Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

An important member of Meliaceae, is the evergreen Neem Tree (Azadirachta indica). Well known for its medicinal properties, the Neem tree is a fast growing plant that can reach up to 15 to 30 m tall. It is drought tolerant and thrives in well-drained soils. The genus name, Azadirachta, comes from the words azad, meaning ‘free’ in Persian, and dirakht, which means ‘tree’. The name indica refers to its Indian origin. Hence, the name literally means the ‘free tree of India’. This is fitting as it is almost a free pharmacy in itself. It has potential in medicine, agricultural and environment conservation. 🌳Neem has fern like, pinnately compound leaves. Each leaf is 15 to 40 cm long, and carries 8 to 19 asymmetrically curved leaflets, each with a toothed margin. 🌳The tree produces small white flowers, which have a very sweet, jasmine-like scent.  🌳The fruit is a drupe that is edible and has a bittersweet taste.  🌳The seed yields an oil which is used as an organic pesticide and...

Holarrhena pubescens Syn.: Holarrhena antidysenterica (common names: Indrajao, dhulkari, dudkhuri, karva indrajau etc.) - Apocynaceae, a deciduous shrub or a small tree.  The flowers are beautiful with oblong petals which are rounded at the tip. Indrajao is native to Indian Subcontinent to Indo-China. It is also found in the Himalayas up to altitudes of 1500 m. It is an important medicinal plant of Ayurveda. It is one of the best drug for Diarrhea. According to Ayurveda, the bark is useful in treatment of piles, skin diseases and biliousness. The bark is used externally in case of skin troubles.  Reference  Surendra Parihar Ex.Professor and Head. Deptt. of Seed , Science and Technology. IARI, Pusa,  New Delhi 110012

🎄🎄MEMBERS OF THE MAHOGANY FAMILY : MELIACEAE 🎄🎄 The Big Leafed Mahogany tree, also known by many other common names like American Mahogany or Sky Fruit, is scientifically known as Swietenia macrophylla and is a member of the Meliaceae family. It is an evergreen tree originating from tropical America, named after 18th century Dutch botanist and physician, Gerald van Swieten. It is one of the oldest cultivated trees commonly grown in Singapore as roadside tree and is highly valued for its hardwood timber used in furniture making.  The tree can reach a height of 35-40 meters . Its bark changes from smooth and grey in young trees to dark brown, ridged, and flaky in mature trees. The tree has large, pinnately compound leaves with dark green, asymmetric, sickle-shaped leaflets. The leaves are arranged in whorls, giving it a bushy appearance. The leaflets that change from pink or red when young to da...

Gossypium herbaceum Family - Malvaceae Common name - Levant cotton ☘️When ripe and in warm weather, the flower capsule will burst & expose the cotton surrounding the seeds firmly. 🌸Externally, the leaves are used to treat thrush, scalds, bruises and sores 🌸The cotton fibres consist of nearly pure cellulose. 🌸The oil obtained from the seed used in salads and cooking oil. Place - Cuttack, Odisha Reference  Sugimani Marndi Ambika Prasad Research Foundation, Odisha

Ruellia tuberosa (Common name: Waterkanon, Watrakanu, Minnie Root, Iron root) - Acanthaceae, a West Indian herb with curiously shaped blue flowers and fusiform tuberous roots.  The big bisexual flowers are violet. In folk medicine and Ayurveda it has been used as a diuretic, anti-diabetic, antipyretic, analgesic, antihypertensive, gastroprotective, and to treat gonorrhea.  Reference  Surendra Parihar Ex.Professor and Head. Deptt. of Seed , Science and Technology. IARI, Pusa,  New Delhi 110012