Tinospora Cordifolia also known as Gulancha tinospora, heartleaf moonseed or Giloy is used in Indian Ayurvedic system because of its wide medicinal properties. It is an evergreen climbing shrub belonging to family Menispermaceae and is extremely valuable with its property of strengthening the immune system and it keeps a check on various body functions. The plant is native to India, extending from the Himalayas down to the southern part of peninsular India. It is also found in neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The plant is also reported from South East Asian countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and…
Author: Sylvia
Himalayan Rhubarb scientifically known as Rheum Australe D. Don is a stout rhizomatous plant belonging to the family Polygonaceae and is a medicinal herb used in the Indian Ayurvedic and European medicines. The plant has been cultivated over 5000 years for its medicinal properties. Himalayan rhubarb was formerly known by the synonymous name of Rheum emodi. The plant is native to higher regions of Himalaya, covering the areas of India (Kashmir and Sikkim), Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Myanmar, and China. Few of the popular common names of the plant are Himalayan rhubarb, Indian rhubarb, Red-veined pie plant, Red Vein Rhubarb, Nepal…
Andrographis paniculata commonly known as Chiretta is a robust annual herb from the Acanthaceae (Acanthus family), which includes hundreds of species of flowering plants and is one of the essential herbs in the Ayurvedic medicine; however, it is relatively seldom used by Western herbalists. The plant is native to mountainous parts of South Asian countries such as North India, Sikkim, Kumoun, Kashia and Sri Lanka. Few of the popular common names of the plants are Ardhatikta, Bhunimba, Chiratika, Chiratitka, Haima, Jvarantaka, Kairata, Kandatiktaka, Kiranta, Kirataka, Kirata, Tikta, Naditikta, Naipala, Nepalanimba, Nidrari, Ramasenka, Sannipatha, Sutiktaka, Trinanimba, Indian Balmony, Chirayata, Chiretta, kirata…
Slippery elm scientifically known as Ulmus rubra is actually a species of elm belonging to Ulmaceae (Elm family). The plant is native to eastern North America, ranging from southeast North Dakota, east to Maine and southern Quebec, south to northernmost Florida, and west to eastern Texas, where it thrives in moist uplands, although it will also grow in dry, intermediate soils. Other Popular common names of the plant are Red elm, slippery elm, grey elm, soft elm, moose elm, Indian elm, sweet elm, American elm, ulmi rubrae cortex, ulmaceae, winged elm and ulmus fulva michaux. The tree was first named…
Nyctanthes arbortristis commonly known as Coral jasmine or parijat is actually the night-flowering jasmine belonging to the plant family Oleaceae or Nyctanthaceae. The plant is native to South Asia, Southeast Asia and is found in tracts of Jammu & Kashmir, Nepal to East of Assam, Bengal, Tripura extended through the Central region up to Godavari in the South. Besides India, they are found in Thailand, Indonesia, Nepal and Pakistan. The tree is sometimes called the “tree of sorrow”, because the flowers lose their brightness during daytime. The scientific name arbor-tristis also means “sad tree”. Few of the popular common names…
Nardostachys Jatamansi also called Jatamansi in Hindi and Spikenard in English is an Indian Ayurvedic Herb belongs to the Nardostachys genus and Valerianaceae family. Nardostachys Jatamansi grows widely in the Kumaon Himalayas, the Eastern and Central Himalayas, and the Sino-Indian Himalayan regions. It can also be found in the Himalayan belt through the Sikkim and is considered native to India, China, Nepal and Bhutan. It usually grows at an altitude of 3000–5000 meters. Few of the popular common names of the plants are Indian nard, Indian spikenard, Nard, spikenard, musk root, valeman, nardin, balchar, sumbul-ut-teeb, sambul lateeb, Jatamansi and jatamashi.…
Terminalia bellerica commonly known as Baheda or Bibhitaki is one of the important herbs of Ayurvedic medicine. It is a medicinal deciduous tree of the Combretacea family native to tropical Asia such as India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia and China. In India, it is mostly found in the plain dry forests of Tamil Nadu, Assam, Odisha, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Few of the popular common names of the plant are Bastard Myrobalan, Barro, Bedda Nut Tree, Thani, Thandri, Baheda, Beleric Myrobalan, Bolsuiri, Belliric Myrabolan, Beach Almond, Agong, Behere and Belleric. The generic name ‘Terminalia’ comes from…
Myrobalan or Haritaki scientifically known as Terminalia Cebula is a typical Indian herb belonging to the plant family Combretaceae (Indian almond family). Indian Ayurvedic medicine calls Haritaki the ‘Mother of herbs’ and the ‘King of medicines’ for its numerous medical advantages. Myrobalan is a sweet, astringent, warming herb with an unpleasant taste. The plant is native to South Asia, from India and Nepal east to southwest China, and south to Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Some of the popular common names of the plant are Harada, Harida, Harar, Haritaki, Harada, Harida, Harar, Haritaki, Black myrobalan, Chebula, Chebulic myrobalans, Har, Haradh,…
Long pepper, Pippali or piper longum is mostly a type of herb, known for its medicinal properties. The plant belongs to the family Piperaceae and is one of the most extensively used medicinal plants in the Ayurvedic system of medicine, particularly for diseases of respiratory tract. The family Piperaceae comprises 12 genera and about 1400 species, mainly found in tropical region. The plant is native to several parts of India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and South Asian regions. Four types of pippali namely ‘pippali’, ‘vanapippali’, ‘saimhali’ and ‘gajapippali’ are mentioned in Ayurvedic literature Rajanighantu. Some of the popular common…
Wild Celery scientifically known as Apium graveolens L. is an herbaceous annual or biennial plant belonging to Apiaceae ⁄ Umbelliferae (Carrot family) and Plantae kingdom along with carrots, caraway, cumin, fennel and dill (each of which also grows wild). The plant is native to marshy areas throughout temperate Europe and Western Asia. Although the eastern Mediterranean region appears to be the most logical center of domestication, the distribution of wild types raises some doubt. Few of the popular common names of the plant are Angelica, garden angelica, wild celery, Norwegian angelica, Herb of the Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost, Marsh parsley…
White Bryony commonly known as Bryonia alba is a vigorous vine in the cucumber family, Cucurbitaceae (squashes and melons). The plant is native to Europe and Northern Iran. It has also been introduced to the United States, where it is listed as a noxious weed in Washington, Idaho, and Montana. It has a growth habit similar to kudzu, which gives it a highly destructive potential outside its native range as a noxious weed. Other common names of the plant are Wild Hops, Wild Nep, Wild Vine, Wood Vine, Bastard turnip, Black-berried bryony, Black-berried white bryony, European white bryony, Parsnip turnip,…
Hyacinthoides non-scripta, commonly known as English bluebell, is actually a bulbous perennial plant belonging to Liliaceae (Lily family) and Plantae kingdom. The plant is native to western parts of Atlantic, Europe, from north-western Spain (occasionally even north-western Portugal) to the Netherlands and the British Isles. It is found in Belgium, Great Britain,France, Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain, and also occurs as a naturalized species in Germany, Italy and Romania. It has also been introduced into various parts of North America, in the Pacific Northwest (British Columbia, Washington and Oregon), the Great Lakes region (Ontario, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania)and other…
Blackthorn or sloe scientifically known as Prunus Spinosa is a low, spreading, thorny bush or small tree of the plum genus of the family Rosaceae (rose family) among other economically important species, such as apple, apricot, blackberry, pear, and plum or prune, having black bark, white flowers, and deep blue fruits, usually rather acrid and not much larger than peas. It is actually a wild relative of the cultivated plum. The herb is native to Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa. It is also locally naturalized in New Zealand, Tasmania and eastern North America. Apart from blackthorn it is popularly…
Betula pendula, commonly known as silver birch, is a medium-sized deciduous tree, which is classified under Betulaceae family. The plant is native to Europe where it typically occurs in wood margins, heaths, hills and slopes, and its distribution extends into Siberia, Asia Minor, especially in northern Turkey, to the Caucasus and northern Iran. It has been introduced into North America, where it is known as the European white birch, and is considered invasive in some states in the United States and in parts of Canada.The tree can also be found in more temperate regions of Australia. It has been widely…
Barberry has various other names such as common barberry and European barberry. The botanical name of barberry is berberis Vulgaris that belongs to Berberidaceae family and Plantae kingdom. It is closely related to the Nepalese barberry (Berberis aristata), Indian barberry (Berberis asiatica) and Oregon grape (Berberis or Mahonia aquifolium) all are very active medicinally. It is a popular garden shrub and is grown for its ornamental leaves and yellow flowers. The plant is native to Europe and Asia, and it has been introduced to North America where it can be found growing wild from Canada to Pennsylvania. Few of the…
Prickly Asparagus scientifically known as Asparagus aphyllus is a much-branched, perennial plant with stems that become more or less woody, at least at the base. The plant is native throughout the Mediterranean region and eastwards to Saudi Arabia. Some of the popular common names of the plant are Mediterranean Asparagus, Prickly Asparagus, Spiny Asparagus, Green-stemmed Asparagus, Israel wild asparagus and Thorny asparagus. The name for the genus originates from the original Greek word’ asparagos’ that was given to the cultivated asparagus. The specific epithet means without leaves as the pseudo leaves of this plant are actually considered to be flattened…
Arsesmart scientifically known as Persicaria hydropiper is an annual plant and a member of the knotweed or buckwheat Family(Polygonaceae).The plant grows in damp places and shallow water and is native to most of mainland Europe, North Africa, temperate parts of Asia, Australia,New Zealand and North America. Few of the popular common names of the plant are water pepper, Biting persicaria, Lakeweed, Curage, Red leaf, Marsh pepper smartweed, Marshpepper knotweed, annuals martweed, mild water pepper, akatade, water willow, redshank, Common smartweed, marshpepper smartweed, annual smartweed, marsh waterpepper, watersmartweed, biting knotweed, marsh pepper, knotweed, biting pepper, sickleweed and bog ginger. Persicaria, the generic…
Anemone nemorosa commonly known as Wood anemone is an early-spring flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae and like other members; Anemones contain the irritating, acrid oil protoanemonin and are not edible. The plant is native to northern and central Europe including Great Britain, but not to areas along the Mediterranean. Anemone comes from Greek and literally means ‘daughter of the wind’, and one of the old common names for this species is Windflower. The specific epithet nemorosa is derived from the Latin nemus meaning ‘forest’ – a reference to the woodland habitat in which these flowers grow. Native Americans…
Smyrnium olusatrum, well known as wild celery or Alexanders, is a biennial herb belonging to the Carrot family Apiaceae ⁄ Umbelliferae and is used for many centuries as an edible vegetable because of the aromatic flavor of its parts. The plant is native to Mediterranean region and is found in Asia Minor, Syria and the Canary Islands, as well as being naturalized in the British Isles. Apart from Alexanders it is also known as Alexander parsley, Macedonia parsley, Alick, Ailsanders, Skit, Skeet, Ashinder, Megweed, Meliroot, Wild Celery, Alexanders, Black-lovage, Horse-parsley, Black Potherb, maceron, stanmarch, black pot-herb, hell root, Roman celery,…
Tanacetum balsamita commonly known as Alecost is an attractive tall growing, perennial herb, belonging to the Aster family, the Asteraceae ⁄ Compositae. This aromatic herb has two popular common names, ‘Costmary’ and Alecost. ‘Cost’ refers to Costus, a spicy Asian plant related to ginger, which has a slightly similar flavor. ‘Mary’ refers to a legendary association with the Virgin Mary, perhaps due to the fact that this herb was used in medieval times as an infusion, taken to relieve the pain of childbirth. The plant is native to southern Europe and western regions of Asia and is a hardy plant…
Adder’s tongue fern scientifically known as Ophioglossum vulgatum is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the family of Ophioglossaceae. The plant is native to the tropical Africa and throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere in Europe, northeastern North America, temperate Asia, and Eurasia. Some of the popular common names of the plant are Adder’s tongue fern, common adder’s tongue, English adder’s tongue, snake’s tongue, viper’s tongue, serpent’s tongue, adder’s-tongue fern, southern adder’s tongue, adder’s spear, Christ’s spear. The name Ophioglossum comes from the Greek ophios (serpent), and glossa (tongue). Plant description Adder’s tongue fern is a small, terrestrial, herbaceous, perennial plant…
Yellow birch scientifically known as Betula alleghaniensis is an aromatic, medium-sized tree belonging to the Birch Family (Betulaceae). As a member of the Birch Family, it is associated to the Alders, Hornbeams, Filberts, and Hophornbeams, in addition to other Birches. The plant is native to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Anticosti Island west through southern Ontario to extreme southeastern Manitoba; south to Minnesota and northeastern Iowa; east to northern Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania to northern New Jersey and New England; and south in the Appalachian Mountains to eastern Tennessee and northeastern Georgia. Some of its popular common names are Yellow…
Wood Betony is the common name for Stachys officinalis, which actually is a medium height, slightly hairy plant of the Lamiaceae ⁄ Labiatae (Mint family). The plant is distributed widely throughout open meadows and pastures of Europe and Asia. It grows in most of Europe, western Asia and North Africa. In the British Isles it is common in England and Wales, but is rarely found in Ireland or northern Scotland. Few of the popular common names of the plant are Betonie, Betony, Common hedgenettle, Common hedge-nettle, Bishop’s-wort, Purple betony, Wood betony, lousewort, wild hop, Betónica, Betonica officinalis, Bishopswort, Épiaire Officinale,…
Wild yam is the common name for Dioscorea villosa, actually a perennial flowering plant of the Dioscoreaceae family which consists of around 750 species of flowering plants. The plant is native to North America, Mexico, and Asia. It is common and widespread in a range stretching from Texas and Florida north to Minnesota, Ontario and Massachusetts. Apart from wild yam it is also known as Wild yam root, devil’s bones, Mexican wild yam, American Yam, Atlantic Yam, Barbasco, China Root, Chinese Yam, Colic Root, Devil’s Bones, Rheumatism Root, Rhizoma Dioscorae, Rhizoma Dioscoreae, Shan Yao, Wild Mexican Yam, Yam and Yuma.…
Kiggelaria africana also known as the wild peach or umKokoko is a large, robust, low-branching African tree, and is currently the only recognized species in the genus Kiggelaria. Despite its common name, Kiggelaria africana is not related to the more familiar fruit-producing peach tree (Prunus persica) although the leaves do look similar, if only very superficially. Unlike peach leaves, they are fairly thick and stiff, with a thin coating of fur on the undersides. The tree grows across Tanzania through Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to Swaziland, Lesotho and southern South Africa. It occurs naturally in Afromontane forests as well as…
Asarum canadense, commonly called wild ginger is a spring wildflower from the genus Asarum L. and belongs to Aristolochiaceae (Birthwort family). The wild ginger woodland plant is not a relative of culinary ginger, Zingiber officinale, and it is not traditionally used as a kitchen spice. The plant is native to Eastern North America, from the Great Plains east to the Atlantic Coast, and from southeastern Canada south to around the Fall Line in the southeastern United States. Some of the popular common names of the plants are Asarabacca, Snake Root, canadian wild ginger, Canada Wild Ginger, Wild Ginger, broad-leaved Asarabacca,…
Geranium maculatum commonly known as Wild Geranium is a clump-forming woodland perennial plant from the genus Geranium and belongs to the Geraniaceae family. The plant is native to eastern North America, all the way from Manitoba and Quebec to Alabama and west to Oklahoma and South Dakota. Apart from wild geranium the plant is also known as spotted Cranesbill, spotted geranium, crowfoot, cranesbill, wild crane’s-bill, American cranesbill, alumroot, alum bloom, storks bill, chocolate flower, old Maid’s Night Cap, rockweed, sailor’s Knot and shame face. Geranium is derived from the Greek word geranos, which means crane. Though this name seems questioning,…
Violet scientifically known as Viola odorata is a small bushy plant that belongs to Violaceae – Violet family. The plant is native to Europe and Asia, but has also been introduced to North America and Australia. From old ages it has been grown in gardens, and now it has spread to most of Europe. Some of the popular common names of the plants are Sweet Violet, English Violet, Garden Violet, Florist’s Violet, wood violet, common violet, garden violet, fragrant violet, sweet blue violet and violet. The scientific name of the genus “viola” comes from the Latin. In turn, it comes…
Turkey Tail, scientifically known as Trametes versicolour or Coriolus versicolour, is a common polypore mushroom found throughout the world. It is a beneficial mushroom of the Agaricomycetes class and Polyporaceae family. It’s one of the 100 species of mushrooms that have been researched for their medicinal properties. The mushroom is native to Europe, Asia and North America and is found growing abundantly throughout the world. Few of the popular common names of the mushroom are Turkey tail, turkey tail fungus, Many-zoned Polypore, PSK, PSP, VPS, Yun Zhi, Kawaratake and Krestin. Trametes means “one who is thin”; versicolor means “of various…
Tulip Tree scientifically known as Liriodendron tulipifera is a large, stately, deciduous tree of the Liriodendron L. genus and Magnoliaceae (Magnolia family). The plant is native to eastern North America from Southern Ontario and Illinois eastward to Connecticut and southern New York, and south to central Florida and Louisiana. Some of the popular common names of the plant are Bois-jaune, Canary whitewood, Tulip poplar, Tuliptree, Yellow poplar, Tulip tree, American Tulip Tree, Canoewood, Fiddle-tree, Saddle-tree, Tulip Magnolia, whitewood, White poplar, tulip magnolia, blue poplar and yellow wood. Genus name comes from the Greek words leirion meaning a lily and dendron…