Herb Groups of Ayurveda

Ayurveda has a number of Herb groups. While the herbs in these groups are sometimes used together in a formula, they rather show a group of drugs with similar function. It is an easier way to remember the effects of a drug and also serves to show what may be a suitable substitute.

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Trikatu – Three Pungents
Long Pepper, Black Pepper, Ginger
Indigestion, Poor Appetite
Clears Phlegm; dissolves Fat, resists Obesity;
Gonorrhea;
Leprosy and skin diseases in general; Tumors, Inflammations


Triphala – Three Fruit
Chebulic, Emblic and Belleric Myrobalans
Regulate Three Dosas (Phlegm, Bile and Wind); diseases where all Humors are involved.
Gonorrhea;
Leprosy and skin diseases in general;
Intermittent Fever
All diseases caused by Wind (Vata)
Eye disorders
Digestive disturbance, Loss of Appetite


Trimada
Embelia ribes, Cyperus rotundus, Plumbago zeylanica


Trijata
Cinnamon, Greater Cardamon, Cinnamonum tamala leaf
Drying, heating; settles Wind and Phlegm
Promote digestion, increases Bile
Improves Complexion, clears Foul Breath
-when Mesua ferrea is added it forms Chaturjata, and has similar benefits


Vringhaniya group – promote nutrition, increase Fat
Ascelpias rosea, Dregea volubilis, Sida cordifolia, Kakoli root, Khirakakoli root, Sida rhomboidea, Sida rhombifolia, Hibiscus vitifolius, Convolvulus paniculatus (white variety), Lettsomia nervosa


Lekhaniya – thin the tissues, reduce Fat
Cyperus rotundus, Apoitaxis auriculata, Tumeric, Berberis asiatica, Calamus, Aconitum heterophyllum, Picrorrhiza, Plumbago zeylanica root, Pongamia glabra, Calamus (white variety)


Bhedaniya group – promote Excretions
Turpeth, Calatropis gigantea, Castor seed, Semecarpus anarcardium, Croton root, Pongamia glabra, Pladera decussata, Picrorrhiza, Cleome felina


Sandhaniya group – Heals Fractures
Licorice, Tinospora cordifolia, Doodia laegopodioides, Cissampelos hernandifolia, Mimosa pudica, Bombax malabaricum exudate, Grislea tomentosa, Symplocos racemosa, Aglaia roxburghiana, Myrica sapida


Dipaniya – promote Appetite
Long Pepper, Long Pepper root, Piper chaba, Plumbago zeylanica root, Ginger, Rumex vesicarius, Black Pepper, Ajowan, Semecarpus anacardium seed, Asafetida


Balya – increase Strength
Colocynth, Mucuna pruriens, Asparagus racemosus, Glycine debilis, Convolvulus paniculatus, Physalis flexuosa, Hedysarum gangeticum, Picrorrhiza, Sida cordifolia, Sida rhombifolia


Varnya – improve Complexion
Red Sandalwood, Sappan wood, Padmakashta (wood), Andropogon muricatum root, Licorice, Madder, Asclepias pseudosarsa, Kakoli root, sugar, Date


Kanthya – improve Voice, cure Hoarseness
Asclepias pseudosarsa, Saccharum officinarum root, Licorice, Long Pepper, Raisin, Convolvulus panniculatus, Myrica sapida, Hydrocotyle asciatica, Solanum indicum, Solanum xanthocarpum


Hridya group – promote Cheerfulness
Mangifera indica, Spondias pinnata, Artocarpus lakucha, Pongamia glabra, Oxalis cornuculata, Rumex vesicarius, Zizyphus oenoplia, Ziziphus jujuba, Punica granatum, Citrus acida

Triptighna – clear Phlegm
Ginger, Plumbago zeylanica, Piper chaba, Embelia ribes, Sanseviera zeylanica root, Tinospora cordifolia, Calamus, Cyperus rotundus, Long Pepper, Trichosanthes dioica


Arcoghna group – cure Piles
Holarrhena antidysenterica, Aegle marmelos fruit, Ginger, Aconitum heterophyllum, Chebulic Myrobalan, Hedysarum alhagi, Barberry, Calamus, Piper chaba


Kushthaghna – cures Skin diseases
Acacia catechu, Chebulic Myrobalan, Emblic Myrobalan, Tumeric, Semecarpus anacardium, Echites scholaris bark, Cassia fistula, Nerium odorum, Embeila ribes, Jasminum grandiflorum leaf


Kandughna – cure Pruritus
Red Sandalwood, Andropogon muricatum, Cassia fistula, Pongamia glabra, Melia azadirachta, Holarrhena antidysenterica, Mustard seeds, Licorice, Barberry bark, Cyperus rotundus


Krimighna – cure Worms
Moringa pterygosperma, Madder, Costus speciosus, Embelia ribes, Vitex negundo, Cardiospermum halcacabum, Tribulus terrestris, Clerodendron siphonanthus, Salvinia cucullata


Vishaghna – Antidotes to poison
Tumeric, Madder, Vanda roxburghii, Lesser Cardamon, Echites frutescens, Red Sandalwood, Strychnos potatorum, Mimosa sirissa, Vitex negundo, Echites scholaris


Stanyajanana – promote Milk
Andropogon muricatum, Shashtika Rice, Cali Rice, Sugar, Tinospora cordifolia, Cymbopogon schoenanthus


Stanyacodhana – improve quality of Milk
Cissampelos hernandi folia, Ginger, Pinus deodara, Cyperus rotundus, Sansevicra zeylanica, Tinospora cordifolia, Holarrhena antidysenterica, Swertia cherayta, Picrorrhiza, Asclepias pseudosarsa


Cukrajanana – increase Semen
Pueraria tuberosa, Fritillaria roylei, Lilium polyphyllum, Lipasis restrata, Microstylis wallichii, Phaseolus trilobus, Glycine debilis, Indian Spikenard, Rhus succedanum


Cukracodhana – cure faults of the Semen
Aplotaxis auriculata, Myrica  sapida, Nauclea cadamba gum, Sugar, Rubelia longifolia, Sesbania granduflora flowers, Andropogon muricatum


Snehopaga – emollients
Raisins, Licorice, Tinospora cordifolia, Solomans Seal, Convolvulus paniculatus, Withania, Orchis, Caelogyne ovalis, Hedysarum gangeticum


Swedopaga – promote Perspiration
Moringa pterygosperma, Castor, Calotropis gigantea, Beoerhavia diffusa, Red Sandalwood, Barley, Sesame seeds, Dolichos biflorus, Phaseolus radiatus, Jujubes


Vamanopaga – emetics
Honey, Licorice, Bauhinia acuminata (red and white varieties), Nauclea cadamba, Momordica monodelpha, Crotalaria verrucosa, Calatropis, Achyranthes aspera


Virechanopaga – purgatives
Raisins, Gmelina arborea fruit, Grewia asciatica, Chebulic Myrobalan, Emblic Myrobalan, Belleric Myrobalan, Jujube, Salvadora persica fruit

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Five Plants (Pancha Mula) and Ten Plants (Dasa Mula)

Decoction of Ten Plants (Dasa Mula Kvatha), is a compound decoction often mentioned in Ayurveda.

The ten plants are Desinodium gangeticum, Uraria lagopodioides, Solanum jacquini, Solanum Indicum, Tribulus terrestris, Aegle marmelos, Calosathes Indica, Gmelina arborea, Stereospermum suaveolens, and Premna spinosa.

The first Five of these are called Hrasva Pancha Mula, or the Five Minor Plants,
Desinodium gangeticum, Uraria lagopodioides, Solanum jacquini, Solanum Indicum, Tribulus terrestris

The last Five, Vrihat Pancha Mula, or the Five Major Plants:
Aegle marmelos, Calosathes Indica, Gmelina arborea, Stereospermum suaveolens, and Premna spinosa.