Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

Chironji (Buchanania lanzan) Did you know that Chironji (Buchanania lanzan), a common tree species found in deciduous forests throughout India, named for Francis Buchanan, Supt. of Botanical Gardens, Calcutta, produces nuts of almond-flavour, and widely used as a mewa (Dry fruit) and cooking spice? Chironji (Buchanania lanzan), with synonym Buchanania augustifolia Roxb, an endemic tree in the dry deciduous tropical forests of India, considered as one of India's most delicious wild fruit, produces charoli or chironji seeds of lentil-size, which has an almond-like flavour. The tree, also known by the botanical name 'Buchanania cochinchinens' is named for Francis Buchanan, Supt. of Botanical Gardens, Calcutta. The seeds, also called Almondette, or cheronjee, are not only used in raw form as a 'mewa' (dry fruit) but are often toasted or roasted before use, as this intensifies the flavour. These seeds are used as a cook...

Custard Apple (Annonaceae) Did you know that Custard Apple (Annonaceae), known as Sitaphala thought to be native to India from its occurrence in ancient literature, paintings, and sculptures, dicovered prior to 1000 AD, had Indian influence and travelled as far as Timor and also claimed to be native to Americas? Custard Apple, 'Annona reticulata', a tropical fruit plant with the scientific name Annonaceae in the custard apple family is known as Sitaphala in India, and is also known as the Bullocks Heart, Bull’s heart, Jamaica apple, Sugar Apple, Sweetsop, and netted custard apple.  It is thought to be native to India from its occurrence in ancient literature, paintings, and sculptures, discovered prior to 1000 AD. It had Indian influence and had travelled as far as Timor (an island at the southern end of Southeast Asia), and also claimed to be native to Americas. Its pictures are seen in the Ajanta cave paintings dated to 7th or ...

Gulaganji (Abrus precatorius) Did you know that Gulaganji seed pod of the plant Abrus precatorius, a beautiful climbing herb, usually bright scarlet in colour and with a black eye that is deadly poisonous but known since ancient times as a unit of measure used by goldsmiths in India? Gulaganji or Jequirity or Gunja, a pod seed of the Abrus precatorius herbaceous plant in the bean family of Fabaceae, is found throughout India, Sri lanka, Africa and the West Indies. It also grows in all tropical or subtropical areas, even at altitudes of 3500 feet on the outer Himalayas. The most poisonous parts of the plant involved in poisoning are the small, scarlet seeds, which has the poisonous Abrin, that have a black eye at the hilum. The bruised seeds have been used criminally by the Chamàr or "Native Skinner" caste of India for poisoning cattle to obtain their hides for sale. In India, in olden days the seeds of Abrus, popularly known as Gulganji,...

Sorghum or Jowar or Jola  Did you know that Sorghum, termed as God's Crop", is the fourth major cereal in terms of production and fifth in acreage following wheat, rice, maize and barley, in 95 countries of the world including India? Did you know that Sorghum (Jowar or Jola) has many health benefits as it is gluten free, high in protein, good source of iron and fibre, cholesterol free, nutritious and rich in antioxidants, enhances digestive health, energy and improves blood pressure and circulation? Sorghum or Jowar or Jola ಜೋಲಾ, hailed as the "God's Crop", belongs to genus of about 25 species of flowering plants, the grass family Poaceae (grass) and subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Andropogonaeae (the same as big bluestem and sugarcane), and is charachterised by dorsally compressed spikeletts. It is a unique drought resistant food crop produced for domestic and export markets with multiple uses as food, feed, fodder. and fib...

Pomegranate Did you know that Pomegranate (Anar), symbol of prosperity and fertility associated with both Bhoomidevi (the earth goddess) and Lord Ganesha, is an edible fruit berry (aril) which bears fruit seeds between 200 and 1,400? Pomegranate, with botanical name Punica granatum, is a fruit-bearing deciduous Shrub or small tree in the family Lythraceae, subfamily Punicoideae, that grows between 5 and 10 m (16 and 33 ft) tall. It is one of the favourtie fruits of tropical, subtropical and desert regions, native to Iran, Afghanistan, now widely cultivated in mediterranean countries, and very much in India commercially cultivated in most of the states; the varieties grown are known by the place names. It bears juicy edible fruits, a berry called arils with the number of seeds in a pomegranate varying from 200 to 1,400; on an average, there are around 613 seeds in a pomegranate.  Pomegranate, an Enlgish name, is known by many vern...