Horsefly — Insects in the order Diptera, family Tabanidae, are commonly called Horse flies. Often considered pests for the bites that many inflict, they are among the world’s largest true flies. They are also important pollinators of flowers, especially in South Africa. Tabanids occur worldwide, being absent only at extreme northern and southern latitudes. Flies of this type are among …

Firefly — Lampyridae is a family in the beetle order Coleoptera, members of which are commonly called fireflies, lightning bugs or (ambiguously) “glow worms” due to their conspicuous nocturnal (or, more accurately, crepuscular) use of bioluminescence to attract mates or prey. Fireflies are capable of producing a “cold light” containing no ultraviolet or infrared rays, with a wavelength from 510 …

Ants — Ants are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related families of wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. They are a diverse group of more than 12,000 species, with a higher diversity in the tropics. They are known for their highly organized colonies and nests, which sometimes consist of millions of individuals. Individuals …

Plateosaurus — Plateosaurus (meaning ’flat lizard’) is a genus of plateosaurid prosauropod dinosaur that lived during the Norian and Rhaetian stages of the Late Triassic period, around 216 to 199 million years ago in what is now Europe. There are two currently recognized species, P. engelhardti and P. longiceps, although others have been assigned in the past. Discovered in 1834 …

Corythosaurus — Corythosaurus meaning ’helmet lizard’ because of the shape of its crest (Greek korythos meaning ’helmet’ and sauros meaning ’lizard’) was a genus of duck-billed dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous Period, about 80 million years ago. It lived in what is now North America. The first specimen was discovered in 1912 by Barnum Brown in Red Deer River, Alberta, …

Neem Rasayana — Known in India as the “Village Pharmacy”, Neem (Azadirachta Indica) is a powerful pitta and kapha balancing rasayana with numerous therapeutic uses. Neem, also known as nimba or margosa, is regarded by the ancients and modern science alike as a powerful healing herb with diverse applications. Described in the ayurvedic texts as sarva roga nivarini – that which …

Bacopa Monniera (Herpestis Monnieria, Thyme Leaved Gratiola, Brahmi) — Family Name: Scrophulariaceae Botanical Name: Bacopa Monniera Common Name: Herpestis Monnieria, Thyme Leaved Gratiola, Brahmi Part Used: Whole Plant Habitat: Grows in Marshy places and cultivated South India. Uses: It is Diuretic, Cardiac, Nervine and Tonic. It is reported to improve intellect, treatment of asthma, hoarseness, insanity, epilepsy. It is a …

Organic Herbs — Organic herbs are those herbs which are grown using organic farming practices. organic farming excludes the use of synthetic inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Organic farming involves fostering natural processes. Enhancing soil health is the cornerstone of organic farming. A variety of methods are employed to improve soil health. These …

Yeast Infection — Yeasts are small organisms that thrive on human body, in small numbers. Medically known as candida fungus, it can affect any body part, be it underarms, between the toes, and so on. However, yeast is mostly seen affecting the genital area of both men and women. Reduction in the immunity level of the body, consumption of certain …

Toe Nail Fungus — Toe nail fungus is the result of infection caused by tiny micro-organisms. Also known as Onychomycosis, the fungi grows in the warm and moist fingernails. As the fungi growth increases, it makes the nails hard and brittle and also leads to discoloration. Though toe nail fungus is not painful in the initial stages, it starts hurting …