Healing Herbs of India

Botanical Name: Emblica OfficinalisKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: EuphorbialesFamily: EuphorbiaceaeGenus: Phyllanthus LSpecies: Phyllanthus emblica L.Popular Names: Phyllanthus Emblica, Emblica, AmlaPart Used: FruitHabitat: Northern and South Western IndiaDescriptionThe bark of Indian gooseberry, also known as amla, is grey in colour and peals in irregular patches. Its feathery leaves, which smell like lemon, are of linear oblong shape […]

Botanical Name: Datura StramoniumKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: SolanalesFamily: SalanaceaeGenus: Datura L.Species: Datura stramonium L.Popular Names: Jimson Weed, Stink weed, Mad Apple, Thorn Apple Stramonium, Dhatura Tatula, Datura SeedsParts Used: Seeds, Flowers, LeavesHabitat: Common in Northwestern Himalayas and foothills on dry slopes up to 1800 m altitudes.DescriptionDatura is 30 to 150 cm tall, with erect, forking

Botanical Name: Cyperus RotundusFamily Name: CperaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: LiliopsidaOrder: PoalesFamily: CyperaceaeGenus: CyperusSpecies: C. rotundusPopular Names: Coco Grass, Purple Nut Sedge, Red Nut Sedge, MustakaPart Used: RhizomesHabitat: Found all over IndiaDescriptionNut grass is a perennial shrub that attains a height of up to 40 cm. it has a dark green thin stem and the leaves are

Botanical Name: Cydonia OblongaFamily Name: RosaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: RosalesFamily: RosaceaeSub-family: Maloideae, SpiraeoideaeGenus: CydoniaSpecies: C. oblongaPopular Names: Quince Seeds, Cydonian Apple, Elephant Apple, Maja Pahit, Pineapple Quince, Vilvam, Quitte, Bedana, CoingPart Used: SeedsHabitat: Native to southwest and Central AsiaDescriptionA small deciduous tree, Cydonia Oblonga, also known as quince, is often related to apples and bears

Botanical Name: Curcuma ZedoariaFamily Name: ZingiberaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: LiliopsidaOrder: ZingiberalesFamily: ZingiberaceaeGenus: CurcumaSpecies: C. zedoariaPopular Names: White Turmeric, KachurPart Used: RhizomesHabitat: Weed found all over India.DescriptionZedoary, also known as white turmeric, is a rhizome with a thin brown skin and a bright orange, hard interior. Its smell is similar to that of turmeric and mango. The

Botanical Name: Cinnamomum verumFamily Name: LauraceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: LauralesFamily: LauraceaeGenus: CinnamomumSpecies: C. verumPopular Names: Tvak, Dalchini, Daruchini Karuva, Vazhana, TamalapatraPart Used: BarkHabitat: Indigenous to India and Sri LankaDescriptionCinnamon is the inner bark of a tropical evergreen tree. The cinnamon trees are about 10 to 15 metres high. The light brown, papery bark and leathery

Botanical Name: Cinchona OfficinalisKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: GentianalesFamily: RubiaceaeGenus: CinchonaSpecies: C. officinalisPopular Names: Peruvian Bark, Quinine BarkPart Used: Quinine isolated from barkHabitat: Cultivated in Nilgiri HillsDescriptionQuinine is a genus of tropical evergreen trees and shrubs, with rather large laurel-like, entire, opposite leaves, and white or pink fragrant flowers arranged in clusters. Though its common name

Botanical Name: Cichorium IntybusKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: AsteralesFamily: AsteraceaeTribe: CichorieaeGenus: CichoriumSpecies: C.intybusPopular Names: Endive, SuccoryPart Used: Chicory flowersHabitat: Cultivated throughout IndiaDescriptionChicory is a bushy perennial herb with blue or lavender flowers. The roots are baked, ground and used as a coffee substitute and additive in the plant’s Mediterranean region of the origin of the plant.

Botanical Name: Centella AsiaticaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: ApialesFamily: AppiaceaeGenus: Centella L.Species: Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.Popular Names: Indian Pennywort, Artayniya-e Hindi, Jal Brahmi, Brahmi, Brahma-mandukiPart Used: Whole PlantHabitat: Grown in waterlogged places throughout IndiaDescriptionGotu kola is a perennial plant native to India and other tropical countries. Its appearance changes, depending on growing conditions. In shallow water,

Botanical Name: Cedrus DeodaraKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: PinopsidaOrder: PinalesFamily: PinaceaeGenus: Cedrus TrewSpecies: Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G. Don f.Popular Names: Deodar, Himalayan CedarPart Used: RhizomesHabitat: Grows wild in damp deciduous forestsDescriptionCedarwood is a plant that is up to 50 m high and up to 3 m in diameter. It has the shape of a pyramid and is

Botanical Name: Ricinus CommunisFamily Name: EeuphorbiaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: MalpighialesFamily: EuphorbiaceaeSub-family: AcalyphoideaeTribe: AcalypheaeSub-tribe: RicininaeGenus: RicinusSpecies: R. communisPopular Names: Palma Christi, Ricin, Wonder Tree, Krapata, Djarak, Reer, Arandi, Mexico Seed, Vatari, Eranda, Rendi, BofareiraParts Used: Leaves, seeds, roots, oil, fruitHabitat: Common in distributed areas and wastelandsDescriptionAn herbaceous annual plant, castor grows to a height of 3

Botanical Name: Cassia ToraFamily Name: CaesulpinaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaSub-class: RosidaeOrder: FabalesFamily: FabaceaeSub-family: CaesalpinioideaeTribe: CassieaeSub-tribe: CassiinaeGenus: CassiaSpecies: S. toraPopular Names: Foetid Cassia, Tora, Sickle Senna, Wild Senna, Sickle Pod, Coffee Pod, Tovara, Chakvad, Ringworm PlantParts Used: Leaves, seeds, rootsHabitat: Grows in warm moist soil throughout the tropical parts of IndiaDescriptionAn annual foetid herb, with a height

Botanical Name: Cassia FistulaFamily Name: CaesulpinaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaSub-class: RosidaeOrder: FabalesFamily: FabaceaeSub-family: CaesalpinioideaeTribe: CassieaeSub-tribe: CassiinaeGenus: CassiaSpecies: C. fistulaPopular Names: Indian Laburnum, Purging Fistula, Golden Shower, Amaltas, Canafistula, Gurmala, Baton Casse, Chacara, Samyaka, KloberParts Used: Fruits, leaves, barkHabitat: Grows in valleys up to 1200 m in the HimalayasDescriptionAlso known as the ‘Golden Tree’, Indian laburnum is

Botanical Name: Cassia AugustifoliaFamily Name: CaesalpinaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: FabalesFamily: FabaceaeSub-family: CaesalpinioideaeTribe: CassieaeGenus: CassiaSpecies: AngustifoliaPopular Names: Tinnervelly Senna, Cassia Senna, Locust Plant, Rajavriksha, Fan xia yeParts Used: Pods, stems, leavesHabitat: Cultivated in the dry lands of Southern and Western India, and indigenous to Arabia.DescriptionA small erect shrub, Indian senna attains a height of about 2

Botanical Name: Carica PapayaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: ViolalesFamily: CaricaceaeGenus: Carica L.Species: Carica papayaPopular Names: Paw Paw, Kates, PapawParts Used: Leaves, Fruits, RootsHabitat: Throughout IndiaDescriptionPapaya is a small, unbranched tree, with a single stem growing to 5-10 m tall, with the spirally arranged leaves. The lower trunk is conspicuously scarred with the leaf. The leaves are