Published

🌿 Contributing to the Amidha Ayurveda Herb Database

Sparsh Varshney
Sparsh Varshney
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🌿 An open-source, citable JSON dataset of 360 Ayurvedic medicinal plants with botanical classification, Sanskrit synonyms, therapeutic indications, and Ayurvedic pharmacological properties.

🌿 Contributing to the Amidha Ayurveda Herb Database

Thank you for your interest in contributing to the Amidha Ayurveda Herb Database! 🙏

This project is an open, community-driven effort to structure, preserve, and expand Ayurvedic medicinal plant knowledge in a machine-readable format for research, education, and digital innovation.

🧭 Project Overview

Repository: https://github.com/sciencewithsaucee-sudo/herb-database

Current Version: 2.0.0

Version DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20581467

Concept DOI (All Versions): https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17475351

Author: Sparsh Varshney

License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

The database currently contains a curated collection of 360 Ayurvedic medicinal plants with standardized botanical and Ayurvedic metadata.

🧩 Ways to Contribute

Contributions are welcome from students, researchers, practitioners, developers, and open-data enthusiasts.

🌿 Improve Herb Data

You can:

  • Add missing information
  • Correct botanical classifications
  • Improve Sanskrit synonym lists
  • Enhance herb descriptions
  • Improve indication mapping
  • Suggest schema improvements

📚 Improve References

Help verify information using authoritative sources such as:

  • Charaka Samhita
  • Sushruta Samhita
  • Ashtanga Hridaya
  • Bhavaprakasha Nighantu
  • Dhanvantari Nighantu
  • Raja Nighantu
  • Peer-reviewed scientific literature

💻 Improve Documentation

Contributors can:

  • Fix typos and formatting
  • Improve README documentation
  • Add examples and tutorials
  • Improve citation guidance

🔬 Data Validation

Help ensure:

  • Data consistency
  • Botanical accuracy
  • Sanskrit spelling accuracy
  • Standardized terminology
  • Schema compliance

⚙️ Contribution Workflow

1. Fork the Repository

git clone https://github.com/your-username/herb-database.git

2. Create a Branch

git checkout -b feature/improvement-name

3. Make Changes

Update:

  • herb.json
  • documentation
  • metadata
  • references

4. Commit Changes

git commit -m "Improve Tulsi metadata"

5. Push Changes

git push origin feature/improvement-name

6. Open a Pull Request

Describe:

  • What was changed
  • Why the change was necessary
  • Sources used for verification

🧬 Current Data Schema

Example herb record:

{
  "name": "Tulsi",
  "botanical_name": "Ocimum sanctum",
  "family": "Lamiaceae",
  "english_name": "Holy Basil",
  "sanskrit_synonyms": [
    "Surasa",
    "Apetarakshasi",
    "Bhuteshta",
    "Gauri"
  ],
  "part_used": [
    "Patra",
    "Pushpa",
    "Moola",
    "Bija"
  ],
  "main_indications": [
    "Kasa",
    "Shwasa",
    "Jwara",
    "Hikka"
  ],
  "image": "",
  "link": "https://www.amidhaayurveda.com/p/tulsi.html",
  "preview": "Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) is known as the Queen of Herbs in Ayurveda.",
  "pacify": ["Kapha", "Vata"],
  "aggravate": ["Pitta"],
  "tridosha": false,
  "rasa": ["Katu", "Tikta"],
  "guna": ["Laghu", "Ruksha"],
  "virya": "Ushna",
  "vipaka": "Katu",
  "prabhav": [
    "Rasayana",
    "Krimighna",
    "Kasahara",
    "Shoolaghna"
  ]
}

🪷 Contribution Guidelines

Please ensure:

  • Information is accurate and verifiable
  • Sanskrit terminology is standardized
  • Botanical names follow accepted nomenclature
  • Sources are properly cited
  • Duplicate entries are avoided
  • Changes follow the current schema

Contributions that significantly alter the schema should be discussed in an issue before implementation.

📖 Citation

If you use this dataset in your research, please cite the specific version used.

Current Version

Amidha Ayurveda Herb Database v2.0.0

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20581467

Concept DOI (All Versions)

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17475351

Citation formats are available on the Zenodo record.

🤝 Code of Conduct

This project follows the Contributor Covenant Code of Conduct.

Please remain respectful, constructive, and collaborative in all interactions.

🌍 Vision

To build a comprehensive open Ayurvedic data ecosystem that supports research, education, innovation, and digital preservation of traditional knowledge.

💫 Get Involved

🌐 Website: https://www.amidhaayurveda.com

📖 Herb Database: https://www.amidhaayurveda.com/p/herb-database.html

🐛 Issues: https://github.com/sciencewithsaucee-sudo/herb-database/issues

💬 Discussions: https://github.com/sciencewithsaucee-sudo/herb-database/discussions

Together, let's make Ayurvedic knowledge more accessible, structured, and reusable for future generations. 🌿