Mentioned here are some of the important herbs and their functions as described in Ayurveda. They have been listed according to their functions.
| Type |
Function |
Herb |
| Vitalizing herbs |
Protect one’s life & promote longevity. |
Mulathi or Mung beans. |
| Bulk promoting herbs |
Increase body weight and promote formation of new tissues. |
Ashwagandha. |
| Reducing herbs |
Reduce fat or other accumulation. |
Haldi (turmeric), black pepper, daruhaldi, guggul. |
| Accumulation – Breaking Herbs |
Breakdown stronger accumulation like gall or kidney stones. |
Kutaj, pashana bheda. |
| Healing herbs |
Promote the healing of wounds or cuts. |
Manjistha, haldi (turmeric), kumari (aloe vera). |
| Digestive stimulation |
Appetizer. |
Saunth (dry ginger), black pepper, long pepper. |
| Tonics |
Strength giving herbs. |
Ashwagandha, shatavari. |
| Complexion – Improving Herbs |
Improves complexion. |
Chandan (sandalwood), haldi (turmeric), manjishtha. |
| Beneficial for the throat |
For soothing sore throat and improving voice. |
Raisins, haldi (turmeric), mulathi. |
| Heart tonics |
Good for heart. |
Arjuna, pomegranate, mango. |
| Anti–Saturative |
Relieve false sense of contentment. |
Adrak (ginger), guduchi, vacha. |
| Anti–Hemorrhoidal |
Reduces hemorrhoids (piles). |
Kutaj, adrak (ginger), vacha. |
| Anti–Dermatosis |
Reduce skin irritation. |
Haldi (turmeric), amla. |
| Anti–Pruritic |
Releive itching on the skin. |
Neem bark, daruhaldi, mulathi. |
| Anti–Helminthic |
Destroys worms. |
Vidanga, betel nuts, pumpkin seeds. |
| Anti–Toxin |
Counters poisons. |
Haldi (turmeric), chandan (sandalwood). |
| Lactogogues |
Promotes secretion of breast milk. |
Shatavari, lotus seeds. |
| Lactodepurants |
Purify breast milk. |
Guduchi, adrak (ginger). |
| Spermogenic |
Increases sperm count |
Ashwagandha, shatavari, lotus seeds |
| Purify sperms |
Sperm purifier. |
Kushta, khus. |
| Oleating adjunctive |
Help facilitate absorption of oils |
Raisins, mulathi |
| Adjuncts to sweating therapy |
Allows for easier sweating. |
Castor root, barley, sesame, black gram, mung beans. |
| Adjuncts to emesis |
Anti–vomiting. |
Honey, mulathi. |
| Adjuncts to purgation |
Usually laxative in nature. |
Raisins, Triphala, Amla. |
| Adjuncts to decoction enema |
Helps tone and nourish the colon. |
Bael, pippali, vacha, Mulathi. |
| Adjunctives to oily enemas |
Used for oil enemas specified in Basti in Ayurveda. |
Saunf (aniseed), Gokshura, Bael. |
| Adjunctives to cleansing nasal therapy |
Help remove Kapha from above the neck. |
Black pepper, Pippali, Mustard. |
| Anti–Emetics |
Stop vomiting. |
Cardamom, fresh adrak (ginger), khus, puffed rice. |
| Thirs–Relieving |
Gives relief from thirst. |
Chandan (sandalwood), coriander, adrak (ginger). |
| Stop hiccups |
Stops hiccups immediately |
Long pepper, dried and burnt husk of coconut. |
| For normal motions |
Give form to the feces. |
Lodhra, isabgol. |
| Anti–Diuretics |
Stop excessive urination. |
Bhallataka, til (sesame). |
| Diuretics |
Promote urination. |
Gokshura, punarnava. |
| Anti–tussive |
Stop cough. |
Raisins, amla. |
| Counter asthma |
Stop wheezing, ease breathing. |
Cardamom, tulasi. |
| For edema |
Mainly diuretics and astringent. |
Bael, gokshura, punarnava. |
| Febriguge |
Relieve fever. |
Draksha, guduchi, manjishta, triphala, raw sugar. |
| Relieve fatigue |
Shramakhara. |
Dates, pomegranate juice, sugarcane, raisins. |
| Reduce burning |
Reduce burning sensation of skin. |
Chandan (sandalwood), khus. |
| Reduce cold sensation |
Reduce cold sensation of the skin |
Agaru, vacha, pippali, adrak (ginger), saunth (dry ginger). |
| For skin rashes |
Relieve from skin rashes. |
Catechu, arjuna. |
| Reduce body ache |
To cure malaise, as from fever or flu. |
Chandan (sandalwood), cardamom, pudeena (mint), karpur (camphor). |
| Reduce colic pain |
Anti–spasmodic and analgesic for smooth muscle. |
Ajwain, saunf (aniseed), adrak (ginger), long pepper. |
| Haemostatic |
Stops bleeding. |
Mulathi, lodhra, honey, nagkesar. |
| Pain reliever |
Sedative for nerve pain. |
Jatamansi, daruhaldi. |
| Restore consciousness |
As from coma or delirium |
Brahmi, vacha, hing (asfoetida), kapur (camphor). |
| Promote reproduction |
Cure sterility, remove obstructions in genital tract. |
Amla, brahmi, kutki. |
| Promote longevity |
Rejuvenate. |
Guduchi satva, brahmi, shatavari, amla. |
Common Herbs
