Botanical name : Ophiorrhiza mungos Linn.
Family : Rubiaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Sarpakshi, Sarpari
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Katu, Tikta
Guna : Lakhu, Rooksha
Virya : Ushna
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Mongoose plant
Hindi : Sarhati
Malayalam : Avilpori
Distribution – Throughout India, in evergreen forests.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
A small undershrub grows up to 60 cm in height. Leaves simple, opposite, lanceolate, short petioled and acute. flowers white in subumbellate cymes; fruits coriaceous capsules. Seeds numerous, angular and pale brown.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated kapha, wounds, ulcers, worm infestation, snake poison, skin diseases and cancer.
Useful part : Roots.