10 Awesome Ayurvedic Herbs (Even If You Can't Pronounce Them!)
Maybe you’ve heard of Ayurveda, the 5000 year old traditional medical system of the Indian subcontinent. If you’ve been reading the EndorphinGirl® newsletters, this is what we’ve been talking about for the past 2 weeks.
But maybe not, and you’re reading this, thinking Ayurwhatta?!
In simple terms, it is the science of life, a complete and holistic approach to health and wellbeing. Ayurveda takes into account all lifestyle factors, from the environment we live in, to the people we surround ourselves with, to the foods we eat, even to the sex we’re having (or not having)! Understanding how our bodies work in relation to nature and the changing environments is most important in Ayurveda, so that we may ultimately achieve harmonious health and wellbeing within ourselves and the world around us.¹
With this being said, how can we possibly live in harmony when our lives are becoming increasingly fast-paced and modernized every single day? We’re stressed out, worn out, burnt out, and maybe even freaked out about the current state of our lives and the world.
Ayurveda is here to the rescue. The point of Ayurveda, though, is not just about relying on pills or supplements and waiting for them to work their magic. Instead, Ayurveda is about taking control of our health and becoming an active participant in our personal wellbeing in the most natural way possible.² It’s about getting to the root of our suffering, instead of just treating symptoms and sugar-coating those issues. With that being said, the use of herbs is a significant part of the Ayurvedic toolbox, and for good reason. Herbs have been used to aid people in truly feeling better on a more holistic level for thousands of years. Thousands! This list of 10 Ayurvedic herbs may be difficult to pronounce, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help us.
Guggulu
Giggolo? Gobble, gobble? Guggulu is a wonderful herb that must not go unnoticed. Maybe the name says it all, because it’s made from the gummy substance from a plant named Commiphora Mukul. Or maybe it sounds like a tall, dark, and handsome Italian man to you. Either way, this herb has amazing properties. To name a few, guggulu helps in regulating metabolism, preventing metabolic disorders such as hypothyroidism and diabetes, and promoting thyroid activity.³ It is excellent in cholesterol regulation, as well as fat metabolization, weight stabilization, and has the ability to enhance mood and energy levels.³ Its Sanskrit name actually translates into “protects from disease”, which isn’t surprising due to all of its benefits.⁴ Not bad for a rubbery, tall, dark, and handsome Italian man...
Ashwagandha
This is probably one of the most recently discussed herbs in the wellness realm, and for good reason. It’s known as ‘Indian ginseng’, and is an energy powerhouse for our bodies. Ashwagandha is known as an adaptogenic herb, which means that it has the ability to promote homeostasis, or equilibrium, in the body. Ashwagandha helps increase energy and vitality, and in particular supports the adrenal system.⁵ On the flip side, due to its homeostatic properties, it is also highly effective in combating high stress and cortisol levels.⁵ If you love pumping that iron, this herb is for you, as it enhances muscle strength and improves endurance. It promotes and revitalizes the male reproductive system, and aids in healthy libido levels generally in all people. ⁶ I bet we could all benefit from this one way or another.
Ajwain
Ajwain is a powerful painkiller, also known as Bishop’s weed or carom seed in English. Maybe it got its name because it stops us from whining so much about pain…⁷ It looks and tastes a little bit like thyme, but much stronger. Ajwain is great for stomach problems, particularly enhancing digestion, helping relieve indigestion and excess gas. Really, it’s your belly’s best friend. And when our bellies are happy, our minds are happy. On the flip side, if you love eating heavier, deep-fried foods, it’s a great herb to add because it aids in digestion of these foods.⁸ Side note: this isn’t a suggestion to add ajwain to every single thing you eat, but maybe you can have your cake and eat it too.
Neem
Another fabulous herb, especially for those yellowing teeth you’re hiding, or the stinky breath your lover wakes up to every morning. In fact, the twigs of the neem tree are used for brushing teeth in India. Apparently you can even buy neem twigs on Amazon now too. What is this world coming to? Back to the point. It’s native to the Indian subcontinent, and is part of the mahogany family. Neem is known as a blood purifier, anti-fungal, insecticide, and especially useful in clearing stomach issues and skin problems like acne, blemishes, dermatitis, and allergies.⁹ It’s high in antioxidants, so say hello to anti-aging.¹⁰ It also flushes out toxins from the body, so it’s great for deep cleaning of our innards.¹⁰ Who can say no to detoxing or younger looking skin? Nawmeen!?
Shatavari
This one’s for you ladies! The world shatavari actually means “a woman with a thousand husbands,” and might be one of the most important herbs for female health.¹¹ Maybe a thousand husbands is a bit excessive, but the benefits of this herb are not. Familiar with asparagus? Well, shatavari is actually a species of the asparagus family, and long used medicinally on the Indian subcontinent.¹¹ Shatavari is a powerful herb that supports the reproductive system, regulating female hormones, not only in young women, but also in those experiencing menopause.¹² Ovulation, fertility, hot flashes, PMS, dryness, you name it, shatavari can help it.¹² It aids in digestive health, and even contains natural antioxidant properties, keeping our immune systems strong and able to fight off diseases.¹³ We live in a world full of hormone disruptors, where our stress levels are high and the pressure is on. Shatavari can help relieve the symptoms caused by these external crazies.
Trikatu
This one’s a combo of three different herbs: ginger, black pepper, and pippali. Maybe you’ve heard of the first two herbs, but don’t get confused about the last one. Pippali is actually another type of pepper, more commonly known as long pepper. It’s great for bloating, belching, and loss of appetite.¹⁴ The combination of these three herbs acts as fire for our digestive systems, stimulating proper metabolism, digestion, and elimination, as well as aiding in nutrient absorption and assimilation.¹⁴ And since most of our issues begin in our bellies, this ayurvedic herb is a great addition to our bursting (or empty…) cabinet of herbs and spices.
Triphala
This one’s also a combo of three, but three different fruits, specifically haritaki, amalaki, and bibhitaki. Like trikatu, it’s powerful in aiding digestion, and especially nutrient absorption. Your bowels will be happy, as it helps regulate metabolism and elimination as well.¹⁶ Basically, it’s a natural laxative, without any of the harmful side effects. Eating too many beans? Feeling bloated or constipated? If you answered yes to either of these, triphala is here to the rescue. Not only that, it’s antibacterial, preventing gastritis, ulcers, and even stomach cancers.¹⁷ And last but not least, it will purify your blood and normalize your cholesterol levels.¹⁶ Triad at it’s finest.
Punarnava
The combination of the two words ‘punar’ and ‘nava,’ or again and new, are the essence of this herb, as it’s said to renew and rejuvenate the entire system. Maybe we all need a bit of a reboot from the madness of the modern world. We live in constant change, constant motion and commotion, absorbing everything around us. Punarnava is especially useful in flushing out toxins and pathogens we take in on a daily basis, especially from the kidneys and the urinary tract, and therefore great in eliminating UTIs.¹⁸ Toxic overload can wreak havoc on our temple bodies, and punarnava is great when we just need a little push to detox.
Amalaki
In English it’s called ‘Indian Gooseberry,’ though the Sanskrit name may not be too difficult to pronounce. Another great one for the internal organs, amalaki helps in regulating metabolism, digestion, and elimination, particularly by supporting the health of the intestinal walls in our gut.¹⁹ Getting sick often? Nose been running since you’re 5 years old? Amalaki is useful because it keeps our immune system strong, due to its high natural antioxidant properties, and even promotes hair, skin, and nail growth.²⁰ Not only that, it’s great for for keeping our hearts and respiratory systems healthy.²¹ What a powerhouse, amaright?!
Last But Not Least: Curcumin
Hopefully you already know of this magical herb, more commonly known as turmeric. Curcumin is actually the specific chemical compound in the turmeric plant that possesses many healing qualities. It’s used all over South and Southeast Asia, and if you’ve ever eaten any curry or dal, there’s a high chance it was cooked with at least a little bit of turmeric. In India specifically, it’s been used for over 4000 years and is known as a “healer’s spice.”²² For good reason. The list of benefits could go on and on, but here are a few to get your feet wet. It’s said that this golden herb is a powerful anti-inflammatory, boosting immune response due to antioxidant properties, and is even antimicrobial, able to fight off unwanted guests (AKA bugs and germs) in our systems.²³ Due to these properties, it can also help ease joint pain, prevent cancer, and heal digestion and heart issues.²⁴ It’s golden, it’s beautiful, it’s a powerhouse, and it’s easy to find almost anywhere in the world these days.
Written by: Mia Kataisto