An Introductory Guide to Ayurvedic Herbs
The practice of Ayurvedic medicine originated in India thousands of years ago. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the term Ayurveda is a combination of two Sanskrit words: ayur meaning life and veda meaning science or knowledge. Ayurveda therefore literally means the science and knowledge of life.
Many Ayurvedic practices became established long before the advent of written records, having been passed down through the generations by word of mouth. What constitutes the Ayurvedic Herbs Guide are three ancient books on Ayurvedic medicine, the Char-aka Samhita, the Sushruta Samhita and the Astanga Friday, were written in Sanskrit over 2,000 years ago and are known as the Great Trilogy.
In its Benchmarks for Training in Ayurveda, the World Health Organization states that there are two types of Ayurveda experts: practitioners and dispensers. Within the practitioner category are two types of therapists: Ayurveda dieticians and panchakarma therapists. The former provide dietary counseling and make herbal recommendations. The latter provides a five-fold detoxification treatment involving massage, herbal therapy and other procedures. Again it’s a literal translation; pancha means five and karma means treatment.
Each of these experts, including the dispensers/distributors, must be properly trained so as to ensure that Ayurvedic treatments and practices are safe. To this end, the Ayurvedic Formulary of India is a two-volume book containing over 600 compounded Ayurvedic formulations.
Top 20 Ayurvedic Herbs List & How They Heal Your Body
Whether you’re an Ayurveda newbie or someone who’s been following Ayurvedic principles for a few years, everyone needs handy Ayurvedic herbs list. Why? Well there are are tons Ayurvedic herbs out there and sometimes it gets rather confusing which of these herbs are the most beneficial to you at the
These Ayurvedic herbs and their uses can do your body and mind so much good, but you need to know what exactly their qualities and benefits are – so you know what diseases they can help to treat.
I have a list of Ayurvedic herbs on my kitchen wall and each time I look at it, I’m simply amazed that I can find half of these herbs in my very own kitchen.
If you’ve been wanting a list, here’s my little gift to you – a list of top 20 must-have Ayurvedic herbs that can balance you in & out.
Ayurvedic Herbs List
The herbs used in Ayurveda for ayurvedic treatment of an illness are collectively known as Ayurvedic Herbs. Charak Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Ashtanga Hridaya have described several hundreds of herbs and their uses in the management of diseases.
Ayurvedic herbs are used according to their Ayurvedic Properties and Dosha Karma (effects on Vata Dosha, Pitta Dosha, and Kapha Dosha). So, each herb cannot serve similar benefits for the same disease in different people. Some people may require Ushna (hot potency) herbs and some may require Sheeta (cool potency) herbs, according to the increase or decrease in the Dosha or aggravation of a specific Dosha. It also depends on several other qualities of the herb like Laugh (light to digest), Guru (heavy to digest), Ruksha (produces dryness in the body) etc.
Therefore, before using ayurvedic herbs, ayurvedic practitioner requires establishing the right diagnosis of increased, decreased and aggravated Dosha in a patient and must analyze Ayurvedic Body Type, and Vikriti Dosha etc. Then wisely choose the right ayurvedic herb for the patient that can provide a complete relief.
Benefits of Ayurvedic Herbs
- The right ayurvedic herbs according to Dosha karma are the most powerful to provide a complete relief from an illness.
- They are for treating the whole patient, not for a specific disease. Therefore, they also have side advantages to cure all other associated health problems.
- The best ayurvedic herbs do not suppress immunity, but they help the body to fight off the disease.
- They improve vitality and provide strength. Therefore, treatment with ayurvedic herbs never causes debility after an illness.
- Indian ayurvedic herbs help to improve the overall health of the patient.
Ayurvedic Herbs List
The list of all ayurvedic herbs is as follows:
| Aam (Amara) | Magnifier indica |
| Adrak | Zingiber officialese |
| Adulsa (Vasaka) | Adhatoda vasica |
| Agar (Agaru) | Aquilaria agallocha |
| Agnimantha (Arani) | Premna Integrifolia |
| Ahiphena (Afeem) | Papaver somniferum |
| Ajmoda | Apium Graveolens |
| Ajwain (Yawani) | Trachyspermum ammi |
| Akarkara | Anacyclus pyre thrum |
| Aka-sh Bel (Amara vela) | Cuscuta reflexa |
| Akhrot | Juglans regia |
| Alsi | Lin-um usitatissimum |
| Amaltas (Aragvadha) | Cassia fistula |
| Amba haldi | Curcuma achromatic |
| Amla (Amalaki) | Emblica officinalis |
| Amlavetasa | Rum-ex crisp-us |
| Amrud | Presidium guajava |
| Anantmul (Sariva) | Hemispheres indices |
| Anar (Dadima) | Punic granatum |
| An jeer | Ficus carica |
| Apamarga | Acanthuses asp-era |
| Aparajita | Clitoris terminate |
| Arjuna Tree | Terminalia Arjuna |
| Ark (Akwan) | Isotropic gigantic |
| Arni | Clerodendrum phlomidis |
| Ashoka | Saraca indica |
| Ashwagandha | Withania Somnifera |
| Atibala (Kanghi) | Abutilon indicum |
| Ativisha (Atis) | Aconitum heterophyllum |
| Babchi (Bakuchi) | Psoralea corylifolia |
| Babul (Kikar) | Acacia arabica |
| Badi Elaichi | Amomum Subulatum |
| Badranj Boya | Nepeta Hindostana |
| Bael (Bilva) | Aegle marmelos |
| Bakayan (Bakain or Mahanimb) | Melia Azedarach |
| Bakul (Bakula) | Mimusops elengi |
| Bala (Khareti) | Sida cordifolia |
| Ban Methi | |
| Banafsha | Viola Odorata |
| Banpyaj | Urginea indica |
| Banslochan (Vanslochan) | Bambusa bambos |
| Bargad (Vat) | Ficus benghalensis |
| Basna (Agasti) | Sesbania grandiflora |
| Behman safed | Centaurea behen root |
| Behman surkh | Salvia haematodes root |
| Bhallataka (Bhilawa) | Semecarpus anacardium |
| Bhang | Cannabis indica |
| Bharangi | Clerodendrum indicum |
| Bhoj Patra (Bhurja Patra or Bhojpatra) | Betula Utilis |
| Bhringraj (Bhangra) | Eclipta alba |
| Bhumi Amla | Phyllanthus Urinaria |
| Bibhitaki (Bahera) | Terminalia Bellirica |
| Bijora nimbu (Jambir or Matulunga) | Citrus medica |
| Brahmadandi | – |
| Brahmi | Bacopa monnieri |
| Brihati (Bari Kateri) | Solanum indicum |
| Chakramarda (Chakunda) | Cassia tora |
| Chaksu (Vanya Kulthi or Kulatha) | Cassia absus |
| Chalta | Dillenia indica |
| Chandan (Lal) | Pterocarpus Santalinus |
| Chandan (Safed) | Santalum album |
| Chandan Lal | Pterocarpus santalinus |
| Chandrashoor (Chandrashura) | Lepidium sativum |
| Chaulmoogra (Tubrak) | Hydnocarpus wightiana |
| Chavya | Piper chaba |
| Chhoti kateri (Kantakari) | Solanum xanthocarpum |
| Chirh (Sarala) | Pinus longifolia |
| Chironji | Buchanania lanzan |
| Chitrak | Plumbago zeylanica |
| Chitrak Lal | Plumbago indica |
| Chopchini | Smilax china |
| Chora (Chorak or Choraka) | Angelica Glauca |
| Dalchini (Twak) | Cinnamomum zeylanicum |
| Dambel | Tylophora Indica |
| Danti (Dantimool or Hastidanti) | Baliospermum montanum |
| Daruhaldi (Daruharidra) | Berberis aristata |
| Datura Krishna (Datura Kala) | Datura metel |
| Datura Swet | Datura stramonium |
| Dauna | Artemisia sieversiana |
| Devdali (Devadali) | Luffa Echinata |
| Devdaru (Deodar) | Cedrus deodara |
| Dhak (Palash) | Butea monosperma |
| Dhamasa (Duralabha) | Fagonia Cretica |
| Dhania (Dhaniya) | Coriandrum Sativum |
| Dhataki | Woodfordia Fruticosa |
| Dikamali (Hingupatri) | Gardenia gummifera |
| Dronapushpi | Leucas cephalotes |
| Durva (Dhoob) | Cynodon dactylon |
| Elaichi (Ela) | Elettaria cardamomum |
| Erandmool | Ricinus communis |
| Eswaramooli (Garudakkodi) | Aristolochia indica |
| Gajar | Daucus carota |
| Gajpippali (Gajpipal) | Scindapsus officinalis |
| Gambhari (Kasmari) | Gmelina Arborea |
| Gandha Prasarini | Paederia Foetida |
| Gangeran | Canthium parviflorum |
| Ghritkumari or Ghee Kunwar or Gwarpatha | Aloe vera |
| Giloy (Guduchi) | Tinospora cordifolia |
| Gojihva | Onosma Bracteatum |
| Gojihva (Gaozaban) | Onosma bracteatum |
| Gokhru Bara | Pedalium murex |
| Gokhru choota (Gokshura) | Tribulus terrestris |
| Gorakhmundi | Sphaeranthus Indicus |
| Gudmar | Gymnema Sylvestre |
| Guggulu (Guggul) | Commiphora mukul |
| Gular (Udumber) | Ficus racemosa |
| Gunja | Abrus precatorius |
| Gurhal or Japa | Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis |
| Hadjod | Cissus Quadrangularis |
| Haldi (Haridra) | Curcuma longa |
| Hanspadi | Adiantum lunulatum |
| Haritaki (Harad) | Terminalia chebula |
| Hastisura | Heliotropium indicum |
| Hauber | Juniperus communis |
| Hijjal (Dhatriphala) | Barringtonia acutangula |
| Hing (Hingu) | Ferula foetida |
| Hirabol (Bola or Myrrh) | Commiphora myrrha |
| Hulhul | Gynandropsis pentaphylla |
| Hurhur | Cleome icosandra |
| Ikshu (Ganna) | Saccharum officinarum |
| Imli | Tamarindus indica |
| Indravaruni (Indrayana) | Citrullus Colocynthis |
| Indrayava | Holarrhena Antidysenterica Seeds |
| Indrayava Meetha (Kala kutaj or Vetpalai) | Wrightia tinctoria |
| Ingudi (Hingot) | Balanites aegyptiaca |
| Irimeda (Irimed) | Acacia farnesiana |
| Isabgol | Plantago ovata |
| Jadwar (Nirvishi) | Delphinium denudatum |
| Jaiphal (Jatiphal) | Myristica fragrans |
| Jamalgota | Croton tiglium |
| jamikand (Surankand) | Amorphophallus campanulatus |
| Jamun (Jambu) | Syzygium cumini |
| Jatamansi | Nardostachys Jatamansi |
| Jau | Hordeum vulgare |
| Javitri (Jatipatri) | Myristica fragrans |
| Jawasa (Durlabha) | Alhagi pseudalhagi |
| Jeera (Jeerak) | Cuminum cyminum |
| Jeera Safed | Carum carvi |
| Jivanti | Leptadenia reticulata |
| Kababchini (Kankol or Sheetal Mirch) | Piper Cubeba |
| Kachnar (Kanchanar) | Bauhinia variegata |
| Kachur (Shati) | Curcuma zedoaria |
| Kadamba | Anthocephalus indicus |
| Kagaji nimbu (Nimbuka) | Citrus aurantifolia |
| Kaiphal (Kayphal or Katphal) | Myrica nagi |
| Kaith (Kapittha) | Feronia limonia |
| Kakjangha | Leea aequata |
| Kakmari | Anamirta cocculus |
| Kali Jeeri (Kalijiri) | Centratherum Anthelminticum |
| Kali Marich | Piper nigrum |
| Kalihari (Languli) | Gloriosa superba |
| Kalmegh | Andrographis paniculata |
| Kalonji | Nigella sativa |
| Kamal | Nelumbo nucifera |
| Kamala | Mallotus philippensis |
| Kanchnar (Swet) | Bauhinia racemosa |
| Kanduri (Bimbi) | Coccinia indica |
| Kaner (Karvir) | Nerium indicum |
| Kapas (Karpas) | Gossypium herbaceum |
| Kapoor (Karpur) | Cinnamomum camphora |
| Kapur Kachri (Gandha Shati) | Hedychium spicatum |
| Karanj (Karanja) | Pongamia glabra |
| Karkatshringi (Kakrashringi) | Pistacia integerrima |
| Kasamarda (Kasundi) | Cassia occidentalis |
| Kasni (Chicory) | Cichorium intybus |
| Kaunch beej (Kapikachchu) | Mucuna pruriens |
| Kela | Musa paradisiaca |
| Kesar (Kunkuma) | Crocus sativus |
| Kewra (Ketaki) | Pandanus tectorius |
| Khadir (Khair) | Acacia catechu |
| Khadira Swet | Acacia senegal |
| Khajur | Phoenix dactylifera |
| Khurasani Ajwain (Parasika Yavani) | Hyoscyamus niger |
| Kiramar (Dhumra patra) | Aristolochia bracteata |
| Kirmala (Kirmani) | Artemisia maritima |
| Kuchla (Vishamushti) | Strychnos nux-vomica |
| Kulinjan (Kulinjana) | Alpinia galanga |
| Kurchi (Kutaj) | Holarrhena antidysenterica |
| Kuth (Kushta) | Saussurea lappa |
| Kutki | Picrorhiza kurroa |
| Lajjalu (Lajwanti) | Mimosa pudica |
| Laksha (Lac) | Laccifer Lacca |
| Lal Mirch | Capsicum annuum |
| Laldudhi (Nagarjuni) | Euphorbia hirta |
| Lasuna (Lahsun) | Allium sativum |
| Latakaranja (Katkaranj or Kuberakshi) | Caesalpinia crista |
| Laung (Lavang) | Syzygium aromaticum |
| Loban (Lohban) | Styrax benzoin |
| Lodhra | Symplocos racemosa |
| Mahua (Madhuka) | Madhuca indica |
| Mainphal (Madanaphala) | Randia dumetorum |
| Majuphal (Manjakani) | Quercus infectoria |
| Makoy (Kakmachi) | Solanum nigrum |
| Malkangni (Jyotishmati) | Celastrus paniculatus |
| Mamira | Coptis teeta |
| Manjistha (Manjith) | Rubia cardifolia |
| Mashparni | Teramnus labialis |
| Mehndi | Lawsonia alba |
| Methi | Trigonella foenum-graecum |
| Mochras | Salmania malabarica |
| Muchkunda | Pterospermum suberifolium |
| Mulethi (Yasthimadhu) | Glycyrrhiza glabra |
| Muli (Moolika) | Raphanus sativus |
| Mundi | Sphaeranthus indicus |
| Murva | Sansevieria Roxburghiana |
| Musli Kali | Curculigo orchioides |
| Musli Safed | Asparagus adscendens |
| Mustak (Nagarmotha) | Cyperus rotundus |
| Nagkesar | Mesua ferrea |
| Nariyal (Narikel) | Cocos nucifera |
| Neem (Nimb) | Azadirachta indica |
| Nirmali (Kataka) | Strychnos Potatorum |
| Padmaka | Prunus cerasoides |
| Paan (Tambul) | Piper betle |
| Papita (Papaya) | Carica papaya |
| Paribhadra | Erythrina variegata |
| Parval (Patol) | Trichosanthes dioica |
| Pashanbhed (Pashanbheda) | Berginia ligulata |
| Patala | Stereospermum suaveolens |
| Patang | Caesalpinia sappan |
| Pipal (Aswattha) | Ficus religiosa |
| Piplamool | Piper longum radix |
| Pippali | Piper longum |
| Pitpapra | Fumaria officinalis |
| Piyaj (Palandu) | Allium cepa |
| Prishniparni | Uraria picta |
| Priyangu | Callicarpa Macrophylla |
| Punarnava Lal | Boerhaavia diffusa |
| Pushkarmool | Inula Racemosa |
| Pushkarmool | Barberis aristata |
| Putrajeevak Beej | Putranjiva Roxburghii |
| Reetha | Sapindus trifoliatus |
| Revand chini | Rheum emodi |
| Rohitak (Rohitaka) | Tecomella undulata |
| Rudanti (Rudravanti) | – |
| Rudraksha | Elaeocarpus ganitrus |
| Safed Musli | Chlorophytum Borivilianum |
| Sal | Shorea robusta |
| Salam misri | Eulophia campestris |
| Samudra sokh (Vruddhadaru) | Argyreia speciosa |
| Sanay (Swarna Patri) | Cassia angustifolia |
| Saptaparni | Alstonia scholaris |
| Sarpagandha | Rauwolfia serpentina |
| Saunf | Foeniculum Vulgare |
| Sehund (Snuhi) | Euphorbia nerifolia |
| Semal (Shalmali) | Bombax malabaricum |
| Shalaparni | Desmodium Gangeticum |
| Shalparni | Desmodium gangeticum |
| Shatavari | Asparagus Racemosus |
| Shankhpushpi | Evolvulus alsinoides |
| Sharpunkha | Tephrosia purpurea |
| Shatavri | Asperagus racemosus |
| Shial kanta | Argemone mexicana |
| Shivlingi Beej | – |
| Siris (Shris) | Albizia lebbeck |
| Somlata | Ephedra gerardiana |
| Soya (Satapushpi) | Anethum sowa |
| Sudarshan | Crinum latifolium |
| Sugandh Bala | Pavonia odorata |
| Supari | Areca catechu |
| Suranjan (Surinjan, Suranjana) | Colchicum luteum |
| Talispatra | Abies webbiana |
| Talmakhana (Kokilaksha) | Asteracantha longifolia |
| Tarwar | Cassia auriculata |
| Tejpata (Tamal patra) | Cinnamomum Tamala |
| Tendu (Tinduk) | Diospyros Peregrina |
| Til (Tila) | Sesamum indicum |
| Trayaman (Trayamana or Trayanti) | Delphinium zalil |
| Tridhara | Euphorbia antiquorum |
| Tulsi | Ocimum sanctum |
| Ulatkambal | Abhroma augusta |
| Unnab | Ziziphus sativa |
| Vacha | Acorus calamus |
| Vaividang (Vidanga) | Emblica ribes |
| Vajradanti (Katsaraiya) | Barleria prionitis |
| Varun | Crataeva nurvala |
| Vatsanabha | Aconitum ferox |
| Vidarikand | Pueraria tuberosa |
| Vijaysar (Pitasara) | Pterocarpus marsupium |