Glossary Recipes P!

 
 A spice is a dried seed, fruit, root, bark, leaf, or vegetative substance used in nutritionally insignificant quantities as a food additive for the purpose of flavour, colour, or as a preservative that kills harmful bacteria or prevents their growth.Spices, however, are dried and often ground or grated into a powder.

 
 Many of these substances are also used for other purposes, such as medicine, religious rituals, cosmetics, perfumery or eating as vegetables. For example, turmeric is also used as a preservative; liquorice as a medicine; garlic as a vegetable. In some cases they are referred to by different terms.

 
 Contents: Pak choy | pancetta | paprika | parrot wrasse | Parsnip | Pasilla chile | Passion fruit | Pea | Peach | Peanut | Pecan nut | Pepino | Peppercorn | Perch | Persimmon | Pickling cucumber | Pigmented orange | Pimento | Pimento olive | Pine nut | Pineapple | Pink bean | Pipin apple | Plum | Plum tomato | Pomegranate | Poppy seed | Pulses | Purple potatoes | Purslane | Purple Perilla Leaves | Polygonum Cuspidatum | Pueraria root | Pine Bark | Pilose asiabell root | Plantain Seed | Poriae cocos | Picrorrhiza Root | Peach leaves | Potato papa | Pumpkin | Pumpkin Seeds | Polygala tenuifolia | Psoralea corylifolia | Pyritum | Peach Kernel | Petasides hybridus | Pine Nuts | Papaver rhoeas | Parmelia perlata | Peganum harmala | Phoenix dactylifera | Phyllanthus amarus | Picrorhiza kurroa | Pinus roxburghii | Piper longum | Piper nigrum | Pistacia vera | Plumbago zeylanica | Pongamia glabra | Praval bhasma | Praval pishti | Prunus amygdalus | Prunus armeniaca | Psoralea corylifolia | Pterocarpus marsupium | Pterocarpus santalinus | Punica granatum | Pyrus malus | Papaver Somniferum | Peganum Harmala | Piper Longum | Podina | Psyllium Husk | Pterocarpus Marsupium | Punica Granatum |

 
  Pak choy:Botanical Name:Pak choy
A loose leaved Chinese brassica Brassica rapa var. chinensis with white leaf stems and dark, succulent mild leaves, very fast growing and cooked when young with at most 12 opened leaves (also called pak choi, pak soi, bok choy, bok choi, celery cabbage).

 
  pancetta:Belly of pork cured with salt and spices, rolled up and eaten either raw in thin slices or cooked in thicker slices.

 
  Paprika:A mild, powdered seasoning made from red sweet peppers. (Hungary)

 
  Parrot wrasse:Botanical Name:parrot wrasse
A very tasty fish with lovely bright colors, thick lips and a robust body that slightly resembles saddled bream. It's a very clean fish that can be baked without removal of the intestines. Rarely found along the majority of Greek coasts, it is however plentiful off the coast of Crete and around the islands of the Dodecanese. It is usually baked.

 
  Parsnip:Botanical Name:parsnip
A biennial plant "Pastinaca sativa" whose long (up to 25 cm) conical tap root is harvested as a winter root vegetable in the first year. The roots have a cream sweetish flesh with a distinctive flavor and are best after being frosted. Served boiled, roasted, fried or pureed, etc.

 
  Pasilla chile:Botanical Name:pasilla chile
A variety of long, hot and dark brown chilli, commonly dried

 
  Passion fruit:Botanical Name:passion fruit
A large (to 7.5 cm dia) globular fruit "Passiflora edulis" with a hard wrinkled purple to black skin containing a deliciously flavored mucilaginous yellow pulp full of small edible seeds. The pulp is scooped out for eating or use in desserts or it may be sieved to use as a flavoring.

 
  Pea:Botanical Name:Pisum sativum
The fruit of a climbing legume "Pisum sativum" grown extensively in temperate climates, consisting of a green pod to 10 cm long containing a row of soft, round green seeds which become hard and brown when ripe. The fully ripe seed is brown and used as animal and bird food in developed countries but may also be used as a pulse.

 
  Peach:Botanical Name:Prunus persica
The fruit of a deciduous tree "Prunus persica" originally from China but now cultivated worldwide in temperate climates. The sweet juicy flesh may be white, yellow or orange, surrounds a large rough central stone and is enclosed in a downy skin ranging in color from cream to orange/pink. Used both raw and poached as a dessert and for jam.
Cooking Tips:They could be easily peeled if dipped in hot water for 5 minutes. If they are not ripe then store them in paper bags to help them ripen faster.

 
  Peanut:Botanical Name:Arachis hypogaea
A plant "Arachis hypogaea" from South America whose fertilized flowers send shoot-like structures into the soil where the immature fruits develop as two to four nuts in a light brown, dry and soft shell or pod, each nut being covered by a thin papery skin. They are eaten raw or roasted as a snack food and are a major source of oil and protein.

 
  Pecan nut:Botanical Name:pecan nut
The central stone of the fruit of a large hickory (pecan) tree "Carya illinoensis" from central and southern USA. It has walnut-like wrinkled flesh enclosed in a smooth oval brown outer shell. Eaten raw or cooked.

 
  Pepino:Botanical Name:
A large round or oval fruit of a plant related to the tomato. It has a yellow to green, smooth, shiny and bitter skin streaked with purple, a sweet, slightly acid, yellow flesh and a central mass of white seeds. Eaten fresh or in cooked sweet or savory dishes

 
  Peppercorn:Botanical Name:Piper nigrum
The berries from a perennial vine "Piper nigrum" harvested at different stages of maturity with a pungent taste. Unripe green peppercorns can be preserved in brine or vinegar and are used whole or crushed. If the green berries are allowed to ferment and then dried they become black peppercorns. White peppercorns are the dried, dehusked ripe berries. All forms are used whole for flavoring. Black and white are also ground for use as a flavoring agent or as a condiment.

 
  Perch:Small rockfish with a longish, slightly flat body and beautiful colors, the main ones being chestnut, red, blue and white. There are brown specks around the jaw and mouth area. The perch has a large mouth and very sharp teeth. This is a delicious fish, which produces excellent fish soup, but is equally tasty grilled. It can weigh up to 300 grams.

 
  Persimmon:Botanical Name:persimmon
A large tomato-like fruit from a large group of tropical trees. The green inedible skin turns a glossy yellow-orange as the fruit matures and has a central core of seeds like an apple and a large calyx. May be used as a decoration, in jam making or may be dried (also called kaki).

 
  Pickling cucumber:Cucumbers or cucumber pieces or slices pickled in sliced brine or vinegar.

 
  Pigmented orange:A type of sweet orange which develops red pigmentation (anthocyanins) in the flesh adjacent to segment walls and near the flower end. The flavor is distinctive and is sometimes said to resemble that of the raspberry or cherry. As they require low night temperatures to develop the red color they tend only to be grown in the Mediterranean and similar climates (also called blood orange).
Cooking Tips:The oranges are easier to peel and mainly the white membrane if we dip them in hot water for 5 minutes.

 
  Pimento:A variety of red, yellow or green sweet pepper with a good flavor often sold canned or bottled. Also called pimiento.

 
  Pimento olive:Green olives stuffed with pimento peppers.

 
  Pine nut:Botanical Name:Pinus pinea
The seed of the Mediterranean stone pine tree "Pinus pinea" from the Mediterranean and North Africa. They are sold shelled, are cream colored with a slightly resinous flavor and oily texture and about the size of a lemon pip. Popular in Middle Eastern and Italian cooking and used to make pesto.

 
  Pineapple:Botanical Name:Ananas comosus
The fruit (to 30 cm long and 15 cm dia.) of a tropical plant "Ananas comosus" which is the result of the coalescence of the fruits of a hundred or more flowers. Used as a dessert fruit or in savory dishes, e.g with pork. The uncooked juice, which contains active proteases, may be used to tenderize meat and will prevent gelatin based jellies from setting.

 
  Pink bean:Botanical Name:Phaseolus vulgaris
A variety of pale kidney bean "Phaseolus vulgaris" with bright red markings, popular in Spain, Mexico and North America (also called pinto bean).

 
  Pipin apple:This is a firm, tart apple that's great for pies, baking, and applesauce (also called Newtown Pippin apple).

 
  Plum:Botanical Name:Prunus domestica
The fruit of deciduous trees "Prunus domestica" and other "Prunus" spp. with yellow through purple skin usually with a fine bloom of wild yeast, a central stone and a generally sweet flesh. There are many varieties, while dried plums are known as prunes.

 
  Plum tomato:A bright red elongated Italian tomato with a good flavor. The principal variety used for canning.
Cooking Tips:To peel them easily carve a cross on the bottom of the tomato and dip them for 3 minutes in hot water or boiling water and then immediately dip in cold water. To make a tomato sauce, the seeds must be removed because they usually have a bitter taste and they also cause indigestion. If they are bought unripe, then wrap them in paper and store in a cool and bright place for approximately 4 to 5 days or until ripe. They are best preserved if they are placed with the stem facing down. For a sauce 1 cup of canned tomatoes is equivalent to 1 1/2 cups fresh tomatoes, peeled and without seeds.

 
  Pomegranate:Botanical Name:Punica granatum
The beige to red fruit of the pomegranate tree "Punica granatum", up to 8 cm in diameter with a hard skin filled with numerous seeds each in a red, juicy, fleshy sac. Sweet varieties are eaten (rather messily) as a dessert. Seeds of the sour pomegranate have a sweet-sour taste and are used as a garnish in the Middle East. The dried, ground seeds, known as anardana, are used as a souring agent and with bread, vegetables and pulses in North India (also called Chinese apple).

 
  Poppy seed:The ripe seeds of an annual poppy which vary in color form cream through to almost black according to origin. They have a slightly nutty aroma and flavor and are often sprinkled on bread and cakes or crushed with honey or sugar to make pastry fillings. Used with other spices in Indian cooking.

 
  Pulses:Botanical Name:The general name for most dried leguminous seeds used for their protein content, such as beans, peas, lentils, etc.
Cooking Tips:If they are too salty add some brown sugar and some vinegar or stir in some more legumes boiled but unsalted. If there is no time to soak them, then boil with a little baking powder for approximately 40 minutes, rinse and bake normally. To examine their quality, place them in water, the ones that float are not good.

 
  Purple potatoes:Botanical Name:purple potatoes

 
  Purslane:A plant of two distinct types, summer purslane which is half hardy annual and winter purslane which is fully hardy.

 
  Purple Perilla Leaves:Botanical Name:Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. var. arguta (Benth.) Hand. - Mazz.
English Name:Dentidia nankinensis; Ocimum frutescens; Perilla arguta; Perilla frutescens var. japonica; Perilla nankinensis; Perilla ocimoides;Chinese basil;Rattlesnake Weed;Perilla frutescens Britton;Lamiaceae-heimo;Perilla crispa;Perilla-Purple;Wild coleus,Folium Perillae, English Name: Perilla Leaf;the purple-leafed variety Perilla Red;Purple common perilla Leaf.
Annual herb with purple foliage, spikes of lavender flowers in summer. It self-seeds abundantly in our garden, which makes for quite a display of massed plants. It's easy to pull up, though, and doesn't spread itself very far from the mother plant, so it really never becomes a nuisance.

 
  Polygonum Cuspidatum:Botanical Name:Polygonum cuspidatum(Polygonum cuspidatum sieb. et zucc; )
English Name:The weed Polygonurn cuspidaturn(Polygonum Cuspldatum P.E.);Polygonurn cuspidaturn, known as Hu-Chang and Ko-jo-kon;the roots of Polygonurn cuspidaturn Sieb. et Zucc.;Polygonurn multiflorurn Thumb. ;also named as Reynoutria japonica in Europe.
Polygonum cuspidatum was classified as Reynoutria japonica by Houttuyn in 1777 and as Polygonum cuspidatum by Siebold in 1846. It was not until the early part of the 20th century that these were discovered to be the same plant (Bailey, 1990). The plant is generally referred to as Polygonum cuspidatum by American authors and as Reynoutria japonica in the United Kingdom and Europe. Recent evidence suggests that this plant should be reclassified as Fallopia japonica (Bailey, 1990).

 
  Pueraria root:Botanical Name:Pueraria lobata (Willd.)ohwi
English Name:Pueraria root,kudzu root
Common Name:GeTiao(Means pieces of gegen),Fen Ge(Powder of Gegen),GanGe(mean sweet Gegen,"Gan"in pinyin means sweet in english),GeTeng(means Vine of Gegen,"Teng" means vine of a plant),LuHuo,HuangJin,JiQi,Wild Ge,etc.
vine plant and grow reach to about 10m in length,rigid yellow brown hair grow on all herb,cross leaves shape oval,rough hair both leave sides,dense flower in blue to purple,diameter about 5 to 10 cm,flower from May to September,Fruit from August to October.

 
  Pine Bark:Botanical Name:Pinus strobus
English Name:French Marine Pine Bark
Common Name:Pinus maritima, P. pinaster,white pine,French Marine Pine Bark Extract, French Maritime Pine Bark Extract, Leucoanthocyanidins, OPC, Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins, PCO, Pinus maritima, Pinus pinaster, Procyandiol Oligomers, Procyanodolic Oligomers, Pycnogenol, Pygenol
Pine Bark is a circulatory stimulant and mainly used as an herbal treatment to overcome or prevent the onset of colds and flu by increasing circulation. White Pine Bark is used as an expectorant and is also used as a tea for bronchitis, colds, coughs, and influenza. It is also a diuretic and is said to have a beneficial effect on the urinary tract.

 
  Pilose asiabell root:Botanical Name:Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae,Codonopsis Pilosula (Franch.) Nannf.,Codonopsis pilosulae,Pilose asiabell root
English Name:Radix Codonopsis pilosulae
Common Name:Coconopsis Root, Asiabell, Pilose Asiabell,Dangshen,Pilose asiabell root, Codonopsis,(Dang Shen)
This herb is theroot of Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf. (family Cam-panulaceae), the wild one being ha-bitually called wildTai dangshen, while the cultivated one Lu dangshen. The herb is chiefly produced in Shanxi, Saanxi, Gansu, and North-eastern China.It is dug in autumn, driedin the sun, and cutto segments for use.

 
  Plantain Seed:Botanical Name:1. Plantago asiatice L.; 2.Plantago depressa willd.
English Name:Semen plantaginis
Common Name:broad-leaved plantain,Ribwort,Snakeweed,Dooryard plantain, greater plantain, round-leaved plantain, way bread, and white man's foot.
Plantain Seed:Plantain Seed is the dried ripe seed of Plantago asiatica L. or Plantago depressa Willd.(Fam. Plantaginaceae).Ellipsoid, irregularly oblong or triangular oblong, slightly flattened, about 2 mm long, 1 mm wide. Externally yellowish-brown to dark brown, with fine wrinkles, and a grayish-white concave pointed hilm on one side. Texture hard. Odour, slight; taste, weak.

 
  Poriae cocos:Botanical Name:Poriae cocos,Poria cocos (schw.) wolf
English Name:Indian Bread
Common Name:Poria, Hoelen, poria cocos, fu ling, fu ling pi, fu shen
Poria is very widely used in Chinese herbalism. It is traditionally used as a Qi tonic to benefit the internal organs. It is a solid fungus which grows on the roots of old pine trees. It is mildly diuretic and sedative, and is considered to be highly nourishing. It is a mild Shen tonic. Poria has significant immune enhancing ability, similar to the other mushrooms in the tonic class.

 
  Picrorrhiza Root:Botanical Name:Picrorhiza Rhizome,Picrorrhiza kurroa
English Name:Picrorrhiza Root
Common Name:Picrorrhiza kurroa; Kutki; Katuka; Hu Huang Lian
Western Properties and Uses:Anti-bacterial,anti-fungal,anti-pyretic,cholagogue,stomachic,immune stimulant,anti-inflammatory,anti-coagulant,anti-parastatic(active against Leishmaniasis)

 
  Peach leaves:Botanical Name:Prunus persica (Prunus Persica L.)
English Name:Peach Leaves
Common Name:Amygdalis Persica (Linn.). Persica vulgaris Null.,Malus persica leaves,Persian Apple Leaves.
When first introduced it was called Malus persica, or Persian Apple. The expedition of Alexander probably made it known to Theophrastus, 392 B.C., who speaks of it as a Persian fruit. It has no name in Sanskrit; nevertheless, the people speaking that language came into India from the Northwest, the country generally assigned to the species.

 
  Potato papa:Botanical Name:Solanum tuberosum L.
English Name:Irish potato
Common Name:Potato, Irish potato,white potato, common potato,papa (Latin America),Aardappel, Grumbir, Irish Potato, Kartoffel, Papa, Patata, Patates, Pomme De Terre, Potato, T'U Yu, Zyaga-Imo.
During his scientific expedition to Patagonia aboard HMS Beagle, British naturalist Charles Darwin became fascinated by a surprisingly adaptable South American plant. In his log, Darwin wrote: "It is remarkable that the same plant should be found on the sterile mountains of Central Chile, where a drop of rain does not fall for more than six months, and within the damp forests of the southern islands."

 
  Pumpkin:Botanical Name:Cucurbita pepo L.
English Name:Pumpkin Pulp
Common Name:Pumpkin,Cucurbita pepo,Field Pumpkin,Pumpkin,Vegetable Marrow
Pumpkin is an herbaceous, monoecious, annual vine native to America, now cultivated worldwide in warm and temperate regions. The material of commerce comes mainly from medicinal cultivars (Cucurbitae semen c.v. peponis medicinalis) grown in southeastern Europe,mainly Austria,Hungary,and the former Yugoslavia,China,Mexico,and the former U.S.S.R. Pumpkin has been cultivated in Mexico and North America since at least 14,000 B.C.E. based on archaeological evidence.

 
  Pumpkin Seeds:Botanical Name:Cucurbitae peponis semen
English Name:Cucurbitae peponis semen
Common Name:Pepitas,Mexican unshelled dried pumpkin seeds,Shelled pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin Seeds contain iron, B vitamins, and trace minerals. This plant is used medicinally to help improve bowel function by ridding the intestinal tract of parasites and worms. Pumpkin is also a natural source of magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin C.

 
  Polygala tenuifolia:Botanical Name:Polygala tenuifolia Willd. or Polygala sibirica L.
English Name:Radix Plygalae Tenuifoliae
Common Name:Chinese Senega, Yuan Zhi,polygala, Chinese senega root,Thinleaf Milkwort Root,Polygala root,thin-leaf milkwort root,Chinese Senega, Flax, Klapperschlangen, Milkwort, Mountain Polygala, Polygalae radix, Rattlesnake Root, Senaga Snakeroot, Seneca, Seneca Snakeroot, Senega, Senega Snakeroot, Seneka, Snake Root. Polygala glomerata; Polygala japonica; Polygala reinii; Polygala senega, synonym Polygala senega latifolia; Polygala tenuifolia.
Polygala sibirica is used interchangeably with Polygala tenuifolia in traditional Chinese Medicine and Polygala senega (Snakeroot) also has expectorant activity and has been used in western herbal medicine

 
  Psoralea corylifolia:Botanical Name:Psoralea pinnata. L. or Psoralea corylifolia L.(Psoralea corylifolia Linn.)
English Name:Babchi seeds
Sanskrit / Indian Name:Babachi, Babchi, Bavanchi, Bukchi,Aindavi, Asitatvacha, Avalguja, Bakuchi, Chandralekha, Chandra prabha, Chandraraji, Kalameshi, Kambojii, Kantaka, Krishna, Krishnaphala, sita, Sitavari, Soma, Somaraji, Suprabha.
Common Name:BU GU ZHI;Babchi Seeds,Bu Gu Zhi,Bakuchi;Psoralea Seed;Osiralean seeds,Bemchi ;Bawchi;Fountain bush, fonteinbos (Afr.), bloukeur (Afr.), penwortel (Afr.), umHlonishwa (Zulu);Psoralea Fruit, Scurfy Pea;Babchi Seeds, Bavachi, Bavanchalu, Bavanchi Bavchi, Bhavanchi-vittulu, Bawachi, Bhavaj, Bobawachi, Bogi-vittulu, Hakuchi, Kantaka, Karpokarishi, Karu-bogi, Krishnaphala, Latakasturi, Somaraji, Sugandha kantak, Vabkuchi, Vakuchi
Traditional Medicinal Uses: According to TCM and Ayurveda, root is useful in carries of teeth whereas leaves are good for diarrhea. Fruit is diuretic, and causes biliousness. It is useful in treatment of vomiting, piles, bronchitis, inflammation, anaemia etc. It improves hair growth and complexion. Seeds are refrigerant, alternative, laxative, antipyretic, anthelmintic, alexiteric and good for heart troubles.

 
  Pyritum:Chemical name:iron pyrites
Chemical Composition:Iron Disulfide (FeS2)
Common Name:Pyrite, iron pyrites, fool's gold
Zi ran tong(Pyritum ):zi ran tong literally means natural copper; but it has nothing to do with copper. It is iron pyrites. Its chemical formula is FeS2. It also contains some trace mineral like nickle, arsenic and antimony.

 
  Peach Kernel:Botanical Name:Prunus persica(L.) Batsch or Prunus Davidiane (Carr.) Franch
English Name:Peach Kernel
Common Name:Khokh, Melocotonero, Momo, Peach, Pecher, Pesco, Seftali Agaci, Sheftali, T'Ao P'I Chiu, Tao Ren
The ripe seed of the fruit tree Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, of the Rose family (Rosaceae.), grown throughout the warmer temperate regions of both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The peach probably originated in China, then spread westward through Asia to the Mediterranean countries and later to other parts of Europe. The Spanish explorers brought the peach to the New World, and as early as 1600 the fruit was found in Mexico.

 
  Petasides hybridus:Botanical Name:Petasites hybridus (L.) P.G. Gaertn., B. Mey. Scherb.
English Name:Petasites hybridus
Common Name:Butterbur Root
Petasites hybridus is one from ours early blooming flowers. The fleshy flower-bear decorated by thick bunchs appears in April to May still up to growing of leaves. The bunch consists of dense calathides, in which small-sized tubular reddish flowers are assembled.

 
  Pine Nuts:Botanical Name:Pinus edulis
English Name:Pine Nuts
Common Name:pine nut,pinoli,pinyon,pinolea,pignolia,Indian nut,pignolo,pignoli,snoober,pine kernel
Once appreciated by the Greeks and Romans, the pine kernel, or pine nut, is an edible nut with an exquisite flavor and high protein content. The Roman Legions carried pine kernels as provisions.All over Europe it is used as a culinary ingredient in the preparation of meat, fish and vegetable dishes, as well as in the confectionery industry in chocolates and other delicacies. In the United States it is most popular on top of salads.Pine nuts are rich in zinc, and zinc is great for the male sex drive. Pine nuts have been used as an aphrodisiac as early as Medieval times. Toasted, they are a wonderful salad topping. The ancient Greeks and well as many Middle Eastern cultures used pine nuts as aphrodisiacs.

 
  Papaver rhoeas:Botanical Name:Papaver rhoeas
English Name:Red Poppy, Corn Poppy
Sanskrit / Indian Name:Rakta-posta, Rakta Khakasa
An erect, branched, very variable annual.
The petals are reported to contain a dark red pigment, namely mecocyanin chloride and another cyanidin derivative. Later investigations have revealed the presence of cyanidin-B and pelargonidin-C in the flowers. An alkaloid rhoeadine is present in all parts of the plant including roots, leaves, flowers and capsules. The capsules contain also the alkaloids morphine, thebaine and narcotine, and meconic acid. Protopine and coptisine, besides a number of other phenolic and nonphenolic,crystalline and amorphous bases have been reported in the roots and aerial parts.
The petals are mucilaginous and bitter. They are expectorant and have been used for cough or hoarseness; they also possess sedative and pain relieving properties. The fresh petals are used for the preparation of galenicals. Syrup or tincture made out of petals is used for coloring medicines and food materials to which they impart a red color and a bitter flavor. The aqueous extracts of the plant exhibit antibiotic activity.

 
  Parmelia perlata:Botanical Name:Parmelia perlata
English Name:Stone Flowers
Sanskrit / Indian Name:Shaileyam
Parmelia perlata is a lichen growing in rosettes or irregularly spreading over the substratum giving the appearance of a flower - hence the name.
It is mainly composed of fungal mycelia which forms a network enclosing algal cells or gonidia. The plant is astringent, bitter, acrid,cooling, anti-inflammatory and aphrodisiac. It is useful in sores,boils, inflammations, seminal weakness and amenorrhea.

 
  Peganum harmala:Botanical Name:Peganum harmala
English Name:Syrian Rue
Sanskrit / Indian Name:Harmala
A common middle eastern shrub, found in North Africa,Middle-east, Pakistan and India. Contains harmine and harmetine. Harmine is both markedly fungicidal and bactericidal. Has abortificant, aphrodisiac, sedative, vermifuge and soporific properties. Used for prolapse of the womb.
The alkaloids stimulate the contraction of uterus and exhibit a broad spectrum antibacterial & antifungal activity. The plant extract also exhibits significant analgesic activity.

 
  Pheritima posthuma:Botanical Name:Pheritima posthuma
English Name:Earthworm
Sanskrit / Indian Name:Bhoonag
Earthworms are elongate worms with segmented body, bearing small, sparsely distributed, chitinous bristles or setae.
The extract of earthworm is used in various mixtures of Chinese medicine for the treatment of asthma in man, and influenza in poultry. Pharmaceutical compositions containing earthworm as an active ingredient showed antidiabetic, hypotensive and anti-hyperlipidemic activity in mice. Earthworms contain an active antipyretic substance, lumbrofebrin.

 
  Phoenix dactylifera:Botanical Name:Phoenix dactylifera
English Name:Dates
Sanskrit / Indian Name:Kharjura
A tall tree. The fruit is an oblong berry that is reddish or yellowish brown when ripe.
Dates are considered demulcent, expectorant and laxative and are used in respiratory diseases and fever. They are rich in sugars.

 
  Phyllanthus amarus:Botanical Name:Phyllanthus amarus
Sanskrit / Indian Name:Bhumyaamalaki
A herb with a rigid, short, prostrate stem.
Amariin, a novel hydrolysable tannin together with geraniin, corilagin,1,6-digalloyl-glucopyranoside as well as a rutin and quercetin-3-O-glucopyranoside have been isolated from the plant.
The plant is often used in the traditional system of medicine for a variety of ailments including flu, dropsy, diabetes, jaundice,asthma, bronchial infections, and diseases of the liver. In the ayurvedic system of medicine it is used in problems of the stomach,genitourinary system, liver, and kidney.

 
  Picrorhiza kurroa:Botanical Name:Picrorhiza kurroa
Sanskrit / Indian Name:Katuka, Kutki
It is a perennial herb with elongate, stout and creeping rootstock found in the alpine regions. The plant is mainly used as the therapy for liver and lung diseases. The plant exhibits potent immunostimulant activity and is considered a immunomodulatory agent. The phenolic glycoside, androsin isolated from the plant, is reported to be as active compound which prevents allergies and platelet activating factor-induced bronchial obstruction in guinea pigs in vitro. It also has anti-inflammatory activity.

 
  Pinus roxburghii:Botanical Name:Pinus roxburghii, P. longifolia
English Name:Chir Pine
Sanskrit / Indian Name:Sarala, Shrivasa
A tall tree, with spreading branches covered with a dark gray bark that is deeply fissured and rough.
The turpentine oil obtained from the chir pine is valued in medicine as a rubefacient in various rheumatic affections, such as lumbago,arthritis, and neuralgia. The oil is also an ingredient in many ointments, liniments and lotions for treating minor aches and pains as well as colds when applied externally.

 
  Piper longum:Botanical Name:Piper longum
English Name:Indian Long Pepper
Sanskrit / Indian Name:Kana, Magadhi, Pippali,Ushana
Piper longum is a slender, aromatic, climber with perennial woody roots,creeping and jointed stems, and fleshy fruits embedded in the spikes.
Its principal constituents are piperine and piplartine The fruits are used for diseases of the respiratory tract, viz. cough, bronchitis,asthma, etc.; as counter-irritant and analgesic when applied locally for muscular pains and inflammation and as general tonic and hematinic.It is known to enhance the bio-availability of food and drugs as well as being a carminative.
It is used in coughs, coryza, asthma, hoarseness of voice, bronchitis,etc.

 
  Piper nigrum:Botanical Name:Piper nigrum
English Name:Black Pepper
Sanskrit / Indian Name:Krishna, Vellaja, Maricha
Piper nigrum is a climbing perennial shrub, rooting at the stem nodes with ovoid or globose fruits.
Its principal constituents are piperine, chavicine, piperidine and piperettine. It is much employed as an aromatic stimulant in weakness following fevers, coma, etc., as a stomachic in cholera,dyspepsia, flatulence, indigestion, diarrhoea and various other gastrointestinal ailments. It has bacteriostatic, fungistatic, anti-inflammatory and rubefacient properties.

 
  Pistacia vera:Botanical Name:Pistacia vera
English Name:Pistachio
Sanskrit / Indian Name:Mukulaka
A small deciduous tree, which has fruits with a grayish white, bony,keeled nut-shell, which encloses light yellow to deep green edible kernels with a reddish coat.
The kernels are considered to be digestive, sedative and tonic and contain a melting fatty oil.

 
  Plumbago zeylanica:Botanical Name:Plumbago zeylanica
English Name:White Leadwort
Sanskrit / Indian Name:Chitraka
A perennial, sub-scandent shrub found wild.The root bark of P. zeylanica contains plumbagin (distributed in most of the secondary cortex and medullary ray cells), free glucose and fructose, and the enzymes protease and invertase.
It is a powerful irritant, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and diuretic that is useful in rheumatism.

 
  Pongamia glabra:Botanical Name:Pongamia glabra, Pongamia pinnata
English Name:Pongam Oil Tree, Indian Beech
Sanskrit / Indian Name:Karanja
It is a medium-sized glabrous tree with single seeded, compressed and woody pods. Karanjin in the seed oil has antimicrobial and insecticidal properties.

 
  Praval bhasma:Sanskrit / Indian Name:Praval bhasma
English Name:Coral Calx
It is a rich, natural source of calcium, and, due to appropriate ayurvedic processing, has the advantage of easy absorption in the intestine.

 
  Praval pishti:English Name:Processed Coral
It is prepared from the coral of Corallium rubrum. It is a tonic for the heart and brain and useful in melancholia, palpitation and cough.

 
  Prunus amygdalus:Botanical Name:Prunus amygdalus
English Name:Almond
Sanskrit / Indian Name:Vatadha
Prunus amygdalus is a tree with minutely serrate leaves.It is known for its astringent effect. It has a globulin called amandin. It contains folic acid, alpha tocopherol and zinc, which are useful in skin disorders. In Ayurveda, almond kernels are considered demulcent, lithontriptic and diuretic as well as being a nervine tonic.It is reported to improve brain functions.

 
  Prunus armeniaca:Botanical Name:Prunus armeniaca
English Name:Apricot
Sanskrit / Indian Name:Urumana
It is a moderate sized tree in Northern Himalayas. The bark is reddish and the fruit is fleshy with a hard nut enclosing the reddish brown seed, which is in the shape of a droplet. The seed oil is used as moisturizer and nourisher.

 
  Psoralea corylifolia:Botanical Name:Psoralea corylifolia
Sanskrit / Indian Name:Bakuchi, Babchi
It is an erect annual herb with broadly-elliptic leaves, yellow or bluish purple flowers and small pods with one seed, which is adhering to the pericarp. Psoralen and isopsoralen are the active principles of the drug. Bavachinin -A a flavanone isolated from the fruits revealed marked anti-inflammatory and mild analgesic properties.

 
  Pterocarpus marsupium:Botanical Name:Pterocarpus marsupium
English Name:Indian Kino Tree
Sanskrit / Indian Name:Bijaka
Pterocarpus marsupium is a large deciduous tree.
Its principal constituents are liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin.An aqueous infusion of the wood is used in diabetes. It has been found to reduced the glucose absorption from the gastrointestinal tract and improve insulin and pro-insulin levels. It is effective in beta cell regeneration and has also been found to have a hypocholesteremic effect.

 
  Pterocarpus santalinus:Botanical Name:Pterocarpus santalinus
English Name:Red sanders, Red sandal wood
Sanskrit / Indian Name:Rakthachandana
It is a small to medium-sized, deciduous tree, restricted to parts of South India. The bark is blackish-brown, deeply cleft into rectangular plates, and exuding a deep red juice when cut. The wood contains 16 per cent of a red coloring matter santalin [santalic acid] possessing a quinonoid structure. Santalin yields a blood red solution with alcohol, yellow with ether and violet with ammonia and caustic alkalis. It has cooling properties and mitigates thirst.

 
  Punica granatum:Botanical Name:Punica granatum
English Name:Pomegranate
Sanskrit / Indian Name:Dadima
A shrub or small tree with edible fruits.
The rind contains tannins and ursolic acid. Extracts of the fruit rind and root bark showed antibacterial activity. It is valued as an astringent in cases of diarrhoea and dysentery.

 
  Pyrus malus:Botanical Name:Pyrus malus
English Name:Crab Apple, Cultivated Apple
Sanskrit / Indian Name:Seva
A low round-crowned tree. The composition of the apple fruit varies with variety, climatic conditions during the growing season, and the stage of maturity.
It is a rich source of various vitamins, trace elements, amino acids and flavanoids. Malic acid is the principal acid (90-95% of the total acids) of the fruit. It has tonic, keratolytic and antiseptic properties. The astringent principles of apple include tannins,tannin derivatives and coloring materials (flavones). Apple is one of the fruits with low antigen content diet and is useful in the management of immunomediated diseases such as mixed cryoglobulinemia and Ig A neuropathy. Apple fruits contain a ß-glycol, octane-1,3-diol which is an antifungal constituent. It reduces skin inflammation and helps in removing dead skin fragments.

 
  Papaver Somniferum:Botanical Name:Papaver Somniferum
English Name:POPPY SEEDS, APHIUM OPIUM POPPY, WHITE POPPY, POSTA
Part Used:Seeds,Flowers
Uses:Seeds are used as Tonic. Milky juice from immature fruits yield opium. Ripe and dry fruits contain only small quantity of alkaloides and therefore narcotic properties are mild.

 
  Peganum Harmala:Botanical Name:Peganum Harmala
English Name:HARMALA, AFRICA RUE, SYRIAN RUE
Part Used:Seeds
Uses:Desptie its history as a euphoric and purpotedly aphrodisiac herb, harmula is little used in contemporary western herbal medicine due to potentialtoxicity. The treat have to be taken to treat eye disorders and to increase the colume of breast milk production. Antitumer, Antiviral, Antibacterial, Aphrodisiac, Aromatic, Dye, Economic, Medicinal, Psychotropic. Peganum harmala is an entheogen proposed as the sacred Zoroastrian (Vedic) plant Haoma (Soma).The plant is used traditionally as an emmenagogue and an abortifacient agent in the Middle East and North Africa. The fruits of Peganum Harmala are the source of a red dye and an oil. The esteem in which Peganum Harmala is held amongst peoples of the East is extraordinary. Most commonly it is used as an incense. Although there are repeated but vague reports of the employment of Peganum harmala as a traditional hallucinogen, its actual narcotic use in inducing visions has not yet been established beyond a doubt. It certainly has some mindaltering effects including sedation.

 
  Piper Longum:Botanical Name:Piper Longum
English Name:INDIAN LONG PEPPER
Part Used:Fruit, Root ,Stem
Uses :Aromatic, stimulant, carminative ,good for constipation, for gonorrhea, paralysis of the tongue ,advised in diarrhea , cholera, scarlatina ,Chronic Malaria, Viral hepatitis.Piper Longum is most commonly used to treat respiratory infections such as stomachache, bronchitis, diseases of the spleen, cough, tumors, and asthma. When applied topically, it soothes and relieves muscular pains and inflammation. In Ayurvedic medicine, it is said to be a good rejuvenator. Piper Longum helps stimulate the appetite and it dispels gas from the intestines. An infusion of Piper Longum root is used after birth to induce the expulsion of the placenta.

 
  Podina:Botanical Name:MENTHA ARVENSIS / PIPERTIA
English Name:FIELD MINT, CORN MINT,PODINA
Part Used:Whole Plant, Oil
Uses : The entire plant is Antibacterial, antifibrile. It yeilds an essential oil and menthol which exert, through their rapid evaporation, aslightly anaesthetic, and anodyne local effect. It is effective in headache, rhinitis, cough sore throat, colic, prurigo and vomiting. Menthol obtained from this is used in balms. It is also used as Flavoring agent in culinary preparations.

 
  Psyllium Husk:Botanical Name:PLANTAGO OVATA HUSK
English Name:PSYLLIUM HUSK, PSYLLIUM SEEDS, PLANTAGO, ISPAGHULA, FLEAM, SPOGEL SEEDS, ISABGOL
Part Used:Husk,Seed
Uses: It is Diuretic, Emollient and Cooling. Used in inflamatory conditions of mucous memberane of gastro intestinal and genitourinary tracts.Very well known as a laxative. It restores proper bowel movements and ued in treatment of chronic constipation, amoebic and bucillary dysentary. Psyllium husk and seeds are formal Pharmacopoeia.

 
  Pterocarpus Marsupium:Botanical Name:Pterocarpus Marsupium
English Name:INDIAN KINO TREE, MALABAR KINO TREE, KINO
Part Used:Heart Wood, Leaves,Flowers
Uses : The heart wood is astringent, bitter acrid, anti inflammatory, anthelmintic, anodyne. It is considered as magical for Diabities. It turns the water blue as soon as it comes in contact with the water. It is good for elephantiasis, leucoderma, diarrhoea, dysentary, rectalgia, cough and greyness of hair.

 
  Punica Granatum:Botanical Name:Punica Granatum
English Name:POMEGRANATE, ANAR
Part Used:Seeds,Flowers
Uses : A decotion of seed is used to treat syphilis. Juice used to treat jaundice and Diarrhoea. Juice of flower is used to treat nose bleeds. The fruit pulp and the seed are stomachic.

 
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