Kutaki (picrorhiza kurrora), the Ayurvedic herb is beneficial for general health condition of the lever. It cures several liver problems. It is also beneficial in treating asthma. It can act as a cardio tonic, laxative, etc. The herb is useful in promoting appetite and cures different problems to blood, jaundice, etc.

The northern part of India is a fertile ground for lemongrass. Lemon grass is used as a condiment in baked food items. Lemon grass oil is used in aromatherapy and in perfumes and cosmetics. It also is used in herbal tea.

Cymbopogon Citratus is in the plant family poaceae.

Mailanchi (Lawsonia inermis) also called mailanchy, mailanji or mailanjy is a woody shrub reaching a height of up to 10 ft.

The leaves when made into a paste and applied on the skin (henna) form a temporary skin decoration. Mailanchi is also used to give a brownish red color to skin.  It is also used in coloring such fancy items like bags and hats.

Mailanchi is a world renowned herb, but in a different name – henna. Henna is essentially Mailanchi leaves dried and ground. It forms a mud like skin application when mixed with lime juice or some acidic liquid. It is then applied to skin or hair and left there until dry.

Mailanchi is used in the treatment of certain skin disorders. It is also used as a hair vitalizer.

Lawnosia inermis belongs to the family lythraceae.

Malathangi pacha (Cissampelos pareira) is a woody wine found in the forest regions of Kerala.

It is used in different Ayurvedic medicines. The roots are diuretic and purgative. It is used in the treatment of different conditions ranging from back pains to Parkinson’s disease.

Cissampelos pariera belongs to the family Meispemaceae.

Manjishta is usually found in high altitudes like the Himalayas and the hill stations in India.

Manjishta is used for cleansing and regulating the functions of liver, spleen, pancreas and kidney. It can also be used to treat diarrhea. Manjishta also helps in blood purification and regulation of blood circulation. It can also against cancer.

The popular names of manjishta are madder, manjati, gandhari, etc. Manjista can also be spelt manjistha.

The useful parts are roots and fruit.

Rubia cordifolia is in the plant family of rubiaceae.

Manjal or turmeric in Ayurvedic medicines gives several medicinal benefits. There are two main types of manjal they are small sized turmeric (curcuma longa or curcuma domestica) used for almost everyday kitchen use and kasthuri manjal (curucuma aromatica). Another type (curcuma zedoaria), native of north-east India resembles curcuma longa (turmeric – manjal) but has larger size.

Manjal is a perennial herb, a member of ginger (zingiberaceae) family.

Different studies have provided data about the effectiveness of curcuma longa. It has anti-inflammatory properties, anti-carcinogenic, and antimicrobial properties. It also protects liver.

In traditional Kerala cooking, manjal has a prominent place as a spice. It has detoxification effect. When cooking meat, fish, and most vegetable dishes, manjal is an important ingredient. Thus the people of Kerala following traditional food habits need not take extracts.

Girls and women also applied home-made manjal paste on their faces and body. Men generally donÂ’t use manjal as it can hinder the growth of facial hair. Manjal paste also gives the girl a certain facial glow, which is hardly mistakable.

It has prominent use in Ayurveda, as an anti-inflammatory agent, as a wound dressing etc. it is also used to alleviate mensutraual difficulties, hemorrhage, etc.

Mashi thandu or mashithandu (Peperomia reflexa) is a small herb found in marshy areas.

As late as 1990s, school-going children used the stem and leaves of this small herb to clean the slates that they take to school and on which they drew pictures and wrote letters. This practice is now completely extent with the advent of books, pencil, pen, and of course computer and keyboard.

The fleshy stem appears to be transparent. There is lot of water content in the stem and in the leaves.

Extracts from mashithandu are used used as tonic and for different renal problems.

Perperomia reflexa belongs to the family piperaceae.

Methi (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a widely used Ayurvedic herb. It has anti-carcinogenic properties and reduce blood cholesterol levels. It is also used as a laxative. Dried seeds and leaves are the main usable parts.

It is highly nutritive and an effective body tonic to get a good physique. It is also useful against diabetes, at early stages. It assists in lactation too. Pains during menstrual periods, labour are also relieved with the application of medicines prepared from this herb.

Moovila (Pseudarthria viscida) has reference in all of the ancient Ayurvedic texts written 1000 to 4000 years ago.

Moovila means three leaves. The small vine got its name from the fact that its each leaf is clearly divided into three, giving the impression that the leaves are a main leaf and two sub-leaves. The climber is found in forests of Kerala.

Its therapeutic uses revolve round the properties like alterative, anti-helminthic, diurectic, expectorant, nervine, stomachic and tonic. It is used in the treatment for asthma and nervous dysfunction.

It is also used in the treatment of insect bites and used against inflammations, vomiting, etc.

Pseudarthria viscida belongs to the family Papilionaceae.

Mulathi or Yashtimadhu (glycyrrhiza glabra) is described in Ayurveda texts as a sweet, cool root that is heavy to digest. This herb was used for its medicinal value in other parts of Asia too.  It has anti-inflammatory properties. It is used as a mild expectorant. It acts as a tonic to human body, improves strength and vitality, hence act as an aphrodisiac. It is also used for treating bronchitis, flu, coughs, etc. It relieves stress. It improves one’s voice. It is also a good hair tonic. Certain autoimmune diseases are cured with the help of this herb.

Lycorys (licoris, lycorice, licorice) is the common name of this herb.

Maravazha (vanda spathulata) is an orchid that grows atop trees (epiphytic), deriving moisture and minerals through its aerial roots that holds on to the substratum (the tree).  Maram means a tree and vazha is a plantain or banana tree – you can say a mara vazha as a tree-top plantain.

 Vanda spathulata is found only in south India and Sri Lanka. Vanda stangeana is another variety found in North India.

Maravazha is used as an Ayurvedic herb. Its dried flowers are used in the treatment of asthma, depression, as a pacifier and as a liver tonic.

Vanda spathulata belongs to the family Orchidaceae.