66. Nirgundi (Sindhuvaara)
Names:- Latin Vitex negundo
Tamil Nochhi
Telugu Vaavili
Canarese Nokki
Malayal Nochhi
Urdu Shembali
Dose:- ½ to 1 oz. of the Swarasam to be taken with honey. ½ to 2 tolas of the leaves as a docoction boiled in the usual manner or the leaves made into a mass with pepper and taken in doses of 5 to 15 grains three times a day.
Action:- Alternative, antiperiodic, antipyretic and anodyne.
Uses:- The decoction with pepper or the swarasam is used by some as a specific in Malaria. It is also used in colic, dyspepsia, rheumatism, and worms. The crushed mass is tied to the head in heaviness of the head and in fevers of the complicated or nervous type.
The boiled leaves are used for fomentation of painful joints in rhematism. The joints are bathed in the hot water in which the leaves were boiled. The oil prepared with the Swarasa of the leaves is very popular for relieving pains. Taludaali ilai (Prasaarini) in Madras is also very much used for similar purposes externally and is very effective in relieving pains of acute rheumatism.
The herb is available in hedges very commonly all over India, Nirgundi is described in Bhaavaprakaash, Dhanvantari Nighuntu, Raja Nighutu, Charaka, Susruta and Vaghbhata.
Sindhu Varas sveta Pushpah
Sindhukassindhu Vaarakah
Neela Pushpee to Nirgundee
Sephaalee suvahaacha sa (Bhaava Prakaasa).
It is generally described as having Tikta, Katu and Kashaya tastes and as Vaata and Kapha Hara and having Krimighna properties. Chakradatta describes it as useful in Kapha feves.
Sindhuvaara Dala Quaadhah
Soshanam Kaphaje Jware
Dhanvantari Nighantu says that it curses enlarged spleen. I have been using it exclusively in Malarial fever from 1927. Recently, a forest officer from Assam published an article in the Illustrated Weekly of India, that Nirgundi is available in abundance in Assam and that the tribesmen use it very efficiently in blackwater fever.
Sushruta recommends its use in Rakta Pitta. Charaka includes it in Krimighna Group. (Sutra – ch.4) The following Recipe has been found by me to be very useful in Malaria.
Take of:- Nirgundi leaves – 10 Tolas.
Pepper seeds powdred – 1 Tola.
Gudam (Jaggery) – 10 Tolas.
Water – 40 Tolas (1-lb)
Boil and reduce to 1 Tola 4- ozs.
Give one or two ozs as a dose, 2 or 3 times a day. The bowels should be kept free by any medicne previously or an enema may be given. An over dose of the medicine does not have any bad effects. It is most useful in Malaria of Vata Kapha type in which the predominant symptoms are severe chill and brain symptoms Three or four doses a day may be taken for the first 3 or 4 days and then 2 doses a day may be repeated. In almost all cases, the fever subsides with 4 days. In alternate fevers, a second attack may be much less severe and on the third turn day, the temperature does not usually rise.
Diet – Very light liquid diet or absolute starvation, giving only water to drink, is the best. Barley water, fruit juice, thin butter milk may be give till the fever subsides.
Remarks:- The plant grows in the poorest soils and even in gravelly places. A branch is cut and planted in the rainy season and it requires no further attention. It does not require watering in the hot whether. It is not destroyed by goats and cattle and so it is used for edges in Southern India. Nirgundi has 2 varieties – white and black accoding to the colour of the leaf and flower. The leaf is Trifoliate or Penta foliate. It is very popular here for its Vaatahara properties. Water boiled with the drug is used for baths for women after confinement. The drug is best used as a fresh or dry leaf in decoction. I do not therefore recommend its use as a commercial product as it can be collected locally and can be easily grown and made popular all over the country.
67. Parpatakam
Names:- Latin Mollugo cerviana
Tamil Parpaatakam
Telugu Parpaatakamu
Canarese Parpatakam
Malayal Parpatakam
Urdu Hazardhana
Parpatohanti Pittaasra
Jwara trishaa Kapha bhramaan
Samgraahi seetalah tikto
Daaha nuth Vaatalo laghuh
Parpataka is bitter and light. It is cooling. It is a constrictor. It checks Kapha and it increases Vaata. It is useful in the treatment of Raktapitta. Jwara, Trishna, Bhrama (Giddiness), Daaha (burning sensation).
Dose:- ½ to 2 tolas as a decoction with or without sugar or as a compound with other drugs (Refer Shadanga Kashaaya).
Action:- Cooling, diuretic, febrifuge, relieves thrist and burning sensation of the body.
Uses:- It is often used for the same purpose as and along with Musta in high fevers (Refer Musta No 61). This drug alone is enough in Pitta fevers. (Eka parpataka sreshtah pitta jwara vinaasanah. – Chakradutta). Water boiled with 1 in 120 parts nd cooled, or water in which the drug is soaked overnight is an excellent drink for relieving urethral burning sensation and acute inflammation in cystisis and gonorrhoea. It is also recommended in vomiting along with honey.
68. Patola
Names:- Latin Trichosanthes dioica
Tamil Peppudal
Telugu Chedupotla
Canarese Kaipotala
Malayal Padolam
Urdu Kichunda
Kaphaasrik Kandu Kushtaam
Jwara daahaacha naasayeth
Patola in pungent, and penetrating. It checks sevee heat. It is useful in the treatmen of Kapha, diseases of the blood, itching, Kushta, Fevers and burning sensation.
Dose:- ½ to 2 tolas to be taken as a decoction with sugar or honey.
Action:- Febrifuge, blood-purifier and bitter tonic.
Uses:- The decoction is much used as a febrifuge and antiperiodic. It purifies the blood. The green leaves are advised to be taken as a vegetable in cases of poisons and after fevers. In the treatment of small-pox, the decoction is much recommended by Bhaavpprakaash. The properties and uses are almost the same as Nimba and is used in compound decoctions for all kinds of fevers
