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.Groups of Two
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Dwichandana – Two Sandalwoods Santalum album (White Sandal) and Pterocarpus santalinus (Red Sandal) Brihatee Dwayam – Two Nightshade Solanum indicum and Solanum xanthocarpum Dwiparni – Two Grams Herbs of Teramnus labiali and Phaseolus trilobus |
Kshara Dwayam – Two Alkalies Potassium carbonate and Sodium carbonate When Borax is added, it forms the Three Alkalies. Saribadwayam – Two Sarsaparillas Hemidesmus indicus and Ichnocarpus frutescens |
Groups of Three
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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 Lavana Trayam – Three Salts Rock Salt, Sonchal Salt, Black Salt To these are added Sea Salt and Romaka Salt to make the Five Salts. Madhura Trayam – Three Sweet drugs Ghee (clarified butter), Jaggery, Honey |
Larger Groups
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Vringhaniya group – promotes 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, Picrorhiza, 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, Picrorhiza, 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, Picrorhiza, 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, Picrorhiza, 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 |
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.
See also:
Herb Groups of the Western Tradition
Herb Groups of Tibetan Medicine
Herb Combinations
Temperature of Medicines
Hot or Cold? The Temperature of Medicines
Directing Medicines
Tastes of Medicines
Doctrine of Signatures
Humoral Medicine
Medicines used in the Various Systems