Latin name –Boerhavia diffusa
English name – Spreading Hogweed, Horse Purslane
Indian name –Punarnava
Introduction
Punarnava is found throughout India and Brazil. It is a very important plant for urinary system. It can be white or red and has long since been used as a treatment of liver disorders such as jaundice and hepatitis. Throughout the tropics, it is used as a natural remedy for Guinea worms.
Plant Description
A perennial creeper, 0.75-1m in length. Sometimes grows up to 4mtrs in rainy seasons and dries in summer.
Leaves: opposite, 2.5-4cm long, fleshy with soft hairs, whitish ventrally.
Flowers: small, pink coloured,
Fruits: 1cm long, round or circular, containing seeds like cow’s beans.
Root: twisted on drying.
Flowering and fruiting during winter.
Chemical Constituents
Punarnava contains b-Sitosterol, a-2-sitosterol, palmitic acid, ester of b-sitosterol, tetracosanoic, hexacosonoic, stearic, arachidic acid, urosilic acid, Hentriacontane, b-Ecdysone, triacontanol etc
Parts Used
Whole herb, root. Each part has a different therapeutic value and must be prepared in its own way for maximum benefits. Found throughout India, especially during the rainy season.
Traditional Ayurvedic Uses of Punarnava:
The root of this plant is a powerful Rasayana (longevity enhancer). It is good for the kidneys, especially the nephron cells which are damaged by long-term hyperglycemia (diabetes). And it pacifies two of the main laws of physiology (Vata and Kapha).
Punarnava enhances the quality of 6 of the 7 categories of bodily tissues, including nutrient plasma (Rasa Dhatu), blood (Rakta Dhatu), muscle (Mamsa Dhatu), fat (Meda Dhatu), bone marrow and nerves (Majja Dhatu), and reproductive fluids (Shukra Dhatu).
According to Ayurveda, Punarnava is diuretic by increasing renal blood flow. It is bitter, cooling, astringent to bowels, useful in biliousness, leucorrhoea, inflammations, asthma etc. The leaves are useful in dyspepsia, tumors, and abdominal pains. According to Unani system of medicine, the leaves are appetizer, alexiteric, useful in opthalmia, in joint pains. Seeds are tonic expectorant, carminative, useful in lumbago, scabies. The seeds are considered as promising blood purifier.
The main indications for use of Punarnava are
- As diuretic for edema, painful micturition, renal stones.
- Blood impurities; heart diseases especially congestive heart failure.
- Anemia, spleen enlargement, ascites, liver failure, kidney failure
Dosage
Punarnava Juice- 20 to 30 ml per day, Punarnava Powder- 3-6 grams per day. |
