Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica Roxb), Indian Rubber Tree  Did you know that Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica Roxb) or the Indian Rubber Tree or Assam rubber, though not commercially viable now, is still trained as a living suspension bridge to ford streams in Meghalaya, India? The Rubber Plant with botanical name Ficus elastica Roxb , known as Indian Rubber Tree or Assam Rubber, is native of South east Asia India in particular, where it grows as a large tree (30 to 50 m high) in the virgin forest (a forest in its natural state). It is now widely spread in the Eastern Himalayas, foothills from Nepal eastwards through Sikkim, Bhutan, ArunachaL Padesh, Assam and Khasi Hills (Meghalaya), upto 1200 m, formerly tapped in the wild for its rubber. It was planted commerically in the 19th century as source of rubber, but was supplanted soon after the domestication of Para Rubber tree, :Havea brasilensis". Now, the Rubber Plant is one of most familiar of tropical house-...

Vengai maram or tree or Honne mara (Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb)  Did you know that the Vengai maram or tree or Honne mara (Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb) is native to India under which marriages were performed during the flowering season when brides would adorn themselves with garlands of Vengai flowers? The Vengai maram or tree or Honne mara, with the scintific name Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb in the family Fabaceae / Leguminosae - Pea family, grown thoughout the tropical zones of India in the hilly regions, particularly common in Southern and Central India, is a medium to large size tree, affording excellent shade and timber. It is widely used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine. Pterocarpus marsupium or Vengai tree is well-known as Malabar kino, Indian Kino, East Indian kino, Indian kino, and Vijaysar. Its vernacular names in India are: Vijaysar, Asanah, Andhukapushpa, Jivakah, Mahasarjakah, pitasalakah, priyakah in Sanskrit; Vijaysara in Hindi; Vengai in Tami...

Taraxacum sp.(Dandelion) Taraxacum officinale is the most common species. We may be most familiar with dandelion as a stubborn weed that never seems to leave our lawn or garden. However, in traditional herbal medicine practices, dandelions are revered for their wide array of medicinal properties. For centuries, they’ve been used to treat a myriad of physical ailments, including cancer, acne, liver disease and digestive disorders. Here are some of the potential health benefits of dandelions, and what science has to say about them. From root to flower, dandelions are highly nutritious plants, loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber. Dandelion greens can be eaten cooked or raw and serve as an excellent source of vitamins A, C and K. They also contain vitamin E, folate and small amounts of other B vitamins . Dandelion greens provide a substantial amount of several minerals, including iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium . The root of the dandelion is rich in the carbohydrate...

Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeusch Family: Poaceae Common name: Cogon grass Habit : Herb Habitat: Grasslands, roadsides and hardwood forests Medicinal uses: ☘️Decoction of this grass is used to treat urinary tract infections, fever and thirst.  ☘️Root is used as tonic.  ☘️It is also used to treat nose bleeds, oedema and jaundice.  Subhadarshini Satapathy (Biodiversity and Conservation Lab., Ambika Prasad Research Foundation, Cuttack, Odisha)

Chloris barbata Sw.  Family - Poaceae Common name - Swollen finger grass Habit - Herb Habitat - Dry regions, wasteland and roadside Medicinal uses-  🌼Plant is used to treat rheumatism.  🌼Plant juice is used to treat skin disorder.  🌼Leaf juice is used to treat fever and diabetes.  Subhadarshini Satapathy (Biodiversity and Conservation Lab., Ambika Prasad Research Foundation, Cuttack, Odisha)

Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeel Family: Myrtaceae Common names: Jamun, Java plum Habit: Tree Habitat: Wild, cultivated and avenue plantation Medicinal uses:  🌷The bark is used to treat asthma, bronchitis and dysentery.  🌷Fruit is used to treat diabetes and diarrhea.  🌷Ash of the leaves is used to strengthening the teeth.  Subhadarshini Satapathy (Biodiversity and Conservation Lab., Ambika Prasad Research Foundation, Cuttack, Odisha)

Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. Family: Asteraceae  Common names: Bhringraj, False daisy Habit: Herb Habitat: Grows in moist and swampy areas Medicinal uses:  🍂Leaf decoction is used to treat uterine and haemorrhage.  🍂Mixture of plant juice and honey is given to the infants for expulsion of worms.  🍂It is also used to treat hair loss, skin disease and respiratory diseases.  Subhadarshini Satapathy (Biodiversity and Conservation Lab., Ambika Prasad Research Foundation, Cuttack, Odisha)

Clerodendrum infortunatum L. Family: Lamiaceae Common name: Hill glory bower Habit: Shrub Habitat: Degraded forests, wastelands and river banks.  Medicinal uses:  🌺Leaf and root paste are used as anti-dandruff, laxative and anti-diabetic.  🌺Young leaf juice is used to treat fever and vomiting.  🌺Root decoction is used to treat dysentery.  Subhadarshini Satapathy (Biodiversity and Conservation Lab., Ambika Prasad Research Foundation, Cuttack, Odisha)

Monochoria vaginalis (Burm.f.) C. Presl Family: Pontederiaceae Common name: Arrow leaf pond weed Habit: Aquatic herb Habitat: Pond, ditches and swamps Medicinal uses:  🌷Plant is used to treat liver problems.  🌷Root juice is used to treat stomach problems.  🌷Leaves are used to treat cough and fever.  🌷Powdered bark mixed with sugar and taken to treat asthma.  Subhadarshini Satapathy (Biodiversity and Conservation Lab., Ambika Prasad Research Foundation, Cuttack, Odisha)

Castor Oil Plant - Part 2, Botanical facts and its uses Did you know that Castor Oil Plant, Ricinus communis, the most imporatnt non-edible oil seed crop that belongs to Euphorbicea family, a native of India but now grown throughout the world with India producing and accounting for over three-quarters of the global yield? The Castor oil plant with the Sanskrit eranda, also held to be ancient , probably pre - Aryan , in India, is not only a widely cultivated plant but is also seen growing in roadsides, vacant plots, and wastelands. It is perennial flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. and is the sole species in the monotypic genus, Ricinus, and subtribe, Ricininae. Ricinus communis is the vegetable oil , the natural purgative, obtained by pressing the seeds of the castor oil plant. Castor oil plant is a drought resistant plant that survives in adverse growing conditions, grows to a height of a tree 30 to...

Castor Oil Plant - Part 1, History Castor Oil Plant or Ricinus communis or the castor bean of Euphorbiaceae family is one of the most ancient, non-edible, medicinal and industrial oilseed crop of India, known as 'Eranda' in Sanskrit which name has passed into several other Indian languages? Castor Oil Plant or Ricinus communis or the castor bean of Euphorbiaceae family, a botanical plant native to India bears several ancient Sanskrit names such as 'Eranda'. It is written in much of the ancient Indian medicinal text Susruta Ayurveda, which was compiled arounnd 2000 BCE. The plant has been distributed through all the tropical and many of the temparate countries of the world. In the regions most favourable to its growth as in India, it attains a height of 40 feet and mostyl commercially grown as herb. Castor Oil, a product of the castor seeds is mentioned within these Sanskrit wrtings for its use as stimulant laxative to...