Glossary Of Main Herbs Used In Our Ayurvedic Products

Whilst research into isolated plant constituents is of great importance, and the properties established in the herbs described have given rise to many of the world's most useful drugs such as Tuborcucarine (from curare), the most powerful muscle relaxant in existence, or the strongest painkiller - Morphine (from the opium poppy) - it is not the whole story. Herbal traditions like Ayurveda have been using whole plants for thousands of years. Each plant has literally hundreds, perhaps thousands of different chemicals interacting in very complex ways, the effects of which have been observed by skilled herbalists over millennia. The formulae offered by Indian Herbs International draws on this wealth of experience by combining different herbs in ratios best suited to the health indicated. The effects are remarkable, achieved gently, in harmony with the body and provide safe, well tolerated supplements to achieve optimum good health. Side effects are, in comparison with biomedicine, almost non-existant.
Ayurveda - the science of life - is a way of life, not just a herbal tradition, and recognises a healthy diet as the first requirements of good health and the prevention of illness. Modern monoculture deprives us of the variety and quality of feedstuffs once available and the diversity of herbs and grasses in pasture. Hence supplements are needed to maintain a healthy working life.
Ayurveda recognises three doshas or types, pitta, kapha and vatta and applies these to all life, both animal and plant. A traditional Ayurvedic Herbalist would study the dosha of a patient and combine herbs not only for their properties but also for dosha compatibility. Individuals, although predominantly one dosha, also combine elements of all three in different degrees and therefore the scientists at Indian Herbs International have produced standard formulae giving consistant results. They are often only used as a last resort where conventional medicine has indicated a dire prognosis, and the results are quite remarkable in the circumstances.
For more information on herbal properties: - Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants (Dorling Kindersley ISBN 07513 12 09 6) - Feeding Herbs to Horses (Jennings Newlad Publishing ISBN 09538670 0-5)
Hymalayan Cedar (cedrus deodara) Properties: A strong taste and smell. Repels midges and mites, soothes airways, maintains skin. Useful for: Midges and mite / lice infestation. Found in: AntiPest, BanItch, BanItch Cream, KoffAid.
Neem (azadirachta indica) Properties: Repels midges and lice and cleans open wounds. Useful for: Midges and lice infestation, wounds. Found in: AntiPest, LiveAid.
Ashwaganda (withania somnifera) Properties: Helps body to adjust to external pressures, maintains optimum immune system. Useful for: Calming, ugly skin. Found in: ImuSarc, StressBan, StressBan+
Malabar Nut (adhatoda vasica) Properties: Do not take in large quantities during pregnancy. Useful for: Maintains clear airways in high pollen count and dusty conditions. Found in: AirFree.
Eucalyptus (Blue Gum) Properties: Soothes airways and optimises blood circulation. Useful for: Calming airways in times of high pollen count and dust. Found in: AirFree.
Pepper (piper nigrum) Properties: Maintains normal skin when midges abound. Useful for: Midge infestation. Found in: BanItch.
Ginger (zingiber officianale) Properties: Relieves flatulence and sickness, calms, soothes and gives a feeling of well being. Useful for: A wide variety of situations. Found in: BanItch, JointFree, StressBan, StressBan+.
Embelia (Embelia ribes), also known as Vadanga Fruit. Properties: Not to be taken during pregnancy. Useful for: Moody mares, seasonal inappropriate behavior. Found in: MoodAid 1.
Picrorrihiza (Picrorrhiza kurroa) Properties: Maintains good level of joint fluid. Useful for: Suppleness and flexibility. Found in: JointFree.
Indian Gooseberry (embilca officianalis) Properties: Optimises immune system. Useful for: Times of exposure, eg vaccination, and unsightly skin. Found in: ImuSarc.
Arjuna (terminalia arjuna) Properties: Ayurvedic use to balance 3 doshas & for bile production. Useful for: General liver tonic and de-tox. Found in: LiveAid.
Niu XI (achyranthes aspera) Properties: Caution is advised in pregnancy at high doses. Useful for: Maintaining blood circulation and liver de-tox. Found in: LiveAid
Eclipta (e. alba) Properties: Traditional Ayurvedic de-tox for liver and kidneys. Useful for: Liver, ragwort, Laminitis prone horses. Found in: LiveAid
Phyllanthus (p. niruri) Properties: Caution indicated in large amounts. Useful for: Liver de-tox, Laminitis prone, tonic, ragwort. Found in: LiveAid
Chirretta (swertia c.) Properties: In Ayurveda it is used for Pitta (fire) conditions especially of the liver. Avoid high doses in digestive hyperacidity. Useful for: Liver de-tox and maintenance of blood circulation. Found in: LiveAid.
Asafoetida (ferula assa-foetida) Properties: Traditional use as a carminative for flatulence particularly where spasm occurs. Care when used with the very young is necessary. As the exudate is resin & gum it is mixed 50/50% with rice flour to form a managable powder. Useful for: Relief from spasmodic flatulence. A straight herb to be mixed with warm water or half water & half brandy & given as a drench every 3 or 4 hours untill a vet attends. Domestic quality product.
Berberis (arisata) Properties: Repels midges, maintains normal skin condition. Useful for: Midge infestation and itchiness. Found in: BanItch.
Turmeric (curcuma longa) Properties: Repels midges, maintains normal skin condition. Useful for: Midge infestation and itchiness. Found in: BanItch.
Bu Gu Zhi (psoralea corylifolia) Useful for: Optimising normal skin. Found in: BanItch.
Galangal (aplinia galanga) Properties: Sooths airways. Useful for: Times of high pollen count and dust. Found in: AirFree, KoffAid.
Sweet Flag (acorus calamus) Properties: Soothes airways and spasmodic flatulence. Useful for: Times of high pollen count and dust. Found in: AirFree, KoffAid.
Kuth (saussurea lappa) Useful for: In Ayurveda used in combination with other herbs for minor respiratory and normal breathing. Found in: AirFree, KoffAid.
Garlic (allium sativum) Properties: Soothes airways, digestion, joints and maintains blood circulation. Useful for: Total good health. Found in: JointFree, and as a pure herb in several forms: Organic garlic flakes from India, Chinese granules and powder. The latter two are of Domestic Quality.
Linseed (linum usitatissimum) Properties: Research shows very high levels of Omega 3 essential fatty acid common to that most often found in fish oils. Laxative, aids blood circulation, soothes skin. Useful for: Glossy coat, total health, presentation. Found in: Linseed Oil, Linseed Lozenges.
Fumitory (fumaria parviflora) Properties: Detoxifying of livers and kidneys. Useful for: Laminitis proneness, ragwort and tonic. Found in: LiveAid.
Indian Mango (mangifera indica) Found in: Stressban, StressBan +
Holy Basil (ocimum sanctum) Properties: Helps adaptation to outside pressures, soothes skin. Useful for: Calming, midge attacks. Found in: StressBan, StressBan+
Andrographis (a. paniculata) Properties: Immune system optimizer, liver de-tox. Care needed during pregnancy, may cause nausea. Useful for: Ragwort, proneness to Laminitis, liver de-tox. Found in: LiveAid.