Healing Herbs of India

Botanical Name(s): Elettaria CardamomumKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: LiliopsidaOrder: ZingiberalesFamily: ZingiberaceaeGenus: Elettaria MatonSpecies: Elettaria cardamomum (L.) MatonPopular Names: Cardamon, Malabar Cardamom, ElachiParts Used: SeedHabitat: Commonly found in South IndiaDescriptionCardamom is an evergreen, perennial ginger-like plant, with thick rhizomes and erect stems, bearing pointed leaves. White flowers with a pink to violet- striped lip are born in a […]

Botanical Name: Acorus CalamusKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: LiliopsidaOrder: AcoralesFamily: AcoraceaeGenus: AcorusSpecies: A. calamusPopular Names: Sweet flag, Sweet Root, BachParts Used: Dried RhizomeHabitat: North Temperate and subtropical regions up to 2200m altitudes in the HimalayasDescriptionCalamus is found all over the world. It is a semi-aquatic perennial, which is cultivated in damp marshy places in India and Burma.

Botanical Name: Fagopyrum EsculentumKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: CaryophyllalesFamily: PolygonaceaeGenus: FagopyrumSpecies: F. esculentumPopular Name: BuckwheatParts Used: Buckwheat, Bucwheat HullsHabitat: Native to Central and Northern AsiaDescriptionThe name ‘buckwheat’ or “beech wheat” comes from the triangular seeds of the herb, which resemble the much larger seeds of the beechnut from the beech tree. Buckwheat is a short season

Botanical Name: Boswellia SerrataKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: SapindalesFamily: BruseraceaeGenus: BoswelliaSpecies: SapindalesPopular Names: Indian Olibanum Tree, Luban, Gond, Shallaki, GuggalParts Used: Bark, Gum ResinHabitat: Found in the dry, hilly areas of IndiaDescriptionIndian frankincense is botanically known as boswellia serrata. The most important derivative of the herb is the boswellia gum resin. When the tree trunk is

Botanical Name: Eclipta AlbaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: AsteralesFamily: AsteraceaeGenus: Eclipta L.Species: Eclipta prostrata (L.)Popular Names: Babri, Galagara, Gunta-kalagara, Kaikeshi, Karisha-langanni, Karisirang-kanni, Kesharaji, Kesuri, Kesuria, Kesutti, Maka, MochkandParts Used: Herb, roots, leavesHabitat: Throughout India and Southwestern AmericaDescriptionBhringaraj is a creeping and moisture-loving herb. It has a short, flat or round stem and small white flowers on

Botanical Name: Ocimum SanctumFamily Name: LamiaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: LamialesFamily: LamiaceaeGenus: OcimumSpecies: O. basilicumPopular Names: Basil, Common Basil, French Basil, Garden Basil, Sacred Basil, Holy Basil, Tulsi, Royal Herb, Luole, Sweet BasilParts Used: Leaves, SeedsHabitat: Found throughout IndiaDescriptionThe term ‘basil’ has been derived from a Greek word ‘basileus’, which means ‘king’. It is a tender,

Botanical Names: Bambusa Vulgaris, Bambusa Arundinacea, Bumbusa Apous, Bumbusa Orientalls, Bumbusa Spinosa, Bambusa NutansFamily Name: GramineaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: PoalesFamily: PoaceaeSub-family: BambusoideaeGenus: BambusaSpecies: B. vulgarisPopular Names: Bambou, Bambu, Bambu Comun, Bambu Verde, Daisan-Chiku, Gemeiner Bambus, Golden Bamboo, Grand BambouParts Used: Bamboo leaves, Bamboo Exudate, Banshalochan, TabasheerHabitat: Throughout India, in areas up to 2,100 m in

Botanical Name: Bacopa MonnieraFamily Name: ScrophulariaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: LamialesFamily: PlantaginaceaeGenus: BacopaSpecies: B. monnieriPopular Names: Herpestis Monnieria, Thyme leaved Gratiola, Brahmi, Bacopa, Babies TearParts Used: Whole PlantHabitat: Grows in marshy places and cultivated throughout IndiaDescriptionA small perennial creeping herb, water hyssop has numerous branches that are succulent and rooting at the nodes. The branches are

Botanical Name: Azadirachta IndicaFamily Name: MeliaceaeKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaOrder: SapindalesFamily: MeliaceaeGenus: AzadirachtaSpecies: A. indicaPopular Names: Indian Lilac, Margosa TreeParts Used: Leaves, Flower, Oil, SeedHabitat: Grows throughout IndiaDescriptionA fast-growing tree, neem (azadirachta indica) can reach a height of about 15 to 20 metres (115-131 ft). The trunk is short, straight and has a diameter of 1.2 m

Botanical Names: Asparagus Racemosus, Asparagus Sarmentosus, Asparagus Gonoclados, Asparagus AdscendensFamily Name: LiliaceaeKingdom: PlantaeOrder: AsparagalesFamily: AsparagaceaeGenus: AsparagusSpecies: A. racemosusPopular Names: Wild Asparagus, Asparagus Root, Satavari, ShatamuliParts Used: Tuberous RootsHabitat: Found in the jungles at an altitude of around 8,000 feet throughout India, especially Northern India.DescriptionAlso known as Satawari, asparagus means ‘one who possesses a hundred husbands’.

Botanical Name: Withania SomniferaKingdom: PlantaeSubkingdom: TracheobiontaDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaSub-class: AsteridaeOrder: SolanalesFamily: SolanaceaeSub-family: AsteroideaeGenus: WithaniaSpecies: W. somniferaPopular Names: Withania, Winter Cherry, Indian Winter Cherry, Indian Ginseng, Ashgand, Achuvagandi Ashgandh, Ajagandha, Kanaje Hindi, Samm Al FerakhParts Used: Roots, leavesHabitat: Cultivated throughout the drier parts of IndiaDescriptionAlso known as Indian ginseng or Indian winter cherry, ashwagandha is used in

Botanical Name: Artocarpus HeterophyllusKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: RosalesFamily: MoraceaeSub-family: AsteroideaeTribe: ArtocarpeaeGenus: ArtocarpusSpecies: A. heterophyllusPopular Names: Jakfruit, Jaca, NangkaParts Used: Seeds, fruit, leavesHabitat: Rainforests of IndiaDescriptionThe largest tree-borne fruit in the world, jackfruit (artocarpus heterophyllus) is grown on a species of tree in the mulberry family. The evergreen trees are large, often reaching a height of

Botanical Name: Argyreia NervosaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: MagnoliopsidaOrder: SolanalesFamily: ConvolvulaceaeSub-family: FaboideaeGenus: ArgyreiaSpecies: A. nervosaPopular Names: Elephant Creeper Seeds, Original Argyreia Seeds, Elephant Climber, Woolly Morning Glory, Cordon Seda, Coup D’Air, Liane A Minguet, Liane D’Argent, Samudrasokh, Silver Morning GloryParts Used: Seeds, woodHabitat: Hills, 900m and above in IndiaDescriptionA perennial climbing vine, Hawaiian baby woodrose is a

Botanical Name: Annona squamosaKingdom: PlantaeDivision: MagnoliophytaClass: Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)Sub-class: MagnoliidaeOrder: MagnolialesFamily: Annonaceae (Custard-apple family)Sub-family: MaloideaeTribe: AbreaeGenus: Annona L. (annona)Species: Annona squamosa L. (sugar apple)Popular Names: Sugar Apple, Sweetsop, Kaner’apra, Pomme Canelle, Tapotapo, Fun Li Chi, Anon, Anona Blanca, Ati, AtesParts Used: Annona seeds, Annona leaves, Annona barkHabitat: Throughout IndiaDescriptionCustard apple is a tropical branched tree or

Botanical Name: Andrographis PaniculataKingdom: PlantaeOrder: LamialesFamily: AcanthaceaeGenus: AndrographisSpecies: A. paniculataPopular Names: Creat, KariyatParts Used: Whole plant leavesHabitat: Cultivated throughout IndiaDescriptionIndian Echinacea is a traditional Indian herb, historically used as support for a healthy immune system. The main compound found in the herb is a diterpene lactone called andrographilide B. It grows vertically to a height