Abrus precatorius

Botanical name : Abrus precatorius Linn.
Family : Fabaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Gunja, Kakanantika, Kakapilu, Raktika, Kakadani

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Tikta, Kashaya
Guna : Guru, Teekshna, Rooksha
Virya : Ushna

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Jequirity, Indian liquorice, Wild liquorice
Hindi : Gunchi, Ratti
Malayalam : Kunni

Distribution – Throughout India, growing wild on bushes and hedges.

PLANT DESCRIPTION
A deciduous climber with tough branches. Leaves pinnately compound with many pairs of leaflets, leaflets oblong; flowers pink, found in clusters arranged on one side of recemose inflorescence; fruits pods; seeds usually scarlet with black spot or pure white colored.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated pitta, vata, inflammation, vitiligo, skin disease, wounds, alopecia, asthma, stomatitis and fever.
Useful part : Root, Leaves, Seeds.

Abutilon indicus

Botanical name : Abutilon indicum Sw.
Family : Malvaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Atibala, Balika, Vatyapushpy, Bhuribala

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Tikta, Madhura
Guna : Snigda, Grahi
Virya : Seeta

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Country mallow
Hindi : Kabi, Kakahi, Chambi
Malayalam : Velluram, Oorakam

PLANT DESCRIPTION
Medium sized many branched perennial shrub grows up to 2 meters in height. Plant covered with minute hairs. Leaves are alternate, cordate and acute. Leaves vary in size. Flowers are yellowish, with 5 petals, solitary found in leaf axils. Fruits contain 15-20 chambers, arranged spirally, containing seeds. Seeds are blackish brown.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies tridoshas, especially vata, and pitta, poison, hyperdipsia, vomiting, Leukorrhoea and Menorrhagia.
Useful part : Leaves, Root, Fruits

Acacia catechu

Botanical name : Acacia catechu (Linn.f) Wild.
Family : Mimosaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Khadira, Kushtari, Rakthasaram

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Tikta, Kashaya
Guna : Lakhu, Rooksha
Virya : Seeta
Vipaka : Katu

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Dark catechu, Cutch tree
Hindi : Khair
Malayalam : Karingali

PLANT DESCRIPTION
Medium sized thorny deciduous tree grows up to 13 meters in height. Leaves bipinnately compound, leaflets 30-50 paired, main rachis pubescent, with large conspicuous gland near the middle of the rachis. Flowers pale yellow, sessile, found in axillary spikes. Fruits flat brown pods, with triangular beak at the apex, shiny, narrowed at base. Seeds 3-10 per pod. The gummy extract of the wood is called kath or cutch.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated pitta, kapha, skin diseases, cough, pruritus, and obesity. Useful in tooth ache, increases the strength of teeth.
Useful part : Bark, Heartwood, Kath.

Achyranthes aspera

Botanical name : Achyranthes aspera Linn.
Family : Amaranthaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Apamargah, Mayoorah,Markatapippalee, Durgrahah

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES –
Of fruit
Rasa : Madhura
Guna : Rooksha, Sara
Virya : Seeta Of root
Rasa : Tikta, Katu
Guna : Teekshna, Sara
Virya : Ushna

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Prickly chaff-flower plant
Hindi : Circita
Malayalam : Vankadaladi

PLANT DESCRIPTION
A shrub that grows up to one meter height; leaves simple, opposite, obovate or elliptic; flowers bracteate and bracteolate, greenish, in spikes; fruits oblong urticle; seeds single, inverse.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated vata, kapha, asthma, bronchitis, flatulence, painful inflammations, vomiting, skin diseases, renal and vesical calculi.
Useful part : The whole plant

Aegle marmelos

Botanical name : Aegle marmelos Linn. Corr.
Family : Rutaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Vilva, Maloorah, Sreephala, Sadaphala, Sailoosha.

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Kashaya, Tikta
Guna : Lakhu, Rooksha
Virya : Ushna

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Bael tree, Holy Fruit tree
Hindi : Bilva
Malayalam : Koovalam

PLANT DESCRIPTION
Medium sized thorny deciduous tree grows up to 10 meters in height. Leaves trifoliate, aromatic, and alternate. Leaflets are ovate-lanceolate. Lateral leaflets are sub sessile and terminal long petioled. Flowers are greenish white, found in axillary panicles. Fruits are globose woody berry with yellow pulp. Seeds are numerous, oblong and embedded in pulp.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated kapha, vata, body pain, poison, diarrhea, dysentery, vomiting, and intermittent fever. Pulp of unripe fruit is constipating whereas that of ripened fruit is laxative. Leaves cure diabetes, cough, inflammation and asthma.
Useful part : Leaves, Root, Fruits

Aerva lanata

Botanical name : Aerva lanata (Linn.) Juss.ex Schultes
Family : Amaranthaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Bhadra, Kurandaka, Gorakshaganja

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Tikta
Guna : Lakhu, Snigda
Virya : Seeta

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English :
Hindi : Chaya
Malayalam : Cherula, Cherupula

PLANT DESCRIPTION
A semi erect many branched under shrub grows up to 50 cm in height. Leaves are simple, alternate, short petioled, tomentose, and become smaller in the flowering twigs. Flowers are small sessile, greenish or whitish, often found in spikes. Fruits are greenish round compressed utricle, seeds kidney shaped and small.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated pitta, urinry infection, vesical calculi, cough, and boils.
Useful part : Whole plant.

Alangium salvifoliu

Botanical name : Alangium salvifolium Wang.
Family : Alangiaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Ankolah, Kolakah, Rechi, Deerghakeelakah

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Kashaya, Katu, Tikta,
Guna : Lakhu, Snigda, Teekshna, Sara
Virya : Ushna

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Sage-leaved alangium
Hindi : Angol,Dhera,
Malayalam : Ankolam,Velithondi

PLANT DESCRIPTION
A small, thorny deciduous tree/ shrub which grows up to a height of 5-10 meters. Bark yellowish, leaves alternate, elliptical and usually unequal at the base; flowers-yellowish white, fragrant, in axillary fascicles,fruits 1-2 seeded,1cm in length,1-2 seeded berries crowned by the calyx lobes.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated pitta. It is anti-hypertensive, antidote for several poisons especially for rabies. Roots are useful for external application in case of rheumatism and inflammation. Fruits are used in treatment of hemorrhages.
Useful part : Seeds, Leaves, Root

Alpinia calcarata

Botanical name : Alpinia calcarata Rox.
Family : Zingiberaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Rasna, Sugandhamoola, Kulanjana

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Katu, Tikta
Guna : Lakhu, Teekshna
Virya : Ushna

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : The greater galangal, Java galangal
Hindi : Kulanjan
Malayalam : Chittaratha

PLANT DESCRIPTION
A perennial, aromatic, rhizomatous herb,1.8-2.1 m in height, leaves oblong, lanceolate, glabrous, acuminate, very shortly petioled, ligule short, rounded, ciliate, flowers fragrant, greenish white with red veined lips, in dense panicles; fruits capsules , orange red when ripe.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated vata, kapha, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammations, cough, asthma, bronchitis, hiccough, dyspepsia, stomach pain, obesity, diabetes, migraine and intermittent fevers.
Useful part : rhizomes

Alstonia venenata

Botanical name : Alstonia venenata R. Br.
Family : Apocynaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Vishagni, Anadana, Ankola

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Kashaya, Tikta
Guna : Lakhu, Rooksha
Virya : Ushna

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
Hindi : Vishagni
Malayalam : Analivegam

PLANT DESCRIPTION
Small tree growing up to 6 meter height with grayish brown bark and bright yellow hard woody root. Leaves are simple with the whorls of 3-6 lanceolate membraneous leaves with wavy margins. Flowers are white, terminal, subumbellar cyme. Fruits are fusiform, stalked and beaked follicles, tapering both ends. Seeds are flat with tufts of hair in each end.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated pitta, cobra bite, skin diseases, other venomous bites, epilepsy, fever and otalgia. Fruits are useful in insanity and epilepsy.
Useful part : Root, Fruit.

Andrographis paniculata

Botanical name : Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees
Family : Acanthaseae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Kiratatikta, Kandatikta, Bhoonimba, Tiktaka

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Tikta
Guna : Lakhu, Rooksha,
Virya : Ushna

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Chiretta plant
Hindi : Kiryat
Malayalam : Kiriyath

PLANT DESCRIPTION
An annual herb grows up to 50 cm in height, having slender quadrangular branches, leaves opposite, lanceolate, sub sessile, flowers small bluish white, numerous, whitish, fruits minute pointed capsules, seeds are many.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies tridoshas, skin diseases, burning sensation, cough and bronchitis. Plant stimulates liver and purifies vitiated blood.
Useful part : Whole plant

Apama siliquosa

Botanical name : Apama siliquosa, Thottea siliquosa
Family : Aristolochiaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Kodassari, Alpam

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Tikta, Kashaya
Guna : Lakhu, Rooksha, Teekshna
Virya : Ushna

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English :
Hindi :
Malayalam : Alpam

PLANT DESCRIPTION
The plant is found mostly in hilly part of Western Ghats. An erect perennial shrub grows up to 3 meters in height. Leaves alternate oavte-lanceolate, about 15 cm long. Upper surface rough. Flowers are small whitish, found in axilla of leaf. Fruits are pods, with 3-4 seeds within.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated tridoshas and a good remedy for stomach ache and poison bites. The unripe fruit when chewed cures acute stomach pain.
Useful part : Seeds, leaves

Asparagus recemosus

Botanical name : Asparagus recemosus Wild.
Family : Liliaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Satavari, Abhiru, Sahasravirya,

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Madhura, Tikta
Guna : Guru, Snigda
Virya : Seeta

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Wild asparagus
Hindi : Satavar, Satamuli
Malayalam : Satavari

PLANT DESCRIPTION
A thorny, climbing undershrub with woody stems. Young stems are very delicate, brittle and smooth, leaves are reduced to minute scales and spines. Curved cladodes replaces the leaves. Flowers are white fragrant, in simple or branched recemes. Fruits are globular, or vaguely 3 lobbed, pulpy berries, purplish black when ripe, seeds with hard and brittle testa. Roots are succulent and tuberous, from 30 cm to 1 m in length, smooth and tapering at both ends.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated pitta, vata, leukorrhoea, stomach ache, diarrhea, inflammation, burning sensation, excessive perspiration, nervous debility, cough, bronchitis and skin diseases. Stimulate mammary gland secretion.
Useful part : Root

Acacia leucophloea

Botanical name : Acacia leucophloea (Roxb.) Willd.
Family : Mimosaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Arimeda

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Kashaya, Tikta, Katu
Guna : Lakhu, Rooksha
Virya : Ushna

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : White babool, Distiller’s acacia
Hindi : Safed babool
Malayalam : Velvelam, Velvelakam

Distribution – Throughout India growing wild in planes.

PLANT DESCRIPTION
A moderate sized tree grows up to 30 meters in height. Leaves bipinnate, 5-15 pairs of pinnate, leaflets small oblong and obtuse; flowers in large terminal tomentose panicles, in head inflorescence; fruits thin, flat, curved pods, containing 10-20 seed per pod.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated kapha, cough, inflammation, wounds, skin diseases, leukoderma, diarrhea, hemorrhages, dental caries, stomatitis and fever.
Useful part : Bark.

Acacia nilotica

Botanical name : Acacia nilotica (Linn.) Willd.ex.Del
Family : Mimosaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Barbara, Vavari

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Kashaya, Madhura
Guna : Guru, Rooksha, Vishada
Virya : Seeta
Vipaka : Madhura

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Babul, Indian Gum Arabic tree
Hindi : Babul
Malayalam : Karivelam

Distribution – Throughout India growing wild in deciduous forests.

PLANT DESCRIPTION
A small to moderate sized thorny tree grows up to 10 meters in height. Leaves bipinnate, main rachis downy, pinnate 4-9 pairs, leaflets subsessile, 10-18 pairs; flowers golden yellow found in heads, axillary, fruits stalked, compressed, with constrictions between seeds. Seeds 10-12 per pod. Gum arise from the bark is called Gum Arabic.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated kapha, pitta, pyorrhea, stomatitis, wounds, hemorrhage, ulcers, dysentery, diarrhea, skin diseases, burning sensation, cough, and dental caries.
Useful part : Bark, Gum.

Acacia polyantha

Botanical name : Acacia polyantha Willd.
Family : Mimosaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Kadara, Somavalka

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Tikta, Kashaya, Katu
Guna : Lakhu, Rooksha
Virya : Ushna

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : White cutch tree, White catechu
Hindi : Svetkhadir
Malayalam : Venkaringali, Somarayatoli

Distribution – In southern part of India cultivated as well as growing wild.

PLANT DESCRIPTION
A medium sized unarmed tree grows up to 10 meters in height. Leaves bipinnate, leaflets up to 50 pairs, linear-oblong; flowers sessile, white, in terminal spikes; fruits flat pods, with triangular beak on apex, containing many flat round seeds.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated kapha, pitta, skin diseases, diabetes, ulcers, epilepsy, insanity, obesity and arthritis.
Useful part : Heartwood.