Form Taken Use as a massage oil, compress, salve, steam inhalation, and in lotions.
Used with Other Herbs? Use camphor in small doses only. Blends with rosemary, eucalyptus, and juniper.
HOW TO USE
Camphor reduces kapha and vátha, and it increases pitta when used in excess.
For bronchitis and colds, try a camphor inhalation. Half-fill an enamel pan or heat-proof dish with just-boiled water. Add 7 drops of oil of camphor. Use a towel to form a “tent” over the bowl. Inhale deeply for several minutes. Stop if you feel dizzy or if the steam is too hot for your skin.
CINNAMOMUM ZEYLANICUM
CINNAMON Twak, Taj
Cinnamon originally grew in southern Asia. Ancient Ayurvedic practitioners used it as a treatment for fevers, diarrhea, and to mask unpleasant flavors in other healing herbs. The Greeks used cinnamon to treat bronchitis, but the Europeans championed the use of cinnamon in baking.
PROPERTIES
Camphor is a pungent, sour, heating substance. It has moisturizing properties which recommend it for use as an expectorant, decongestant, and bronchial dilator. Camphor is frequently employed for its twin analgesic and antiseptic qualities.
Part of Plant Used The bark and leaf.
Conditions Treated Cinnamon is recommended for respiratory ailments, such as colds, sinus congestion, and bronchitis. As a digestive aid, it relieves dyspepsia, intestinal infections, and parasites. It aids circulation and helps to alleviate anemia.
Form Taken As a tea, spice, inhalant, massage oil, or powder.
Used with Other Herbs? Cardamom, orange, nutmeg, licorice.
HOW TO USE
Cinnamon reduces vátha and kapha, and increases pitta.
Because of its strong antibacterial effect, cinnamon can be used to treat minor scrapes and cuts.
Cinnamon contains the natural anesthetic oil eugenol, which will help relieve the pain of minor wounds.
CAUTION
Do not use cinnamon in cases of high pitta.
Cinnamon will aggravate bleeding, and can be a skin irritant and a convulsive in high doses.
Cinnamon bark oil in particular can be an irritant and is not recommended for use on the skin.
Cinnamon infusions should not be given to children under two.
COMMIPHORA MYRRHA
MYRRH Bola
Myrrh is the gum from a shrub native to northeastern Africa and southwestern Asia. The shrub can grow to 30ft. (9m) tall. Myrrh exudes from natural cracks or man-made incisions in the bark. It leaves the tree as a pale yellow liquid, which hardens into a yellowish-red or reddish-brown substance which is collected for use. This resin or gum has been used for thousands of years for its healing properties.
PROPERTIES
Myrrh is an alterative. It is analgesic, emmenagogic, rejuvenative, astringent, expectorant, antispasmodic, and antiseptic. Its tonic effects benefit all tissues of the body.
Part of Plant Used The sap or gum.
Conditions Treated Myrrh is a treatment for amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, menopause, coughs, asthma, bronchitis, arthritis, rheumatism, traumatic injuries, ulcerated surfaces, anemia, pyorrhea, excessive weight, halitosis, gum disease, sore throat, canker sores, and mouth ulcers. Myrrh is used to clean wounds, as a douche, to promote lung drainage, and to treat hemorrhoids.
Form Taken As a lotion or salve, massage oil, gargle, incense, plaster, or infusion.
Used with Other Herbs? Frankincense, juniper, cypress, geranium, aloe, pine.
HOW TO USE
Myrrh reduces kapha and vátha, while increasing pitta.
Its antiseptic and antifungal properties recommend it for sore throats, swollen gums, and cold sores. Myrrh oil can be used directly on sore gums, or to make a gargle.
CAUTION
Do not use myrrh in cases of high pitta.
CORIANDRUM SATIVUM
CORIANDER Dhanyaka, Dhania
Coriander is a bitter, pungent herb, with a sweet, pleasant taste. Its energy is cooling and moisturizing. It has strong stimulant and alterative properties. Coriander acts as a diuretic and diaphoretic. Coriander stimulates the plasma, blood, and muscles. It is thought to be an aphrodisiac because of its phyto-estrogen content.
PROPERTIES
Coriander is a bitter, pungent herb, with a sweet, pleasant taste. Its energy is cooling and moisturizing. It has strong stimulant and alterative properties.
Part of Plant Used The seeds and leaves.
Conditions Treated Coriander alleviates urinary infections, cystitis, rashes, hives, burns, digestive disorders, such as gas pains, vomiting, and indigestion. Coriander is beneficial for respiratory problems—it eases allergies and hay fever.
Form Taken Used as a spice, tea or infusion, a compress, douche, shampoo, and massage oil.
Used with Other Herbs? Used with lemon, cajeput, lavender, cardamom, clove, nutmeg, jasmine, sandalwood, cypress.
HOW TO USE
Coriander reduces all three doshas.
Its antifungal, antibacterial properties were noted by the Romans, who used coriander to preserve meats.
Like cinnamon, coriander powder can be sprinkled on cuts and scrapes to prevent infection.
The infusion makes an excellent digestive aid.
CAUTION
In high doses, coriander may cause kidney irritation.
During pregnancy, use only under recommendation from your physician.
CROCUS SATIVUS
SAFFRON Kesar, Nagakeshara
Saffron is a small, perennial crocus with purple flowers cultivated in Spain, France, Sicily, Iran, and India. The young plant does not flower for the first few years. When it matures, it produces flowers with golden stigmas which are quite expensive to harvest.
PROPERTIES
Saffron is warming, digestive, stimulant, and rejuvenating. It has anodyne, antispasmodic properties; it is frequently used as an emmenagogue and expectorant.
Part of Plant Used The stigmas or threads.
Conditions Treated Aids digestion and improves appetite. Benefits menstrual pain and irregularity, menopause, impotence, infertility, anemia, enlarged liver, umbago, rheumatism, cough, asthma, gastrointestinal complaints, colic, and chronic diarrhea.
Form Taken Whole threads as a spice, in oils, infusions, and food. The oil can be used as a massage oil, perfume, or bath.
Used