Cardamom is a popular spice in India, forming an ingredient for variety of sweet and hot tasting preparations. It is also used for a variety of physical conditions. Cardamom has different properties like properties to treat indigestion, nausea, vomiting, etc. Cardamom is also a good breathe freshener, when chewed will smoothen the breath while suppressing bad smell and promoting a pleasant smell.

Cardamom is widely cultivated in the high ranges of Kerala. It is a perennial plant, with only its leaves showing out. The stem is underground and a spike of white to violet flowers show out of soil in summer. The pale green fruit bears grain sized seeds in a three celled ovary.

Castor is usually a wild plant growing in remote areas where human interaction is little. Castor oil is a natural skin and hair softener and is used to treat skin diseases like ringworm and itching.

Castor is an annual plan and grows three to ten feet.

Castor oil derived from caster seed is the main usable part. Nursing mothers use castor leaves (externally) to increase breast milk.

Ricinus Communis comes in the family Euphobiaceae. It is known by the popular names castor, wonder tree, reer, avanakku (in Kerala) etc.

Poppy or opium (Papaver somniferum) is produced in India at limited locations. Extracts from poppy seeds have narcotic properties. Sushruta, the ancient Indian Ayurvedic surgeon recommended the use of poppy as a anesthetic before surgery.

At the time of harvesting, the pre-ripe fruits are scarred with a sharp device, which causes the oozing out of a milky latex, which sticks to the fruit and becomes a resin. This is the raw opium.

The biggest producer (though illegal) of opium is Afghanistan, where most of the poppy cultivated is used for producing heroin, which has a wide under the cover market among the youth of US, Brazil and other south American countries and most European countries.

The medicinal applications of opium include pain killers, and anti-carcinogens etc.

Poppy seeds have culinary applications too. Poppy seed breads of various kinds are popular in Europe and Americas.

According to Jataka Tales (the stories that tell the life history of Gautama Buddha), Jeevaka is a legendry physician treated Buddha. He also treated King Bindisara, the father of Emperor Ashoka.

As Jeevaka completed his studies at the Ashram of his Guru, Aatreya, he was asked to present a plant with no medicinal value as his Guru Dakshina. Gurudakshina is the gift of offering a disciple gives to his teacher when his education is completed.

Jeevaka searched the whole of Sarlaka Mountain to find such a plant with no medicinal value. He returned to his teacher empty handed and told his guru that he was not able to give him a guru dakshina. He also said to his teacher that not only the plants, but also the smell, sunlight, and sound originating from the stream that passes mildly by are filled with medicinal power. Some heal physical ailment of humans, while others cure ailments of animals or plants. Some are good for curing any mental condition.

Then Guru Aatreya smiled at him and said “everything in this world has its own significance”.

This is the basis of Ayurveda. When you think about Ayurvedic medicinal plants, think that every plant on earth is a medicinal plant.

The thing is to identify the method to identify and extract that medicinal power for appropriate use.

Same species of plants growing at different places can have different medicinal values. For example the plants growing in Himalayas will not be the same as the ones growing in Agastya hills of Kerala. The natural habitat, climate, available minerals, presence of other plants and trees, etc have influence on the medicinal properties of plants. This may not be primarily identifiable, but it is a fact there is at least a minor difference in the medicinal property of same species plants growing in different locations.

Cultivation of medicinal plants has picked up speed. In India and in places outside India there is large-scale cultivation of medicinal plants. Using of chemical fertilizers is a strict no-no for medicinal plant cultivation. It is also to be noted it is not possible to recreate the natural surroundings at which a medicinal plant grows in a different location.

Keep the story of Jeevaka and his Teacher, Guru Aatreya in mind, whenever you hear the term Ayurvedic medicinal plants or Ayurvedic medicinal herbs.

The following is a (naturally) incomplete list of medicinal plants and herbs used in Ayurvedic treatment.

Abrus Precatorius, also known as rosary pea and kunnikkuri (kunnichedi in Malayalam) is widely used for its general healing and strengthening properties.

This plant is identifiable with its peculiar red color with a black spot on a side. Children play with the seeds, without knowing it is poisonous. The outer cover of the shell is hard and children generally donÂ’t bite the seeds. Powdered seeds also is believed to prevent conception in women.

Leaves are the main usable part. The leaves form a part of special food preparations for nursing women.

It is also a mild laxative and purgative. It has sedative properties too

Adathoda (also known as Malabar Nut, Adalodakam) leaves are rich source of vitamin C.

There are different alkaloids present in adathoda and is used in the treatment of cold, cough, bronchitis, asthma, rheumatism, etc. It is part of many Ayurvedic medicines. It has sedative properties.

Though leaves are the primary source of medicine, flowers, roots and fruits are also used.

Aloe Vera perhaps may be the most popular Ayurvedic herbs from India in the west. Aloe VeraÂ’s primary habitat is South India, including Kerala, parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Aloe Vera is characterized by its fleshy leaves. The characteristic aloe Vera gel is obtained from the fleshy tissue of the leaves.

There are about 200 species of Vera, 12 among them are poisonous and 4 of them have medicinal properties.

It is primarily used to treat diseases affecting skin and for cosmetic purposes. Aloe Vera gel also has healing properties and is used to heal cuts, wounds, burns, inflammations, and ulcer.

Aloe Vera when taken internally helps in the regulation of digestion and flushing out toxins (ama) and improves the functioning of liver and kidneys. Since the health of blood and skin are closely interlinked, its internal application helps in better maintenance of skin tone too.

Ayurveda regards Aloe Vera as ‘woman’s friend’, because of its potential to cure irregularities in periods and menopause related problems in different ways.

Aloe Vera comes in the plant family liliaceae though it appears to be a cactus. There are different species – Aloe Barbados, Aloe Indica, and Aloe Vera are the main among them. In India it is known by the names Ghirt Kumari, Kattar Vazha (in Kerala), etc. Indian Alces, Lu Hui, Barbados aloe, etc are other names.

Amalaki or amalakai is commonly known as Indian gooseberry and is found in all parts of India. A constituent of triphala, amalaki is rich in nutrients like vitamin C and is helpful in preventing a variety of diseases. It is a seasonal fruit, its medicinal value is not lost when taken fresh or cooked. It is effective against different allergies, anemia, common cold, flu, diabetes, digestive problems, liver diseases, contipation, etc.

It is helpful in purifying blood, and helps growth of new tissue. It is also used for healthy hair, nail, teeth and bones. It also enhances natural immune system of human body.

Amalaki is also called amla, amala, amla fruit, Indian gooseberry, nellika or nellikai (Malayalam), etc.

Emblica officinalis is in the plant family Euphorbiaceae.

Anachuvady (Elephantopus scaber) is a small perennial herb found in tropical conditions, almost throughout the world.

Anachuvady literally means something with the foot of an elephant. The plant appears to have only a bunch of leaves radiating from a point on ground. The plant will also produce two or three bunches of flowers. The leaves are 4-6 inch long and 1-2 inch wide. The base and roots are used in different Ayurveda medicines.

Anachuvadi is used in the treatment of small pox, bronchitis, diarrhea and is used as a brain tonic. The extracts from this plant have analgesic, diuretic and astringent properties. Anachuvadi is also anti bacterial.

Elephantopus scaber belongs to the family Asteraceae.

Bakul or Bakula (mimusops elengi) is an Ayurvedic herb used mainly for treating dental disorders. Bakul leaves when boiled in water makes an excellent mouthwash, capable of preventing bad breath. It also helps to keep the gums and tooth-roots healthy. It also has antiseptic and curative properties and is good for wounds and cuts.

Mimusops elengi is in the plant family Supotaceae.

Custard apple (also called sugar apple, sweet sop) tree has different medicinal properties. The bark forms a part of decoction that is used to stop diarrhea. Its root is also used in the treatment of dysentery. The leaves also have medicinal property and are used to clear urinary defects.

Custard apple seed has insecticidal properties. It can destroy lice on the head.