Botanical name : Psychotria curviflora, Cecilia curviflora Linn.,
Family : Rubiaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Brihat sarpagandha, Vanasarpagandha, Krishnasarpagandha,
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Kashaya
Guna : Rooksha
Virya : Ushna
Vipaka : Katu
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Black snake root.
Hindi : Kala Chandrabhaga
Malayalam : Kattamalpori, Karutta amalpori, Valiya amalpori, Vella amalpori
Distribution – Throughout India growing wild.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
A small erect shrub grows up to 1 m in height. Leaves simple, in a whorl of 4, thin, acuminate, oblong-lanceolate; flowers purplish white, streaked with violet, found in cymes, fruits green drupes, become dark purple when ripe.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated kapha, vata, hypertension, insanity, epilepsy, insomnia, wounds, fever, and colic. Overdose cause giddiness and is toxic.
Useful part : Root, Leaves
Photo : Dr. Eby Abraham MD