General features: Costus igneus (CI), also known as Chamaecostus cuspidatus, is a herbaceous perennial commonly called fiery costus, spiral flag, or, especially in India, the ‘insulin plant’ because of its reported antidiabetic effects [1]. In Hindi, it is known as Jarul, in Bengali as Piasal, and in Sanskrit as Asana or Bandhukapushpa. CI actually belongsContinue reading “Costus Igneus: The Natural Insulin Plant Explained”
Category Archives: Medicinal herbs
Saraca indica / Saraca asoka / Asoka (Bengali / Sanskrit)
General features: Saraca indica (SI) and Saraca asoka are perennial evergreen trees commonly known in India as the Asoka tree or the “sorrowless” tree. They are ornamental members of the Fabaceae (legume) family and the genus Saraca. SI is often confused with Saraca asoca (SA) because the two species are closely related and appear veryContinue reading “Saraca indica / Saraca asoka / Asoka (Bengali / Sanskrit)”
Purslane / Pursley / Ajmoda (Hindi)/ Nunia(নুনিয়া /Bengali)
General Features: The botanical name is Portulaca oleracea (PO), commonly known as purslane or, more colloquially, pursley. In Hindi or Sanskrit, it is called Ajmood or Ajmoda. Its Bengali name is Nunia saag/ নুনিয়া শাক or simply নুনিয়া / Nunia. The plant is perennial in a tropical climate; otherwise, it is annual in other weather.Continue reading “Purslane / Pursley / Ajmoda (Hindi)/ Nunia(নুনিয়া /Bengali)”
Black pepper / Golmarich(গোলমরিচ- Bengali)
General features: The botanical name is Piper nigrum (PN), commonly called Black pepper, which is well-known as “king of spices”. It is a perennial climbing flowering vine of the Piper genus and Piperaceae family. The genus Piper is related to another Asian species, Piper caninum [1]. Black pepper/PN is widely used as a hot, pungentContinue reading “Black pepper / Golmarich(গোলমরিচ- Bengali)”
Siraitia grosvenorii / Monkfruit (sweeter than sugar)
General features: Siraitia grosvenorii (SG) is the botanical name. It is widely known as monk fruit and is famed as a low-calorie sugar substitute, sweeter than any natural sugar; in addition, it has immense medicinal properties. The plant is primarily found in the mountainous regions of southern China, especially in Guangxi province. It is aContinue reading “Siraitia grosvenorii / Monkfruit (sweeter than sugar)”
Scoparia Dulcis / Mithi Patti (Hindi)/ Bon Dhonya (Bengali)/Kallurukki (Tamil)
General features: Scoparia dulcis (SD) is a perennial flowering medicinal herb belonging to the Plantaginaceae family of the Scoparia genus. It is also known as Licorice weed, Scoparia weed, or Sweet Broom Weed in English. In Hindi, it is called Mithi patti, and in Bengali, it is known as Bon Dhonya (বন ধনিয়া). In someContinue reading “Scoparia Dulcis / Mithi Patti (Hindi)/ Bon Dhonya (Bengali)/Kallurukki (Tamil)”
Artemisia Indica / Damanaka (Sanskrit) /Dhavanam / Nagadhona (Hindi)
General features: Artemisia indica (AI), also known as Indian wormwood, is a widespread flowering plant in the Asteraceae family of the Artemisia genus. The name originates from the Greek word “Artemis,” meaning “healthy.” In recent days, any species of this genus is well-known for its antimalarial activities. The genus holds about 400 species. Despite its distinctiveContinue reading “Artemisia Indica / Damanaka (Sanskrit) /Dhavanam / Nagadhona (Hindi)”
Zanthoxylum / Tejphal / Tumuru / Darmar (Hindi) Tejboti / তেজবতী (Bengali) General features: The English name is Prickly ash. Factually, Zanthoxylum is a genus comprising 250 species, including evergreen and deciduous shrubs and climbers. Most, if not all, of them share closely similar properties in terms of taste and medicinal roles. They belong toContinue reading
Wolffia arrhiza / Khudi-pana (Hindi)
General feature: The botanical name is Wolffia arrhiza (WA). This rootless aquatic plant, known as ‘Rootless duckweed’ or simply ‘duckweed’, belongs to the Wolffia genus of the Araceae family. It is perhaps the smallest vascular plant on earth. The plant, WA, grows almost worldwide due to its naturalization with time; however, it is claimed toContinue reading “Wolffia arrhiza / Khudi-pana (Hindi)”
Watercress / Helencha (হেলেঞ্চা)
General features: The botanical name is Nasturtium officinale. It is an aquatic flowering plant that belongs to the Brassicaceae family, commonly known as the cabbage family, within the Nasturtium genus. It is a fast-growing perennial vegetable plant that grows in Eurasia, North Africa, and parts of tropical regions in Southeast Asian countries like India, China,Continue reading “Watercress / Helencha (হেলেঞ্চা)”