Ayurvedic plants are a vital component of traditional Indian medicine, offering a wide range of benefits for physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. They play an important part in a holistic approach to health and wellness. Divine herbs have physical properties, like any herb, but only a small part of their healing ability comes from the physical properties. The real healing power of divine herbs lies in their divine vibration. This cannot be measured in a laboratory. It is the vibrational nature of the herbs which cleans the vibrational toxins of the body.
TULSI (Holy basil)
Tulsi is worshipped as a goddess and perhaps one of the best examples of Ayurveda‘s holistic lifestyle approach to health. For thousands of years, Tulsi or Holy Basil has been a revered herb in religion as well in traditional medicine like Ayurveda.
A green flag herb for respiratory diseases
Studies have shown that Tulsi possesses rich content of volatile substances like camphor, camphene, eugenol, cineole, etc. This has been shown to be extremely beneficial to opening and clearing up the air passage and reducing congestion in the chest, thereby supporting better and easier breathing, which proves to be a great help for reducing symptoms of cold and cough. Therefore, useful in reducing symptoms of bronchitis, rhinitis, respiratory infections as well as asthma.
Other health benefits
Tulsi tastes hot(ushna) and bitter(katu) and is said to penetrate the deep tissues, dry tissue secretions and normalize kapha and vata. Tulsi is useful in various ailments including anxiety, cough, asthma, diarrhea, fever, dysentery, arthritis, eye diseases, otalgia, indigestion, hiccups, vomiting, gastric, cardiac and genitourinary disorders, back pain, skin diseases, ringworm. Its strong eugenol laden smell is believed to repel mosquitoes, flies, and insects.
Haritaki- The King of Medicine
Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) is held in high esteem in Ayurveda for its properties to prevent and cure diseases. It is called the ‘King of Medicines’ and is always listed first in Ayurveda because of its extraordinary therapeutic benefits. Haritaki contains bioactive compounds such as tannins and flavonoids, which act as antioxidants, stimulate the digestive fire, or Jtharagni, and is therefore boost the metabolism and facilitate food digestion through its gentle laxative effect. It eliminates the Ama (food residues, waste and toxins). It is an essential component of Triphala, it demonstrates its importance in balancing the doshas and contributing to healthy digestion. Haritaki act as pittaghni (with sugar) and vataghni (with ghee or jaggery). Roasted fruit can be given in tridosha diseases. This is useful in loss of appetite, pain in abdomen, constipation, ascites, haemorrhoids, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly.
Guduchi (Giloy)-Protector of the body
Guduchi has all the properties of amritam. It is the best Rasayana for rejuvenating the body and getting rid of deep-rooted imbalances. In fact, it is so full of life that it can grow without any soil or water. Guduchi is a very powerful and divine herb. It is called jivanti (life giving) because it can literally give your life back. It is the one and only Ayurvedic herb which can bind and get rid of both amavisha (reactive toxins generated inside the body) and garavisha (like mercury, pesticides, etc.) and re-establish the intelligence of the body once it removes the toxins. It has the vayasthapana Prabhava (the ability of making a person look youthful).
Therapeutic properties
Ayurveda traditionally describes the following actions: Increases appetite, quenches thirst, increases strength, promotes life, increases life span, increases sexual potency, blood purifier, relieves gout & arthritis, alleviates skin disorders, destroys toxins, reduces burning sensations, reduces fevers, nerve tonic, bitter tonic.
During COVID-19, the AYUSH Ministry came up with simple home-based remedies that were well-known immunity boosters in AYUSH systems in the form of Ayush Kwath and promoted them across India. The list is probably infinite, but here are a few of the conditions where Guduchi is reported by Bhava Prakash to be helpful: daha (burning), meha (when useful substances like sugar go out through the urine), kas (chronic cough), pandutam (anemia), kamala (chronic jaundice), kushta (skin diseases), vatajwara (vata type of fever), krimi (pathogenic bacteria).
Amalaki (Indian gooseberry)-The Absolute wonder drug
Amalaki (Emblica officinalis) undeniably a powerhouse of nutrients, also known as Indian gooseberry. It is also known as ‘Dhatri’ or ‘Mother’ because it cares for the body in the same way that a mother does. It is high in vitamin C, Vitamin E, Iron, Calcium, Dietary Fiber, Mucic acid, Gallic acid. It balances the agni (digestive fire) and builds the Oja to support a healthy immune response and youthfulness. It is also a very good antioxidant that can prevent ageing and rejuvenate the cellular structure keeping it young and healthy for a long time. The effects of this herb are equivalent to haritaki. Special features of this herb are to cure bleeding disorders (Rakta pitta) and diabetes (prameha). It is aphrodisiac (vrishya) and anti-ageing (Rasayana).
Ashwagandha- A Regenerative tonic
Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) the root smells like horse (“Ashwa”), that is why it is called Ashwagandha (on consuming it gives the power of a horse). It is one of the best Ayurvedic Rasayana particularly medhyarasayana. It is used for various kinds of disease processes and specially as a nervine tonic. It enhances the function of the brain and nervous system and improves the memory and improves the reproductive health promoting a healthy sexual life. It is commonly used in emaciation of children (when given with milk, it is the best tonic for children), debility from old age, rheumatism, vitiated conditions of vata, leucoderma, constipation, insomnia, goiter etc.
Ayurveda recognizes the profound connection between the mind and body. It understands that emotional and mental states can significantly impact physical health. Ayurveda continues to enrich lives by offering a path to holistic well-being, empowering individuals to take charge of their health, and reminding us of the importance of balance and harmony in our physical, mental, and spiritual lives.
