Aloe Vera

Botanical Name(s): Aloe Vera, Aloe Barbadensis

English Name(s): Indian Aloe, Jafarabad Aloe, Barbados Aloe, Curacao Aloe

Sanskrit Name(s): Kumari, Kanya, Ghrita-Kumari

Description: Perennial plant with short stem with long, erect leaves crowded in a basal rosette containing sticky juice, spiny teeth on their borders. Flowers are yellow in colour.

Chemical Constituents: Barbaloin, Aglycone, Aloe-emodin, Chrysophanol Glycoside.

Indications: Wounds, Burns, Dermatitis, Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Eye problems, Liver problems, Spleen diseases, Constipation, Diabetes, Genital Herpes, Psoriasis, Seborrheic Dermatitis, Skin Ulcers, Ulcerative Colitis, Canker Sores, Crohn`s disease, GERD.

Holarrhena Antidysentrica

Botanical Name(s): Holarrhena Antidysentrica

English Name(s): Coneru, Tellicherry Bark, Connessi Bark

Sanskrit Name(S): Kutaja, Vatsaka

Description: Deciduous shrub with white scented flowers; Seeds are light brown in colour.

Chemical Constituents: Contains alkaloids like conessine, conamine, kurchine, connessimine, holarrhinene, conarrhinine and isoconcessimine.

Indications: Dysentry, Worm Infestations, Amoebic Dysentry, Diarrhea, Digestive disorders, Intestinal and Hepatic Amoebiasis

Bombax Ceiba

Botanical Name(s): Bombax Ceiba, Bombax Malabaricum, Salmalia Malabarica, Gossampinus Malabarica

English Name(s): Silk Cotton Tree

Sanskrit Name(s): Shalmali, Moca

Description: Tall, deciduous tree having widespread brances; trunk and branches are greyish in colour with sharp, conical prickles. Flowers are reddish-pink in colour, solitary or in clusters usually at end of branches wheres the tree is bare of leaves.
Seeds are numerous, long, blackish-grey in colour and filled in with white cotton.

Chemical Constituents: Contains semigossipol, glycosides, tannins, gallic acid.

Indications: Bleeding disorders esp hemoptysis of Pulm TB, Influenza, Malena, Menorrhagia, Acute Dysentry, Hemorrhoids, Acne, Cough, Kidney disorders, Urine related disorders, Inflammation.

Ocimum Sanctum

Botanical Name(s): Ocimum Sanctum, Ocimum Tenuiflorum

English Name(s): Holy Basil, Sacred Basil

Sanskrit Name(s): Tulasi, Manjari, Brinda, Patrapushpa, Ajaka, Krishna Tulasi, Sri Tulasi, Suvasa Tulasi

Description: Mainly 2 types: Sri Tulasi-common, has green leaves
Krishna Tulasi- has purplish leaves
It ia a erect herb sacred to Hindus with oblong leaves; flowers are purplish or crimson coloured with globular , small seeds.

Chemical Constituents: Contains bright yellow volatile oil, alkaloids, ascorbic acid, carotene, tannins, saponins, glycosides.

Indications: Viral Encephalitis, Cold, Cough, Joint Pains, Diabetes, Skin disoders, Headahe, Protozoal infections, Convulsions, Worm infestation, Asthma, Rhinitis, Dysurea, Heart problems, Blood disorders.

Mimosa Pudica

Botanical Name(s): Mimosa Pudica

English Name(s): Touch-Me-Not, Sensitive Plant

Sanskrit Name(s): Lajjalu

Description: Diffuse shrub with prickles all around, bipinnate leaves having pinkish flowers in globular shape and flat poda with many bristles.

Chemical Constituents: Contains toxic alkaloid called mimosine. Roots contain tannin.
Seeds contain mucilage composed of d-xylose and d-glucuronic acid.

Indications: Urinary disturbances, Glandular swellings, Sores, Piles, Urticaria, Scabies, Asthma, Diarrhea.

Cassia Fistula

Botanical Name(s): Cassia Fistula

English Name(s): Indian Laburnum, Golden Shower, Purging Cassia

Sanskrit Name(s): Aragvadha, Kritamala, Chaturangula, Suvarnaka

Description: Medium sized, deciduous tree with pendulous bright yellow flowers;Pods are dark brown, cylindrical, smooth with biconcave brown seeds.

Chemical Constituents: Pulp contains 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone.

Indications: Used as purgative, can be safely used in pregnancy and young children; Inflammatory conditions, Gout, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Pruritis, Jaundice, Epistasis, Cough, Anuria, Pyrexixs, Liver disorders, Constipation.

Butea Monosperma

Botanical Name(s): Butea Monosperma

English Name(s): Forest Fire Tree, Flame of the Forest, Bastard Teak, Butea Gum Tree

Sanskrit Name(s): Palasah Hindi Name(s): Dhak, Palas

Description: It is a sacred tree to Hindus, flowers being used instead of blood in sacrifice rituals to Goddess Kali. Medium sized deciduous tree with bark which exfoliates in irregular pieces containing gum. Flowers are very bright orange red. Fruits contain single seed. The tree is conspicuous when it blooms.

Chemical Constituents: Flowers contain butrin, butein, butin, steroids and flavinoids. Roots contain glycine, glucosides, glucose and aromatic compounds. Oil is present in seeds.

Indications: Inflammatory conditions, Pain, Indigestion, Dysentry, Diarrhea, Dysurea, Fever, Hemorrhages, Poisoning, Worm infestation, Impotence, Menstrual problems, Burning sensation, Oligospermia, Leprosy, Gout, Gonorrhea, Elephantiasis, Night blindness, Cold, Cough etc.