Healing Herbs of India

Botanical Name: Calendula OfficinalisFamily Name: AsterceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: AsreralesFamily: AsteraceaeTribe: CalenduleaeGenus: CalendulaSpecies: R. cordifoliaPopular Names: Pot Marigold, Garden Marigold, Holigold, Mary Bud, Pot Marigold, Calendula, Caltha, Ganda, Gols Bloom, Gold Bloom, Ruddes.Parts Used: Dried marigold flowers, dried marigold petals, leaves and rootsHabitat: Cultivated in gardens in IndiaDescriptionAn annual herbaceous plant, calendula blooms at the […]

Botanical Name: Rubia TinctoriaFamily Name: RubiaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: GentianalesFamily: RubiaceaeTribe: RubieaeGenus: RubiaSpecies: R. cordifoliaPopular Names: Indian Madder, Manjit Gandari, Manchatti, ManjishtaParts Used: Root, FruitHabitat: Found in the Himalayas and the hill stations of IndiaDescriptionA perennial herbaceous climber, manjishta grows to a height of 1.5 metres. The woody based stem is long, rough and grooved.

Botanical Name: Glycyrrhiza GlabraKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: FabalesFamily: FabaceaeSub-family: FaboideaeTribe: GalegeaeGenus: GlycyrrhizaSpecies: G. glabraPopular Names: Calamus, Mulethi, Sweet Liquorice, SweetwoodPart Used: RootHabitat: Cultivated in Northern and Southern IndiaDescriptionLiquorice plant is a legume (related to beans and peas) that is native to southern Europe and parts of Asia. It is an herbaceous perennial, growing to 1

Botanical Name: Cymbopogon CitratusFamily Name: PoaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: LiliopsidaOrder: PoalesFamily: Poaceae (Gramineae)Sub-family: PanicoideaeTribe: AndropogoneaeGenus: CymbopogonSpecies: 55 species of grassesPopular Names: Barbed Wire Grass, Silky Heads, Citronella Grass, Fever Grass, Hierba LuisaParts Used: Leaves, rootsHabitat: Tropical grasslandsDescriptionLemongrass is a thick, tropical and long grass that is native to India and an important ingredient in the Asian

Botanical Name: Juglans RegiaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: FagalesFamily: JuglandaceaeGenus: JuglansSpecies: J. regiaPopular Names: Persian Walnut, English Walnut, AkhrotParts Used: Leaves, Seeds (nuts)Habitat: Cultivated in the Himalayas and the Khasi hillsDescriptionCommon walnut refers to the original walnut tree of the Old World, comprising Asia, Africa and Europe. The tree is native to the region stretching from

Botanical Names: Nardostachys Jatamansi, Nardostachys GrandifloraFamily Name: ValerianaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: DipsacalesFamily: ValerianaceaeGenus: NardostachysSpecies: N. grandifloraPopular Names: Muskroot, Indian Spikenard, Jatamanshi, Jatamashi, Balchar, Nard, NardinParts Used: Rhizome, Rhizome OilHabitat: Found in India, Nepal and BhutanDescriptionJatamamsi is a perennial herb that is propagated by the cuttings of the underground parts. The plant grows to a height

Botanical Name: Hyocyamus NigerKingdom: PlantaeClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: SolanalesFamily: SolanaceaeGenus: HyoscyamusSpecies: H. nigerPopular Names: Henbane Henbane, Niger Seed, Bird Feed, Black HenbanePart Used: SeedsHabitat: Low-lying ground near the sea and lower mountain slopesDescriptionCommon henbane is an annual/biennial plant growing to a height of 1m. The plant requires well-drained soil, but cannot grow in the shade. It can

Botanical Name: Holarrhena AntidysentericaFamily Name: ApocynaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaPopular Names: Connessi Bark, Kurchi Bark, Dysentery Rose Bay, Tellicherry Bark, ConeruParts Used: Seeds, barkHabitat: Grows in the dry forests of IndiaDescriptionBitter oleander is a deciduous shrub or a small tree. It has a rough, pale brownish or greyish bark. The leaves are opposite, sub-sesile, elliptic or

Botanical Name: HedychiumFamily Name: ZingiberaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: ZingiberalesFamily: ZingiberaceaeGenus: HedychiumSpecies: Hedychium coccineum, Hedychium coronarium, Hedychium gardnerianum, Hedychium spicatumPopular Names: Hedichium, Kapur Kachri, Garland Flower, Kahili Ginger, Spiked Ginger LilyPart Used: RhizomesHabitat: Grows in Sub-tropical HimalayasDescriptionGinger lily is a perennial attractive plant that reaches a height of up to 6 feet (120 to 180 cm).

Botanical Name: Abelmoschus MoschatusFamily Name: MalvaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: MalvalesFamily: MalvaceaeGenus: AbelmoschusSpecies: A. moschatusPopular Names: Ambrette Seeds, Hibiscus Abelmoschus, Musk Mallow, Musk Okra, Ornamental Okra, Yorka Okra, Galu Gasturi, Bamia MoschataParts Used: Seeds, Seeds OilHabitat: Common in distributed areas and wastelandsDescriptionAnnual hibiscus is an erect, annual or biennial, hirsute shrub. The soft, herbaceous plant trails

Botanical Name: Gymnema SylvestreFamily Name: AsclepiadaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: GentianalesFamily: AsclepiadaceaeGenus: GymnemaSpecies: G. sylvestrePopular Names: Periploca of the woods, Gudmar, Gurmari, GurmarbootiParts Used: Whole Plant and LeavesHabitat: Grows in tropical forests of the central and southern parts of IndiaDescriptionGudmar was initially known as meshashringi in Sanskrit, which means “ram’s horn”. The plant can be described

Botanical Name: Commiphora MukulFamily Name: BurseraceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: SapindalesFamily: BurseraceaeGenus: CommiphoraSpecies: C. wightiiPopular Names: Commiphora, Mukul, Balsamodendrom Mukul, Indian Bedellium Tree, Moql, Moqle-arzagi.Part Used: Whole PlantHabitat: Rocky tracks of Western India and Eastern HimalayasDescriptionGuggul is a yellowish resin, which is secreted by a small, thorny mukul myrrh tree called commiphora mukul. The shrub reaches

Botanical Name: Zingiber OfficinaleFamily Name: ZingiberaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: ZingiberalesFamily: ZingiberaceaeGenus: ZingiberSpecies: Z. officinalePopular Names: Root Ginger, Ardrakam, Shunthi, Adrak, Sunth, Black Ginger, Race Ginger, African Ginger, Jamaica Ginger, Sheng Jiang.Parts Used: Fresh and dried rhizomesHabitat: South East Asia and throughout IndiaDescriptionA deciduous perennial herb, ginger flourishes in most parts of southern Asia, Jamaica, Nigeria

Botanical Name: Linum UsitatissimumKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: LinalesFamily: LinaceaeGenus: Linum L.Species: Linum usitatissimum L.Popular Name: LinsedParts Used: Flax Seeds, Flax Seed Oil, leaves and rootsHabitat: Cultivated throughout IndiaDescriptionFlax seeds, as the name suggests, are the seeds of flax plant, which is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. They are known for

Botanical Name: Ephedra VulgarisKingdom: PlantaeDivision: GnetophytaClass: GnetopsidaFamily: EphedraceaeGenus: EphedraSpecies: Ephedra distachya LPopular Name: SomlathaPart Used: Dried BranchHabitat: Drier regions of temperate zone and alpine Himalayas at an altitude of 2,700m to 3,600mDescriptionEphedra is a shrub that grows about 25 cm to 50 cm high. It belongs to the family Ephedraceae and is found on sandy