Botanical name : Premna serratifolia Linn.
Family : Verbenaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Agnimandha, Arani, Ganikarika, Vaijayanta
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Katu, Tikta, Madhura
Guna : Lakhu
Virya : Ushna
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Headache tree
Hindi : Arani, Ganiyari
Malayalam : Munja, Kattappa
Distribution – Throughout India growing wild in planes.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
A large shrub or small tree grows up to 10 meters in height. Bark yellowish with lenticels; leaves simple, opposite, serrated; flowers small, greenish white with strong odor, fruits globose drupes.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated vata, kapha, nervine pain, arthritis, indigestion, constipation, rhinitis, fever, hemorrhoids and tumors.
Useful part : Root, Leaves.
Photo: Dr. Eby Abraham MD