Mentioned here are some of the important herbs and their functions as described in Ayurveda. They have been listed according to their functions.
Type |
Function |
Herb |
Vitalizing herbs |
Protect one’s life & promote longevity. |
Mulathi or Mung beans. |
Bulk promoting herbs |
Increase body weight and promote formation of new tissues. |
Ashwagandha. |
Reducing herbs |
Reduce fat or other accumulation. |
Haldi (turmeric), black pepper, daruhaldi, guggul. |
Accumulation – Breaking Herbs |
Breakdown stronger accumulation like gall or kidney stones. |
Kutaj, pashana bheda. |
Healing herbs |
Promote the healing of wounds or cuts. |
Manjistha, haldi (turmeric), kumari (aloe vera). |
Digestive stimulation |
Appetizer. |
Saunth (dry ginger), black pepper, long pepper. |
Tonics |
Strength giving herbs. |
Ashwagandha, shatavari. |
Complexion – Improving Herbs |
Improves complexion. |
Chandan (sandalwood), haldi (turmeric), manjishtha. |
Beneficial for the throat |
For soothing sore throat and improving voice. |
Raisins, haldi (turmeric), mulathi. |
Heart tonics |
Good for heart. |
Arjuna, pomegranate, mango. |
Anti–Saturative |
Relieve false sense of contentment. |
Adrak (ginger), guduchi, vacha. |
Anti–Hemorrhoidal |
Reduces hemorrhoids (piles). |
Kutaj, adrak (ginger), vacha. |
Anti–Dermatosis |
Reduce skin irritation. |
Haldi (turmeric), amla. |
Anti–Pruritic |
Releive itching on the skin. |
Neem bark, daruhaldi, mulathi. |
Anti–Helminthic |
Destroys worms. |
Vidanga, betel nuts, pumpkin seeds. |
Anti–Toxin |
Counters poisons. |
Haldi (turmeric), chandan (sandalwood). |
Lactogogues |
Promotes secretion of breast milk. |
Shatavari, lotus seeds. |
Lactodepurants |
Purify breast milk. |
Guduchi, adrak (ginger). |
Spermogenic |
Increases sperm count |
Ashwagandha, shatavari, lotus seeds |
Purify sperms |
Sperm purifier. |
Kushta, khus. |
Oleating adjunctive |
Help facilitate absorption of oils |
Raisins, mulathi |
Adjuncts to sweating therapy |
Allows for easier sweating. |
Castor root, barley, sesame, black gram, mung beans. |
Adjuncts to emesis |
Anti–vomiting. |
Honey, mulathi. |
Adjuncts to purgation |
Usually laxative in nature. |
Raisins, Triphala, Amla. |
Adjuncts to decoction enema |
Helps tone and nourish the colon. |
Bael, pippali, vacha, Mulathi. |
Adjunctives to oily enemas |
Used for oil enemas specified in Basti in Ayurveda. |
Saunf (aniseed), Gokshura, Bael. |
Adjunctives to cleansing nasal therapy |
Help remove Kapha from above the neck. |
Black pepper, Pippali, Mustard. |
Anti–Emetics |
Stop vomiting. |
Cardamom, fresh adrak (ginger), khus, puffed rice. |
Thirs–Relieving |
Gives relief from thirst. |
Chandan (sandalwood), coriander, adrak (ginger). |
Stop hiccups |
Stops hiccups immediately |
Long pepper, dried and burnt husk of coconut. |
For normal motions |
Give form to the feces. |
Lodhra, isabgol. |
Anti–Diuretics |
Stop excessive urination. |
Bhallataka, til (sesame). |
Diuretics |
Promote urination. |
Gokshura, punarnava. |
Anti–tussive |
Stop cough. |
Raisins, amla. |
Counter asthma |
Stop wheezing, ease breathing. |
Cardamom, tulasi. |
For edema |
Mainly diuretics and astringent. |
Bael, gokshura, punarnava. |
Febriguge |
Relieve fever. |
Draksha, guduchi, manjishta, triphala, raw sugar. |
Relieve fatigue |
Shramakhara. |
Dates, pomegranate juice, sugarcane, raisins. |
Reduce burning |
Reduce burning sensation of skin. |
Chandan (sandalwood), khus. |
Reduce cold sensation |
Reduce cold sensation of the skin |
Agaru, vacha, pippali, adrak (ginger), saunth (dry ginger). |
For skin rashes |
Relieve from skin rashes. |
Catechu, arjuna. |
Reduce body ache |
To cure malaise, as from fever or flu. |
Chandan (sandalwood), cardamom, pudeena (mint), karpur (camphor). |
Reduce colic pain |
Anti–spasmodic and analgesic for smooth muscle. |
Ajwain, saunf (aniseed), adrak (ginger), long pepper. |
Haemostatic |
Stops bleeding. |
Mulathi, lodhra, honey, nagkesar. |
Pain reliever |
Sedative for nerve pain. |
Jatamansi, daruhaldi. |
Restore consciousness |
As from coma or delirium |
Brahmi, vacha, hing (asfoetida), kapur (camphor). |
Promote reproduction |
Cure sterility, remove obstructions in genital tract. |
Amla, brahmi, kutki. |
Promote longevity |
Rejuvenate. |
Guduchi satva, brahmi, shatavari, amla. |