HERBISAURUS

Snake gourd or serpent gourd is a member of the cucumber family. It is used as a vegetable in many parts of the world. The is the fruit of a climber which grows up to 20 meters high. It has hairy and lobed leaves and unisexual white flowers which open late in the evening. The fruit itself is long, growing up to 1-2 feet in length. It has a green waxy surface with greyish white strips. It has a mucilaginous flesh with many edible seeds. It is native of South East Asia and grow

Valley fever or California disease aka desert rheumatism is a fungal disease endemic to California, South Arizona and Mexico. It can also occur in dogs and other pet animals. The fever can last for few weeks or sometimes a few months. However, it is not contagious and may not require any treatment in mild cases. Causes: Valley fever is caused by fungal infections from fungus present in the soil. The spores of fungus present in the air affect the lungs when inhaled. People wit

Potato is a starchy and tuberous vegetable consumed all over the world. There are thousands of varieties of potatoes. Potatoes can be boiled, baked, roasted and fried. The potato plant is a perennial herb that grows up to a height of 2-3 feet. It has brown or purple edible underground stem (which we know as potato), bright green leaves, and white, pink or purple coloured flowers with yellow stamens. It is a native of America and grown in many other countries including hilly s

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common behavioural and psychiatric problem in children. It affects both boys and girls but is more common in boys. The symptoms of ADHD Include difficulty in paying attention, and hyperactive and impulsive behaviour. There are three types of ADHD, a hyperactive but attentive type, an impulsive type, and a combined type where all symptoms are observed. The problem can persist through adolescence and even adulthood. It can be

Rheumatoid nodules are lumps that develop under the skin near joints in people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. They can occur in joints in hands, fingers, elbows, and knuckles. The lumps can vary in size and may or may not be painful. The lumps put pressure on the nerves and make movements of joints difficult. A change in voice occurs if they develop near the vocal cords. The nodules may also appear around the lungs and heart, causing shortness of breath. Roughly 40% of

Chickpeas or Garbanzo beans (Chana and chholey in Hindi, Bengal gram in English) have been a part of our palate since the early civilizations. Chickpeas belong to the pea family. The chickpea plant grows up to a height of 2-3 feet, bears small feathery leaves, white flowers with blue or purple thin stripes followed by green pods containing the beans or seeds. There are two kinds of chickpeas. The smaller variety with darker seeds is known as Bengal gram; this is cultivated in

Green peas (English peas, sweet peas and garden peas) are green round seeds obtained from the pods of plants of the pea family. They are used as vegetable and as beans all over the world in the winters. They form an important ingredient in many cuisines. They can be consumed fresh, preserved in dried form, or frozen. Chemical composition: Protein, fibre, vitamins A, B, C and K, large amount of folate, minerals such as manganese, magnesium, iron, potassium, copper, zinc and ph

Thorny bamboo (also known as Vanshalochan, Bams or Kantabams in Hindi) is a member of grass family. The plant can grow up to the height of 35 meters. The bamboo plant has multiple stems with orange yellow streaks. The nodes are quite prominent and the leaves are long. The plant is a native of India. Part used: Leaves, leaf buds, roots, bamboo extract. Chemical composition: Proteins, carbohydrate, calcium, iron, magnesium, copper, vitamins B and C. Medical benefits: Bamboo roo

Agnishikha (fire lily, glory lily, tiger claw, flame lily or climbing lily in English, Garbhghatini in Hindi) is a perennial climber that grows up to a height of 3-6 meters. It has tuberous roots, green spirally arranged lanceolate leaves and bears bright coloured flowers with six wavy petals resembling of flames. The lower half of each petal is yellow and upper half is red. The fruit is shaped as a capsule and contains many seeds. It is native to Asia and is found in India,

Common thyme is a herbaceous plant with aromatic leaves, which are used commonly as flavouring in salads, soups, sauces, and stews. Thyme grows up to a height of 1-3 feet. It has many stems which bear oval green leaves, bisexual white and pink flowers, and woody roots. It grows in the dry slopes of the Mediterranean region. It is a native of Southern Europe. Part used: Leaves (dry and fresh) contain aromatic oil. Chemical composition: Essential oil in the leaves contains arom