HomeIngredients

Reference

Ingredient library

50 actives we formulate with, what each one is, how it is traditionally used, and the specification and safety notes that matter.

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Ingredient group

Adaptogen

Ashwagandha

Withania somnifera

The most searched adaptogenic herb in the world, and the one Indian manufacturers are asked for more than any other.

Ingredient group

Rasayana / vitamin C source

Amla

Emblica officinalis

India's most trusted everyday herb, naturally rich in vitamin C, and one of the three fruits in triphala.

Ingredient group

Immunity / rasayana

Giloy

Tinospora cordifolia

A specialist Ayurvedic herb until 2020, when it became one of the most searched health terms in India, and the recognition stuck.

Ingredient group

Respiratory / adaptogen

Tulsi

Ocimum sanctum

The herb with the deepest cultural trust in India, grown in courtyards, treated as sacred, and recognised by everyone.

Ingredient group

Classical formulation

Triphala

Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellirica, Emblica officinalis

The most sold Ayurvedic powder in India, and the single largest content opportunity in the whole category.

Ingredient group

Digestive / one third of triphala

Haritaki

Terminalia chebula

One of the three fruits in triphala, and the one most associated with regularity.

Ingredient group

One third of triphala

Bibhitaki

Terminalia bellirica

The third fruit of triphala, traditionally associated with the respiratory tract as well as digestion.

Ingredient group

Medhya rasayana (cognitive)

Brahmi

Bacopa monnieri

The classical memory herb, and one of the few Ayurvedic herbs with a reasonable body of cognitive research behind it.

Shankhpushpi

Convolvulus pluricaulis

A classical cognitive herb used alongside brahmi, with a calming rather than stimulating character.

Ingredient group

Nidrajanak (sleep)

Jatamansi

Nardostachys jatamansi

The classical Ayurvedic sleep herb, and the ingredient that makes a stress product convert on the sleep benefit rather than the abstract one.

Ingredient group

Rasayana / mineral

Shilajit

Purified shilajit (mineral pitch)

The ingredient Indian men recognise first, and the most adulterated ingredient in Indian herbal supply.

Ingredient group

Vajikarana

Safed Musli

Chlorophytum borivilianum

A classical vajikarana herb used in men's vitality formulations, and a significant cost driver in them.

Ingredient group

Vajikarana / fertility

Kaunch Beej

Mucuna pruriens

The classical herb most studied in connection with male fertility, and a core component of fertility formulations.

Ingredient group

Urinary / vajikarana

Gokshura

Tribulus terrestris

A classical urinary-tract herb that also appears throughout men's wellness formulations, genuinely useful in both.

Ingredient group

Female rasayana

Shatavari

Asparagus racemosus

The principal classical women's tonic in Ayurveda, and one of the most under-served search opportunities in Hindi.

Ingredient group

Stri-roga (women's health)

Ashoka

Saraca asoca

A classical women's herb used for monthly-cycle support, almost always alongside lodhra and shatavari.

Lodhra

Symplocos racemosa

A classical women's herb used with ashoka, completing the traditional stri-roga base.

Ingredient group

Gland support

Kanchnar

Bauhinia variegata

The classical herb most associated with gland and growth formulations, and the base of kanchnar guggulu.

Ingredient group

Metabolic / antimicrobial

Daruharidra

Berberis aristata

A berberine-bearing classical herb used in metabolic, skin and piles formulations.

Ingredient group

Kidney / fluid balance

Punarnava

Boerhavia diffusa

The principal classical kidney herb, and one of the most widely used ingredients in this catalogue.

Ingredient group

Urinary / stone

Pashanbhed

Bergenia ligulata

The herb Indian families name for kidney stones, the name itself means "stone breaker".

Ingredient group

Urinary

Varun

Crataeva nurvala

A classical urinary herb used in kidney, stone and prostate formulations.

Ingredient group

Liver

Kutki

Picrorhiza kurroa

An intensely bitter classical liver herb, and one of the costlier ingredients in a liver formulation.

Bhumyamalaki

Phyllanthus niruri

The backbone of most Ayurvedic liver formulations, and the herb a liver product is usually built around.

Ingredient group

Liver / immunity

Kalmegh

Andrographis paniculata

Known as the king of bitters, used in liver and immunity formulations.

Ingredient group

Hair / liver

Bhringraj

Eclipta alba

Kesharaja, the king of hair, and the ingredient that gives a hair oil its classical credibility.

Ingredient group

Raktashodhak (blood purifier)

Manjistha

Rubia cordifolia

The classical blood-purifier herb, and the backbone of Ayurvedic skin formulations.

Ingredient group

Raktashodhak / antimicrobial

Neem

Azadirachta indica

Universally recognised in India, and bought mostly by a young acne-motivated audience rather than by traditional users.

Ingredient group

Anti-inflammatory

Haridra / Curcumin

Curcuma longa

The most misrepresented ingredient in this industry, kitchen turmeric routinely sold as a 95% curcumin extract.

Ingredient group

Joint

Shallaki

Boswellia serrata

The most recognised joint herb in Ayurveda, and the one international buyers know as boswellia.

Ingredient group

Musculoskeletal

Nirgundi

Vitex negundo

A classical herb for muscular and joint comfort, used both orally and in pain-relief oils.

Ingredient group

Lipid / joint

Guggul

Commiphora wightii

A classical resin used across lipid, joint and thyroid formulations, and the base of many classical guggulu preparations.

Ingredient group

Cardiac

Arjuna

Terminalia arjuna

The heart herb in Ayurveda, recognised immediately by older Indian customers.

Ingredient group

Respiratory

Vasaka

Adhatoda vasica

The principal classical respiratory herb, and the signal ingredient in any shwas-kasa formulation.

Ingredient group

Throat / digestive / skin

Mulethi

Glycyrrhiza glabra

A sweet classical herb used for throat comfort, stomach comfort and, as an extract, for skin brightening.

Ingredient group

Respiratory / cardiac

Pushkarmool

Inula racemosa

A classical herb used in respiratory and cardiac formulations, often alongside vasaka or arjuna.

Ingredient group

Metabolic

Karela

Momordica charantia

The herb Indian customers associate instantly with blood sugar, advice that circulates between relatives without any brand involvement.

Jamun

Syzygium cumini

Traditionally paired with karela for metabolic wellness, and the seed is the part that matters.

Gudmar

Gymnema sylvestre

Called the sugar-destroyer in the classical texts, and a standard component of metabolic formulations.

Ingredient group

Metabolic / digestive

Methi

Trigonella foenum-graecum

A kitchen seed with genuine fibre content, used across metabolic and women's formulations.

Ingredient group

Weight management

Garcinia

Garcinia cambogia

The most recognised single ingredient in weight management, and one of the most volatile on price.

Ingredient group

Superfood / nutrition

Moringa

Moringa oleifera

The one Indian herb with genuine international superfood status, which makes it the natural export product.

Ingredient group

Superfood / green

Wheatgrass

Triticum aestivum

A green-nutrition staple that brings a younger, nutrition-literate customer into an otherwise traditional range.

Ingredient group

Superfood / protein

Spirulina

Arthrospira platensis

Around 60% protein by weight, with strong vegan appeal, and the most contamination-sensitive ingredient in this catalogue.

Ingredient group

Digestive / skin

Aloe Vera

Aloe barbadensis

Three stories in one ingredient, digestion, skin and hair, and the single most versatile product in personal care.

Ingredient group

Piles / digestive

Nagkesar

Mesua ferrea

The classical herb specifically associated with piles, and the category signal on that label.

Ingredient group

Skin / circulation

Gotu Kola

Centella asiatica

A classical herb used for skin repair and circulation, and widely used in modern cosmetics as centella.

Ingredient group

Skin / premium

Saffron

Crocus sativus

The premium Indian beauty ingredient, and the core of the classical kumkumadi formulation.

Ingredient group

Skin / aromatic

Sandalwood

Santalum album

A classical cooling and aromatic skin ingredient, heavily regulated and heavily substituted.

Ingredient group

Hair

Hibiscus

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

A classical hair herb used in oils and shampoos, with good recognition and very low cost.

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NutraHerbal manufactures food supplements, Ayurvedic proprietary medicines and cosmetics for business customers. Product information on this site describes composition, format and commercial positioning for brand owners. It is not medical advice, does not claim to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and is not a substitute for consulting a qualified practitioner. Final label claims are the brand owner's responsibility and must be approved for the destination market.