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

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

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

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.