils (pH 6.2-7.0). It is a typical tropical/subtropical tree and exists at annual mean temperaturesbetween 21-32 °C. It can tolerate high to very high temperatures. It does not tolerate temperature below 4 °C (leaf shedding and death may ensue).  Uses : Vermifuge, Insecticide, Astringent, Tonic and Antispetic. It posseses anti diabitic, anti bacterial and anti viral properties and used sucessfully in cases of stomach, worms and ulcers. Root bark posseses anstringent, tonic and antiperiodic properties. It is also useful in Malarial fever. The oil is used in making Neem based soaps, shampoos and toothpaste.  Uses in pest and disease control Both polar extracts and neem oil are of primary interest to research scientists as an insecticide. The active insecticidal ingredient, azadirachtin, is also effective against mites and other arthropods. Many of the tree's secondary metabolites have biological activity, but azadirachtin is considered to be of the most ecological importance. Studies have shown a wide spectrum of activity and species affected. It acts by breaking the insect's lifecycle. Research has increased in the past few years as the desire for safer pest control methods increases and it becomes apparent that this tree will be able to play a role in integrated pest management systems. Because of its low toxicity , neem oil is available for general use in most countries, and is permitted for restricted use under the National Organic Program in the United States.  Other ingredients in neem oil are also effective as fungicides.  Neem is deemed very effective in the treatment of scabies although only preliminary scientific proof exists which still has to be corroborated, and is recommended for those who are sensitive to permethrin, a known insecticide which might be irritant. Also, the scabies mite has yet to become resistant to neem, so in persistent cases neem has been shown to be very effective. There is also anecdotal evidence of its effectiveness in treating infestations of head lice in humans.

Bacopa Monniera Brahmi herb

 Family Name : SCROPHULARIACEAE 

Botanical Name : BACOPA MONNIERA 

Common Name : HERPESTIS MONNIERIA, THYME LEAVED GRATIOLA, BRAHMI 

Part Used : WHOLE PLANT 

Habitat : Grows in Marshy places and cultivated South India. 

Uses : It is Diuretic, Cardiac, Nervine and Tonic. It is reported to improve intellect, treatment of asthma, hoarseness, insanity, epilepsy. It is a potent nervous tonic and is anti anxiety agent. It is considered good for heart.  Bacopa monnieri is a perennial, creeping herb whose habitat includes wetlands and muddy shores. Common names include Water Hyssop and brahmi (note: brahmi is also the Ayurvedic name given to Centella asiatica and other herbs). 

The leaves of this plant are succulent and relatively thick. Leaves are oblanceolate and are arranged oppositely on the stem. The flowers are small and white, with four or five petals. Its ability to grow in water makes it a popular aquarium plant. It can even grow in slightly brackish conditions. Propagation is often achieved through cuttings. 

It commonly grows in marshy areas throughout India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, and is also found in Florida and other southern states where it can be grown in damp conditions by the pond or bog garden.

Brahmi herb is a hardy, perennial ground covering plant. It grows to 6 inches in height, with small, oval-shaped leaves that form in pairs along the stems. It has tubular, white flowers that bear five petals that have a faint tinge of blue on the outside of the petals.

It can bloom for many months of the year. It grows floating in the waters of tropical marshes and wetlands of Florida, Central America, and India.

Brahmi herb has gained world wide recognition as a memory booster, for promoting mind alertness and is widely used as an antioxidant and in improving the brain cell functions.

It is used as a herbal brain tonic to rejuvenate the body and as a nerve tonic to promote the memory. It helps to overcome the negative effects of stress and improves the memory. It induces a sense of calm and peace for those who suffer from stress and nervous anxiety while at the same time invigorates the mental processes.

The herb is used for cleansing the blood, has an extremely positive effect on blood circulation and the function of the liver, lungs and kidneys. It is also believed to stimulate hair, skin, and nail growth.

Basil Herb

 Family Name : LAMIACEAE 

Botanical Name : OCIMUM SANCTUM 

Common Name : BASIL, SACRED BASIL, HOLY BASIL, TULSI 

Part Used : LEAVES, SEEDS 

Habitat : Found Throughout India. 

Uses : It is Diaphoteric, Anti periodic, Stimulating, Expectorant and Anti-catarrhal. It is used in malaria, catarrh, bronchitis and gastric disorders. It also lowers blood sugar levels and its powder is used for mouth ulcers. It is widely worshiped in India

Boswellia Serrata 

 Family Name : BURSERACEAE 

Botanical Name : BOSWELLIA SERRATA 

Common Name : INDIAN OLIBANUM TREE, OLIBANUM, LUBAN, GOND 

Part Used : BARK, GUM RESIN 

Uses : The bark is sweet, cooling and tonic. It is good in vitiated conditions of Pitta, cough, asthama. It is useful in fevers, urethrorrhea, diaphoresis, convulsions, chronic laryngitis, jaundice and arthritis. Burseraceae is a family of 17-18 genera and about 540 species of flowering plants, also known as the Torchwood family or incense tree family. The family includes both trees and shrubs, and is native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and the Americas. 

Some members of the family produce fragrant resins used as incense or perfume, most notably frankincense and myrrh.

Calamus 

 Family Name : ARACEAE 

Botanical Name : ACORUS CALAMUS 

Common Name : CALAMUS, SWEET-FLAG, SWEET ROOT, BACH 

Part Used : DRIED RHIZOME 

Habitat : North Temperate and subtropical regions upto 2200m altitude in Himalayas.  The morphological distinction between the Acorus species is made by the number of prominent leaf veins. Acorus calamus has a single prominent midvein and then on both sides slightly raised secondary veins (with a diameter less than half the midvein) and many, fine tertiary veins. This makes it clearly distinct from Acorus americanus. 

The leaves are between 0.7 and 1.7 cm wide, with average of 1 cm. The sympodial leaf of Acorus calamus is somewhat shorter than the vegetative leaves. The margin is curly-edged or undulate. The spadix, at the time of expansion, can reach a length between 4.9 and 8.9 cm (longer than A. americanus). The flowers are longer too, between 3 and 4 mm. Acorus calamus is infertile and shows an abortive ovary with a shriveled appearance. 

Uses : It is Nauseant, Stomachic, Anthelmentic, Stimulants, Emetic, Expectorant, Carminative, Antispasmodic and Nervine Sedative. Rhizome is used in the cure of host of diseases such as epilepsy, mental; ailments, chronic diarrhoea and dysentary. It is used in incense sticks and dhup and is widely used as insecticide for lice, bedbugs, worms etc.

Cassia Angustifolia 

 Family Name : CAESALPINACEAE 

Botanical Name : CASSIA ANGUSTIFOLIA 

Common Name : SENNA, INDIAN SENNA, TINNEVELLY SENNA, CASSIA SENNA 

Part Used : PODS, STEMS, LEAVES 

Habitat : Cultivated in dry lands of Southern & Western India, and indegenous to Arabia. 

Uses : It is recognised by British and US pharmacopoeias. It is useful in habitual costiveness. It lowers bowels, increases peristaltic movements of the colon by its local action upon the intestinal wall. It is used as expectorant, wound dresser, antidysentric, carminative and laxative. .

CASSIA FISTULAFamily Name : CAESALPINACEAE 

Botanical Name : CASSIA FISTULA 

Common Name : FISTULA, LABURNUM, PURGING FISTULA, GOLDEN SHOWER, AMALTAS 

Part Used : FRUITS AND BARK 

Habitat : Grows in valleys upto 1200 m in Himalayas. 

Uses : Pulp from fruits called "Cessia pulp" is a well known Laxative. Bark of tree is rich in tannins.

Cassia Tora

 Family Name : CAESALPINACEAE 

Botanical Name : CASSIA TORA 

Common Name : FOETID CASSIA, TORA, SICKLE SENNA, SICKLE POD, COFFEE POD, TOVARA, CHAKVAD 

Part Used : SEEDS 

Habitat : Grows in dry soil throughout tropical parts of India. 

Uses : It is Aperient, Germicide, Mucilaginous & Laxative. It is used as a coffee substitute and has a maturant and anodyne action. Useful in treating skin diseases like ring worm and itch and psoriasis.  Senna obtusifolia (syn. Cassia obtusifolia L., Cassia tora, Emelista tora) is a plant in the genus Senna. It is also known as foetid cassia, sickle senna, Chinese senna, sicklepod, sickle-pod, sickle pod, coffee weed, coffeeweed, coffee pod, coffee-pod, java bean, java-bean, or arsenic weed. It grows wild in North, Central, and South America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, and is considered a particularly serious weed in many places. 

The species's name comes from the Latin obtus ("dull or blunt"), and folium ("leaf"). Its leaves, seeds, and root are used medicinally, primarily in Asia. It is believed to possess a laxative effect, as well as to be beneficial for the eyes. 

The plant's seeds are a source of cassia gum, a food additive usually used as a thickener. As a folk remedy, the seeds are often roasted, then boiled in water to produce a tea. Roasted and ground, the seeds have also been used as a substitute for coffee. 

Centella Asiatica

 Family Name : APIACEAE 

Botanical Name : CENTELLA ASIATICA 

Common Name : PENNYWORT, INDIAN PENNYWORT, ARTAYNIYA-E HINDI, JAL BRAHMI 

Part Used : WHOLE PLANT 

Habitat : Grown in waterlogged places throughout India. 

Uses : : It is Tonic, Diuretic and Alterative. It is used in treatment of leporasy and known to ameliorate the symptoms of the disease and improves general health of the patient. It is a brain tonic and stimulates hair growth.  Centella asiatica is a small herbaceous annual plant of the family Apiaceae, native to Asia. Common names include Gotu Kola, Asiatic Pennywort, Antanan, Pegaga, and Brahmi (although this last name is shared with Bacopa monnieri and other herbs). It is used as a medicinal herb in Ayurvedic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. 

The stems are slender, creeping stolons, green to reddish green in color, interconnecting one plant to another. It has long-stalked, green, reniform leaves with rounded apices which have smooth texture with palmately netted veins. The leaves are born on pericladial petioles, around 20 cm. The rootstock consists of rhizomes, growing vertically down. They are creamish in color and covered with root hairs. 

The flowers are pinkish to red in color, born in small, rounded bunches (umbels) near the surface of the soil. Each flower is partly enclosed in two green bracts. The hermaphrodite flowers are minute in size (less than 3 mm), with 5-6 corolla lobes per flower. Each flower bears five stamens and two styles. 

The crop matures in three months and the whole plant, including the roots, is harvested manually. When eaten raw as a salad leaf, pegaga is thought to help maintain youthfulness. A decoction of juice from the leaves is thought to relieve hypertension. This juice is also used as a general tonic for good health. A poultice of the leaves is also used to treat open sores. Interestingly, chewing on the plant for several hours induces entheogenic meditation, similar to the effects of salvia divinorum, although this practice is widely considered dangerous, as it can cause temporomandibular joint pains.

. Cinchona Officinalis

 Family Name : RUBIACEAE 

Botanical Name : CINCHONA OFFICINALIS 

Common Name : QUININE, PERUVIAN BARK, QUININE BARK 

Part Used : QUININE ISOLATED FROM BARK 

Habitat : Cultivated in Nilgiri Hills 

Uses : Quinine is bitter, astringent, acrid, thermogenic, febrifugre, oxytoxic and anodyne. It is digestive, antipyretic, cardiotonic, dystocia, eumbago etc

Datura Stramonium 

 Family Name : SALANACEAE 

Botanical Name : DATURA STRAMONIUM 

Common Name : DATURA, JIMSON WEED, STINK WEED, MAD APPLE, THORN APPLE STRAMONIUM, APPLE THORN, DATURA TATULA, DATURA SEEDS 

Part Used : SEEDS, FLOWERS, LEAVES  Jimson weed grows in most habitats, but thrives in high-nutrient soil. It is found throughout much of the United States, barring the West, Northwest and the northern Great Plains. It is most commonly found in the South. Datura stramonium is also found throughout many other parts of the world. Goats will occasionally eat jimsonweed, and subsequently die a slow and painful death. In California and other western states, Datura wrightii is found, not Datura stramonium. 

Datura is occasionally used as an available alternative to illegal drugs. Typically it is not illegal, although some American states do have laws regulating its consumption. It is typically consumed as a sort of herb tea, though it can also be eaten or smoked. Overall, it has a very low demand as a recreational drug, because it has a reputation as a very poor/unpleasant 

Habitat : Common in north western Himalayas and foot hills on dry slopes upto 1800 m altitude. 

Uses : It is Narcotic, Anti Spasmodic, Anodyne, Ache Reliever. Helps in relieving the spasm of the Bronchitis in Asthma. It is used in treatment of Parkinsonism and Haemorrhoids. Young fruits are sedative and intoxicating. Leaves applied after

roasting are useful in relieving pain.  Datura stramonium is either native to India or Central America. It was used as a mystical sacrament in both possible places of origin. The Native Americans have used this plant in sacred ceremonies. In some tribes datura was involved in the ceremonies of manhood. The sadhus of Hinduism also used datura as a spiritual tool, smoking it with cannabis in their traditional chillums. 

In the United States it is called Jimson weed, Gypsum weed, Angel Trumpet, Hells Bells or more rarely Jamestown Weed; it got this name from the town of Jamestown, Virginia, where British soldiers were secretly or accidentally drugged with it, while attempting to stop Bacon's Rebellion. They spent several days chasing feathers, making monkey faces, generally acting like lunatics, and indeed failed at their mission

Hyocyamus Niger

 Family Name : SOLANACEAE 

Botanical Name : HYOCYAMUS NIGER 

Common Name : HENBANE, NIGER SEED, BIRD FEED, BLACK HENBANE, COMMON HENBANE 

Part Used : SEEDS 

Uses : It is widely used as a nutritious Bird feed. Gastric, or intestinal cramps, diarhhoea, neuralgia, cough hysteria, manis, skin inflammation and boils. Niger seeds has anodyne, narcotic and mydriatic properties, employed as a sedative in nervous infections. In veterinary practice used as urnary sedative. 

Emblica Officinalis

 Family Name : EUPHORBIACEAE 

Botanical Name : EMBLICA OFFICINALIS 

Common Name : GOOSEBERRY, PHYLLANTHUS EMBLICA, EMBLICA, INDIAN GOOSEBERRY, AMLA 

Part Used : FRUIT 

Habitat : Northern and South Western India.  The tree is small to medium sized, reaching 8 to 18 m in height, with crooked trunk and spreading branches. The leaves are simple, subsessile, the flowers are greenish-yellow. The fruit is nearly spherical, light greenish yellow, quite smooth and hard on appearence, with 6 vertical stripes or furrows. The fruits ripen in autumn. Its taste is bitter-sour. Being more fibrous than most fruits, it cannot be consumed raw in vast quantity; indeed, it is taken with salt. A glass of water taken immediately after eating a large fruit makes the water seem sweeter.  Uses : It is Aperient, Carminative, Diuretic, Aphrodasiac, Laxative, Astringent and Refrigerant. It is the richest known source of vitamin 'C'. It is useful in anaemia, jaundice, dyspepcia, haemorrhage disorders, diabetes, asthama and bronchitis. It cures insomnia and is healthy for hair 

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Ephedra Vulgaris

 Family Name : EPHEDRACEAE 

Botanical Name : EPHEDRA VULGARIS 

Common Name : EPHEDRA, EVULGARIS, SOMLATHA 

Part Used : DRIED BRANCH 

Habitat : Drier regions of temperate zone and alpine Himalayas at altitude of 2700m to 3600m. 

Uses : It is Stomachic, Alterative and Diuretic. Alkaloid called "Ephedrine" which helps in controlling Asthma. It is widely used for acute muscular and Bronchial Asthma. It is also used as a headache reliever

Guggul

 Family Name : BURSERACEAE 

Botanical Name : COMMIPHORA MUKUL 

Common Name : COMMIPHORA, MUKUL, GUGGUL, BALSAMODENDRON MUKUL, INDIAN BDELLIUM TREE, MOQL, MOQLE-ARZAGI 

Part Used : WHOLE PLANT  Commiphora wightii (Guggul or Mukul myrrh tree) is a flowering plant in the family Burseraceae. The guggul plant may be found from northern Africa to central Asia, but is most common in northern India. It prefers arid and semi-arid climates and is tolerant of poor soil. 

It is a shrub or small tree, reaching a maximum height of 4 m, with thin papery bark. The branches are thorny. The leaves are simple or trifoliate, the leaflets ovate, 1-5 cm long, 0.5-2.5 cm broad, irregularly toothed. It is gynodioecious, with some plants bearing bisexual and male flowers, and others with female flowers. The individual flowers are red to pink, with four small petals 

Habitat : Rocky tracks of Western India and Eastern Himalayas. 

Uses : It is Carminative, Antispasmodic, Disphoretic, Ecobolic, Anti Suppurative and Emmenagogue. Gum resin used for treatment of rheumatoid arthiritis. It is a potent drug for cardiac disorders high cholesterol. It is an ingredient for over fifty compounds.  

Gymnema Sylvestre

 Family Name : ASCLEPIADACEAE 

Botanical Name : GYMNEMA SYLVESTRE 

Common Name : PERIPLOCA OF THE WOODS, GUDMAR 

Part Used : WHOLE PLANT, LEAVES  While it is still being studied, and the effects of the herb are not entirely known, the herb has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels when used for an extended period of time. Additionally, this Gymnema alters the taste of sugar when it is placed in the mouth, thus some use it to fight sugar cravings. This effect, however, is short-lived, lasting a mere fifteen minutes. Some postulate that the herb actually reduces cravings for sugar by blocking sugar receptors in the tongue, but no scientific studies have supported this hypothesis. It is currently being used in an all natural medication for diabetes with other ingredients such as cinnamon, chromium, zinc, biotin, banaba, huckleberry and bitter melon.  Uses : The plant is acrid, antiinflammatory, anodyne, liver tonic, emetic, diuretic. It is useful in hepatosplenomegaly, dypepsia, constipation, jaundice, halminthiasis, cardiopathy, amenorrhoea. The fresh leaves when chewed have the remarkable property of paralysing the sense of taste for sweet and bitter substance for some time.

Hedychium 

 Family Name : ZINGIBERACEAE 

Botanical Name : HEDYCHIUM SPICATUM 

Common Name : HEDICHIUM, KAPUR KACHRI 

Part Used : RHIZOMES 

Habitat : Grows in Sub Tropical Himalayas. 

Uses : Used in Nausea, Bronchial Asthama, Halitosis and Vomitting. Also useful in diminished apetite, hiccups, local inflamation etc.

Henna

 Family Name : LYTHRACEAE 

Botanical Name : LAWSONIA INERMIS 

Common Name : HENNA, AL-KHANNA, AL-HENNA, JAMAICA MIGNONETTE, MEHNDI, MENDEE, EGYPTIAN PRIVET, SMOOTH LAWSONIA 

Part Used : FLOWERS, POWDERED LEAVES, FRUIT 

Habitat : Scarcely in dry decidious forests, widely cultivated as a hedge plant. 

Uses : The roots are bitter, refrigerant, depurative, diuretic, emmenagogue, abortifacient and trichogenous and is useful in burning sensation, leprosy skin diseases and amenorrhoea. It is used in pre mature graying of hair. Henna is widely used for drawing tattoos, arts and designs. Leaves are useful in wounds ulcers strangury cough, bronchitis, dysentery etc. The fruit is thought to have emmenagogue properties.

Liquorice

 Family Name : PAPILIONACEAE 

Botanical Name : GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA 

Common Name : CALAMUS, MULETHI, SWEET LIQUORICE, SWEETWOOD 

Part Used : ROOT 

Habitat : Cultivated in Northern and Southern India. 

Uses : It is Tonic, Diuretic, Demulcent, Expectorant, Emenagogue Laxative and Laxative. Used for allaying coughs and catarrhal infections. Useful in irritable conditions of mucous memberane of Urinary organs. Useful in sore throat, cough, anorexia and persistent low fever. Useful in flavouring of tobacoo, confectionary, beverages, jams and marmalades

Moringa Oleifera

 Family Name : MORINGACEAE 

Botanical Name : MORINGA OLEIFERA 

Common Name : MORINGA, HORSE RADISH TREE, DRUMSTICK TREE, SAHIJAN 

Part Used : ROOTS, SEEDS, LEAVES 

Habitat : Found Through out India. 

Uses : The roots are acrid, digestive, anthelmentic, constipating, anodyne, bitter alexipharmic stimulant and vesicant. They are useful in paralysis, inflammations, fever, cough, cold, bronchitis, pectoral diseases, epilepsy, hysteria. Its leaves are useful in scurvy, vitiated conditions of kapha and vata. The seeds are acrid, bitter, anti inflammatory, purgative, and are useful in neuralgia, inflammations and intermittent fevers. 

Mucuna Pruriens

 Family Name : FABACEAE 

Botanical Name : MUCUNA PRURIENS 

Common Name : COWITCH, COMMON COWITCH, KONCH 

Part Used : ROOTS, SEEDS, LEAVES 

Uses : The roots are bitter, sweet thermogenic emollient, stimulant, purgative, aphrodisiac, diuretic. The leaves are aphrodisiac. The seeds are astringent, laxative, anthelmentic, alexipharmic and tonic.

Papaver Somniferum 

Family Name : PAPAVERACEAE 

Botanical Name : PAPAVER SOMNIFERUM 

Common Name : POPPY SEEDS, APHIM, OPIUM POPPY, WHITE POPPY, POSTA 

Part Used : SEEDS, FLOWERS 

Habitat : Cultivated on large scale at altitude of 1500m - 2100m. 

Uses : Seeds are used as Tonic. Milky juice from immature fruits yield opium. Ripe and dry fruits contain only small quantity of alkaloides and therefore narcotic properties are mild. 

Pudina 

 Family Name : LAMIACEAE 

Botanical Name : MENTHA ARVENSIS / PIPERITA 

Common Name : FIELD MINT, CORN MINT, JAPANESE MINT, PUDINA 

Part Used : WHOLE PLANT, OIL 

Habitat : Found through out India. 

Uses : The entire plant is antibacterial, antifibrile. It yeilds an essential oil and menthol which exert, through their rapid evaporation, aslightly anaesthetic, and anodyne local effect. It is effective in headache, rhinitis, cough sore throat, colic, prurigo and vomiting. Menthol obtained from this is used in balm. It is also used as flavoring agent in culinary preparations. Mint Chutney (Pudina)  Mints are aromatic, almost exclusively perennial, rarely annual, herbs. They have wide-spreading underground rhizomes and erect, branched stems. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, from simple oblong to lanceolate, often downy, and with a serrated margin.

The leaf, fresh or dried, is the culinary source of mint. Fresh mint is usually preferred over dried mint when storage of the mint is not a problem. The leaves have a pleasant warm, fresh, aromatic, sweet flavor with a cool aftertaste. Mint leaves are used in teas, beverages, jellies, syrups, candies, and ice creams. In Middle Eastern cuisine mint is used on lamb dishes. In British cuisine, mint sauce is popular with lamb. Mint was originally used as a medicinal herb to treat stomach ache and chest pains. To cure stomach aches, put dried mint leaves in boiling water, then, when it cools drink it. This tea is called monstranzo. During the Middle Ages, powdered mint leaves were used to whiten teeth. Mint tea is a strong diuretic. Mint also aids digestion.

Menthol from mint essential oil (40-90%) is an ingredient of many cosmetics and some perfumes. Menthol and mint essential oil are also much used in medicine as a component of many drugs, and are very popular in aromatherapy.

Mint chutney 4 green Tomato (Medium size), sliced 1 big handful Mint leaves, cleaned and washed 6-7 Garlic cloves, peeled 2-3 Green chilies, chopped ½ tsp Cumin Seeds, toasted 1 bunch Fresh coriander leaves 1 small piece Jaggery (optional) Salt to taste 2tbsp mustard oil

Method: Pan fry the green chili in 1tbsp of mustard oil. Add raw tomatoes and cook on medium heat until soft. Blend the cooked tomato with rest of the ingredients, remove from the blender. Check seasoning and rest in the fridge for 30 minutes until chilled.

Psyllium Husk

 Family Name : PLANTAGINACEAE 

Botanical Name : PLANTAGO OVATA HUSK 

Common Name : PSYLLIUM HUSK, PSYLLIUM SEEDS, PLANTAGO, ISPAGHULA, FLEAM, SPOGEL SEEDS, ISABGOL 

Part Used : HUSK, SEED 

Habitat : Mediteranian region and commercially grown in north western India. 

Uses : It is Diuretic, Emollient and Cooling. Used in inflamatory conditions of mucous memberane of gastro intestinal and genitourinary tracts.Very well known as a laxative. It restores proper bowel movements and ued in treatment of chronic constipation, amoebic and bucillary dysentary. Psyllium husk and seeds are formal Pharmacopoeia.  

Pterocarpus Marsupium

 Family Name : FABACEAE 

Botanical Name : PTEROCARPUS MARSUPIUM ROXB. 

Common Name : INDIAN KINO TREE, MALABAR KINO TREE, KINO 

Part Used : HEART WOOD, LEAVES, FLOWERS 

Uses : The heart wood is astringent, bitter acrid, anti inflammatory, anthelmintic, anodyne. It is considered as magical for Diabities. It turns the water blue as soon as it comes in contact with the water. It is good for elephantiasis, leucoderma, diarrhoea, dysentary, rectalgia, cough and greyness of hair.

Punica Granatum

 Family Name : PUNICACEAE 

Botanical Name : PUNICA GRANATUM 

Common Name : POMEGRANATE, ANAR 

Part Used : SEEDS, FLOWERS 

Habitat : Commonly cultivated as ornamental and fruit tree. 

Uses : A decotion of seed is used to treat syphilis. Juice used to treat jaundice and diarrhoea. Juice of flower is used to treat nose bleeds. The fruit pulp and the seed are stomachic. 

Quince 

 Family Name : RUTACEAE 

Botanical Name : AEGLE MARMELOS 

Common Name : BAEL, QUINCE, APPLE WOOD, HOLY FRUIT TREE 

Part Used : BARK, FRUIT PULP, LEAVES 

Habitat : Found all over decidious forests in India. 

Uses : It is Antiscorbutic, Carminative, Alterative and Nutritive. It is used in colisting diahorrea, dysentary, constipation and diarrhoea. It is aromatic, astringent, cooling, febrifuge and also acts as tonic for heart and brain.

Rhubarb

 Family Name : POLYGONACEAE 

Botanical Name : RHEUM EMODI 

Common Name : RHUBARB, HIMALAYAN RHUBARB, INDIAN RHUBARB, THUZNA, REVAT CHINNI 

Part Used : SEEDS 

Habitat : Throughout the valleys in Himalayan region at altitude of 3200m -5200m. 

Uses : Used as purgative and astringent tonic. Its stimulating effect combined with asperient properties renders it specially useful in atonic dyspepsia.  

Safed Musli 

 Family Name : LILIACEAE 

Botanical Name : CHLOROPHYTUM BORIVILIANUM 

Common Name : SAFED MOOSLI 

Part Used : SEEDS 

Habitat : Northern and Western India. 

Uses : Aphrodisiac, tonic, pain reliever and used to cure general debility and impotency. Its powder increases lactation in feeding mothers and lactating cows. It is being increasingly used in Ayurvedic and Pharmaceutical Industries.

Sarsaparilla 

 Family Name : ASCLEPIADACEAE 

Botanical Name : HEMIDESMUS INDICUS 

Common Name : SARASAPARILLA, INDIAN SARASAPARILLA, ANANTMOOL 

Part Used : ROOT  Sarsaparilla (Smilax regelii and other closely related species of Smilax) is a vine that bears roots with many useful properties. These vines have long prickly stems and shiny leaves, and numerous reddish-brown roots up to 3 m long. Several species of Smilax are used, but the Jamaican S. regelii (syn. S. officinalis) is the species preferred for commercial use. Sarsaparilla is also grown in Mexico, Central America and parts of South America. It is also grown in parts of South India, the Tamil name of it being Nannaari. The main uses include the flavouring of beverages, and homeopathic medicine. 

Before treatment, the roots are bitter, sticky, and have no odor. Then they are dried and boiled in order to produce the extract. For use in beverages, oil of wintergreen or other flavours may be added in order to mask the natural bitterness of the root. Root beer made from sarsaparilla roots is generally more "birchy" than the more popular, commercial brands 

Habitat : Found In Central India. 

Uses : It is Tonic, Diuretic, Demulcent, Disphoretic and Blood purifier. Employed in Nutritional disorders, syphilis, chronic rheumatism, gravel and other urinary diseases and skin afections. It is also employed as a vehicle for Pottasium Iodine

Syzygium Cumini 

 Family Name : MYRTACEAE 

Botanical Name : SYZYGIUM CUMINI 

Common Name : EUGENIA JAMBOLANA, PLUM, BLACK PLUM, JAMAN, JAMBOLAN 

Part Used : SEEDS, LEAVES, FRUITS, BARK 

Uses : The leaves are antibacterial and are used for strengthning the teeth and gums. The fruits and seeds are sweet, acrid, sour, tonic, and cooling, and are used in diabities, diarrhoea and ringworm. The bark is astringent, sweet sour, diuretic, digestive and anthelmintic.  

Juglans Regia

 Family Name : JUGLANDACEAE 

Botanical Name : JUGLANS REGIA 

Common Name : WALNUT, PERSIAN WALNUT, EUROPEAN WALNUT, AKHROT 

Part Used : LEAVES, BARKS, FRUITS 

Habitat : Cultivated in Himalayas and the Khasia hills. 

Uses : Leaves are Astringent, Tonic and Anthelmintic. They are useful in herpes, eczema, scrofula and syphilis. Fruits are sweet and emollient, thermogenic, and aphrodasiac.

Terminalia Arjuna

 Family Name : COMBRETACEAE 

Botanical Name : TERMINALIA ARJUNA 

Common Name : ARJUNA, ARJUNA HERB, ARJUNA ROOT 

Part Used : BARK 

Uses : The bark is astringent, sweet, acrid, cooling, aphrodisiac, cardiotonic, urinary astringent, expectorant, alexiteric and is useful in fractures, ulcers, cirrhosis of the lever, hyperhidrosis, otalgia and hypertension

Terminalia Belerica

 Family Name : COMBRETACEAE 

Botanical Name : TERMINALIA BELERICA 

Common Name : BELERIC, BELLERIC MYROBALAN, BAEHRA 

Part Used : FRUIT 

Habitat : Grown throughout India. 

Uses : It is Astringent, Tonic, Expectorant and Laxative. It is used in coughs and sore throat. Its pulp is used in dropsy, piles and diarrhoea. It is also useful in leprosy, fever and hair care. It is also used in oxalic acid and preparation of ink.   

Terminalia Chebula

 Family Name : COMBRETACEAE 

Botanical Name : TERMINALIA CHEBULA 

Common Name : MYROBALAN, HARDAD, CHEBULIC MYROBALAN 

Part Used : FRUITS, ROOTS, BARK 

Habitat : Grows Throughout India. 

Uses : It is Astringent, Purgative, Stomachic and Laxative. It is useful in asthma, piles and cough. It is also useful in healing of wounds and scalds. It is used as gargle against inflamation of mucous membrane of mouth. It is used in tanning of leather and purification of petroleum. 

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Tinospora Cordifolia

 Family Name : MENINSPERMACEAE 

Botanical Name : TINOSPORA CORDIFOLIA 

Common Name : GULANSHE TINOSPARA, GULANCHA TINOSPARA, TINOSPARA, GILOY 

Part Used : STEM 

Habitat : North And South India. 

Uses : It is an Antiperiodic, Antipyretic, Alterative, Diuretic, Anti-inflammatory. It is a contituent of several compound preparations. It is used in fever, urinary disorders, dyspepsia, general debility and urinary diseases. It is also used in treatment of rheumatism and jaundice. 

Tribulus Terrestris

 Family Name : ZYGOPHYLLACEAE 

Botanical Name : TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS 

Common Name : LAND CALTROPS, PUNCTURE VINE, GOKHRU 

Part Used : WHOLE PLANT, SEEDS 

Uses : The roots and fruits are sweet, coling, emollient, appetizer, alternate, laxative, cardiotonic, styptic, lithontriptic and tonic. They are useful in strangury, dysuria, vitiated conditions of vat and pitta, renal and vesical calculi, anorexia, dyspepsia, helminthiasis, cough, asthama. The seeds are astringent, strengthening and are useful in epistaxis, hemorrhages and ulcerative stomatitis. The ash of the whole plant is good for external application in rheumarthritis. 

Valeriana Wallichii 

 Family Name : VALERIANACEAE 

Botanical Name : VALERIANA WALLICHII 

Common Name : VALERIAN, INDIAN VALERIAN, VALERIAN JATAMANSI, TAGGAR 

Part Used : ROOTS 

Habitat : Temperate zone of North western Himalayas upto an altitude of 3000 m. 

Uses : It is Anti Spasmodic, Stimulant, Calmative and Stomachic. It is useful in diseases of eye blood, livers. It is used as a remedy for hysteria, hypochondriasis, nervous unrest and emotional stress. Also useful in clearing voice and acts as stimulant in advance stage of fever and nervous disorder.  

Vinca Rosea

 Family Name : APOCYNACEAE 

Botanical Name : VINCA ROSEA 

Common Name : PERIWINKLE, MADAGASCAR PERIWINKLE, SADABAHAR 

Part Used : LEAVES, ROOTS 

Habitat : Grows throughout India and found as an escape in waste places and sandy tracts. 

Uses : Its alkaloids are hypotensive, sedative and have tranquilising properties and are anti cancerous. It helps in relieving muscle pain, depression of central nervous system and wasps stings.  

Zingiber Officinalis

 Family Name : ZINGIBERACEAE 

Botanical Name :ZINGIBER OFFICINALIS 

Common Name : CALAMUS, SWEET GINGER, GINGER ROOT, SONTH(DRIED) 

Part Used : FRESH AND DRIED FRUIT 

Habitat : South East Asia and through out India. 

Uses : Clinically proved as prophylactic of nausea and vomiting associated with motion, sickness, sea sickness and pregnancy. Known for its gastrointestinal benefits and as an anti inflammatory and carminative.