Ever wondered how women in the ancient times removed unwanted hair? They used a magical ingredient easily available to us (think: grocery shops) called "Phitkari/Alum." You may have heard of Phitkari being used for water treatment where a pinch of alum is added to water to remove the solid impurities. This is perhaps the most ancient method of purifying...
There are numerous herbs described in Ayurvedic science that are specifically very useful for all kinds of skin diseases. In Ayurveda, excess pitta in the body is known to be one of the main reasons for skin diseases. Today I will give you Top 9 powerful herbs for skin, that can...
"When Lord Vishnu manifested himself as Narasimha to protect Prahlada and destroy Hiranyakasyapa, his nails were drenched with poison as he tore the demon's stomach. As a result, Narasimha’s nails were seething with great heat and pain. Goddess Lakshmi, seeing the suffering of Her Lord, plucked some fruits of the Audumber Tree which she happened to find nearby. The...
In this universe, every plant has a medicinal purpose. - Charaka Khadira's biological roots lie deep in ancient Ayurvedic literature (pun not intended) - having been mentioned by Charaka in "Kashaya Skandha," "Kushthagna," and "Udardaprashamana Gana" as well as in "Salsaradi Gana" by Sushruta. It also came to be known in the Vedic periods, Rigveda and Atharveda eras. That's not...
Did you know that an ancient Indian Ayurvedic herb has been mentioned in the Bible? Hint: It occurs when Mary of Bethany rubs Jesus’s feet with its ointment. Can you guess what it is? It is Spikenard or Muskroot (English name), which back home goes by the name of Jatamansi (Sanskrit name) or Bhootkeshi (Hindi name). Circling back to its...
Ever heard of an Ayurvedic herb that's so famous and effective that it has been mentioned in all the three texts of Ayurveda: Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya? The herb we will be discussing today is called Manjistha - also known as rakta shodhak or blood purifier. It has other names and forms: Whether you call it...
If you've ever had the delicious Kashmiri dish - Rogan Josh - or even Tandoori Chicken, you've probably wondered where it gets it's signature red colour. We have one word for you: Ratanjot. Ratanjot / रतनजोत (Hindi name) or Alkanna Tinctoria (Botanical name) is an ancient Ayurvedic herb and is commonly known by many intriguing names: Alkanet (English name),...
Some have nicknamed it as the "world's worst weed" but its multi-purpose, integrated benefits will leave you astounded. Whether you call it Nagarmotha (Hindi name), Cyperus Scariosus (Scientific name), or Nutgrass (English name), this power-house of a herb finds its roots (pun not intended) in ancient Ayurvedic text - Charaka Samhita (which is more than 2,000 years old). In...
Bakuchi / Babchi / Bavachi, also known as Psoralea Cordifolia is a plant used for ages in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for the treatment of skin diseases such as psoriasis, leukoderma, skin rashes, skin infections and allergies. It is grown in the plane areas of India. The seeds are of...
Lodhra (Sanskrit Name) or Symplocos Racemosa (Scientific/Latin Name), is a tree found in the northeastern hilly areas of the Indian subcontinent (Nagpur, Manipur) and Burma, whose bark is highly regarded is an ancient healing herb in Ayurvedic system. Lodhra is also known as Lodh, Shavara and Tilva. The bark of the Lodh...
