Where there's traditional cooking and extensive use of seasonal ingredients, you'll come across a tree with leaves that resemble a camel's foot: Kachnar or more specifically, Kachnar Kali. Aptly nicknamed Camel Foot Tree/Mountain Ebony (English name) and also known as Bauhinia Variegata (Scientific), this edible flowering plant comes with a multitude...
Seasoned cooks may be aware of Indian borage - commonly known as Plectranthus Barbatus - which is a common garden plant in most kitchens. Some cooks have even experimented with it producing delicacies such as oregano bhajjis! Apart from being used in cooking, it has many ayurvedic health benefits but more on...
If we told you there was an Ayurvedic plant so strong that it could possibly cut an axe, would you believe us? Probably not. But the natural Ayurvedic world is full of surprises. The plant in question here is called Nagkesar or Vajrakat (Vajra means an irresistible force or a mythical...
"Shankhpushpam kannezhuthumbol shak unthale ninne orma varum..." If you know this song, you're probably familiar with the works of the famous Malayali poet Vayalar Ramavarma. Loosely translated, the lyrics pay tribute to a luminescent blue flower with a gorgeous yellow centre - Shankhpushpi. In the song, this beautiful, fragrance-less flower reminds king Dushyanta of the beautiful eyes of Shakunthala....
Whether you call it Kumaryasavam, Kumari Asav, or Kumaryasava, you cannot ignore the multi-purpose benefits of this poly-herbal liquid decoction. Kumaryasava belongs to the asavas and aristas methods of Ayurvedic preparation where the herbs in the coarse powder or decoction (asava) forms are soaked in a solution of sugar or jaggery for fermentation. First mentioned in ancient Vedic texts...
Amritarishta (Amrutharishtam) is a common Ayurvedic medicine used for effectively managing different types of fevers as well as disorders affecting the joints, respiratory tract, and the digestive system. It is also useful in recovering from weakness induced by fever and works as an immunity booster. Made from a combination of herbs such as Giloy, Trikatu, and Dashmul, Amrutharishtamfalls in...
Khadirarishta / Khadirarishtam is an Ayurvedic liquid formulation with an astringent taste, which mainly has a detoxifying action. It is used frequently in the treatment of skin diseases of all kinds. It is a dark brown liquid or decoction with 5 - 10 % self-generated alcohol (which is a common feature of...
Sukumaram Kashayam (Sanskrit name) - also known as Sukumar Kashaya (Hindi name) - is an Ayurvedic medicine available in the decoction liquid form or in the concentrated tablet form. This all-powerful decoction has been mentioned in one of the ancient root texts of Ayurveda known as Ashtanga Hridayam. The Ashtanga Hridayam guides...
Abhayarishtam (Sanskrit name) or Abhayarishta (Hindi name) is one of the most common Ayurvedic medicines formulated by our ancient Rishis and has been mentioned in the Ayurvedic texts - Bhashajya Ratnavali and Ashtanga Hridayam. Arishtams are aqueous remedies formulated in Ayurvedic medicine. Popularly considered to be a "miracle potion," Abhayarishta is...
