18 Indian Medicinal Plants and their Uses with Pictures

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Last Updated: 19.10.2023
Dhruvdeep Singh
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Meet Dhruv, a writer and nature lover from Amritsar, Punjab, who fell in love with gardening during the lockdown. With a B.Tech in Computer Science and over four years of writing experience, he brings a tech-savvy perspective to gardening. Dhruv's articles are a journey into the world of plants, offering exciting adventures for fellow nature enthusiasts.

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


Medicinal Plants in India

1. Aloe Vera / Ghrit Kumari

Indian Medicinal Plants and their Uses with Pictures

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

2 thoughts on “18 Indian Medicinal Plants and their Uses with Pictures”

  1. The article “18 Best Healing Plants You Can Grow At Home” is a great resource for anyone looking to add some medicinal plants to their garden. The article lists 18 of the most popular and effective medicinal plants, along with information on their health benefits, growing requirements, and how to use them.

    I particularly liked the way the article was organized. The author started by providing a brief overview of the benefits of growing medicinal plants at home. Then, they listed the 10 plants, one by one, providing detailed information on each one. This made it easy to find the information I was looking for.

    I also appreciated the fact that the author included information on how to use the plants. This is important, because not all medicinal plants are used in the same way. Some can be eaten, while others are used to make teas or tinctures. The author also included some tips on how to care for the plants, which is helpful if you’re not familiar with gardening.

    Overall, I thought “10 Best Healing Plants You Can Grow At Home” was a well-written and informative article. It’s a great resource for anyone looking to add some medicinal plants to their garden.

    Here are some additional thoughts I have about the article:

    * I would have liked to see more information about the scientific evidence behind the health benefits of the plants.
    * The article could have also included more information about the different ways to use the plants, such as in tea, tinctures, or essential oils.

    Overall, I thought the article was a great resource. It was informative, well-written, and engaging. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to learn more about medicinal plants.

    Here are some of the plants that I found most interesting:

    * **Tulsi:** This plant is known for its many health benefits, including boosting the immune system, reducing stress, and improving sleep.
    * **Aloe vera:** This plant is a natural healer that can be used to treat a variety of skin conditions, including burns, cuts, and sunburns.
    * **Chamomile:** This plant is known for its calming effects and can be used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and stomach upset.
    * **Peppermint:** This plant is a natural digestive aid and can be used to treat nausea, vomiting, and indigestion.
    * **Echinacea:** This plant is a natural immune booster and can be used to treat colds, flu, and infections.

    I think these plants are all great choices for people who are looking to add some medicinal plants to their garden. They are all relatively easy to grow and care for, and they have a wide range of health benefits.

    Reply

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