Botanical name : Rauvolfia serpentina (Linn.) Benth. ex Kurz.
Family : Apocynaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Sarpagandha, Chandrika, Nakuli, Sarpadani, Kukkudi, Raktatrika
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Kashaya
Guna : Rooksha
Virya : Ushna
Vipaka : Katu
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Indian snake root. Serpentine root.
Hindi : Chandrabhaga, Chota chand
Malayalam : Amalpori, Chuvanna amalpori
Distribution – Throughout India cultivated as well as growing wild.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
A small erect shrub grows up to 60 cm in height. Leaves simple, in a whorl of three, thin, acuminate, oblong-lanceolate; flowers white, streaked with violet, found in cymes, fruits green drupes, become dark purple when ripe. Roots, cylindrical, yellowish brown and tortuous.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated kapha, vata, hypertension, insanity, epilepsy, insomnia, wounds, fever, colic and urinary retention, in controlled dose. Overdose cause giddiness and is toxic.
Useful part : Root, Leaves
Photo : Dr. Eby Abraham MD
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