Herbal Plants - An Introduction

Ayurveda- the science of healthy life/longevity has been introduced to the universe by the knowledge passed on to us by our ancient Saints. 

The relation between Ayurveda and herbal plants are co-related from time immemorial. According to the concept of Ayurveda, all the vegetable plants carry some sort of medicinal values. The study about herbal plants had started from the inception of mankind from the stone age itself, it is stated. Besides human beings, the animals like dogs, cats, birds etc have the tendency to treat themselves by eating certain grasses, leaves, fruits obtained from the nature to become normal. They also do fasting for certain period.

The parts of herbal plants like tender leaves, fruits(raw & ripe) roots, flowers, outer skin, barks, gum/resin etc are used in the preparation of various herbal medicines. It is already mentioned in Indian Hrigveda(Rigveda) Grandhas to use rice prepared with turmeric(curcumin) and water flown from the Himalayas for treating heart and liver diseases. (Hridroge kamale cha haridrow dana Bhojanam Veda samhitayam nirddishtam Himavat Nadhi Jalo pacharacha) a quotation from Rigveda.

In Rigveda a plant called "SOMA" is mentioned with high reputation in the modern world, it is now called CEROPEGIA. The German philologist and Orientalist, Max Muller has opined that SOMA is a very unusual and highly result oriented plant to treat various disorders related to health.

In ancient India, there were famous and eminent authorities in the field of Ayurveda. The word Ayurvedam was first heard from SAMHITAS. That means the students of ace Ayurveda Acharyas like Mareecha Kashyapan, Athreya Punarvasu, Dhanwanthari etc have gathered the teachings of their reverent Gurus(teachers) and made grandhas(ancient books) about treatment with herbal plants available from mother nature. 

Charakasamhitha, Dhanwanthari, Ashtangahridayam, Sahasrayogam, Vydyajeevanam, Vydyamritam, Bhaishajya Ratnavali are some of the famous Ayurveda grandhas available today for our references about herbal plants, medicines, and treatments. 

Out of all these Ayurveda grandhas, DHANWANTHARI is considered to be the oldest documented scriptures dating back to AD 600. We should know that this world exists due to the presence of various plants and vegetations, without which it would have become a vast desert-like place without any trace of life. We should also know that most of the modern medicines are formulated today from the extracts of herbal plants itself. 

It will be better to include a special curriculum in schools globally to teach about the various herbal plants and its benefits to mankind. That can very well create an awareness of such beneficial medicines without any side-effects to its users.

Now you can read our next blog to know more about various plants which are very useful to us in our day to day life.