Herbs

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Healing herbs from Ayurvedic, Western, and traditional medicine — properties, preparations, and dosha guidance.

111 herbs

Medicinal herbs are the oldest form of medicine, used across every culture for thousands of years. This guide covers herbs from Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Western herbalism — their properties, preparations, and traditional applications for supporting health and balance.

Agarikon

Balances Kapha, can aggravate Vata and Pitta in excess due to its drying and heating qualities

Ajwain

Balances Vata and Kapha, may increase Pitta in excess

Aloe Vera

Balances all three doshas (tridoshahara), especially Pitta and Kapha

Amalaki

Balances all three doshas (tridoshahara), especially Pitta

American Ginseng

Balances Vata and Pitta, may mildly increase Kapha in excess

Andrographis

Balances Pitta and Kapha, increases Vata in excess

Arjuna

Balances Pitta and Kapha, may slightly increase Vata in excess

Arnica

Balances Kapha and Vata (topically), may strongly aggravate Pitta; internal use requires extreme caution

Artichoke Leaf

Balances Pitta and Kapha, may increase Vata in excess

Ashoka

Balances Pitta and Kapha, may increase Vata in excess

Ashwagandha

Balances Vata and Kapha, may increase Pitta in excess due to heating virya

Astragalus

Balances Vata and Kapha, generally neutral to Pitta in moderate doses

Bakuchi

Balances Kapha and Vata. May aggravate Pitta due to its heating nature, especially in excess.

Bala

Balances Vata and Pitta, may increase Kapha in excess due to its heavy, sweet nature

Bhringaraj

Balances Vata and Kapha, may increase Pitta in large doses but generally considered tridoshic due to its liver-cooling effect

Bibhitaki

Balances all three doshas, especially Kapha. Its astringent and heating qualities strongly reduce Kapha, while its sweet vipaka pacifies Vata and Pitta.

Black Cohosh

Balances Pitta and Kapha, may aggravate Vata in excess

Black Pepper

Strongly reduces Kapha and Vata. Increases Pitta. One of the most potent Kapha-reducing spices in the Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia.

Boswellia

Balances all three doshas (tridoshic), particularly effective for Pitta and Kapha

Brahmi

Balances all three doshas (tridoshahara), especially Pitta and Kapha; its cooling and nourishing qualities also calm Vata in the nervous system

Burdock Root

Balances Pitta and Kapha, may increase Vata in excess due to its drying and cooling nature

Calendula

Balances Pitta and Kapha, generally neutral to Vata

California Poppy

Balances Pitta and Vata, may increase Kapha in excess

Cardamom

Balances all three doshas (tridoshahara); particularly effective for Vata and Kapha without aggravating Pitta

Cat's Claw

Balances Pitta and Kapha, may aggravate Vata in excess

Chaga

Balances Pitta and Kapha, may increase Vata in excess due to its drying quality

Chamomile

Balances Pitta and Vata, mildly reduces Kapha

Chitrak

Strongly balances Vata and Kapha, significantly increases Pitta — must be used with care by Pitta types

Chyawanprash

Tridoshahara — balances all three doshas. The multiplicity of ingredients creates a formula that is warming enough for Kapha and Vata without aggravating Pitta, due to the heavy Amalaki base.

Cinnamon

Balances Vata and Kapha, may increase Pitta in excess

Cordyceps

Balances Vata and Kapha, may mildly increase Pitta in excess

Coriander

Balances all three doshas (tridoshahara); particularly effective for Pitta, and gentle enough for Vata and Kapha

Cumin

Balances all three doshas (tridoshahara), especially Pitta and Kapha; mildly pacifies Vata due to its digestive action

Dandelion

Balances Pitta and Kapha, may mildly increase Vata in excess

Dashamoola

Primarily pacifies Vata, also reduces Kapha. May slightly increase Pitta in excess due to its heating nature, though the bitter and astringent tastes provide some Pitta-balancing effect.

Devil's Claw

Balances Pitta and Kapha, may aggravate Vata in excess

Dong Quai

Balances Vata and Kapha, may increase Pitta in excess

Echinacea

Balances Pitta and Kapha, may increase Vata in excess with prolonged use

Elderberry

Balances Pitta and Kapha, generally neutral for Vata

Eleuthero

Balances Vata and Kapha, may increase Pitta in excess

Evening Primrose

Balances Pitta and Vata, may mildly increase Kapha in excess

Fennel

Balances all three doshas (tridoshahara); especially effective for Pitta and Vata, mildly pacifies Kapha

Fenugreek

Balances Vata and Kapha, may increase Pitta in excess due to heating nature

Ginger

Balances Vata and Kapha; fresh ginger may increase Pitta, dried ginger (Shunthi) is milder and better tolerated by Pitta in moderation

Ginkgo Biloba

Balances Pitta and Kapha, may increase Vata in excess with prolonged use

Gokshura

Balances all three doshas (tridoshahara), especially pacifies Vata and Pitta. Generally does not aggravate Kapha due to its diuretic properties.

Gotu Kola

Balances all three doshas (tridoshahara). Primarily pacifies Pitta and Kapha. Can increase Vata if used in excess due to its light, dry qualities.

Green Tea

Balances Kapha and Pitta in moderate amounts. Can aggravate Vata when consumed in excess due to its astringent, drying, and stimulating qualities. Light caffeine content may disturb Vata sleep patterns.

Guduchi

Balances all three doshas (tridoshahara). Its bitter taste pacifies Pitta and Kapha, while its heating virya and sweet vipaka prevent Vata aggravation.

Guggulu

Balances all three doshas when used appropriately. Primarily reduces Vata and Kapha. May aggravate Pitta if used in excess due to its heating nature.

Haritaki

Balances all three doshas (tridoshahara). Especially effective for Vata due to its heating virya and sweet vipaka. The only herb said to balance Vata despite its astringent taste.

Hawthorn Berry

Balances all three doshas (tridoshic); particularly benefits Pitta and Vata

He Shou Wu

Balances Vata and Pitta, may increase Kapha in excess due to its heavy, nourishing quality

Hops

Balances Pitta and Kapha, may increase Vata in excess

Horsetail

Balances Pitta and Kapha. The cooling, astringent, and diuretic properties make it well-suited for reducing excess Pitta heat and Kapha congestion. Can aggravate Vata if used in excess or long-term due to its drying quality and diuretic action.

Jatamansi

Balances all three doshas (tridoshahara). Primarily pacifies Pitta and Kapha. Especially effective for calming aggravated Pitta in the mind and nervous system.

Kalonji

Balances Vata and Kapha. May aggravate Pitta in excess due to its heating nature. Best suited for Vata-Kapha conditions.

Kapikacchu

Balances Vata strongly. Pacifies Pitta moderately due to its sweet taste. May increase Kapha in excess due to its heavy, nourishing nature.

Kava

Balances Vata, may increase Pitta in excess, mildly reduces Kapha

Kutki

Strongly pacifies Pitta and Kapha. May aggravate Vata if used excessively or for prolonged periods due to its cold, dry, and light qualities.

Lavender

Balances Pitta and Vata, neutral for Kapha

Lemon Balm

Balances Pitta and Vata, mildly reduces Kapha

Licorice

Balances Vata and Pitta. May increase Kapha in excess due to its sweet, heavy, and moist nature.

Lion's Mane

Balances Vata and Pitta, neutral to mildly pacifying for Kapha

Lodhra

Balances Pitta and Kapha. Its cooling and astringent qualities strongly pacify Pitta, while its drying action reduces Kapha. May slightly increase Vata in excess due to its dryness.

Long Pepper

Balances Vata and Kapha. The sweet vipaka prevents excessive Pitta aggravation despite the pungent taste, though it can still increase Pitta if used in large amounts long-term.

Maca

Balances Vata and Kapha, may increase Pitta in excess with large doses

Magnolia Bark

Balances Kapha and Vata, may increase Pitta in excess

Maitake

Balances all three doshas (tridoshic), with particular benefit for Kapha and Pitta conditions

Manjistha

Balances Pitta and Kapha primarily. May slightly aggravate Vata in excess due to its bitter and astringent taste, though the heating virya provides some mitigation.

Marshmallow Root

Balances Pitta and Vata, may increase Kapha in excess

Milk Thistle

Balances Pitta and Kapha, neutral to mildly increases Vata in excess

Moringa

Balances Vata and Kapha. May aggravate Pitta in excess due to its heating, pungent nature. The leaves are somewhat milder than the bark and root.

Mullein

Balances Pitta and Kapha, mildly pacifies Vata

Musta

Balances Pitta and Kapha. May aggravate Vata if used excessively due to its dry, light qualities.

Myrrh

VK– P+ (decreases Vata and Kapha; increases Pitta in excess; balanced for Vata-Kapha types in winter, used cautiously by Pitta types and in summer)

Neem

Strongly pacifies Pitta and Kapha. Aggravates Vata if used excessively or for prolonged periods due to its cold, dry, and light nature.

Nettle

Balances Pitta and Kapha due to its cooling, drying, and astringent properties. May aggravate Vata in excess because of its drying and light qualities, though the nutritive mineral content of the leaf partially offsets this.

Nirgundi

Strongly pacifies Vata and Kapha. May increase Pitta in excess. Considered one of the most effective single herbs for Vata-type pain and inflammation.

Olive Leaf

Balances Pitta and Kapha, may increase Vata in excess

Panax Ginseng

Balances Vata and Kapha, may increase Pitta in excess

Passionflower

Balances Pitta and Vata, neutral to mildly increasing for Kapha

Peppermint

Balances Pitta and Kapha. Peppermint's strong cooling virya makes it an ideal Pitta pacifier, while its pungent rasa and drying quality help clear excess Kapha. In small amounts it won't aggravate Vata, but extended use of high-dose essential oil preparations can increase Vata through its drying and dispersing action. Vata types should use it in moderation and pair it with warming, grounding herbs.

Poria

Balances all three doshas (tridoshic), with particular benefit for Kapha and Pitta water-related conditions

Punarnava

Balances all three doshas (tridoshahara). Particularly effective for Kapha due to its diuretic and Lekhana (scraping) properties. Suitable for Vata due to heating virya. Generally safe for Pitta in moderate doses despite heating nature.

Raspberry Leaf

Balances Pitta and Kapha, generally neutral to Vata

Red Clover

Balances Pitta and Vata, may mildly increase Kapha in excess

Reishi

Tridoshic — balances all three doshas, particularly effective for Pitta and Vata

Rhodiola

Balances Vata and Pitta, neutral to mildly pacifying for Kapha

Rosemary

Reduces Kapha and Vata. Can increase Pitta when used in excess or in concentrated essential oil form. Its warming, stimulating, and drying qualities make it a strong Kapha remedy and a useful Vata support in moderate doses, but Pitta types need caution with both the essential oil and prolonged internal use.