Author: Vaidya Preeti Bhosle

The plant without which Shiva Puja cannot be considered complete is also one of the most marvelous medicinal plants described by Ayurveda literature. Also known as Shivadruma (the tree of lord shiva) and another form of Lord Kailashnath, Bael is considered sacred in Hinduism and medicinal in the Indian system of medicine. It is believed that Lord Shiva lives under Bilwa tree and Goddess Laxmi resides in its leaves. The three leaflets in Bael leaf’s trifoliate structure are believed to represent the three gunas/ attributes — Satwa (morality), Rajas (superiority) and Tamas (immortality) along with three Gods (Brahma: the creator, Vishnu: the…

When you get a cough, do any of your family members advise you to keep mulethi in your mouth for relief or offer you ‘adrak mulethi ki chai’? Mulethi or licorice is a very common Bharatiya household spice and a potent Ayurvedic medicinal plant with immense health benefits in its roots. The botanists call it by the name Glycyrrhiza, which is derived from the Greek terms ‘glykos’ meaning sweet and ‘rhiza’ meaning root. Licorice root is used in more than 252 Ayurvedic formulations, among which 179 are used internally and 69 externally. With more than 22 dosage forms, it is used…

Image Courtesy: Shutterstock Shatavari or Asparagus racemosus finds extensive mention in our Indian System of Medicine, i.e., Ayurveda. The name ‘Asparagus’ was given by Greek philosopher Theophrastus (third century BCE). The global Asparagus extract market was expected to gain a valuation of US$ 635 million in the financial year 2023, having an expected projected market value of US$ 949 million in financial year 2033 with a CAGR of 4.1% from 2023 to 2033. Since Ayurveda advises it for the treatment of various kinds of popular health conditions, Shatavari is used in both nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals sectors. Shatavari finds its mention in various…

Considered a sacred symbol of love and devotion, Parijat is known to bring peace and prosperity to the household that plants it. Its mesmerizing fragrance is stress- relieving and calming for the mind and body. The origin of the word parijat is defined in Priya Nighantu, a classical Ayurveda text, as : पारिणः समुद्रार्थ जातौ वा पारिजातः – Priya Nighantu, Haritakyadi Varga, Verse 190-92 It means, the plant is called parijat, because of its origin from samudra (Ocean) as a result of parinaha or extensive searching. The scriptures mention that during the Samudra Manthan, a plant originated which was named parijat. The flowers of Parijat (Nyctanthes arbortristis), also known as Harsingar, lose their brightness during the…

Medicinal virtues of the plant ‘Shigru’ have been known and appreciated in Bharat since the longest times known. Vedas are the earliest known documentation about the medicinal uses of plants in Indian literature. Rig Veda, the first of the four Vedas, documented the plant Shigru (commonly known as Moringa in English) as a domestic plant. In Kousika Sutra, Shigru was mentioned in the treatment of Krimiroga (worm infestation, anti-microbial). In Atharva Veda, Shigru is mentioned for Uchaadana Karma. The Dharma Sutra prohibits its utility as a toothbrush as well as in rituals. The growing consumer knowledge of this plant’s numerous health advantages, in addition to…