Common Herbs
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. |