The herb library

Nutrient-dense leaf and sprouts for energy, immunity and daily vitality.

Plant

Alfalfa plant · Herb

Also

Lucerne, Medick, Medicago

Parts

LeafSproutSeed

Ghrit kumari — cooling leaf gel for burns, dry skin and a heated gut.

Plant

Aloe vera succulent · Herb

Also

Kumari, Ghrit kumari, Gwarpatha, Barbados aloe

Parts

Leaf gelLeaf

Indian gooseberry: cooling vitamin C for skin, hair and blood.

Plant

Amla tree · Tree

Also

Indian gooseberry, Amalaki, Nelli

Parts

FruitSeedLeaf

Sweet, warming seed for digestion, coughs and colic.

Plant

Anise plant · Herb

Also

Aniseed, Sweet cumin, Pimpinella

Parts

SeedLeaf

The classical heart-and-stamina bark of Ayurveda.

Plant

Arjuna tree · Tree

Also

Arjun, Kahua, White marudah

Parts

BarkLeaf

The grounding adaptogen for stress, sleep and stamina.

Plant

Ashwagandha shrub · Shrub

Also

Indian ginseng, Winter cherry, Asgandh

Parts

RootLeaf

Garden asparagus — cooling, mildly diuretic spears, the kitchen cousin of shatavari.

Plant

Garden asparagus · Herb

Also

Garden asparagus, Sparrow grass, Halyan

Parts

Spear (young shoot)Root

Sweet, warming qi tonic for immunity, stamina and resilience.

Plant

Astragalus plant · Herb

Also

Huang qi, Milk vetch, Astragalus root

Parts

Root

The temple fruit used for loose motions and a hot, irritable gut.

Plant

Bael tree · Tree

Also

Bilva, Wood apple, Stone apple, Vilvam

Parts

Fruit (ripe)Fruit (unripe)LeafRoot bark

Banyan tree bark and aerial roots: cooling astringent for skin, gums and hair.

Plant

Banyan tree · Tree

Also

Bargad, Vata, Nyagrodha, Indian fig

Parts

BarkAerial rootLeafLatex

The classical Ayurvedic grain — light, drying and cooling for water retention and heat.

Plant

Barley grass (cereal grain) · Herb

Also

Yava, Jau, Pearl barley, Barley grass

Parts

GrainSproutGrass

Aromatic leaf and flower for digestion, colds and a happy mouth.

Plant

Bee balm plant · Herb

Also

Wild bergamot, Oswego tea, Monarda

Parts

LeafFlower

The classic hair and scalp herb, also used as a cooling liver tonic.

Plant

Bhringraj plant (false daisy) · Herb

Also

False daisy, Kesharaj, Karisalankanni

Parts

LeafWhole plant

European blueberry for eye strain, blood sugar and gentle digestion.

Plant

Bilberry shrub · Shrub

Also

Whortleberry, European blueberry, Huckleberry

Parts

FruitLeaf

Astringent bark for dry coughs, joints and settled digestion.

Plant

Black cherry tree · Tree

Also

Wild black cherry, Chokecherry, Prunus serotina

Parts

BarkFruit

The king of spices — kindles digestive fire and carries other herbs deeper into the body.

Plant

Pepper vine · Climber

Also

Kali mirch, Maricha, Peppercorn

Parts

Fruit (peppercorn)

Indian frankincense resin for joints, lungs and gut comfort.

Plant

Boswellia tree · Tree

Also

Indian frankincense, Salai guggal, Olibanum

Parts

Gum resinBark

The classical medhya rasayana for memory and calm attention.

Plant

Brahmi creeper · Herb

Also

Water hyssop, Bacopa, Jalnaveri

Parts

LeafWhole plant

The sunny, soothing skin herb for wounds, rashes and minor burns.

Plant

Calendula plant · Herb

Also

Pot marigold, English marigold

Parts

FlowerLeaf

Green cardamom — the sweet-pungent pod used to lighten digestion and freshen breath.

Plant

Green cardamom plant · Herb

Also

Elaichi, Ela, Green cardamom, True cardamom

Parts

PodSeed

A gentle, cooling nervine for restless sleep and digestive wind.

Plant

Catnip plant · Herb

Also

Catmint, Catwort

Parts

LeafFlowering top

The gentlest evening flower — calming for sleep, nerves and an unsettled stomach.

Plant

Chamomile plant · Herb

Also

German chamomile, Babuna, Babune ka phal

Parts

Flower

Sweet warming bark used for circulation, blood-sugar balance and cold digestion.

Plant

Cinnamon tree · Tree

Also

Ceylon cinnamon, True cinnamon, Dalchini, Twak

Parts

Inner barkLeafBark oil

Warming aromatic bud that numbs toothache and kindles sluggish digestion.

Plant

Clove tree · Tree

Also

Laung, Lavanga, Krambu

Parts

Flower budBud oil

Aromatic Indian root (forskolin) used for metabolism, heart tone and easy breathing.

Plant

Coleus plant · Herb

Also

Forskolin, Indian coleus, Makandi, Patharchur

Parts

RootLeaf

A common bitter green whose leaf and root support digestion and fluid balance.

Plant

Dandelion plant · Herb

Also

Common dandelion, Lion's tooth, Dudhal

Parts

LeafRootFlower

Indian barberry — a bitter berberine bark for skin and damp heat.

Plant

Indian barberry shrub · Shrub

Also

Indian barberry, Rasaut, Chitra, Kilmora

Parts

Stem barkRoot barkFruit

The purple coneflower taken at the first sign of a cold.

Plant

Purple coneflower · Herb

Also

Purple coneflower, Coneflower, Kansas snakeroot

Parts

RootAerial partsFlower

Sharp, camphor-like leaf used in steam and chest rubs to open blocked breathing.

Plant

Eucalyptus tree · Tree

Also

Nilgiri, Blue gum, Tailaparna, Gum tree

Parts

LeafLeaf oil

Saunf — the cooling after-meal seed for gas, cramping and infant colic.

Plant

Fennel plant · Herb

Also

Saunf, Mishreya, Sweet fennel

Parts

SeedBulbLeaf

Kitchen seed with real evidence for blood sugar and digestion.

Plant

Fenugreek plant · Herb

Also

Methi, Methika, Venthayam

Parts

SeedLeaf

The 'nectar creeper' — the classical immunity and fever herb of Ayurveda.

Plant

Giloy creeper · Climber

Also

Guduchi, Amrita, Heart-leaved moonseed, Gurjo

Parts

StemLeafRoot

Called vishwabhesaj, the universal medicine, for good reason.

Plant

Ginger plant · Herb

Also

Adrak, Ardraka, Shunthi (dried)

Parts

Rhizome (root)

Bitter, cooling root for short-term immune and mucous membrane support.

Plant

Goldenseal plant · Herb

Also

Yellow root, Orange root, Hydrastis

Parts

RootRhizome

The 'frog leaf' creeper — memory, calm and skin repair in a single cooling herb.

Plant

Gotu kola creeper · Herb

Also

Mandukaparni, Centella, Brahmi booti, Indian pennywort

Parts

LeafWhole plant

Guava tree leaves: astringent, well-studied for loose stools and gum health.

Plant

Guava tree · Tree

Also

Amrud, Peru, Amrutphala

Parts

LeafBarkFruit

Resin used for stiff joints and sluggish metabolism.

Plant

Guggul tree · Resin

Also

Indian bdellium, Guggulu, Mukul myrrh

Parts

Gum resin from bark

Night-flowering jasmine, also called harshringar: leaf juice used for joints and fever.

Plant

Harsingar tree · Tree

Also

Harshringar, Night-flowering jasmine, Parijat, Shefali

Parts

LeafFlowerBarkSeed

Cooling sour flower for hair strength, heart health and summer heat.

Plant

Hibiscus shrub · Shrub

Also

Gudhal, Japa, Shoe flower, China rose

Parts

FlowerLeafRoot

Indian blackberry tree: seed and bark long used for blood sugar and loose digestion.

Plant

Jamun tree · Tree

Also

Indian blackberry, Java plum, Jambu, Black plum

Parts

SeedBarkFruitLeaf

Bitter melon — the bitter vegetable used for blood sugar and metabolic balance.

Plant

Bitter melon vine · Climber

Also

Bitter melon, Bitter gourd, Karavellaka, Pavakkai

Parts

FruitSeedLeaf

Pacific root for deep calm, muscle relaxation and social ease.

Plant

Kava kava shrub · Shrub

Also

Kava, Piper methysticum, Awa

Parts

RootRhizome

The intensely bitter Himalayan root used for the liver and clear skin.

Plant

Kutki (Himalayan katuki) · Herb

Also

Katuki, Kutaki, Picrorhiza

Parts

RootRhizome

Cooling purple flower for anxiety, sleep and irritated skin.

Plant

Lavender shrub · Shrub

Also

English lavender, True lavender, Lavandula

Parts

FlowerFlower oilLeaf

Cooling, lemon-scented leaf for stress, digestion and calm focus.

Plant

Lemon balm herb · Herb

Also

Melissa, Common balm, Balm mint

Parts

LeafEssential oil

Chai patti — a citrus grass that settles the stomach and lifts a heavy head.

Plant

Lemongrass clump · Herb

Also

Chai patti, Bhutrina, Citronella grass, Nimbu ghas

Parts

LeafStalkEssential oil

Sweet root that soothes throat, stomach lining and dry cough.

Plant

Licorice plant · Shrub

Also

Mulethi, Yashtimadhu, Sweet wood

Parts

Root

Indian madder root — the blood and lymph cleanser used for stubborn skin.

Plant

Manjistha climber · Climber

Also

Indian madder, Majith, Rubia root

Parts

RootStem

The silymarin seed used across Europe as a liver protector.

Plant

Milk thistle plant · Herb

Also

Silymarin, St Mary's thistle, Holy thistle

Parts

SeedLeaf

Pudina — the cooling leaf for acidity, nausea and summer heat.

Plant

Mint plant · Herb

Also

Pudina, Spearmint, Peppermint

Parts

LeafEssential oil

The drumstick tree — leaf powder dense in iron, calcium and protein, used for depletion and anaemia.

Plant

Drumstick tree · Tree

Also

Drumstick tree, Shigru, Sahjan, Horseradish tree

Parts

LeafPodSeedBark

Velvet bean seed, a natural source of L-DOPA used for mood, drive and sleep.

Plant

Velvet bean climber · Climber

Also

Velvet bean, Cowhage, Kaunch beej, Kapikacchu

Parts

SeedRoot

Intensely bitter, deeply cleansing: the classic skin herb.

Plant

Neem tree · Tree

Also

Nimba, Indian lilac, Margosa, Vepa

Parts

LeafBarkTwigSeed oilRoot bark

Cooling vine for circular thinking, muscle tension and broken sleep.

Plant

Passionflower vine · Climber

Also

Passion vine, Maypop, Passiflora

Parts

LeafFlowerStem

Sacred fig tree, also called pipal or bodhi: bark and leaf used for skin and breathing.

Plant

Peepal tree · Tree

Also

Pipal, Sacred fig, Bodhi tree, Ashvattha

Parts

BarkTender leafRoot barkFruit

"That which renews" — the classic herb for fluid retention and puffiness.

Plant

Punarnava creeper · Herb

Also

Hogweed, Spreading hogweed, Santhi, Gadahpurna

Parts

RootLeafWhole plant

The 'mushroom of immortality' — an adaptogenic tonic for immunity and calm sleep.

Plant

Reishi bracket mushroom · Herb

Also

Lingzhi, Mushroom of immortality, Varnished conk

Parts

Fruiting bodySpore

Aromatic Mediterranean shrub used for clear thinking, circulation and scalp health.

Plant

Rosemary shrub · Shrub

Also

Rosemary, Rusmari, Gulmehendi

Parts

LeafFlowering topEssential oil

A sweet, building root used for stamina and recovery from depletion.

Plant

Safed musli plant · Herb

Also

White musli, Musali, Dhavali musli

Parts

Tuberous root

Kesar — a few threads used for mood, complexion and warmth in the winter months.

Plant

Saffron crocus · Herb

Also

Kesar, Kumkuma, Zafran

Parts

Stigma (thread)

A drying, aromatic leaf for sore throats, sweating and mental clarity.

Plant

Common sage shrub · Shrub

Also

Common sage, Garden sage, Salvia

Parts

LeafFlowering top

A medhya herb for memory, study and a settled mind.

Plant

Shankhpushpi creeper · Herb

Also

Shankhavali, Dwarf morning glory, Vishnukranta

Parts

Whole plantLeafFlower

Cooling, nourishing tonic traditionally used for women's health.

Plant

Shatavari climber · Climber

Also

Wild asparagus, Satavar, Shatamuli

Parts

Root (tuber)

Mineral-rich spring green used as a gentle cleanser for joints, skin and urine flow.

Plant

Stinging nettle plant · Herb

Also

Common nettle, Bichhu buti, Sisnu, Kandali

Parts

LeafRootSeed

A warming, aromatic kitchen herb for the chest, throat and cold digestion.

Plant

Thyme plant · Herb

Also

Garden thyme, Common thyme

Parts

LeafFlowering top

The three-fruit formula for gentle, regular digestion.

Plant

Three fruiting trees: amalaki, bibhitaki, haritaki · Formula

Also

Three-fruit formula, Triphala churna

Parts

Fruit

Holy basil: the household remedy for coughs, colds and clarity.

Plant

Tulsi plant · Shrub

Also

Holy basil, Sacred basil, Krishna tulsi

Parts

LeafSeedWhole plant

The everyday anti-inflammatory root of the kitchen pharmacy.

Plant

Turmeric plant · Herb

Also

Haldi, Haridra, Manjal

Parts

Rhizome (root)Fresh root

The earthy root famous for deep sleep and a quiet mind.

Plant

Valerian plant · Herb

Also

Valerian root, All-heal, Garden heliotrope

Parts

RootRhizome

Mineral-rich green juice for vitality, detox and daily energy.

Plant

Wheat grass · Herb

Also

Wheatgrass, Green wheat, Triticum

Parts

Young grassLeaf