30 AP Exam herbs that are not in 38 colorful flash cards
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Anantamula
HemidesmusIndicus
Krishna Sariva (black Variety);
Sveta Sariva (White Variety)
Both varieties are sweet
Unctuous Produces semen
Hard to digest
Cures Dyspepsia, loss of taste; dyspnea, cough, Amavisha (endotoxin)
Mitigates all three doshas (Tridoshahara), Bleeding diseases, menorrhagia, fever and diarrheas’.
Primarily used to pacify Pitta dosha.
Asoka
Saraca Indica Linn
Rasa is Bitter, Astringent
Virya is Cooling.
Causes Constipation.
imparts color/Complexion
Kapha Pitta Shamaka
Cures Gotre, thirst, Burning sensation, Worms, Consumption, poison and bleeding disorders including Female reproductive system
Bala
Sida Cardifolia
Four Varieties: 1. Bala; 2. Mahabala; 3. Atibala; 4. Nagabala
Rasa is Sweet
Virya - All the four Varieties are cooling
Main Benefits: bestow strength and brilliance, unctuous and constipating.
Cures Gout, bleeding disease and wounds.
Powder of root of Bala and sugar cures Polyuria
Mahabala cures dysuria and acts as laxative.
Atibala consumed with milk and sugar cures diabetes.
Bhumyamalaki
Phyllanthus amarus
Rasa: It is bitter, astringent, and sweet in taste
It increases Vata
Virya is Coolness
Cures thirst, Cough bleeding disease
Mitigates Kapha, itching and wounds
Citraka
Plumbago Zeylanica
Kindles digestive fire, easy for digestion
Notes: All the synonyms of Agni are applicable to this plant such as vahni, sikhi, pavaka, dvipi etc.
Rasa: Pungent
Vipaka: Pungent
Virya: Hot
Cures diseases of the duodinum, , leprosy and other skin diseases, dropsy, haemorrhoids, worms, cough.
Cures diseases of Vata, Kapha and Pitta.
Mitigates Vata and Kapha, Water absorbant (constipating)
Dharuharidra
Berberis Aristata
Note: Darvi is its synonim.
Decoction of darvi added with equal quantity of milk is boiled and reduced to one fourth of the total quantity and allowed to cool. After it becomes thick jelly it is called Rasanjana (darvirasanjana) and is highly beneficial to the eyes (when used as collerium)
Rasa: Bitter, Kashaya (Astringent)
Virya: Hot
Vipaka Katu, Pungent
Balances Kapha and Vata
Cures diseases of Eyes
Rasanjana (Rasot in Hindi)
Rasa : Pungent, Bitter
Virya: hot
Mitigates Sleshma (Kapha), poison, diseases of the eyes, rejuvinator,
Punctures hard covering doshas and clears the doshas from the wounds
Eranda
Ricinis Communis
Caster oil
Sukla Variety (white)
Rakta Rubuka (Red)
Rasa: Both varieties are Sweet
Virya: hot
Kaphavatashamaka
Cures pain, swelling, pain of the waist, bladder, head and abdomen
Goksura
Tribulus Terrestris
Gokharu (common Name)
Rasa: Sweet
Virya: Cold
Vipaka: Sweet
Mitigates Vata
Purifies Urinary Bladder, urinary Calculii
Hingu
Ferula Northex Boiss
Common Name: Asafoetida
It is the resin obtained by scratching the roots of the plant Ferula Northex Boiss. In Medicinal recipes, asafoetida fried in oil or ghee only should be used and never in its raw state.
Rasa: Enhances taste, Sweet
Virya: hot
Mitigates Vata and kapha and aggravates Pitta
Cures Colic, abdominal tumor, enlargement of abdomen, flatulance and worms.
Topical application: Joints, abdomen, hemorrhoids
Jatamamsi
Nardostachys jatamansi
Common Name: Indian Spikenard
VImproves intelligence, bestows radiance, complexion and strength
Rasa: Bitter, Astingent
Virya: Sweet Cold
Mitigates all 3 doshas
Cures diseases of blood, burning sensation, herpes and leprosy and other skin diseases.
Jyotismati
Celastus paniculatus
Bestows good digestive fire, intelligence and memory
Rasa: pungent, bitter
Virya: very hot
Laxative, Mitigates Kapha and Vata
Produces vomiting, penetrating
Kapikatcchu
Mucuna Pruriens
Its seed is Great aphrodisiac, bestows strength
Rasa: Sweet, Bitter
Mitigates Vata, Kapha, pitta and asra (blood)
Bestows strength, Its seed alleviates vata and known as a best aphrodisiac
Katuki
Picrorhiza kurroa
Easily digestible, mild purgative, increases digestive fire, good for the heart
Rasa: Bitter
Virya: cold
Vipaka: Pungent
Causes dryness, Cures fever caused by kapha, Pitta; diabetes, dyspnoea, cough, diseases of blood, leprosy and other skin diseases and worms.
Kirata Tikta
Swertia chirata
It is a laxative, causes dryness, easily digestable
Rasa: Bitter
Virya: cold
Cures sannipata jwara (Fever caused by all te three doshas together); dyspnoea, diseases of kapha, Pitta, blood, burning sensation, cough, dropsy, thirst, leprosy (and other skin diseases) fever, ulcers and worms
Kutaja
Holarrhena antidysentirica
Common name Kuda
Causes dryness, increases digestive fire,
Rasa: Pungent, astringent
Virya: cold
Cures Hemorrhoids’, diarrheas’, bleeding diseases, diseases kapha, thirst, ama and leprosy (and some other skin diseases),
Lodhra
Symplocos Racemosa
Two varieties and they are grahi (water absorbent, Constipating), easy for digestion; good for eyes (Vision)
Rasa: Astringent
Virya: Cold
Mitigates Kapha and Pitta
Cures bleeding disease, fever, diarrheas’, and dropsy
Manjista
Rubia cordifolia
Bestows good voice and color complexion; hard for digestion
Rasa: bitter and astringent
Virya: hot
Mitigates Kapha (Sleshma)
Cures poison, dropsy, Diseases of Vagina, eyes and ears, diarrheas’, with bleeding, leprosy (and other skin diseases), Herpes, wound and diabetes.
Note: (Dropsy: An old term for the swelling of soft tissues due to the accumulation of excess water. In years gone by, a person might have been said to have dropsy. Today one would be more descriptive and specify the cause. Thus, the person might have edema due to congestive heart failure.)
Padmaka
Nelumbo nucifera
Easy for digestion, helps maintain pregnancy, taste perception,
Rasa : tringent bitter
Virya: Cold
Increases Vata,
Cures diseases caused by Sleshma (Kapha) and asra (blood)
Cures herpes, burning sensation, small pox, leprosy and other skin diseases
Cures vomiting, wounds and thirst
Rasna
Alpina officinarium
Rasna is Ama pachana, hard for digestion.
Cures eighty diseases arising from Vata and skin diseases
Rasa: bitter
Virya: hot
Mitigates Kapha and Vata
cures dropsy, dysphonia; diseases of Vata and blood; Colic produced by Vata, enlargement of abdomen; cough, fever, poison
Saindhava Lavana
Increases digestive fire, easy for digestion, unctuous, helps taste perception
Rasa: Sweet
Virya: Cold
Mitigates all three doshas
Subtle (enters through minute pores), good for the eyes
Sallaki
Boswella Serrata
Note: Resin of Boswella Serrata is called Kunduru (niryasa) called in English as Frankinsence that cures fever (excess of), persipiration, diseases of mouth, Kapha and Vata.
Rasa: Astringent
Virya: cold
Mitigates Pitta and Kapha.
Cures diarrheas’, bleeding diseases like ulcers and gives nourishment
Sankhapushpi — Reference: Dravyaguna
Vignyan (Vaidya VMGodke)
P505-506
Convolvulus pluricaulis
Three varieties: White, reddish and bluish. Whitish is used in medicine. Bluish called Neelpushpi is referred as Vishnukranta (latin: Evolvulus alsiniodes)
Srotogamitva:
Dosha: Vatashamam
Dhatu: Majja (brain tonic, insomnia)
Mala: Purusha (laxative)
Organ: brain
Manovaha srotas: Epilepsy, Schizophrenia
Guna: Snigdha, Pichchil, guru, sara
Rasa: Kashaya (Astringent), katu (Pungent),
tikta (bitter)
Virya: Shita
Vipak: Madhur
Prabhav: medya (specific)
Karma: tridoshahar but specifically Vatapittashamak.
Snigdha, pichchil, guru gunas and madhur vipak makes it vatashamak
Sheetha virya makes it Pittashamak
Kashaya, katu and tikta rasa makes it kaphashamak
Katu(pungent), tikta (bitter)
Tagara
C.N: Valerian
Valeriana Wallichi
It is mainly useful for Bell’s palsy, hemiplegia, epilepsy, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. It reduces pain, convulsions and nourishes the central Nervous system.
It is also useful in cough, asthma, retention of urine, impotency and dysmenorrhea
External Use: Local application in wound healing, fractures and rheumatoid arthritis. it is useful as analgesic. DG-G (P 621)
Guna: Laghu, snigdha, sara
Rasa: tikta (Bitter), Katu (Pungent)
Virya: Ushna
Dosha: Tridoshahara
Dose: Root powder 1 to 3 gms
Overdose causes fainting. Antdote - dried black grapes (raisins)
Taruni
Rosa centifolia
External Uses: It improves complexion and acts as wound healing, deodorant and anti inflammatory.
Internal use: It acts as a brain tonic as well as increases the tone of GI tract. It is a hepatoprotective and is useful in all digestive disorders like diarrheas’ and dysentery. It is useful in diseases of the heart, bleeding disorders and other blood diseases.
Guna: laghu, snigdha
Rasa:tikta, katu, kashaya, madhur
Virya: cold
Vipaka: madhur
Prabhav: Heart tonic
Srotogamitva:
Dosha: tridoshaghna
Dhatu: Shukra, majja, rakta, raktamamsa
Mala: Sweda (deodorant), purisha
Tavaksiri
Maranta arundinacea
Tila
C.N: Sesame
Sesanum Indicum
Uses: It is an excellent snehan and analgesic and very useful for wound healing, dental health, skin and hair.It is very useful in dry skinand bodyache as vatashaman. Its sngdha guna increases oleation by overcoming dryness. Decoction of its roots and leaves is used for washing the hairwhich is helpful in hair growth and making them black and soft.
This is a brain tonic and is aphrodisiac.
Among all the available oils, tila oil is considered the best for nourishing all the 7 dhatus of the body. It is useful as both food as well as medicine.
Guna: guru, snigdha
Rasa: Mathur and Uparasa : Kashaya (astringent)
Virya:
Vipak: madhur (sweet)
Srotogamitva:
Dosha: Vatashamak, Kaphapittaprakopak, Kaphapittavardhak, tridoshaghna
Dhatu: All 7 dhatus
Mala: keshya (hair), purisha (increasing bulk), mutra (antidiuretic)
Vibhitaki
(Bibhitaki or Bibhieetaka)
Terminilia Belirica
Purgative, cures cough, creates dryness, good for eyes (vision) and haireetaka is s, destroys worms, cures disorders of voice (by keeping the rind of the fruit in the mouth).
Vibhitaki Marrow (majja of the nut) cures thirst, vomiting, mitigates kapha and vata, easily digestable, astingent in taste and causes intoxication. Its properties are similar to Dhatri (Amalaki marrow)
Doses: o.75 to 1.5 gms.
Gunas: Ruksha and Laghu
Rasa: Kashaya (astringent)
Virya: hot, cold to touch
Vipaka: Sweet
Doshas: Mitigates Kapha and Pitta. It is kaphagna because of its Ruksha, laghu and Kashaya guna.. It is pittagna by kashaya and madhur rasa . It is vatashamak by ushna guna. Thus bhibhitaki is tridoshanashak but mainly Kaphanashak. Haritaki is vatanashak, Amalaki is Pittanashak and Bibheetaki is kaphanashak and together as triphala is tridoshanashak)
Srotogamitva:
Dosha: tridosha
Dhatu: Majaja (intoxication), , rakta (homeostatic), shukra (aphrodisiac),rasa - mansagami
Mala: Purisha (laxative), hair tonic (bibheetaki Majja taila)
Organs: Eyes and respiratory system
Usira - Virana root is Usira
Vetiveria Zizanoids
Guna:
Rasa: tikta (bitter), madhur (sweet)
Virya: cold
Mitigates Kapha and pitta
easy for digestion
relieves fever, vomiting, intoxication
Cures thirst, bleeding poison, herpes, burning sensation, dysuria, and ulcers.
Vidanga
Embelia ribes
Guna: Katu (pungent)
Rasa:
Virya: hot (Ushna)
Vipaka:
Shrotogmita:
Dosha: Because of its Hot virya, it is Kaphagna, vata and constipation
Dhatu: Rakta (Kushta - Krimis (worms), meda (prameha), rakta (reduces shirorog), rasayan
Mala: Purisha (laxative, tapeworm), mutra
Organs: intestine, anus
Dose: 1-2 gm( for worms - 10gm)
Yavani
C.N: Ajwain
Trachispermum amani - AP sheet: Carum Copticum
Used in Kaphavata diseases.
External: Being analgesic, anti inflammatory, laxative, anti bacterial, complexion enhancer and antidote, its external application reduces edema and pain, skin diseases, scorpion bite.
Internal:Being appetizer, deepana, pain killer, antitheminitic, it is used in anorexia, loss of appetite, indigestion, flatulence, abdominal pain, lumpspleenic enlargement and intestinal worms. It stops recurrence of worms. It is diuretic, useful for retention of water (urine). Being diaphoretic , it is used in skin disorders; In doudenitis, also used in morphine addiction.
Guna; Laghu, ruksha, tikshana
Rasa: katu (pungent), tikta (bitter)
Virya: hot
Vipak: Katu
Srotogamitva:
Dosha: Kaphavatanashak by tikshna guna and ushna virya; Pittavardhak
Dhatu: shukra, rakta (spleen)
Mala: Purisha (shodhan)
Organ: dental diseases, alimentary system (appetizer)
Doses: powder 1-3 gms; oil 15-30 drops; decoction- 15to30 mil, ark: 25-50 mgs
