Botanical name : Vernonia cinerea (Linn.) Less.

Family : Asteraceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS

Sahadevi, Uttamakanyapatra

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES

Rasa : Tikta

Guna : Lakhu, Rooksha

Virya : Ushna

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES

English : Ash colored fleabane

Hindi : Sahadevyi, Sadodi

Malayalam : Poovam kurunnila, Poovamkurunthala

PLANT DESCRIPTION

An erect annual herb grows up to 75 cm in height. Stems are cylindrical, striate, and somewhat pubescent. Leaves simple alternate, variable in shape, ovate or lanceolate, irregularly toothed or serrate. Flowers are many pinkish violet, in small head inflorescences. Involucral bracts oblong, lanceolate, silky on the back. Fruits oblong achenes, slightly narrowed base, clothed with white hairs on one side.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

Plant pacifies vitiated vata, pitta, tonsillitis, stomach pain, diarrhea, intermittent fever, eczema, herpes, ringworm, and elephantiasis. Leaves are useful in conjunctivitis, and in lacrimation. Seeds are useful in worm infestation, cough, psoriasis, leukoderma and in other skin diseases. Plant possess anti cancerous property.

Useful part : Whole plant