It is prepared by treating biotite (mica) with the juices of a number of reconstituent plants that make it a powerful cellular regenerator. It is a nervine tonic and is also widely used in respiratory tract infections, and anemia. It contains iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium and aluminum in traces.

It is an erect, annual or biennial, hirsute herb. The fatty oil of the seeds contain phospholipids-a-cephalin, and phosphatidylserine. The seeds are antiseptic, stomachic, tonic, carminative, antihyteric and aphrodisiac.

It is used in the treatment of male sexual disorders and venereal diseases.

A softly tomentose herb or shrub, with yellow or orange-yellow flowers.

The plant is reported to contain fructose, galactose, glucose, glutamic acid, aspartic acid and galacturonic acid. The drug is used as a febrifuge, has anthelmintic, and anti-inflammatory properties, and is useful in urinary and uterine discharges, piles and lumbago.

A moderate sized tree with feathery crown, pinnate leaves and a pair of recurved prickles at the base of the rachis. Catechin and catechutannic acid are the major active constituents in the wood extract. Taxifolin, another constituent has antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Traditionally, it is used for the treatment of cough and sore throat.

A moderate-sized, almost evergreen tree with a short trunk, a spreading crown and feathery foliage.

The bark from the branches yield 7-12 per cent tannin and is used for asthma, bronchitis, diabetes, dysentery, diarrhea and skin diseases. The stem is used as a toothbrush and the gum for burns. The leaves are useful for eye complaints, headache, throat infection, urinary problems and gonorrhea.

A common, prickly, scandent shrub. The pods yield saponins (20.8%) which have been reported to contain acacinin-C, -D and -E and a homologous series of oligosaccharides. An ointment prepared from the ground pods is good for skin diseases. A decoction of the pods relieves biliousness and acts as a purgative. It is used to remove dandruff and has a detangling effect on the hair, which helps in increasing the hair volume.

The pods, known as Shikai or Shikakai, are extensively used as a detergent, and the dry ones are powdered and perfumed, and sold in the market as soapnut powder.

Achillea millefolium is a perennial herb that contains the alkaloid achilline, and also yields an essential oil, Espirt d' Iva. The herb possesses diaphoretic, vulnerary, styphic, astringent, emmenogogue, stimulant, tonic and anti-hemorrhoidal properties.

It is useful in influenza and heavy chest colds and also as a blood-purifier. It has carminative, digestive, astringent and anti-spasmodic properties. It is used in the treatment of flatulence, colic and heartburn. A decoction of the herb is said to give significant relief in chronic colic. It is also used in various hepatic disorders.

An erect or procumbent, annual or perennial herb, often with a woody base.

The whole plant contains the alkaloids achyranthine and betaine. The plant is much valued in indigenous medicine. It is reported to be pungent, astringent, pectoral and diuretic. It is used as an emmenagogue, and in piles and skin eruptions.

A biennial herb, with a tuberous and paired root.

The roots contain five diterpene alkaloids, viz. palmatisine, vakognavine, vakatisine, vakatisinine and vakati. The root is intensely bitter and is used in combination with long pepper for pain in bowels, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Acorus calamus is a semi-aquatic herb with creeping rhizomes.

The dried rhizomes constitute the drug Calamus of commerce. The rhizomes, roots and leaves yield a light brownish yellow volatile oil called calamus oil. The important constituents of Indian calamus oil are asarone and its b-isomer.

The rhizomes are considered to possess sedative and analgesic properties. They are used for the treatment of epilepsy, chronic diarrhea and dysentery, bronchial catarrh, fever, glandular and abdominal tumors, kidney and liver complaints, rheumatism and eczema.

It has been used in indigenous systems of medicine (eg.ayurveda) to improve memory retention and recall. A combination of B. monnieri and A. calamus significantly increases memory and controls hyperactivity in children.

Adhatoda zeylanica is an evergreen, gregarious, stiff perennial shrub.

Its principal constituents are the several alkaloids which are present in the drug and its chief principal is a quinazoline alkaloid, vasicine. The leaves are rich in Vitamin C and carotene and yield an essential oil. The shrub is the source of the drug, vasaka, well known in indigenous systems of medicine for its beneficial effects, particularly in bronchitis. The leaves, flowers, fruits and roots are extensively used for treating cold, cough, whooping-cough, chronic bronchitis and asthma. It acts as a sedative-expectorant, antispasmodic and anthelmintic. The leaf-juice is stated to cure diarrhea, dysentery and glandular tumor, and, is given as an emmenagogue. The powder is reported to be used as a poultice on rheumatic joints, as a counter-irritant on inflammatory swellings, on fresh wounds, urticaria and in neuralgia.

It has strong coagulant action which is very useful to minimize blood loss and also possesses uterine stimulant activity and acts as uterotonic. It also useful for the control of postpartum hemorrhage.

Aegle marmelos is a moderate-sized, slender, aromatic tree, with straight, sharp spines in the branches.

It is a fruit used in diarrhea, dysentery and cholera due to its digestive and carminative properties. Both ripe and unripe fruit are regarded as an astringent. It helps in the healing of ulcerated intestinal surfaces. It possesses antiviral, anthelmintic, and anti-inflammatory properties and has appreciable activity against Vibrio cholera and Salmonella.

A cardiac tonic – it allays palpitation of the heart.

The volatile oil contains allicin (diallyl thiosulphinate), an active odorous principle in Garlic.

The extracts of Allium sativum bulb and compound preparation possess pharmacodynamic properties. The extract of garlic was found to have a significant protective action against a fat induced increase in serum cholesterol and plasma fibrinogen and in fibrinolytic activity.

Aloe barbadensis is a coarse-looking perennial plant with a short stem, erect, with crowded leaves that has spiny teeth on the margins.

It contains enzymes, polysaccharides and nutrients which exhibit antibacterial and antifungal action. It also has a natural sunscreen effect that moisturizes the skin. Its principal constituents are the leaves that contain barbaloin, chrysophanol glycoside and the aglycone, aloe-emodin. The leaf juice forms the main source of the drug. Aloes have long been in use for a host of diseases, particularly those connected with the digestive system; they have also been used for wounds, burns, dermatitis, cutaneous leishmaniasis and other skin troubles. It is used in eye troubles, spleen and liver ailments.

Kumari is also known to relieve dysmenorrhoea in young women by expelling uterine debris.

Alpinia galanga has anti-inflammatory properties and is useful in rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis.

It contains enzymes, polysaccharides and nutrients, which exhibit antibacterial effect and acts against streptococci, staphylococci and coliform bacteria.

It is an annual or perennial prostrate herb, found throughout hotter parts of India. It is rich in b-Carotene. It shows antibacterial and anti-fungal activities.

A tall, perennial herb, with leafy stems.

The seeds contain the glycosides, petunidin 3,5-diglucoside and leucocyanidin-3-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside, and a new aurone glycoside, subulin. The seeds on steam distillation yield a dark brown, mobile essential oil (2.5%) having the characteristic odor of cineol.

Medicinally, the seeds are credited with stimulant, stomachic, alexipharmic and astringent properties, and are prescribed for the treatment of indigestion, vomiting, biliousness, abdominal pains and rectal diseases. The oil from the seeds is aromatic, stimulant, anti-inflammatory and it is highly active against growth of keratinophilic fungi.

A perennial, procumbent herb, the roots of which are used in medicine.

They contain anacyclin, pellitorine, enetriyne alcohol, hydrocarolin, inulin, traces of volatile oil and (+)-sesamin. The roots possess stimulant and rubifacient properties.

It is an erect herb with quadrangular (young) stem, opposite, decussate leaves and white flowers in axillary or terminal panicles or racemes. Andrographolide is one of the active constituents isolated from the plant. It is a bitter tonic and febrifuge. A decoction of the plant is a blood-purifier. It is used as a cure for torpid liver, and jaundice. It also has hepatoprotective activity.

An annual, glabrous, aromatic herb.

The dried ripe fruits yield, on distillation, an essential oil. The major constituent of the oil is carvone. It also contains apiol and dill apioll. They are used in medicine mainly as an aromatic carminative, antipyretic and anthelmintic. The oil from the seeds is a well-known remedy for flatulence in children and enters into the preparation of gripe water. The seeds are used as stomachic and the aqueous extract of the seeds showed abortifacient activity in rats.

It is an annual or biennial herb, native of Europe, now naturalized in northern parts of India and largely cultivated in Punjab.

It has antispasmodic, digestive and carminative properties. It is useful in indigestion, abdominal discomfort, colic and hepatobiliary disorders.

A tree with annulate stem surmounted by a crown of pinnate leaves.

Arecanut contains several alkaloids belonging to the pyridine group. The most important of them physiologically is arecoline The polyphenols of ripe arecanut contain predominantly polymerized leucocyanidins besides as well as small amounts of (+)-cetechin, leucopelargonidin and leucocyanidin. The polyphenolic substances of arecanuts, generally termed tannins, are responsible for the physiological action. The non-alkaloid fractions of arecanuts are reported to possess anti-microbial properties. The powdered nuts are prescribed in diarrhea and urinary disorders.

In Sri Lanka, the unripe nuts are credited with laxative properties, but they are said to affect the eyesight. Arecanuts are considered useful as an external application on ulcers, and in skin disorders. They are anthelmintic, and are used in Veterinary medicine as a vermifuge. A paste of the dry arecanut powder is used as a dentifrice. The dried nuts are said to sweeten the breath, strengthen the gums, and produce a stimulant and exhilarant effect on the system. Arecanut chewed is reportedly a good source of fluoride.