Ancient Wisdom.
Modern Understanding.

Aloe Vera (Kumari / कुमारी)

Aloe barbadensis Mill. (Syn. A. vera Tourn. ex Linn.)

Kumari, Aloe Vera, is Ayurveda's cooling Rasayana for liver, skin, and stuck bowels. 10-20 ml gel cools Pitta and Raktapitta; dried Musabbar moves Apana Vayu.

Amla (Amalaki)

Emblica officinalis

Amla (Indian Gooseberry) is the most revered herb in Ayurveda — ranked by the Charaka Samhita as the single best Rasayana among all fruits. It contains one of the highest concentrations of Vitamin C found in any food (600–900 mg per fruit), stabilized by tannins so it remains potent even after drying. Classical texts classify it as Tridosha Shamaka — balancing to all three doshas — with a particular strength in cooling Pitta, nourishing the blood, and rebuilding tissues after illness.

Arjuna (अर्जुन)

Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) W. & A.

Arjuna is the heart-muscle Rasayana, Vagbhata's drug of choice for Hridroga. Bark powder 3-6g in warm milk steadies angina, lowers cholesterol, mends fractures.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

Withania somnifera dunal

Ashwagandha is the Rasayana for stress-eaten sleep, hollowed energy, and frayed nerves. Hot, Madhura Vipaka, dosed 3-6g of root powder in warm milk nightly.

Baheda (Bibhitaki / बहेड़ा)

Terminalia belerica Roxb.

Vibhitaka (Baheda) is the second ingredient of Triphala. The fruit pulp is used medicinally. The seed oil is useful in skin diseases and hair growth. The seed itself is avoided internally as it may cause nausea.

Bala (Country Mallow / बला)

Sida cordifolia Linn

Bala is Ayurveda's strength-giver, a sweet, cooling Rasayana that calms Vata and rebuilds Ojas. Root decoction 1-2 tola for nerve debility; Bala Taila for stiff joints.

Banda (Loranthus)

Loranthus longiflorus Desr.

This variety of Banda (Loranthus longiflorus) is found throughout India. It is a hemi-parasitic shrub growing on trees with thick bark. The plant has opposite, thick, leathery leaves with entire margins. Flowers are tubular, 2-4 inches long in clusters. It is used in fractures and bone disorders as a poultice. Its therapeutic uses include treating excessive menstrual bleeding and as a general tonic. Syn. Dendrophthoe falcata (Linn. f.) Ettingsh. (Loranthaceae). Dose: 3-6 grams.

Bhringaraj (False Daisy / भृंगराज)

Eclipta alba Hassk.

Bhringaraj is Keshya, the hair king: Bhringaraj Taila darkens greys and stops fall, with 3-6g powder or 10-20ml juice doubling as a Rasayana liver tonic.

Abdominal Colic (Shula)

Vit-Shula is colic, dry foods deranging Vata and snuffing Agni until pain seizes the lower belly. Hingvashtaka with ghee, warm castor oil, and Haritaki release it.

Acid Reflux (Amlapitta)

Acid reflux is Amlapitta, sharp Pitta scorching the stomach lining. Avipattikar churna cools the burn, Shatavari milk soothes, Amla at dawn rebuilds Agni without heat.

Acne (Yauvana Pidaka)

Acne is Yauvana Pidaka, Pitta surfacing through Rakta and Bhrajaka in the skin. Manjistha and Neem cool the blood, Triphala clears the gut, Kumari gel calms flares.

Acute Fever (Nava Jwara)

New or acute onset fever

Addictions

Addictions are Vayu's nervous dependency, Pitta's stubborn grip, Kapha's heavy clinging. Ashwagandha steadies the nerves, Brahmi clears the mind, Vacha breaks the loop.

Aging (Jara)

Described in Ayurveda as an autoimmune disease caused by repeated indulgence in sensory pleasures that destroys Ojas.

Abhyanga (Ayurvedic Oil Massage)

Ayurvedic oil massage that serves as one pathway to communicate with pithara agni at the cellular level.

Basti (Medicated Enema)

Medicated enema; one of the five panchakarma procedures, primarily used to eliminate excess vata via the colon.

Nasya (Nasal Therapy)

Panchakarma (Five Purification Therapies)

Ayurvedic cleansing therapies including snehana (oil massage), svedana (sweating), and basti that stimulate pilu and pithara agni to burn cellular ama.

Raktamokshana (Bloodletting)

Shirodhara (Oil Pouring Therapy)