Healing Herbs of India

Botanical Name: Pueraria TuberosaFamily Name: FabaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: FabalesFamily: FabaceaeSub-family: FaboideaeTribe: PhaseoleaeGenus: PuerariaSpecies: P. tuberosaPopular Names: Indian Kudzu, Red Indian Kudzu, White Indian Kudzu, Siali, DariPart Used: TubersHabitat: Found in dry deciduous to moist deciduous forestsDescriptionPueraria Tuberosa, commonly known as kudzu, is a climber with woody tuberculated stem. It is a climbing, coiling and […]

Botanical Name: Abrus precatoriusKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: FabalesFamily: FabaceaeSub-family: FaboideaeTribe: DalbergieaeGenus: PterocarpusSpecies: P. marsupiumPopular Name: Malabar KinoParts Used: Heart Wood, Leaves and FlowersHabitat: Found in the Western Ghats, in the Karnataka-Kerala regionDescriptionIndian kino, botanically known as Pterocarpus Marsupium, is a medium-to-large, deciduous tree that can grow up to 30 metres tall. It turns the water

Botanical Name: Plantago Ovata HuskFamily Name: PlantaginaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: LamialesFamily: PlantaginaceaeGenus: Plantago afraSpecies: P. psylliumPopular Names: Indian Plantago, Ispaghula, Fleam, Spogel Seeds, Isabgol, Sand Plantain, Flea SeedParts Used: Husk, SeedHabitat: Mediterranean region and commercially grown in Northwestern IndiaDescriptionPsyllium seed husk is a portion of the seeds of the plant plantago ovate. The husk covers

Botanical Names: Mentha Arvensis, PipertiaFamily Name: LamiaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: LamialesFamily: LamiaceaeGenus: MenthaSpecies: M. piperitaPopular Names: Field Mint, Corn Mint, Japanese Mint, Wild Mint, Pudina.Parts Used: Whole Plant, Oil.Habitat: Found throughout IndiaDescriptionPodina is an herbaceous perennial herb that grows to a height of 10 to 60 cm. This downy herb has running rootstocks and a

Botanical Name: Piper LongumFamily Name: PiperaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: PiperalesFamily: PiperaceaeGenus: PiperSpecies: P. longumPopular Names: Indian Long Pepper, Indonesian Long Pepper, Dried Catkins, Pippali, Pipal, Tippli, Pihal, Javanese Long PepperParts Used: Fruit, Root and StemHabitat: Mostly deciduous to evergreen forestsDescriptionLong pepper is a slender aromatic climber, with a large perennial woody root and jointed stems

Botanical Name: Peganum HarmalaFamily Name: NitrariaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: SapindalesFamily: NitrariaceaeGenus: PeganumSpecies: P. harmalaPopular Names: Harmal, Syrian Rue, Esphand, Harmel, Isband, Peganum, Steppenraute, Ozallaik, Yuzerlik.Part Used: SeedsHabitat: Native to sub-tropical regions of IndiaDescriptionAfrica rue is a bushy herbaceous perennial shrub that can grow to a height of 1 metre, but is usually around 0.3 metre

Botanical Name: Papaver SomniferumFamily Name: PapaveraceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: RanunculalesFamily: PapaveraceaeGenus: PapaverSpecies: P. somniferumPopular Names: Poppy Seeds, Aphium Opium Poppy, White Poppy, Posta, Plant of Joy, Mawseed, Common Garden PoppyParts Used: Seeds, FlowersHabitat: Cultivated on large scale in India, at an altitude of 1500m – 2100mDescriptionThe term papaver somniferum means the “sleep bringing poppy”, which

Botanical Name: Nymphaea Lotus, Nymphaea NouchaliFamily Name: NymphaeaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: NymphaealesFamily: NymphaeaceaeGenus: NymphaeaSpecies: N. lotusPopular Names: Tiger Lotus, Wild Pond Lily, Egyptian White Water Lily, Sweet-Scented Pond Lily, Sweet Scented Water Lily, Toad Lily, Pond Lily, Water Lily, Cow Cabbage, Sweet Water Lily, Water Cabbage, Blue Lotus, Blue Water Lily, Sacred Blue Lotus, Blue

Botanical Name: Nyctanthes ArbortristisFamily Name: OleaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: LamialesFamily: OleaceaeGenus: NyctanthesSpecies: N. arbor-tristisPopular Names: Night Flowering Jasmine, Parijat, Harsinger, Queen of the Night, Tree of SorrowParts Used: Flowers, leaves, seedsHabitat: Cultivated in gardens across IndiaDescriptionCoral jasmine, commonly known as night jasmine, is an indigenous small tree, with a grey or greenish, rough and flaky

Botanical Name: Nelumbo NuciferaFamily Name: NelumbonaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: ProtealesFamily: NelumbonaceaeGenus: NelumboSpecies: N. nuciferaPopular Names: Sacred Water Lotus, Sacred Water Lilly, Pink Lotus, Nelumbo Lutea, Bean of IndiaParts Used: Petals, seeds, leaves, rootsHabitat: Found in ponds and swampsDescriptionAn aquatic perennial, Indian lotus is the national flower of India and Vietnam. The roots of the plant

Botanical Name: Morus AlbaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: UrticalesFamily: MoraceaeTribe: MoreaeGenus: Morus L.Species: Morus Alba L.Popular Names: White Mulverry, White Mulberry, Silk Worm Mulberry and Sang ZhiParts Used: Bark, leaves and rootsHabitat: Native to warm temperate and sub-tropical regions of Asia, Africa and North America, with the majority of the species native to AsiaDescriptionMulberry is the

Botanical Name: Mucuna PruriensKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: FabalesFamily: FabaceaceTribe: PhaseoleaeGenus: MucunaSpecies: Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC.Popular Names: Cowitch, Cowhage Plant, Kavach, Kapikachhu, Atmagupta Naikaranam, Kawanch, KewachParts Used: Roots, Seeds and LeavesHabitat: This herb is an annual climbing shrub found in the tropics of India.DescriptionMucuna Pruriens is an annual, climbing shrub with long vines that can reach

Botanical Name: Moringa OleiferaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaSub-class: AsteridaeOrder: CapparalesFamily: MoringaceaeGenus: Moringa AdansSpecies: Moringa oleifera LamPopular Names: Horse Radish Tree, Drumstick Tree, SahijanParts Used: Roots, Seeds and LeavesHabitat: Found throughout IndiaDescriptionMoringa tree is mainly grown in semi-arid, tropical and sub-tropical areas. While the best type of soil for this tree is dry and sandy, it can

Botanical Name: Morinda citrifoliaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaSubclass: AsteridaeOrder: RubialesFamily: RuiaceaeGenus: Morinda L.Species: Morinda citrifolia L.Popular Names: Noni, Dibri-Apra, Patjé, MengkuduParts Used: Fruits, Leaves and RootsHabitat: Grows in shady forests as well as on open rocky or sandy shoresDescriptionIndian mulberry, which is commonly known as Noni, is a bush that is mostly found in the tropical

Botanical Name: Matricaria ChamomillaFamily Name: CompositaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: AsteralesFamily: AsteraceaeTribe: AnthemideaeGenus: MatricariaSpecies: M. recutitaPopular Names: Matricaria, Anthemis, Ground Apple, Roman Camomile, Garden Camomile, Low Camomile, Whig Plant, German Chamomile, Wild Chamomile, Amerale, Bayboon, Babunnej, Kami-Ture, Manzanilla Dulce, Papatya, Blue Chamomile, Hungarian Chamomile, Scented MayweedParts Used: Chamomile flowers, Chamomile stalks, Whole PlantHabitat: Grows as a