Ayurvedic labels use Sanskrit and Hindi names — guduchi, gokshura, churna, vati — that do not appear on Western supplement packs. This glossary explains the 65 names you will meet most often on the products KantiGlow ships from India to the UK: the herbs, with their English and botanical names, and the classical dosage forms. Click a letter to jump, or use your browser’s find function. Botanical names follow the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.
A · B · C · D · G · H · I · J · K · L · M · N · P · R · S · T · V · Y
A
Amalaki (Amla)
Indian gooseberry, Emblica officinalis. The sour fruit that forms the base of chyawanprash and one of the three fruits in triphala. See a Amalaki product →
Anupana
The carrier a preparation is taken with — warm water, warm milk, honey or ghee. Not a herb; a dosing instruction found on classical labels.
Arjuna
Terminalia arjuna. The bark of the arjuna tree, sold as tablets, capsules and churna. See a Arjuna product →
Arishta / Asava
Fermented herbal liquids (arishta from a decoction, asava from fresh juice). Self-generated alcohol content; taken diluted with water.
Ashoka
Saraca asoca bark, a traditional women’s herb used in Ashokarishta. See a Ashoka product →
Ashwagandha
Withania somnifera, sometimes called winter cherry or Indian ginseng. Root, sold as churna, tablets, capsules and KSM-66 extract. See a Ashwagandha product →
Avaleha / Lehyam
A herbal jam cooked with sugar, ghee and honey. Chyawanprash is the best-known avaleha. See a Avaleha / Lehyam product →
B
Bala
Sida cordifolia, a small shrub whose root appears in many classical formulations. See a Bala product →
Bhasma / Pishti
Calcined mineral or metal preparations (pishti is the version made with plant juice). Not sold at KantiGlow for the UK market.
Bhringraj
Eclipta alba, false daisy. A traditional hair herb, sold as powder, oil and tablets. See a Bhringraj product →
Bhumi Amla
Phyllanthus niruri, “amla of the ground”. Unrelated to amla despite the name. See a Bhumi Amla product →
Bibhitaki (Baheda)
Terminalia bellirica. The second of the three triphala fruits. See a Bibhitaki product →
Brahmi
Bacopa monnieri. A small creeping plant sold as tablets, capsules and churna. See a Brahmi product →
C
Chitrak
Plumbago zeylanica root, used in warming digestive formulations such as Chitrakadi Bati. See a Chitrak product →
Churna
Powder. The oldest Ayurvedic dosage form — dried herbs ground fine and taken with warm water, honey or ghee. See a Churna product →
D
Dashamoola
“Ten roots” — a classical blend of ten root herbs, the base of Dashmularishta. See a Dashamoola product →
G
Ghanvati / Ghan Bati
A tablet made from a dried water extract (ghana) of a herb, so more concentrated than a plain powdered-herb tablet. Giloy ghanvati is the common example. See a Ghanvati / Ghan Bati product →
Ghrita
Medicated ghee — clarified butter cooked with herbs, for example Brahmi Ghrita. See a Ghrita product →
Gokshura (Gokhru)
Tribulus terrestris, puncture vine. Fruit, sold as tablets, capsules and churna; base of Gokshuradi Guggulu. See a Gokshura product →
Guduchi (Giloy)
Tinospora cordifolia. The stem of a climbing shrub, also called Amrita. See our giloy comparison page. Browse Guduchi products →
Guggulu
The resin of Commiphora mukul, and by extension the family of classical tablets built on it (Yograj Guggulu, Kaishore Guggulu, Trayodashang Guggulu). See a Guggulu product →
Gutika
Another word for vati — a pill or tablet (Khadiradi Gutika). See a Gutika product →
H
Haridra
Turmeric, Curcuma longa. Browse Haridra products →
Haritaki (Harde)
Terminalia chebula. The third triphala fruit, also sold on its own. See a Haritaki product →
Hing (Hingu)
Asafoetida resin, used in digestive churnas such as Hingvastak. See a Hing product →
I
Isabgol
Psyllium husk, Plantago ovata. Sold as sat isabgol (the pure husk). See a Isabgol product →
J
Jatamansi
Nardostachys jatamansi, spikenard. Root, sold as churna and tablets. See a Jatamansi product →
K
Kalmegh
Andrographis paniculata, “king of bitters”. See a Kalmegh product →
Kalonji
Nigella sativa, black seed or black cumin. Seeds and oil. Browse Kalonji products →
Kantakari
Solanum xanthocarpum, yellow-berried nightshade; one of the dashamoola roots. See a Kantakari product →
Kapikachhu
Mucuna pruriens, velvet bean. Seed, sold as churna and tablets. See a Kapikachhu product →
Karela
Bitter gourd, Momordica charantia. Sold as tablets, capsules and juice. See a Karela product →
Kashayam / Kwath
A decoction — herbs boiled down in water. Sold as a liquid or as kwath tablets. See a Kashayam / Kwath product →
Kutaj
Holarrhena antidysenterica bark, the base of Kutajghan Vati. See a Kutaj product →
Kutki (Katuki)
Picrorhiza kurroa, a bitter Himalayan root. See a Kutki product →
L
Lodhra
Symplocos racemosa bark, used in women’s formulations. See a Lodhra product →
M
Manjishtha
Rubia cordifolia, Indian madder root. See a Manjishtha product →
Methi
Fenugreek, Trigonella foenum-graecum. Seeds, sold as churna, tablets and capsules. Browse Methi products →
Moringa (Shigru)
Drumstick tree, Moringa oleifera. Leaf powder and capsules. See a Moringa product →
Musli (Safed Musli)
Chlorophytum borivilianum root; the base of Musli Pak. See a Musli product →
Musta (Nagarmotha)
Cyperus rotundus, nut grass root. See a Musta product →
N
Neem (Nimba)
Azadirachta indica. Leaf, sold as tablets, capsules and churna. See a Neem product →
P
Pak
A sweet, cooked preparation such as Musli Pak or Badam Pak. See a Pak product →
Pippali
Long pepper, Piper longum; one of the three pungents in trikatu. See a Pippali product →
Punarnava
Boerhavia diffusa, “that which renews”. See a Punarnava product →
R
Ras / Rasa
A classical preparation category (for example Sutshekhar Ras). Some ras formulations contain minerals; check the label. See a Ras / Rasa product →
Rasayana
The Ayurvedic category of rejuvenative preparations — chyawanprash, amalaki, guduchi and ashwagandha are all classed as rasayanas.
S
Sariva
Hemidesmus indicus, Indian sarsaparilla; base of Sarivadi Bati. See a Sariva product →
Sarpagandha
Rauwolfia serpentina root. See a Sarpagandha product →
Satva
A starch extract of a herb, most commonly giloy satva — a fine white powder. See a Satva product →
Shankhpushpi
Convolvulus pluricaulis, a small creeping plant sold as churna and syrup. See a Shankhpushpi product →
Shatavari
Asparagus racemosus, wild asparagus root. Sold as churna, tablets and capsules. See a Shatavari product →
Shilajit
A mineral-rich resin (exudate) collected from Himalayan rock. Sold as resin, capsules and tablets. See a Shilajit product →
Shunthi
Dried ginger, Zingiber officinale; one of the trikatu. See a Shunthi product →
Swaras
Fresh-pressed herb juice, for example amla swaras or giloy swaras.
T
Tagara
Valeriana wallichii, Indian valerian root. See a Tagara product →
Taila
Medicated oil — sesame or coconut oil cooked with herbs (Bhringraj Taila, Mahanarayan Taila). See a Taila product →
Trikatu
“Three pungents” — dried ginger, black pepper and long pepper. See a Trikatu product →
Triphala
“Three fruits” — amalaki, bibhitaki and haritaki in equal parts. Sold as churna, tablets and capsules. See a Triphala product →
Tulsi (Tulasi)
Holy basil, Ocimum sanctum. Leaf, sold as tablets, capsules, drops and tea. Browse Tulsi products →
V
Vacha
Acorus calamus, sweet flag root. See a Vacha product →
Vasaka (Adusa)
Adhatoda vasica, Malabar nut leaf. See a Vasaka product →
Vati / Bati
A pill or tablet, usually a compound formulation (Chandraprabha Vati, Kutajghan Bati). See a Vati / Bati product →
Vidanga
Embelia ribes fruit. See a Vidanga product →
Y
Yashtimadhu (Mulethi)
Liquorice root, Glycyrrhiza glabra. See a Yashtimadhu product →
How to use this glossary
Most Indian packs list ingredients by Sanskrit name with the Latin name in brackets. If a label says Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) ghana it means a dried water extract of giloy stem; if it says churna the product is a powder. Where a term links to a product or category, that is the format KantiGlow currently stocks. All products are food supplements: they are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease and should not replace a varied, balanced diet.