Health

News and Articles on Ayurveda, Yoga, Kundalini and other Indian way of health and medicines.

Jan Aushadhi Expands Affordable Nutrition Support Beyond Generic Medicines

The expansion reflects an effort to address a frequently overlooked part of healthcare expenditure. While medicines form a major share of treatment costs, patients recovering from illness, older people, pregnant women and those managing chronic conditions may also require nutritional supplementation. Commercially branded products in these categories can be expensive, especially when they must be consumed regularly.

Laja: Parched Rice in Ayurveda

The botanical source of Laja is Oryza sativa L., the cultivated Asian rice plant. The accepted scientific spelling is Oryza sativa, and the species belongs to the grass family Poaceae. Rice begins as Tandula or grain, while the application of heat transforms selected paddy into Laja. This processing changes its structure, density, digestibility and Ayurvedic action.

Dhanyaka: Coriander in Ayurveda and India’s Classical Culinary Tradition

The accepted botanical source is Coriandrum sativum L., an annual aromatic herb belonging to the Apiaceae family. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India identifies medicinal Dhanyaka as the dried ripe fruits of this species. The plant is now cultivated widely across the world and has become deeply integrated into Indian agriculture, cuisine and household health traditions.

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY Expands Nationwide, Covers 12 Crore Families and Six Crore Senior Citizens

AB PM-JAY initially covered 10.74 crore families identified through the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011, representing the economically vulnerable bottom 40 per cent of the population. The beneficiary base was revised to 12 crore families in January 2023 to account for population growth. Around 37 lakh families of ASHA workers, Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers were added in March 2024.

Avlehana–Vesana: Chickpea Flour in Ayurveda

Cicer arietinum is an accepted botanical species belonging to the legume family. It is an annual plant cultivated for its nutritious seeds and has a long history as both food and traditional medicine. Its ancestral geographical range is associated with the region extending from southeastern Türkiye towards Iran, followed by its spread across Asia, the Mediterranean and other agricultural regions.

Haritaki: The Revered Fruit of Ayurveda

The accepted botanical source of Haritaki is Terminalia chebula Retz., a tree belonging to the Combretaceae family. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India defines the medicinal drug as the pericarp of the mature fruit. The species is native across the Indian subcontinent and extends eastward into parts of China and Indo-China.

Chavya (Piper retrofractum Vahl.): Ayurveda’s Pungent Herb for Agni, Ama and Digestive Balance

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India officially defines Chavya as the dried stem of Piper retrofractum. It describes the plant as a smooth, fleshy climber cultivated mainly in southern India. The dried medicinal stem occurs as cylindrical or slightly twisted greyish-brown pieces with visible nodes and internodes. It possesses a pepper-like odour and a distinctly acrid taste.

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