Terminalia bellirica

Botanical name : Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb.
Family : Combretaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Vibhitaki, Vibheetaka, Aksha, Kalidruma, Bhootavasa, Vibheetaki

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Kashaya, Tikta
Guna : Lakhu, Rooksha
Virya : Seeta
Vipaka : Madhura

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Belliric myrobalan
Hindi : Baheda, Bhaira
Malayalam : Tanni, Tannikka
Distribution – Throughout India growing wild in deciduous forests

PLANT DESCRIPTION
A moderate to large sized tree grows up to 30 meters in height. Leaves simple, alternate, long petioled and crowded at the tip of branches, elliptic, entire and acute. Flowers small, pale green, found in axillary spikes. Fruits ovoid drupes contain single stony hard seed.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated kapha, vata, cough, bronchitis, allergic cough, insomnia, edema, dyspepsia, flatulence, hemorrhage, skin diseases, diarrhea, dysentery, leukoderma, and graying of hair.
Useful part : Bark, Fruits

Centella asiatica

Botanical name : Centella asiatica Linn.
Family : Apiaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Mandookaparni, Manduki.
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Kashaya, Madhura
Guna : Lakhu, Sara
Virya : Seeta

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Indian pennywort
Hindi : Brahmamandooki, Bemgsag
Malayalam : Muthil, Kudangal

PLANT DESCRIPTION
A creeping perennial with rooted nodes; leaves simple, having long petioles, reniform or cordate in shape; flowers pink, small and sessile; fruits laterally compressed.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated pitta, insomnia, epilepsy, asthma, bronchitis, abdominal disorders, mental retardation, insanity and fever.
Useful part : The whole plant

Adhatoda vasica

Botanical name : Adhatoda vasica Nees.
Family : Acanthaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Brihat vasa, Brihat vasaka, Vrisha, Vrishaka, Simhasya,

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Tikta, Kashaya
Guna : Lakhu, Rooksha
Virya : Seeta
Vipaka: Katu

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Malabar nut
Hindi : Adusa, Arusa
Malayalam : Valiya adalotakam, Peradalotakam.
Distribution – Throughout India, growing wild.

PLANT DESCRIPTION
A large shrub grows crowded along waste land, roadsides etc. Leaves simple, opposite, ovate-lanceolate, acute or acuminate and shiny. Flowers arise from axillary condensed spikes, white; fruits capsules.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated pitta, kapha, cough, bronchitis, asthma, inflammation, hemorrhage, hemorrhoids, diseases of eyes, and bleeding diarrhea. In medicinal value it is less effective than vasa (Adhatoda beddomei)
Useful part : Whole plant.

Terminalia chebula

Botanical name : Terminalia chebula Retz.
Family : Combretaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Pathya, Abhaya, Rohinee, Chetaki, Haritaki

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Katu, Tikta, Kashaya, Madhura, Amla
Guna : Lakhu, Rooksha
Virya : Ushna

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Chebulic myrobalan
Hindi : Hara, Harara, Harad
Malayalam : Kadukka

PLANT DESCRIPTION
A moderate sized to large deciduous tree with spreading branches. Leaves ovate, elliptic, or obovate, glabrous to tawny-villous beneath with a pair of large glands at the top of the petiole; flowers yellowish white in the terminal simple spikes or short panicles fruits glabrous, shining, ellipsoidal, obovoid or ovoid drupes, yellow to orange brown in color, faintly angled, up to 3.75 cm long; seeds hard, pale yellow.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated tridoshas, wound, ulcer, inflammation, anorexia, flatulence, haemorrhoids, jaundice, hiccough, cough, vesical and renal calculi, epilepsy, skin diseases, leprosy, intermittent fever, cardiac disorders, stomatitis, neuropathy and general debility.
Useful part : Mature and immature fruits

Phyllanthus emblica

Botanical name : Phyllanthus emblica Linn.
Family : Euphorbiaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Amalaki, Dhatri, Vayastha, Amritaphala

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Kashaya, Tikta, Madhura, Amla
Guna : Guru, Rooksha
Virya : Seeta
Vipaka : Madhura

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Indian gooseberry, Gooseberry
Hindi : Amalak, Amla
Malayalam : Nelli, Nellikka
Distribution – Throughout India cultivated as well as growing wild.

PLANT DESCRIPTION
A medium sized deciduous tree grows up to 25 meters in height. Leaves simple, subsessile, many, closely arranged along the thin soft branchlets. Thus it gives false appearance as compound leaf. Flowes greenish yellow, in leaf axils, unisexual, fruit globose, fleshy, greenish yellow, with 6 vertical compartments. Seed 6 faced, stony hard when ripe.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated tridoshas, constipation, stomatitis, jaundice, disorders of vision, fever, cough, wheezing, cardiac disorders and general weakness. Useful part : Root, Bark, Leaves, Fruits