Digestion & Gut
Digestive strength (agni) is the centre of Ayurvedic practice. Bloating, irregularity and sluggishness are treated by kindling agni rather than suppressing symptoms.
Daily practice
- Largest meal at midday when digestive fire is strongest
- Sip warm water through the day; avoid iced drinks with meals
- Leave 3-4 hours between meals with no snacking
Herbs used for Digestion & Gut
Turmeric
Curcuma longa
The everyday anti-inflammatory root of the kitchen pharmacy.
- Plant
- Turmeric plant · Herb
- Also
- Haldi, Haridra, Manjal
- Parts
- Rhizome (root)Fresh root
Triphala (Three-Fruit Blend)
Emblica officinalis, Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia chebula
The three-fruit formula for gentle, regular digestion.
- Plant
- Three fruiting trees: amalaki, bibhitaki, haritaki · Formula
- Also
- Three-fruit formula, Triphala churna
- Parts
- Fruit
Ginger (Ginger / Dry Ginger)
Zingiber officinale
Called vishwabhesaj, the universal medicine, for good reason.
- Plant
- Ginger plant · Herb
- Also
- Adrak, Ardraka, Shunthi (dried)
- Parts
- Rhizome (root)
Amla (Indian Gooseberry)
Phyllanthus emblica
Indian gooseberry: cooling vitamin C for skin, hair and blood.
- Plant
- Amla tree · Tree
- Also
- Indian gooseberry, Amalaki, Nelli
- Parts
- FruitSeedLeaf
Shatavari (Wild Asparagus Root)
Asparagus racemosus
Cooling, nourishing tonic traditionally used for women's health.
- Plant
- Shatavari climber · Climber
- Also
- Wild asparagus, Satavar, Shatamuli
- Parts
- Root (tuber)
Fenugreek (Fenugreek Seed)
Trigonella foenum-graecum
Kitchen seed with real evidence for blood sugar and digestion.
- Plant
- Fenugreek plant · Herb
- Also
- Methi, Methika, Venthayam
- Parts
- SeedLeaf
Licorice (Licorice Root)
Glycyrrhiza glabra
Sweet root that soothes throat, stomach lining and dry cough.
- Plant
- Licorice plant · Shrub
- Also
- Mulethi, Yashtimadhu, Sweet wood
- Parts
- Root
Peepal (Sacred Fig)
Ficus religiosa
Sacred fig tree, also called pipal or bodhi: bark and leaf used for skin and breathing.
- Plant
- Peepal tree · Tree
- Also
- Pipal, Sacred fig, Bodhi tree, Ashvattha
- Parts
- BarkTender leafRoot barkFruit
Jamun (Java Plum / Black Plum)
Syzygium cumini
Indian blackberry tree: seed and bark long used for blood sugar and loose digestion.
- Plant
- Jamun tree · Tree
- Also
- Indian blackberry, Java plum, Jambu, Black plum
- Parts
- SeedBarkFruitLeaf
Guava Leaf
Psidium guajava
Guava tree leaves: astringent, well-studied for loose stools and gum health.
- Plant
- Guava tree · Tree
- Also
- Amrud, Peru, Amrutphala
- Parts
- LeafBarkFruit
Harsingar (Night-Flowering Jasmine)
Nyctanthes arbor-tristis
Night-flowering jasmine, also called harshringar: leaf juice used for joints and fever.
- Plant
- Harsingar tree · Tree
- Also
- Harshringar, Night-flowering jasmine, Parijat, Shefali
- Parts
- LeafFlowerBarkSeed
Banyan (Banyan Tree)
Ficus benghalensis
Banyan tree bark and aerial roots: cooling astringent for skin, gums and hair.
- Plant
- Banyan tree · Tree
- Also
- Bargad, Vata, Nyagrodha, Indian fig
- Parts
- BarkAerial rootLeafLatex