Herbs & Medicinal जड़ी-बूटियाँ
Complete growing encyclopedias for 25 Indian herbs and medicinal plants — from mint to ashwagandha. Growing, harvesting, drying and medicinal uses.
25 Indian herbs और medicinal plants की complete encyclopedia — mint से ashwagandha तक। Growing, harvesting, drying और medicinal uses।
25 Edibles
Peppermint / Vilayati Pudina
पेपरमिंट / विलायती पुदीना
Mentha × piperita (natural hybrid — M. aquatica × M. spicata)
Peppermint — 40-55% menthol (vs spearmint 0.5%). NEVER for infants. Keep SEPARATE from spearmint (hybridize). IBS = comparable to antispasmodics. Headache = comparable to paracetamol.
🌱 From cuttings only (sterile hybrid) | ALWAYS separate from spearmint
⏱️ Before flowering — peak menthol 40-55%. Keep SEPARATE from spearmint!
Rosemary
रोज़मेरी
Salvia rosmarinus (formerly Rosmarinus officinalis)
Rosemary — memory improves just from SMELLING it (room study!). Hair = minoxidil comparable (RCT). Terracotta pot ONLY. Never cut old wood. Overwatering = #1 killer. 15-20 year perennial.
🌱 From cuttings | Sept-Nov or Feb-March | NEVER cut old woody stems
⏱️ First: 6-8 weeks from cutting | Perennial 15-20 years
Thyme
थाइम / अजवायन पत्ता
Thymus vulgaris (common) | T. citriodorus (lemon thyme)
Thyme — Thymol = Listerine's active ingredient! Similar to ajwain flavor. Poor lean soil = MORE thymol. Flowers edible. Cough: Bronchipret RCT. More heat-tolerant than rosemary.
🌱 Cuttings or seed | Sept-Nov or Feb-April | Terracotta pot
⏱️ First: 6-8 weeks | Perennial 3-5 years | Just before flowering = peak thymol
Oregano / Ajwain Patta
ओरेगानो / अजवायन पत्ता
Origanum vulgare (common) | O. vulgare subsp. hirtum (Greek — strongest)
Oregano — pizza packet = same herb you can grow! Dried IMPROVES flavor (concentrate oils). Carvacrol studied vs MRSA. Most heat-tolerant Mediterranean herb. Home-grown 3-5x more aromatic.
🌱 Seed or cutting | Sept-Nov or Feb-April | Dries BETTER than fresh!
⏱️ First: 6-8 weeks | Perennial 3-5 years | Just before flowering = peak
Parsley
पार्सले
Petroselinum crispum (curly) | P. crispum var. neapolitanum (flat-leaf/Italian)
Parsley — EAT THE GARNISH (1367% Vitamin K + apigenin #1 source!). Pre-soak seeds 24 hrs (germination doubles!). Oct-Feb only. Warfarin users: consistent intake. Tabbouleh = parsley salad.
🌱 September-October | PRE-SOAK seeds 24 hours (germination 40% → 80%!)
⏱️ First: 6-8 weeks | Oct-Feb season | Outer leaves first always
Dill / Sowa / Shepu
सोया / सोवा / शेपू / सुवा
Anethum graveolens
Dill / Sowa — India's OWN ancient herb (Shatapushpa)! Market sowa = free planting seeds. Gripe water origin. KEEP AWAY from fennel (cross-pollinate). Direct sow only (taproot). Self-seeds forever.
🌱 October-November DIRECT SOW (hates transplanting — taproot!) | Self-seeds!
⏱️ Leaves: 4-6 weeks | Seeds: 3-4 months | Keep AWAY from fennel!
Tulsi / Holy Basil
तुलसी / होली बेसिल
Ocimum tenuiflorum (syn. O. sanctum) — NOT sweet basil (O. basilicum)
Tulsi — India's sacred living deity. NOT sweet basil (completely different!). Ancient puja care rules = sound horticulture. Chew 10-12 raw leaves morning. Krishna tulsi = most medicinal. Cortisol proven.
🌱 March-June from seed | Year-round from cuttings | Perennial South India
⏱️ First: 6-8 weeks | Continuous | Pinch flowers (except puja manjari)
Ajwain / Carom Seeds
अजवायन
Trachyspermum ammi (syn. Carum copticum)
Ajwain — 30-35% thymol (same as Listerine, MORE concentrated!). Market ajwain = free planting seeds! Leaves edible as vegetable (Rajasthan). Direct sow only. Pregnancy large doses: caution.
🌱 Sept-Oct DIRECT SOW only (taproot) | Market ajwain seeds = planting seeds!
⏱️ Leaves: 4-6 weeks | Seeds: 3-4 months | Dry conditions = more thymol in seeds
Shatavari / Wild Asparagus
शतावरी
Asparagus racemosus
Shatavari — women's rasayana AND men too! Milk +33% (clinical). Shoots edible like asparagus. Wears gloves (thorns). 15-20 year perennial. Asparagus allergy: caution.
🌱 June-July or March-April | From seed or plant | Deep pit, trellis/support needed
⏱️ Year 2: shoots | Year 3: roots (partial harvest) | Perennial 15-20 years
Showing 9 of 25 edibles
🌐 Explore DotIAM Network
Our other free platforms you'll love