Plants and their uses

Ashwagandha

Withania somnifera (winter cherry)

  • Effect: Rasayana (rejuvenating, strengthening, nourishing), anti-inflammatory, appetite stimulating
  • Indications (Ayurvedic): Cough, dyspnea, stress
  • Side effects: none known, be careful if you have kidney problems

Amalaki

Phyllanthus emblica (Indian gooseberry)

  • Action: Rasayana, hair tonic, appetite stimulant, digestive aid, nervine tonic
  • Indications (Ayurvedic): "Panacea"
  • Side effects: none known

Arjuna

Terminalia arjuna

  • Action: strengthens heart muscle, promotes wound healing, lipid-lowering
  • Indications (Ayurvedic): heart disease, diabetes mellitus
  • Side effects: none known

Bhumyamalaki

Phyllanthus niruri

  • Effect: Rasayana, antiviral, liver cleansing, diuretic, strengthening
  • Indications (Ayurvedic): Liver diseases, complications of diabetes mellitus, kidney diseases, colds
  • Side effects: none known

Bhallataka

Semecarpus anacardium

  • Effect: expectorant, ama-reducing
  • Indications: rheumatoid arthritis, CA (cancer)
  • Side effects: only take under supervision, very hot and “corrosive”

Ela

Ellattaria cardamomum (cardamom)

  • Effect: appetizer, anti-nausea, diuretic
  • Indications: Nausea (motion sickness, pregnancy), bad taste in the mouth, thirst, cough
  • Side effects: none known

Eranda

Ricinus communis (castor bean)

  • Effect: Oil: purgative, hair and skin therapeutic, cleansing
  • Indications: Oil: mild laxative (10-20ml once per week), arthritis, dry skin/hair: local
  • Side effects: abdominal cramps may occur when taking oil

Guduci

Tinospora cordifolia

  • Effect: rasayana, antipyretic, appetite stimulating, digestive, blood purifying, immunomodulatory
  • Indications: Skin diseases, gout, vascular diseases, jaundice
  • Side effects: none known

Guggulu

Commiphora mukul (Indian myrrh)

  • Effect: analgesic, anti-inflammatory, rasayana, immune-boosting, appetite-stimulating, wound-healing
  • Indications: Arthritis, arthrosis, autoimmune diseases, allergies, inflammation of all kinds, CHD, obesity, high cholesterol/blood lipids
  • Side effects: Be careful with diabetes mellitus, increases blood sugar

Haridra

Curcuma longa (turmeric)

  • Effect: blood purifying, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, analgesic, wound cleaning and healing, anti-toxic
  • Indications: skin diseases, toxin exposure, hay fever; local: conjunctivitis, tonsillitis, herpes,
  • Side effects: none known, caution: stains very strongly!

Kumari (Aloe vera)

  • Effect: stimulating menstruation, laxative, local: anti-inflammatory, good for burns
  • Indications: A., oligo- and dysmenorrhea, liver diseases; Paste with turmeric (local): burns, inflammation, abscesses, hemorrhoids, conjunctivitis (apply with eyes closed)
  • Side effects: abortive (at approx. 4-5g daily)
  • Contraindications: metro/menorrhagia, diarrhea

Nimba

Azadirachta indica (neim tree, Indian lilac)

  • Effect: antiseptic, blood purifying, antipyretic, liver tonic, insecticidal
  • Indications: Malaria, skin diseases, diabetes mellitus
  • Side effects: high doses (50-60ml) cause vomiting and diarrhea

Nirgundi

Vitex negundo

  • Effect: analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, wound-healing, diuretic, menstruation-promoting
  • Indications: Arthritis, arthrosis, sciatica, cough, bronchitis, Svedana (herbal steam bath, also local)
  • Side effects: none known

Punar nava

Boerhaavia diffusa

  • Effect: diuretic
  • Indications: as a decoction: for edema, fluid retention, hypertension
  • Side effects: none known

Shankha puspi

Convolvulus pluricaulis (Indian bindweed)

  • Effect: medhya (nerve tonic, intelligence and memory promoting, anti-stress), blood pressure lowering, diuretic, cooling
  • Indications: mental and psychological disorders, sleep disorders, stress, all neurodegenerative diseases, muscle tension, epilepsy, Alzheimer's, paresthesia, hypertension
  • Side effects: none known

Shatavari

Asparagus racemosus (wild asparagus)

  • Effect: strengthening medhya, rasayana for women, milk producing, anti-abortive, diuretic, cardiotonic
  • Indications: gastric acidity and ulcer, epilepsy, pregnancy
  • Side effects: weight gain, respiratory diseases, fibroids, cysts

Vasa

Adhatoda vasika (Malabar nut tree)

  • Effect: promotes expectoration, bronchodilator, slightly lowers blood pressure
  • Indications: cough, bronchitis, asthma, bleeding
  • Side effects: none known