Materia Medica
Herbs & Plants
Ayurvedic herbs and plants: botanical identity, classical properties of rasa, guna and virya, and traditional use, one clear monograph at a time.
Herbs & Plants Agnimantha Premna mucronata A tree-form plant whose root is one of the ten roots of the Dashamoola group, valued in Ayurveda for its light, dry and warming qualities. Read article Herbs & Plants Amalaki Phyllanthus emblica A small sour fruit that Ayurveda treats as one of its great rejuvenators, valued for cooling the body while still building it up. Read article Herbs & Plants Apamarga Achyranthes aspera Apamarga in Ayurveda: the roadside plant whose herb, seed and pungent kshara ash the tradition values for its penetrating, cutting character. Read article Herbs & Plants Aparajita Clitoria ternatea A slender climbing legume with deep blue flowers that Ayurveda values as a Medhya herb for the mind and a settling remedy against toxins. Read article Herbs & Plants Aragvadha Cassia fistula Aragvadha, the golden shower tree fruit pulp, is Ayurveda's mildest classical purgative, gentle enough that the texts allow it for the weak and elderly. Read article Herbs & Plants Arjuna Terminalia arjuna Arjuna is the bark of a tall riverside tree, used in Ayurveda for centuries as its principal herb for the heart and healthy circulation. Read article Herbs & Plants Ashoka Saraca asoca The bark of a flowering tree that Ayurveda has long turned to for the female cycle, valued for its cool, astringent, settling nature. Read article Herbs & Plants Ashwagandha Withania somnifera A root used in Ayurveda to rebuild strength and steady the nerves, and the classic remedy for someone who is depleted, tired, or wired-but-exhausted. Read article Herbs & Plants Ashwagandha Powder or Tablet: Which to Choose Ashwagandha powder or tablet? Both are the same root in a different form. Compare the classical powder taken with warm milk against the modern tablet. Read article Herbs & Plants Ashwattha (Peepal) Ficus religiosa Ashwattha, the sacred peepal tree, in Ayurveda: its cooling, astringent bark and leaf traditionally valued for the skin, wounds and bleeding. Read article Herbs & Plants Atibala Abutilon indicum Atibala is a soft, cooling herb of the mallow family, used in Ayurveda to soothe excess heat and to build steady, lasting strength over time. Read article Herbs & Plants Ativisha Aconitum heterophyllum Ativisha in Ayurveda: the bitter mountain root treated as non-poisonous, valued for settling digestion, easing fever and caring for children. Read article Herbs & Plants Bakuchi Psoralea corylifolia Bakuchi is a small legume whose dark, aromatic seeds are the classic Ayurvedic herb for the skin, used to support an even, steady complexion. Read article Herbs & Plants Bala Sida cordifolia A root whose very name means strength, used in Ayurveda to rebuild the body and settle the dry, restless quality of Vata. Read article Herbs & Plants Bhallataka (Marking Nut) Semecarpus anacardium A potent, strongly heating nut that Ayurveda uses only after careful purification, and always under a qualified practitioner. Read article Herbs & Plants Bharangi Clerodendrum serratum A bitter, warming root that Ayurveda counts among its foremost herbs for the breath, long used to clear the chest and settle a stubborn cough. Read article Herbs & Plants Bhringaraj Eclipta prostrata A small marsh herb that Ayurveda treats as the first plant for the hair, used to keep the scalp cool and the hair dark and strong. Read article Herbs & Plants Bhumyamalaki Phyllanthus niruri Bhumyamalaki explained: the small annual whose whole plant Ayurveda values as a cooling herb that supports the liver and gently promotes urine flow. Read article Herbs & Plants Bibhitaki Terminalia bellirica A large forest fruit, one of the three that make up Triphala, used in Ayurveda mainly to settle the heavy, damp quality the texts call Kapha. Read article Herbs & Plants Bijaka (Vijaysar) Pterocarpus marsupium Vijaysar (Bijaka), a reddish heartwood Ayurveda counts as its foremost Pramehaghna, valued as a cooling, drying, de-obstructing wood for the Prameha group. Read article Herbs & Plants Bilva Aegle marmelos Bilva in Ayurveda: the sacred tree whose unripe fruit is a classic binding remedy for the digestion, with a root counted among the great five roots. Read article Herbs & Plants Brahmi Bacopa monnieri A small marsh herb that Ayurveda has long kept to steady the mind and support the memory, the first of its named herbs for the head. Read article Herbs & Plants Brihati Solanum indicum A thorny nightshade shrub whose root is one of the ten roots of the classical Dashamula group, kept in Ayurveda for the breath and for the digestion. Read article Herbs & Plants Chakramarda (Cassia Tora) Senna tora A common wayside legume whose seed and leaf Ayurveda names, above all else, for Dadru: the ringworm-type skin complaint its own names record. Read article Herbs & Plants Chandana Santalum album The fragrant heartwood of the sandalwood tree, the herb Ayurveda names first whenever the skin or the mind runs hot. Read article Herbs & Plants Chavya Piper chaba Chavya in Ayurveda: the warming, pungent climbing-pepper stem, one of the Panchakola digestives named in the texts for kindling Agni and easing the belly. Read article Herbs & Plants Chirata Swertia chirayita Chirata in Ayurveda: the benchmark bitter (tikta) herb traditionally used to kindle the digestive fire and help the body clear undigested residue. Read article Herbs & Plants Chitrak Plumbago zeylanica Chitrak is a pungent, heating root that Ayurveda regards as its supreme kindler of the digestive fire and a mover of sluggish digestion. Read article Herbs & Plants Dadima Punica granatum A jewel-seeded fruit whose sweet type Ayurveda values as a cooling, heart-friendly food that eases thirst and burning and settles all three doshas. Read article Herbs & Plants Daruharidra A bitter, golden-rooted Himalayan shrub used in Ayurveda as a cooling bitter that supports the liver, steadies digestion and settles excess Pitta. Read article Herbs & Plants Devadaru Cedrus deodara An aromatic Himalayan cedar wood used in Ayurveda as a warming, drying herb to clear cold and heaviness from the body. Read article Herbs & Plants Dhanyaka Coriandrum sativum Dhanyaka is the dried fruit of the coriander plant, valued in classical Ayurveda as a cooling, aromatic support for comfortable digestion. Read article Herbs & Plants Dhattura Datura metel A powerful trumpet-flowered plant of the classical texts, recorded here for tradition only. It is restricted in Europe and is not for home use. Read article Herbs & Plants Draksha Vitis vinifera Draksha, the grape and raisin, in Ayurveda: one of the finest fruits, a sweet, cooling nourisher long valued for settling both Vata and Pitta. Read article Herbs & Plants Ela Elettaria cardamomum Ela, small green cardamom, is a classical Ayurvedic aromatic traditionally valued for supporting digestion and freshening the mouth. Read article Herbs & Plants Eranda Ricinus communis The castor plant, whose seed gives castor oil, used in Ayurveda as a warming, grounding herb for the lower body and the seat of Vata. Read article Herbs & Plants Gambhari Gmelina arborea Gambhari in Ayurveda: the forest tree whose root joins the Dashamoola, valued to support digestion and settle swelling, with a sweet fruit besides. Read article Herbs & Plants Gokshura Tribulus terrestris A spiny little fruit that Ayurveda values for the waterworks, used to keep urine flowing freely while quietly building strength in the lower body. Read article Herbs & Plants Gudmar Gymnema sylvestre Gudmar in Ayurveda: the woody forest climber whose chewed leaf blunts the taste of sweet, earning it the classical name destroyer of sweetness. Read article Herbs & Plants Guduchi Tinospora cordifolia A climbing stem Ayurveda calls Amrita, the nectar of long life, used to cool and steady the body while quietly building it back up. Read article Herbs & Plants Guggulu Commiphora mukul A fragrant resin Ayurveda uses to scrape away stagnation, clear the channels, and carry other herbs deeper into the body. Read article Herbs & Plants Haritaki Terminalia chebula A small dried fruit that Ayurveda uses to keep the digestion moving and the body clear, and the first of the three fruits in Triphala. Read article Herbs & Plants Herbs for Weight Management in Ayurveda Herbs for weight management in Ayurveda: the classical Lekhana and Agni-kindling approach to a healthy, steady weight, with Triphala, Trikatu and Guggulu. Read article Herbs & Plants Hingu Ferula assa-foetida Hingu, or asafoetida, in Ayurveda: the dried Ferula resin used in small pinches to make heavy food lighter and far more agreeable to the stomach. Read article Herbs & Plants Ingudi Balanites aegyptiaca A hardy thorny tree of dry country whose bitter, warming seed oil Ayurveda uses on the skin and wounds, valued for its cleansing, worm-settling nature. Read article Herbs & Plants Jambu Syzygium cumini Jambu explained: the dark, astringent fruit whose seed Ayurveda values for the urinary and metabolic group and for steadying loose, over-heated digestion. Read article Herbs & Plants Jambu Tree (Jamun) in Ayurveda The jambu tree (Syzygium cumini), the jamun of Indian summers, gives a dark, astringent fruit whose cooling, binding seed Ayurveda has long valued. Read article Herbs & Plants Japa Hibiscus rosa-sinensis The red hibiscus flower, used in Ayurveda as a cooling, astringent ingredient in hair oils and complexion preparations. Read article Herbs & Plants Jatamansi Nardostachys jatamansi Jatamansi is an aromatic Himalayan root that Ayurveda uses to calm a restless mind, steady the emotions and support settled, restful sleep. Read article Herbs & Plants Jatiphala Myristica fragrans Jatiphala is the seed kernel of the nutmeg tree, valued in the classical Ayurvedic tradition as a warming, aromatic dravya used in very small quantities. Read article Herbs & Plants Jeeraka Cuminum cyminum The small warming fruit of the cumin plant, the everyday kitchen spice Ayurveda names for kindling the digestive fire and settling the belly. Read article Herbs & Plants Jyotishmati Celastrus paniculatus Jyotishmati in Ayurveda: the climbing shrub whose pungent seed and warming oil sit among the Medhya herbs, valued to support intellect and settle Vata. Read article Herbs & Plants Kadamba Neolamarckia cadamba Kadamba in Ayurveda: the bark of the cluster-flowered kadam tree, an astringent, cooling material used in decoctions and in mouth and skin preparations. Read article Herbs & Plants Kakamachi Solanum nigrum A small berried herb that Ayurveda values for settling swelling and calming the skin, counted among the rejuvenating herbs and used both inside and out. Read article Herbs & Plants Kalmegh Andrographis paniculata Kalmegh is one of Ayurveda's most intensely bitter herbs, traditionally valued as a bitter tonic to kindle digestion and support the liver. Read article Herbs & Plants Kamala (Lotus) Nelumbo nucifera The sacred lotus, whose cooling flower and golden stamens Ayurveda reaches for whenever the body runs hot or bleeds. Read article Herbs & Plants Kampillaka Mallotus philippensis A fine red powder gathered from the surface of a small fruit, which Ayurveda counts among its foremost herbs for clearing intestinal worms. Read article Herbs & Plants Kanchanara Bauhinia variegata Kanchanara in Ayurveda: the astringent bark long linked with the glandular and lymphatic tissue of the neck, and the herb behind Kanchanara Guggulu. Read article Herbs & Plants Kantakari Solanum surattense A small thorny plant whose whole herb Ayurveda uses to clear the chest, kindle digestion and settle a damp, congested cough. Read article Herbs & Plants Kapikacchu Mucuna pruriens A velvet-podded legume whose purified seed Ayurveda values as a nourishing, strengthening tonic that settles the Vata dosha. Read article Herbs & Plants Karanja Pongamia pinnata A hardy tree of the legume family whose pungent seed oil Ayurveda uses on the skin, valued for its warming, drying and cleansing nature. Read article Herbs & Plants Karkatashringi Pistacia integerrima Karkatashringi explained: the horn-shaped Himalayan gall valued as a warming, binding remedy that settles cough and breath, especially in children. Read article Herbs & Plants Kasamarda (Coffee Senna) Senna occidentalis A bitter, pungent legume whose name means the destroyer of Kasa: the classical Ayurvedic herb for cough, the breath and the liver. Read article Herbs & Plants Katphala Myrica esculenta The astringent stem bark of the box myrtle, a warming Ayurvedic remedy the old texts reach for in cough, a blocked nose and complaints of the throat. Read article Herbs & Plants Katuki Picrorhiza kurroa A small Himalayan root, famous for its sharp bitterness, that Ayurveda uses to cool excess heat and wake a sluggish digestion. Read article Herbs & Plants Khadira Senegalia catechu Khadira, the dark heartwood extract, is Ayurveda's foremost skin-purifying substance: cooling, drying and astringent, and how it settles Kapha and Pitta. Read article Herbs & Plants Kharjura (Dates) Phoenix dactylifera Kharjura, the date, in Ayurveda: a sweet, nourishing fruit the texts count among the finest, turned to for wasting, debility and post-illness weakness. Read article Herbs & Plants Krishna Jeeraka Nigella sativa A small black seed valued in classical Ayurveda as a warming, pungent household spice traditionally used to support the digestive fire. Read article Herbs & Plants Kulattha Macrotyloma uniflorum A hardy little pulse that Ayurveda values above all for the urinary passage, used to break down and clear stones and gravel while lightening the body. Read article Herbs & Plants Kumari (Aloe vera) Aloe barbadensis The cooling gel of the aloe leaf, used in Ayurveda to settle heat and to soothe, and the classic plant reached for when the body runs hot. Read article Herbs & Plants Kumkuma Crocus sativus Kumkuma, saffron's dried red stigmas, is one of the most precious substances in Ayurveda, valued for improving the complexion and gladdening the heart. Read article Herbs & Plants Kushmanda Benincasa hispida A large pale gourd whose mature fruit and juice Ayurveda values as a cooling, nourishing tonic that supports the mind and settles the Pitta dosha. Read article Herbs & Plants Kushtha Saussurea lappa A fragrant warming root from the high Himalayas, long named in Ayurveda among the herbs reached for in care of the skin. Read article Herbs & Plants Kutaja Holarrhena antidysenterica The bitter, astringent bark of a small Indian tree, the herb Ayurveda has long reached for to settle the digestion and steady the bowels. Read article Herbs & Plants Laksha in Ayurveda: the Classical Lac Resin Laccifer lacca Laksha in Ayurveda is the classical lac resin, an insect-derived substance the tradition values chiefly for uniting broken bone. Read article Herbs & Plants Laksha Properties: Rasa, Guna, Virya, Karma Laccifer lacca Laksha properties explained: Kashaya-Tikta-Madhura rasa, Snigdha-Guru guna, Sheeta virya, Katu vipaka, and the Bhagna-sandhaniya karma of this lac resin. Read article Herbs & Plants Laksha: the Plant and Insect Source of Lac Laccifer lacca The Laksha plant is a common misnomer; Laksha is really lac, the resin the tiny lac insect secretes on host twigs. What it is and where it comes from. Read article Herbs & Plants Lashuna (Garlic) Allium sativum Garlic, the pungent warming bulb Ayurveda calls Rasona and holds foremost among remedies for Vata disorders, worms and weak digestion. Read article Herbs & Plants Lavanga Syzygium aromaticum Lavanga (clove) in Ayurveda: the aromatic dried flower bud traditionally used to support the digestive fire, make food tastier and freshen the mouth. Read article Herbs & Plants Lodhra Symplocos racemosa Lodhra is a cooling, astringent bark that Ayurveda turns to for women's health, for the skin and for a clear, even complexion. Read article Herbs & Plants Mahabala Sida rhombifolia The greatest of the classical Bala roots, valued in Ayurveda as a deeply nourishing, strengthening tonic that settles Vata and cools Pitta. Read article Herbs & Plants Mandukparni Centella asiatica A small creeping leaf that Ayurveda values for the mind, classed among the herbs said to support memory, clarity and calm. Read article Herbs & Plants Manjistha Rubia cordifolia A deep red root that Ayurveda treats as its leading blood-cleanser, used to clear the complexion and steady the skin. Read article Herbs & Plants Maricha Piper nigrum The black pepper of the kitchen, used in Ayurveda as a warming spice to kindle digestion and to help other herbs work. Read article Herbs & Plants Masha Vigna mungo Masha, black gram, in Ayurveda: the pulse ranked first among beans for nourishment, valued for building the body, settling Vata and giving unctuousness. Read article Herbs & Plants Methi Trigonella foenum-graecum Methi, or fenugreek, is a small golden seed that Ayurveda treats as a warming, digestive spice, valued in the kitchen and in the home. Read article Herbs & Plants Murva Marsdenia tenacissima Murva in Ayurveda: the bitter, astringent climber whose root and stem sit among the blood-cleansing herbs and the Prameha group, settling Kapha and Pitta. Read article Herbs & Plants Musali Chlorophytum borivilianum A slender white-rooted plant whose tuberous roots Ayurveda values as a sweet, cooling, strengthening tonic and a classic Vajikarana and Rasayana herb. Read article Herbs & Plants Musta Cyperus rotundus A small grassy root that Ayurveda uses to settle the digestion, ease bloating and cool the heat of a disturbed stomach. Read article Herbs & Plants Nagabala Grewia hirsuta A root of the classical Bala group, valued in Ayurveda as a nourishing, strengthening tonic that settles both the Vata and the Pitta dosha. Read article Herbs & Plants Nagkesara Mesua ferrea Nagkesara, the dried golden stamens of an ironwood tree, is used in Ayurveda to cool the body and to steady a tendency toward bleeding. Read article Herbs & Plants Nalpamaram: The Four Ficus Barks of Ayurveda Ficus benghalensis, F. racemosa, F. religiosa, F. microcarpa Nalpamaram is Ayurveda's group of four Ficus barks, Nyagrodha, Udumbara, Ashvattha and Plaksha, cooling, astringent and classed as varnya for the skin. Read article Herbs & Plants Neem Azadirachta indica A very bitter, cooling leaf and bark that Ayurveda treats as the first herb of clear skin and a cool, settled Pitta. Read article Herbs & Plants Nili Indigofera tinctoria The famous blue-dye plant, a bitter and warming herb that Ayurveda counts among its leading remedies for the hair and the care of the skin. Read article Herbs & Plants Nirgundi Vitex negundo Nirgundi explained: the pungent, heating leaf Ayurveda has long cooked into warm medicated oils and used in poultices over the joints and body. Read article Herbs & Plants Nyagrodha Ficus benghalensis Nyagrodha is the bark of the banyan tree, valued in classical Ayurveda as a cooling and astringent substance for the care of skin and external tissue. Read article Herbs & Plants Padmaka Prunus cerasoides The fragrant heartwood of the wild Himalayan cherry, a cooling wood Ayurveda names among its remedies for a bleeding tendency and for burning heat. Read article Herbs & Plants Palasha Butea monosperma A forest tree famed for its blazing orange-red spring flowers, whose seed Ayurveda values as a noted remedy against intestinal worms. Read article Herbs & Plants Parpata Fumaria indica A small delicate herb that Ayurveda counts among its foremost fever-settling plants, valued for cooling heat, easing thirst and quietening a heated body. Read article Herbs & Plants Patala Stereospermum suaveolens Patala is a flowering tree of the Bignoniaceae family whose root is one of the ten roots of the classical Dashamoola group in Ayurveda. Read article Herbs & Plants Patha Cissampelos pareira A bitter climbing root that Ayurveda names first for loose motions, and reaches for again to steady the digestion and counter toxins. Read article Herbs & Plants Pippali Piper longum Pippali in Ayurveda: the warming, pungent fruit that kindles the digestive fire yet finishes sweet, valued as a digestive and a gentle rejuvenator. Read article Herbs & Plants Prishnaparni Uraria picta A slender legume whose root is one of the ten classical roots of Dashamoola, valued in Ayurveda as a strengthening and grounding herb. Read article Herbs & Plants Priyangu Callicarpa macrophylla Priyangu is a cooling, astringent herb of the beautyberry shrub, used in Ayurveda mainly for the skin and for settling excess heat in the body. Read article Herbs & Plants Punarnava Boerhavia diffusa A creeping herb whose name means renewed again, used in Ayurveda mainly to clear excess fluid and support the kidneys and urine. Read article Herbs & Plants Pushkarmool Inula racemosa Pushkarmool in Ayurveda: the bitter, warming daisy-family root linked to the chest, breath and heart region, used above all for pain in the sides. Read article Herbs & Plants Rasayana Herbs: The Great Ayurvedic Rejuvenators Rasayana herbs are the classical Ayurvedic rejuvenators, Amalaki, Haritaki, Guduchi, Ashwagandha and kin, taken to nourish the tissues and build Ojas. Read article Herbs & Plants Rasna Pluchea lanceolata Rasna in Ayurveda: the warming, aromatic daisy-family herb named a foremost remedy for stiffness and joints, and the root of many classical formulas. Read article Herbs & Plants Rohitaka Tecomella undulata Rohitaka, a hardy desert tree, is Ayurveda's foremost remedy for the spleen and the seat the tradition links with bile and blood. Its classical bark uses. Read article Herbs & Plants Saptaparna Alstonia scholaris Saptaparna in Ayurveda: the forest tree whose bitter, astringent bark was long turned to in fever, its milky latex put to the skin and wounds. Read article Herbs & Plants Sariva Hemidesmus indicus A cool, sweet-scented root that Ayurveda uses to settle heat, and the classic herb reached for when the texts speak of caring for the skin and the blood. Read article Herbs & Plants Shalaparni Desmodium gangeticum Shalaparni is a valued strengthening and grounding root of classical Ayurveda, counted among the ten roots of the celebrated Dashamoola. Read article Herbs & Plants Shallaki Boswellia serrata A fragrant tree resin, often called Indian frankincense, that Ayurveda has long used in preparations for the joints and the supporting tissues of the body. Read article Herbs & Plants Shalmali Bombax ceiba A tall, thorny forest tree whose dried gum Ayurveda values as a cooling, binding remedy that checks loose motions and settles unwanted bleeding. Read article Herbs & Plants Shankhapushpi Convolvulus pluricaulis A small ground-creeping herb with a conch-shaped flower, named by Ayurveda among the foremost herbs for the mind, the memory and a settled temperament. Read article Herbs & Plants Shankhpushpi Benefits: The Herb for the Mind Convolvulus pluricaulis Shankhpushpi benefits sit at the heart of Ayurveda's medhya rasayana group: a herb traditionally used to support memory, focus and a calm, settled mind. Read article Herbs & Plants Shatapushpa (Fennel) Foeniculum vulgare Shatapushpa (fennel) in Ayurveda: the sweet aromatic fruit used as a gentle carminative, taken to support comfortable digestion and settle the stomach. Read article Herbs & Plants Shatavari Asparagus racemosus Shatavari in Ayurveda: the cooling, nourishing root counted among its foremost tonics, long associated with women's health across life's passages. Read article Herbs & Plants Shigru Moringa oleifera Shigru (moringa) in Ayurveda: the fast-growing tree whose leaf, pod, bark and root work as a warm, scraping herb that lightens Kapha and Vata. Read article Herbs & Plants Shilajit: Benefits, Side Effects and Purity Shilajit (shilajatu) is a classical mineral-pitch Rasayana. Its real benefits, its side effects, and why purity and proper shodhana matter most of all. Read article Herbs & Plants Shirisha Albizia lebbeck Shirisha in Ayurveda: the broad flowering tree whose bark, seed and flower rank among the leading Vishaghna that answer toxins and reactions. Read article Herbs & Plants Shunthi Zingiber officinale Shunthi is dried ginger, the warming root Ayurveda reaches for to kindle digestion and to settle a cold, heavy and sluggish stomach. Read article Herbs & Plants Shyonaka Oroxylum indicum Shyonaka explained: the root bark counted among the ten roots of Dashamoola, traditionally used to steady digestion and settle restless Vata. Read article Herbs & Plants Tagara Valeriana wallichii Tagara is the fragrant twisted root of Indian Valerian, grouped in the classical texts among the aromatic, mind-steadying substances. Read article Herbs & Plants Talispatra Abies webbiana The aromatic leaf of a tall Himalayan silver fir, valued in Ayurveda as a warming remedy for the breath and for a weak digestive fire. Read article Herbs & Plants Tejpatra Cinnamomum tamala Tejpatra in Ayurveda: the dried three-veined leaf of a cinnamon relative, named for kindling Agni and settling the belly, one of the Trijataka spices. Read article Herbs & Plants Tila Sesamum indicum A small oil-rich seed whose pressed oil, Tila taila, is the classical base of most Ayurvedic medicated oils and the oil of choice for daily massage. Read article Herbs & Plants Trivrit Operculina turpethum Trivrit in Ayurveda: the twining root counted among the chief purgatives, valued for moving the bowels down and clearing Kapha and Pitta, given with care. Read article Herbs & Plants Tulsi Ocimum tenuiflorum Holy basil, the sacred household herb of India, used in Ayurveda above all for the breath, the lungs and seasonal resilience. Read article Herbs & Plants Turmeric Curcuma longa Haridra, the golden kitchen rhizome, used in Ayurveda for the skin and complexion, to support clean blood, and as a daily anti-stagnation spice. Read article Herbs & Plants Turmeric Benefits in Ayurveda (Haridra) Curcuma longa Turmeric benefits Ayurveda records go back to the classics: Haridra is classed as varnya, complexion-tending, and warming, settling Kapha and Pitta. Read article Herbs & Plants Twak Cinnamomum verum Twak, the fragrant bark of the cinnamon tree, is a warming aromatic in classical Ayurveda and a member of the spice groups Trijataka and Chaturjataka. Read article Herbs & Plants Udumbara Ficus racemosa Udumbara in Ayurveda: the bark of the cluster fig, one of the five astringent fig barks used traditionally to clean and settle the skin's surface. Read article Herbs & Plants Ushira Vetiveria zizanioides The fragrant root of vetiver grass, used in Ayurveda as a cooling herb to settle the heat and restlessness the tradition calls Pitta. Read article Herbs & Plants Vacha Acorus calamus An aromatic marsh root that Ayurveda links to clear speech and a clear, awake mind, warming and drying in its nature. Read article Herbs & Plants Varuna Crateva nurvala Varuna is a flowering tree whose bark holds a special place in classical Ayurveda as the dravya most closely tied to the urinary channels. Read article Herbs & Plants Vasa Adhatoda vasica Vasa in Ayurveda: the bitter shrub whose leaves have long been used to clear heaviness from the chest, the classic herb for breath and passages. Read article Herbs & Plants Vidanga Embelia ribes A small dried berry that Ayurveda has long reached for to clean the gut, kindle the appetite and keep the digestion light. Read article Herbs & Plants Vidari Pueraria tuberosa Vidari is a large sweet tuber of Ayurveda, traditionally valued as a nourishing and strengthening herb often taken with milk. Read article Herbs & Plants Yashtimadhu Glycyrrhiza glabra Yashtimadhu is a sweet root that Ayurveda uses above all to soothe the throat and voice, and one of its most widely used gentle herbs. Read article Herbs & Plants Yavani Trachyspermum ammi The small ridged fruit of the carom plant, the sharp warming spice Ayurveda names for kindling a weak digestive fire and easing a griping, bloated belly. Read article