Authentic Ayurveda Medicines and Practices from the Land of Ayurveda
Green gram, black gram, chickpea, horse gram, lentil, pigeon pea, moth bean, sesame, flax and several other traditional foods appear throughout India’s Ayurvedic dietary culture. Modern nutritional science now reveals something remarkable about many of them: when measured in their dry state, several contain around one-fifth to more than one-quarter of their weight as protein.
Botanically known as Terminalia catappa L., Jangli Badam belongs to the Combretaceae family. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew recognises it as an accepted species with a natural range extending across tropical and subtropical Asia, parts of the western Indian Ocean, the Pacific and northern Australia. It is now cultivated widely throughout the tropics for shade, food and several traditional uses.
Modern botanical authorities recognise Ficus racemosa L. as an accepted species in the Moraceae family. Its native range stretches from Pakistan and India through Southeast Asia to northern Australia. The older botanical name Ficus glomerata Roxb. is now treated as a synonym.
Botanically, Karanja is Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre, a member of the Fabaceae family. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew currently accepts Pongamia pinnata as the botanical name and treats Millettia pinnata as a synonym. The tree is native across tropical and subtropical Asia and extends eastwards into the western Pacific.
Ayurveda values Ashoka primarily for its stem bark. Classical traditions use it especially in conditions associated with excessive menstrual bleeding, uterine disorders and disturbances of Rakta and Pitta. It also appears in traditional management of diarrhoea, burning sensations, certain urinary disorders and excessive bodily discharge. An Ayurvedic teaching resource lists Ashoka under the Kashaya Skandha and describes it as particularly important in Rakta Pradara.
Modern botany recognises the species as Terminalia arjuna (Roxb. ex DC.) Wight & Arn., a member of the Combretaceae family. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew records its native range from the Indian subcontinent into Myanmar. The Ministry of Ayush’s e-Charak database specifically identifies the bark as the principal medicinal raw material obtained from Terminalia arjuna.
Ayurveda knows the banyan as Vata or Nyagrodha. Botanically, it is Ficus benghalensis L., an accepted species in the Moraceae family. Kew’s Plants of the World Online identifies its native range as the Indian subcontinent and records medicinal, environmental, food and social uses for the species.
The six-month offline programme draws on traditional Ayurvedic concepts including Garbhini Paricharya, or antenatal care, Sutika Paricharya, covering postnatal care, and Garbhadhana Vidhi, which focuses on pre-conceptional care. The curriculum combines these principles with practical maternal-support skills intended for use in healthcare and community settings.
The accepted botanical name is Moringa oleifera Lam., and the plant belongs to the family Moringaceae. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew recognises the species as native from northeastern Pakistan to northwestern India and records its extensive use for food and medicine.
Its bark, leaves, fruits, roots and latex have a long history of medicinal use. Classical Ayurvedic literature particularly values its astringent and cooling qualities. Traditional applications include wounds, excessive bleeding, inflammatory conditions, disorders of the mouth and certain gastrointestinal and skin conditions. Ayurvedic literature also places Ashvattha among plants used for controlling excessive bodily secretions.
