18 Indian Medicinal Plants and their Uses with Pictures

Have a look at the most potent Indian Medicinal Plants and their Uses with Pictures that you can also grow with ease in your home garden!

Indian Ayurveda has been using different medicinal herbs and plants for treating numerous ailments. Here’s a list of the most useful Indian Medicinal Plants and their Uses with Pictures.

Here are the best herbs you can grow for anxiety and stress

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Medicinal Plants in India

1. Aloe Vera / Ghrit Kumari

Botanical Name: Aloe barbadensis miller

This stemless plant is prized for its fleshy leaves that are used for the treatment of burns, acne, and skin problems. Its juice is also great for beating indigestion, gut health, and piles issues.

2. Kalanchoe / Pattharchatta

Botanical Name: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana

The kalanchoe leaves are boiled in the water and used for curing kidney stones and urinary-related problems. Moreover, the leaves are also great for relieving insect bites, jaundice, and chronic cough.

3. Basil / Tulsi

Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum

Basil leaves have umpteen health benefits in Ayurveda; hence every Indian home has at least one basil plant. It is boiled with ginger and honey to treat cough. Chewing its leaves daily keeps blood sugar levels in check.

4. Butterfly Pea / Shankhpushpi

Botanical Name: Clitoria ternatea

The blue tea made from their flowers improves cognitive ability, memory and relieves anxiety and stress. Thanks to its analgesic properties, blue tea acts as a mood enhancer by calming the mind.

5. Eucalyptus / Neelgiri

Botanical Name: Eucalyptus globulus

The fresh leaves can be gargled with water or used as a vapor to treat sore throat, cold, and bronchitis. Its essential oil is used in relieving nasal congestion and asthma problems.

6. Mint / Pudina

Botanical Name: Mentha

Mint is a delicious addition to chutney and mojito. The fresh leaves relieve indigestion and heartburn. Its essential oil is also prized for easing stress, anxiety, and headache.

7. Lavender

Botanical Name: Lavandula

Thanks to the delightful fragrance, lavender oil helps in beating problems including anxiety, stress, depression, and insomnia. It also has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, making it beneficial for burns and bug bites.

8. Heart-leaved Moonseed / Giloy

Botanical Name: Tinospora cordifolia

Giloy has been used in Ayurveda for ages by folk medicine practitioners. Thanks to its anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, and anti-oxidant properties, it helps in healing chronic fever, boosts immunity, and improves digestion.

9. Bengal quince / Bael

Botanical Name: Aegle marmelos

All parts of the bael tree are used medicinally in Ayurveda. Its fruit is a boon for gut health, as it helps in digestion and cures ulcers. Its roots have anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and antidote properties.

10. Fennel / Saunf

Botanical Name: Foeniculum vulgare

Fennel seeds are useful in treating intestinal gas, bloating, and loss of appetite. Fennel is high in vitamin-C too. It can be sauteed, roasted, or grilled for softening its flavors.

11. Ginger / Adrak

Botanical Name: Zingiber officinale

Ginger is an effective home remedy for digestion, flu, sore throat, and the common cold. People consume it in fresh, dried, or powdered form. Ginger’s antioxidants also improve immunity.

12. Indian Ginseng / Ashwagandha

Botanical Name: Withania somnifera

Ashwagandha helps in curing several problems, including pain, inflammation, insomnia, and stress. Its leaves, seeds, and fruit are popular for treating various ailments and also helps in maintaining youth.

13. Sage / Sathi

Botanical Name: Salvia officinalis

Be it digestive problems, loss of appetite, gas, stomach pain, diarrhea, bloating, or heartburn, sage leaves are one solution for all. Pick the leaves fresh to use in herbal tea or cocktails.

14. Bacopa / Brahmi

Botanical Name: Bacopa monnieri

This ancient herb plays a significant role in treating ADHD and alleviating anxiety. Bacopa is beneficial for boosting brain functioning, including cognition, learning, and memory, thanks to the saponin compounds.

15. Crepe Ginger / Keu

Botanical Name: Cheilocostus speciosus

The rhizome of this herb is useful in healing constipation, headache, leprosy, skin disease, and ear-aches. It goes well in many vegetable recipes in Indian tribal cuisines.

16. Rosemary / Gulmehandi

Botanical Name: Salvia rosmarinus

Rosemary enhances memory, brain functioning, cognitive functioning, and alertness. The needles like leaves of rosemary give out a pleasing fragrance and used in making essential oil too.

17. Carom / Ajwain

Botanical Name: Trachyspermum ammi

Ranging from ulcer, indigestion, cholesterol to high blood pressure, carom seeds keep all such problems in check. Packed with vitamins B, sodium, calcium, iron, and phosphorus, carom seeds are a delicious addition to pakodas!

18. Chamomile

Botanical Name: Matricaria chamomilla

There is no substitute for chamomile for muscle spasms, menstrual disorders, insomnia, wounds. It can be consumed as a tea, and its essential oil is used for aromatherapy.