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Ayurveda

Treatments: Ayurvedic Herbs

In Ayurveda, herbs and spices are viewed as Nature’s pharmacy. Many are used in teas and cooked with food, and therefore can be easily incorporated into the daily diet. They may also be mixed with milk, water, honey, or ghee (clarified butter).

Herbs and spices are used to rebalance the doshas, to energize, rejuvenate, and strengthen the immune system. Herbal preparations may also be used medicinally to treat specific physical issues. Medicinal herbs are usually stronger, and therefore used for shorter periods of time.

Ayurvedic herbal preparations can consist of a single herb, or more often consist of a compound of two or more plants. An estimated 1,250 plants are used and combined into over 5,000 compounds, which are categorized by their healing effect (e.g. antioxidants, anti aging, pain relief, immune support, kidney formula, etc.). Ayurvedic herbs can be purchased from Indian markets, bulk herb companies and from various vitamin suppliers. When buying the bulk herb, gelatin capsules can also be purchased to make your own herbal capsules.

Following are a list of 10 of the most commonly used compounds and 80 herbs:

Sitopaladi	Chyavan Prash
Triphala	Avipattikar Churna
Yograj Guggul	Mahasudarshan
Trikatu	Dashmoola
Hingwastika Churna	Lavan Bhashkar Churna

Akarkara	Eranda	Nirgundi
Adrak	Gauriphal	Pashana Bheda
Amalaki	Gokshura	Pippali
Amlavetasa	Gudmar	Praval
Apamarga	Guduchi	Punarnava
Arjuna	Guggul	Rasonam
Ashoka	Haridra	Rechanaka
Ashwagandha	Haritaki	Salam-Mishri
Baboolphali	Ishabgol	Sariva
Bakuchi	Jatamanshi	Shankh
Bhringaraj	Kakamachi	Shatavari
Bala	Kakanasha	Shilajit
Bhutrina	Kanchanar	Shwetamusali
Bhuamalaki	Kantkari	Tagara
Bibhitaki	Kapikachhu	Tejbal
Bilwa	Katuka	Tila
Bola	Kumari	Trayman
Brahmi	Kumkun	Tulsi
Chandra Marada	Kusha	Twak
Chandanam	Kushtha	Vacha
Chirayata	Laghu Patha	Vamsha Lochana
Chitrak	Mamira	Varahikand
Daruharidra	Manjishtha	Vasaka
Devadaru	Maricha	Vidanga
Dhanyak	Musta	Vidari Kanda
Dhataki	Nagkeshar	Yashtimandhu
Ela	Nimba

Ayurvedic herbs should be administered by an Ayurvedic practitioner trained in Ayurvedic herbalism. This is especially important because of interactions between conventional drugs and Ayurvedic herbal preparations, some of which can be dangerous. Herbs are often prepared while chanting an appropriate mantra to empower the properties of the herbs. Chanting the mantra 108 times is considered the most empowering as 108 is considered a sacred number.

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