Know What Your Herbs Do!

India has a complicated relationship with its own medicine. For decades, Ayurveda was the thing your grandmother swore by and your doctor in the previous years ignored. Then suddenly the world woke up, and the same turmeric that had been sitting in every Indian kitchen for centuries was being sold in London cafes for four pounds a cup. Nothing about the herb changed. Only the audience did.

Preserva Wellness has built its entire product range around these plants. Not trends, not marketing buzzwords. Actual herbs, with actual histories. Here is a proper introduction to the ones we work with.

All the benefits of the herbs listed below are scientifically tested & proven. 

1. Curcumin (Turmeric root extract) 

The flagship of Preserva Wellness. Curcumin is the active compound inside turmeric, and it deserves a separate entry because the two behave quite differently in the body. Raw turmeric contains roughly 3% curcumin by weight. Isolated and concentrated, it becomes therapeutically far more potent. It crosses the blood-brain barrier, which turmeric powder largely does not. For joint inflammation, neurodegenerative protection, and chronic inflammatory conditions, curcumin extract operates in a different category than a teaspoon of haldi in your dal.

 

2. Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera)

The name comes from Sanskrit and translates roughly to "smell of horse", referring both to the root's earthy aroma and the stamina/energy it supposedly gives. It is an adaptogen, which means it helps the body handle stress more intelligently rather than just numbing it. Cortisol levels come down. Sleep improves. Thyroid function gets steadier. Reproductive health becomes better. Athletes use it for recovery. Office workers use it to get through the week. Both have their reasons.

 

3. Giloy (Tinospora Cordifolia)

Giloy is called Amrita in Sanskrit. That means nectar of immortality, which is admittedly a big claim for a climbing vine. But during dengue season in India, families with giloy growing in the courtyard tend to feel a lot calmer about falling platelet counts. It raises platelets, brings down fever, manages blood sugar, and clears what Ayurveda describes as toxins from the body. It also genuinely calms the nervous system. The immortality claim is probably an exaggeration. The rest is not.

 

4. Brahmi (Bacopa Monnieri)

Brahmi grows in waterlogged, marshy ground, the kind of place most plants avoid. Maybe that stubbornness is fitting, because this herb is associated with mental toughness and clarity above almost anything else. Students have taken it before exams for generations. The bacosides in the plant support brain cell regeneration, balance serotonin, and improve both memory and the ability to concentrate under pressure. It is also excellent for the scalp, which is why it ends up in half the hair oils on the market.

5. Tulsi (Ocimum Tenuiflorum)

There is a tulsi plant outside almost every traditional Indian home. Not purely for spiritual reasons, though those matter too, but because the plant actively cleans the air, repels insects, and, when consumed regularly, does consistent things for your health. It lowers stress hormones, manages blood sugar, fights respiratory infections, and has genuine antimicrobial properties. The Queen of Herbs is a title it has earned without any marketing budget.

 

6. Turmeric (Curcuma longa)

Walk into any Indian home, and turmeric is already there, in the dal, in the haldi doodh, in a paste on a fresh wound. It is so familiar that people forget it qualifies as medicine. The active compound curcumin tackles inflammation at a cellular level, supports liver function, protects the gut lining, and has antioxidant activity that most synthetic compounds struggle to match. Centuries of daily use, and science keeps finding new reasons why that makes sense.

 

7. Triphala

Triphala is three fruits, Amalaki, Bibhitaki, and Haritaki, used together as a formula that has been in continuous use for over two thousand years. What makes it unusual is how complete it is. It cleanses the bowel gently, tones the gut lining, supports the liver, and builds long-term immunity. It is not a quick-fix supplement. People who take it regularly for months notice the difference in their digestion, their skin, and their energy. Patience is part of the prescription.

 

8. Shilajit

Shilajit comes out of rocks in the Himalayas during the summer. That sounds unappetising, and the tar-like resin does look a little forbidding. But it contains over 80 minerals in ionic form and is exceptionally rich in fulvic acid, which helps the body absorb nutrients at a cellular level. It is considered a Rasayana (a rejuvenating substance) in Ayurveda. Energy, fertility, cognitive function, and physical recovery all respond to it. It is slow-acting and worth the wait.

 

9. Arjuna (Terminalia Arjuna)

Arjuna is a large tree that grows along riverbanks. The bark is where the medicine is. Ayurvedic practitioners have been prescribing it for heart conditions for thousands of years, and modern cardiology has found the interest entirely justified. It strengthens the heart muscle, improves blood flow, helps manage chest pain, and reduces hypertension. It is not a replacement for cardiac medication, but as a daily tonic for someone wanting to look after their heart proactively, it is genuinely hard to beat.

 

10. Shallaki (Boswellia Serrata)

In the West, it gets sold as Boswellia in joint supplement capsules. In India, it is Shallaki, the resin of a tree that grows in dry, rocky terrain and has been used for joint pain and inflammation since before pharmaceutical companies existed. The boswellic acids in the resin block the specific enzymes that break down cartilage, reducing swelling and stiffness without the stomach irritation that comes with long-term NSAID use. Arthritis researchers have taken it seriously. That is notable.

 

11. Salai Guggul (Boswellia Resin)

Salai Guggul is the processed gum from the Shallaki tree, essentially a more concentrated, classically prepared form of the same resin. In Ayurvedic formulation, it is often combined with other herbs to treat conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory joint disease, and thyroid disorders. The Kanchanar Guggul formula, widely used for hypothyroidism, is built on it. It is the same plant, but in a form that has been refined over centuries of clinical observation.

 

12. Shatavari (Asparagus Racemosus)

The Sanskrit name is colourful, meaning "she who possesses a hundred husbands", and it refers to the legendary vitality the herb was said to provide. More practically, Shatavari is Ayurveda's most trusted tonic for women. It regulates hormones, supports fertility, eases the transition through menopause, and helps nursing mothers produce milk. It also works for men and for anyone recovering from illness. It is one of those herbs that simply nourishes, steadily, without fuss.

13. Safed Musli (Chlorophytum Borivilianum)

Safed Musli gets reduced in popular wellness writing to a testosterone booster, which is a bit like describing a hospital as a place that changes bandages. Yes, it supports male reproductive health. But it is also a powerful immunity tonic, a physical stamina builder, and a post-illness recovery herb. Women benefit from it too. It is classified as a ‘Divya Aushadhi’, a divine medicine, in classical Ayurvedic texts. That category is not handed out lightly.

 

14. Kanchanar (Bauhinia Variegata)

Most people plant Kanchanar in their garden for the flowers, which do genuinely look like orchids. The medicinal properties are a surprise to them. The bark, combined with Guggul resin, makes one of Ayurveda's most respected formulas for thyroid imbalance. It removes what Ayurveda calls Kapha accumulation from the lymphatic system and is used for PCOS, goitre, and hormonal irregularities. An ornamental tree is doing serious medical work in the background.

15. Kutki (Picrorhiza Kurroa)

Kutki grows in the Northwestern Himalayas at high altitude and has one of the most bitter roots in the Ayurvedic materia medica. Bitterness in Ayurveda often signals liver action, and Kutki is exactly that, a hepatoprotective herb with glycosides that actively prevent liver toxicity and support bile production. It is also used for asthma, fever, and psoriasis. Traditional medicine in Nepal and Tibet relies heavily on it. Himalayan, bitter, and absolutely not to be underestimated.

 

16. Saptrangi (Salacia Oblonga)

Saptrangi does one thing particularly well, and it happens to be one of the most important things for millions of people managing diabetes. The compounds in this woody herb inhibit the alpha-glucosidase enzymes that convert carbohydrates into glucose, considerably slowing the post-meal blood sugar spike. Some clinical trials have compared it favourably with standard diabetes medications. It is not widely known outside Ayurvedic circles as it should be.

 

17. Fenugreek / Methi (Trigonella Foenum-Graecum)

Methi seeds are a little bitter and a lot useful. The soluble fibre content slows carbohydrate digestion and blunts the blood sugar response after meals. For people managing type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes, this is meaningful. It also reduces LDL cholesterol, has anti-inflammatory properties, and supports lactation in nursing mothers. In winter, soaking methi seeds overnight and eating them in the morning has been a household remedy for joint stiffness for as long as anyone can remember.

 

18. Gokhru (Tribulus Terrestris)

Gokhru is a small, spiny plant that grows prolifically in dry regions and does not look like much. The fruit contains compounds that support kidney function, help dissolve urinary stones, and manage painful urination. It is also a vitality and stamina herb, used by athletes across South and Central Asia to enhance endurance and support recovery. Research on its testosterone-supporting effects has produced genuinely interesting results, though more work is needed. A thorny plant with a useful interior.

 

19. Kultha / Horse Gram (Macrotyloma Uniflorum)

Horse gram is the legume that South Indian cooking has quietly been using for centuries, while the rest of the country calls it animal feed. The seeds have a higher protein concentration than soybeans and contain urease enzymes that specifically help dissolve kidney and gallbladder stones. They also regulate menstrual cycles and manage inflammatory conditions like arthritis. It is a food and a medicine at the same time, which is arguably the best kind of either.

 

20. Pasanabheda (Bergenia Ligulata)

The name is blunt: stone breaker. This small perennial herb grows through rocks, literally cracking them apart with its roots. Medicinally, it is used specifically to break down and help pass kidney and urinary stones. The rhizome is also antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, and has traditionally been applied to wounds that refuse to heal. There is something particularly pleasing about a herb whose appearance and its medicine tell the same story.

 

21. Punarnava (Boerhavia Diffusa)

Punarnava means to renew the body in Sanskrit, and the herb takes that job seriously. It is primarily a kidney and urinary herb, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and effective in managing fluid retention and oedema. It supports liver function and helps the body process and eliminate waste more efficiently. It is not a dramatic or famous herb. It just does the kind of quiet, necessary work that keeps everything else running.

 

22. Ginger (Zingiber Officinale)

People use ginger every day and still do not think of it as medicine. They should. It is one of the most thoroughly researched natural anti-nausea agents that exists. Effective for morning sickness, motion sickness, and post-chemotherapy nausea. It reduces muscle pain, lowers blood sugar, improves digestion, and has anti-inflammatory compounds that rival ibuprofen in some studies. It has also been sitting in Indian kitchens for four thousand years, which is either a coincidence or a clue.

 

23. Garcinia (Garcinia Cambogia)

Garcinia got swept up in a weight-loss trend about a decade ago and then unfairly written off when it did not deliver miraculous overnight results. Used correctly and consistently, it does useful things. Hydroxycitric acid, the active compound, helps the body use fat for energy rather than storing it, regulates cholesterol, and has a measurable effect on cortisol. It works best as part of a broader approach to metabolic health, not as a standalone miracle. Most herbs are like that, actually.

 

24. Rosemary (Salvia Rosmarinus)

Rosemary sits in a somewhat unusual position, well-known in kitchens, less known in medicine cabinets. The needle-like leaves are rich in rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid, both powerful antioxidants. Studies on cognitive function have found that even the scent of rosemary improves alertness and memory retention. Taken internally, it improves circulation, supports liver health, and has anti-inflammatory properties. Applied to the scalp, it is one of the better-studied natural remedies for hair thinning.

 

25. Jaivitri (Myristica Fragrans — Mace)

Jaivitri is what you get when the nutmeg fruit splits open, the lacy red aril wrapped around the seed. It is dried and used as a spice with a flavour that is more floral and less sharp than nutmeg itself. In Ayurveda, it balances Vata and Kapha, eases bloating and indigestion, and has a mild sedative quality that supports sleep and reduces nervous tension. It is rich in vitamins A, C, and several B vitamins. A spice that doubles as a tonic without making any fuss about it.

 

26. Sesame (Sesamum Indicum)

Sesame is older than most of the herbs on this list. It has been cultivated for food and medicine for at least five thousand years, and Ayurveda uses it in more ways than most people would expect. The seeds are dense with calcium. The oil is used in Abhyanga, the traditional oil massage, for its warming and deeply nourishing effect on muscles and joints. Oil pulling with sesame is one of the oldest known oral hygiene practices. A foundational ingredient in the truest sense.

 

27. Coriander (Coriandrum Sativum)

Coriander is so much a part of Indian cooking that it barely registers as an ingredient, let alone a medicine. But the seeds are actively diuretic, useful for water retention and urinary tract infections. The leaves are iron-rich and genuinely helpful in managing anaemia. Both seeds and leaves reduce blood sugar in diabetic patients. The plant also has antimicrobial properties that make it more than a garnish. That handful of hara dhaniya is doing a bit more work than it gets credit for.

 

28. Vach / Sweet Flag (Acorus Calamus)

Vach has one of the most distinctive smells of any herb in classical Ayurveda, sweet and sharp simultaneously, unmistakable once you know it. It has been used in both Chinese and Indian medicine primarily for cognitive and nervous system support. It improves memory and concentration, is used for speech difficulties, and works on the digestive system at the same time. It is the kind of herb that treats the gut and the brain as the connected systems they actually are.

 

29. Sahadevi (Vernonia Cinerea)

Sahadevi grows as a common roadside weed across India and goes largely unnoticed. Every part of the plant (leaves, roots, seeds, and stem) has medicinal value, which is rare. It manages urinary problems, clears skin infections, including psoriasis and eczema, treats intestinal worms, and has a calming quality that helps with insomnia and anxiety. It also supports fertility. For a plant that most people step over on their morning walk, it has a remarkably full resume.

 

30. Motha (Cyperus Rotundus)

Farmers across Asia have been trying to get rid of Motha for centuries. It is one of the most persistent weeds in agriculture. Ayurveda has simultaneously been including it in formulas for digestive health, fever management, and pain relief for the same period of time. The root is anti-inflammatory, carminative, and diuretic. It helps regulate menstruation and has traditionally been used to manage skin disorders. Farmer's nightmare, physician's friend.

 

31. Papaya Leaves (Carica Papaya)

When dengue numbers rise in India, papaya leaf juice becomes very hard to find in local markets. Families with papaya trees suddenly become very popular neighbours. The leaves contain compounds that stimulate platelet production and have demonstrated antiviral activity in studies. They also contain papain and chymopapain, enzymes that support digestion and reduce inflammation. The fruit gets all the attention, but the leaves are where the serious medicine lives.

32. Camphor (Cinnamomum Camphora)

Camphor is that sharp, clean smell that immediately signals Vicks VapoRub, pain relief balms, and the contents of your grandfather's bedside drawer. It comes from the Cinnamomum camphora tree. Applied externally, it relieves muscle pain, reduces skin irritation, and clears congestion when inhaled. Internally, small amounts are used in Ayurveda as a cardiac and digestive stimulant. It is a smell most Indians associate with being looked after. There is something to that.

 

33. Garlic (Allium Sativum)

Garlic has more peer-reviewed research behind it than almost any other kitchen herb, and the findings are consistently interesting. It lowers blood pressure. It reduces LDL cholesterol. It has antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Allicin, released when garlic is crushed, has demonstrated anti-cancer activity in laboratory studies. Raw and freshly crushed is the most potent form. It does not do good things for your breath in the short term. The trade-off is worth considering.

 

34. Ratanjot (Jatropha Curcas)

Ratanjot is most recognisable in Kashmiri cooking as the root that gives rogan josh its deep red colour. Outside the kitchen, it has a different life entirely. The bark and roots have anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. The latex is applied topically for joint pain and skin infections. It is found across India, Africa, and Central America, and in each region the local medicine has found uses for it. A plant that travels well and works wherever it lands.

 

35. Rose (Rosa Species)

Rose is so thoroughly associated with love and decoration that its medicinal properties feel almost embarrassing to mention in polite company. But rose petals are cooling and astringent. Rose water reduces inflammation and soothes irritated eyes and skin. Rose hip, the fruit of the rose, is one of the most concentrated natural sources of Vitamin C available. In Ayurveda, rose pacifies Pitta, the hot and fiery constitution. It turns out the most romantic plant is also quietly medicinal.

 

36. Kutaj (Holarrhena Antidysenterica)

The botanical name is, refreshingly, completely honest about what this herb does. Antidysenterica. This is Ayurveda's go-to for when the digestive system has completely broken down to diarrhoea, dysentery, or amoebic infections. The bark is a powerful anti-diarrhoeal agent that also soothes and heals the gut lining. It is not a herb people think about until they absolutely need it. At which point they think about nothing else.

 

37. Chharila (Parmelia Perlata)

Chharila occupies a genuinely unusual position in Ayurveda; it is a lichen, not a conventional plant, but it has been used in classical formulations for centuries. It grows on rocks and tree bark in hilly regions across India and features in traditional spice mixes in some parts of the country. It stimulates digestion, works as a urinary tonic, and is used for skin conditions and fever. It is the herb that reminds you that the Ayurvedic materia medica does not restrict itself to what is convenient.

 

38. Gojihva (Onosma Bracteatum)

Gojihva translates to cow's tongue, which refers to the texture of its leaves. It is not one of the famous herbs, but it has a clear and specific role in classical Ayurveda. Used for jaundice, wound healing, constipation, and heart weakness. The leaves are demulcent, which soothe inflamed, irritated tissue from the inside. It is the kind of herb that appears quietly in compound formulas and does its particular job without drawing attention to itself.

 

39. Apamarga (Achyranthes Aspera)

Apamarga is one of those plants that grows everywhere, yet is noticed by none, and treats almost everything. The common name is Devil's Horsewhip. It grows wild along roads and in fields across India. In Ayurveda, it is used as an expectorant for asthma and cough, a diuretic for kidney support, and the root paste is a traditional remedy for toothache. The seeds manage obesity. The entire plant is medicinal. It just does not know how to advertise itself.

 

40. Cumin (Cuminum Cyminum)

Jeera goes into the tadka of almost every Indian dish and gets zero credit for what it is actually contributing beyond flavour. It stimulates the production of digestive enzymes, significantly reducing bloating and acidity. It is rich in iron, which makes it legitimately useful for anaemia. It has antimicrobial properties, supports blood sugar regulation, and helps with weight management. The most commonly used spice in Indian cooking earns its place in the medicine cabinet just as comfortably.

 

41. Stevia (Stevia Rebaudiana)

Stevia has been used to sweeten food and drink in Paraguay and Brazil for centuries. The rest of the world caught on much later, largely because the sugar industry was not in a rush to help. The plant is several hundred times sweeter than sugar, with no calories and no glycaemic impact, meaning it does not raise blood sugar at all. For people managing diabetes, it solves a real problem without compromise. A South American herb that took an unnecessarily long time to travel.

 

42. Sahadevi's Cousin — Neem (Azadirachta Indica)

Every part of the neem tree is medicinal, which is unusual even by Ayurvedic standards. Leaves, bark, seeds, and oil each has its own application. The leaves are profoundly bitter, which signals their liver-purifying and blood-cleansing action. Neem oil is antifungal and antibacterial. The twigs have been used as toothbrushes for centuries. It manages blood sugar, treats skin infections, and has demonstrated anti-cancer properties in early research. Possibly the most complete medicinal tree in Indian traditional medicine.

 

43. Chamomile (Matricaria Chamomilla)

Chamomile is the herb the Western world actually figured out correctly. There is real pharmacology behind a cup of chamomile tea before bed. The compound apigenin binds to receptors in the brain that reduce anxiety and promote sleep, in a genuinely measurable way. It also calms gut inflammation, relieves menstrual cramps, and soothes inflamed skin when applied topically. Small, unassuming flowers. Consistently useful.

 

44. Valerian (Valeriana Officinalis)

Valerian is for people who lie awake at night thinking about problems they cannot solve until morning. The compounds in its root (particularly valerenic acid) increase GABA activity in the brain. GABA is the neurotransmitter that slows neural activity and promotes calm. It is the same pathway targeted by certain sedative medications, but valerian achieves it without dependency or grogginess the next day. The smell of the root is genuinely unpleasant. The sleep it produces is genuinely good.

 

45. Gotu Kola (Centella Asiatica)

Gotu Kola and Brahmi are often confused with each other, partly because both are associated with cognitive health. They are different plants with different strengths. Gotu Kola's particular speciality is tissue repair and circulation. It stimulates collagen synthesis, accelerates wound healing, and has been used in burn and scar treatment. It also reduces anxiety, supports venous insufficiency, and improves blood flow to the brain. An old Sri Lankan saying claims elephants eat it constantly, which is why they never forget. The science on the cognitive effects is, it turns out, reasonably supportive.

 

46. Amla (Phyllanthus Emblica)

Amla, the Indian gooseberry, is the kind of fruit that tastes sour and astringent in the moment and leaves you feeling inexplicably better half an hour later. It contains one of the highest concentrations of Vitamin C found in any natural food source. It is also a cornerstone of Triphala, appearing as Amalaki. It strengthens immunity, improves hair health, supports digestion, regulates blood sugar, and has notable hepatoprotective effects. Small, unremarkable-looking, deeply useful.

A closing thought

Something worth saying at the end of a list like this: none of these herbs is magical, and none of them works the same way for every person. Ayurveda understood this better than most modern medicine does. The herbs work best when they are combined thoughtfully with other botanicals to bring out the best possible formulation for a health concern.

What Preserva Wellness has done is bring these plants together in one place, with care about sourcing and preparation. The herbs themselves have been doing the work for centuries. That part was never really in question.