Botanical name : Cardiospermum helicacabum Linn.
Family : Sapindaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Sakralata, Indravalli, Karnasphota
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Tikta
Guna : Snigdha, Sara, Lakhu
Virya : Ushna
Vipaka: Madhura
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Balloon wine.
Hindi : Kanphuti, Kapalaphoti.
Malayalam : Uzinja
Distribution – Throughout India cultivated as well as growing wild.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
An annual spreading herb with tendril hooks. Leaves bicompound, leaflets acuminete at apex; flowers white small; fruits membreneous, pyriform capsules, containing 3 black seeds with large heart shaped white aril on the side.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated pitta, constipation, fever, arthritis, amenorrhea, low back pain, neuropathy, chronic rheumatism and mania.
Useful part : Whole plant.
Photo : Dr. Eby Abraham MD