Imperata cylindrica extract: Skin Hydration, Diuretic Signals, Dosage Guidance, and Side Effects
Imperata cylindrica—also called cogon grass or Bai Mao Gen—is a hardy rhizomatous grass with a long record in East and Southeast Asian medicine and, more recently, in cosmetic science. Extracts from its rhizome and root are used for urinary complaints and bleeding in traditional settings, while standardized root extracts now appear on skincare labels for long-lasting hydration. Laboratory studies...
Incarvillea sinensis extract: Non-Opioid Pain Relief, How It Works, Dosage, and Safety
Incarvillea sinensis extract comes from the trumpet-flower plant long used in East Asian medicine for “wind-damp” pain, stiff joints, and bruises. Modern lab studies focus on its alkaloid incarvillateine, a non-opioid compound that appears to act through the body’s adenosine signaling rather than opioid receptors. Early animal work suggests potential for inflammatory and neuropathic pain, with less effect on...
Indian cassia: Blood Sugar Support, Evidence-Based Benefits, Dosage, and Side Effects
Indian cassia is the warming, sweet-spicy cinnamon most cooks meet first—the sturdy “cassia” bark used in chai, biryani, and bakery spice blends. In nutrition and herbal practice, “Indian cassia” typically refers to cassia-type cinnamon (from Cinnamomum species such as C. cassia and C. burmannii) grown or traded in the Indian subcontinent. Some markets also use “Indian cassia” historically for...
Indian kino: Blood Sugar Support, Antioxidant Benefits, Dosage, and Safety
Indian kino (Pterocarpus marsupium) is a traditional Ayurvedic tree prized for its dark “kino gum” and heartwood. For centuries, practitioners have used it to support healthy blood sugar, manage inflammation, and protect the liver. Modern research has focused on its signature compound, pterostilbene—a relative of resveratrol—along with flavonoids and phenolics found in the bark and heartwood. Early clinical data...
Indian kudzu: Nutrient-Rich Tonic, Effective Dosages, Real-World Uses, and Risks Explained
Indian kudzu (Pueraria tuberosa), also called vidari kand in Ayurveda, is a climbing legume with starchy underground tubers and a long record of food and medicinal use across the Indian subcontinent. The tuber is naturally rich in isoflavones (such as puerarin, daidzein, and genistein), sterols, and antioxidant phenolics, and it’s classed traditionally as a nourishing, strength-building “rasayana.” Today, interest...
Indian long pepper: Complete Guide to Benefits, Forms, Timing, and Safety Considerations
Indian long pepper (Piper longum, often called pippali) is both a spice and a traditional remedy with a distinct sweet-heat that lingers longer than black pepper. Beyond the kitchen, it appears in classical Ayurveda—on its own and in blends like Trikatu—primarily for digestion, respiratory comfort, and sluggish metabolism. Modern interest centers on its amide alkaloids, especially piperine and piperlongumine,...
Indian pennywort: Uses for Venous Insufficiency and Wound Healing, Dosing, and Side Effects
Indian pennywort—better known globally as gotu kola and botanically as Centella asiatica—is a low-growing culinary herb used across South and Southeast Asia as both food and medicine. In traditional systems, it supports wound care, skin integrity, venous circulation, and mental clarity. Modern extracts standardized to triterpenes (asiaticoside, madecassoside, and their aglycones) are used for chronic venous insufficiency symptoms, minor...
Indian Physic: Bitter Tonic Actions, Laxative Applications, Dosage Guidelines, and Risk Profile
Indian Physic (Gillenia trifoliata, synonym Porteranthus trifoliatus), also known as Bowman’s root or American ipecac, is a North American woodland perennial with a long record in Indigenous and early American medicine. Traditionally, the dried root was used in tiny amounts as a bitter digestive and in larger, carefully measured amounts as an emetic or brisk laxative. Today, most people...
Indian sarsaparilla: Skin and Digestive Benefits, How It Works, Dosage Guidelines, and Safety
Indian sarsaparilla (Hemidesmus indicus), called Sariva or Anantamul in Ayurveda, is a fragrant climbing shrub whose roots have been used for centuries as a cooling, blood-purifying tonic and skin soother. Modern analyses show a diverse profile of phytochemicals—pregnane glycosides, saponins, phenolics, lignans, and essential oils—that may help modulate inflammation and oxidative stress. Traditional practitioners reach for Indian sarsaparilla to...
Indian senna: Fast Laxative Action, Proper Use, Recommended Dosage, and Side Effects
Indian senna (Senna alexandrina, traditionally Cassia angustifolia) is a time-tested stimulant laxative used to relieve occasional constipation and to prepare the bowel before certain procedures. Its active compounds—sennosides—act mainly in the large intestine, where gut bacteria convert them into metabolites that stimulate peristalsis and reduce water reabsorption, softening stool and promoting a complete bowel movement. Senna works predictably within...
Indian snakeroot: Evidence for Hypertension and Calming Effects, Best Preparations, Dosage, and Side Effects
Indian snakeroot (Rauwolfia serpentina), called Sarpagandha in Ayurveda, is a classic medicinal root used for centuries across South and Southeast Asia for nervous agitation, high blood pressure, and sleep troubles. Its best-known alkaloid, reserpine, helped pioneer modern hypertension therapy. Today, whole-root preparations and standardized extracts remain in use in traditional systems, while purified reserpine is used cautiously under medical...
Indian valerian: Evidence for Sleep and Anxiety Relief, Best Preparations, Dosage, and Side Effects
Indian valerian (Valeriana jatamansi, formerly V. wallichii) is a Himalayan valerian species used across Ayurveda, Siddha, and traditional Chinese medicine for sleep, anxiety, and nervous system balance. Its aromatic rhizome carries a distinctive profile of iridoids, valepotriates, lignans, and sesquiterpenes that act on GABAergic, monoaminergic, and stress-response pathways. Compared with the European species (Valeriana officinalis), Indian valerian is chemically...
Indigestible dextrin: Blood Sugar Support, Satiety Effects, Daily Dosage, and Side Effects Explained
Indigestible dextrin—also called resistant dextrin or, in some products, soluble corn fiber—is a versatile soluble fiber made by carefully heating and processing starch so that human digestive enzymes can’t break it down in the small intestine. That “resistance” lets it travel to the colon, where gut microbes ferment it to short-chain fatty acids that can support metabolic and digestive...
Indigo naturalis: Evidence for Ulcerative Colitis and Psoriasis, Practical Use, Dosage, and Risks
Indigo naturalis—also known as Qing Dai—is a traditional blue pigment prepared from several plants, most commonly Baphicacanthus cusia, Polygonum tinctorium, and Isatis tinctoria. In East Asian medicine, finely milled powder or extracts have long been applied to stubborn skin conditions and, more recently, studied for ulcerative colitis. Modern research points to active constituents such as indigo, indirubin, and tryptanthrin...
Indigo pulchra: Gut Support Benefits, How to Use, Dosage Guidance, and Safety Risks
Indigo pulchra (botanical: Indigofera pulchra) is a small legume native to tropical Africa that appears in several traditional pharmacopeias. Healers often prepare the aerial parts as teas, decoctions, or poultices for stomach upset, diarrhoea, skin irritation, and general inflammation. Modern lab studies have started to explore these uses, reporting antispasmodic and antidiarrhoeal actions in animals and effects on intestinal...
Indirubin: Evidence for Ulcerative Colitis and Psoriasis, Uses, Dosing, and Side Effects
Indirubin is a naturally occurring red-violet molecule best known as a minor component of indigo naturalis (Qing-Dai), a traditional extract from indigo-bearing plants. In modern research, indirubin and its analogues are prized because they can inhibit key enzymes that drive cell division and inflammation. That has made them leads for drug development in oncology, dermatology, and inflammatory bowel disease—not...
