Tribulus terrestris - Gokshura

Tribulus terrestris - Gokshura

    
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Indian Vernacular Names
Bengali	Gokuri
Common	Small caltops,
English	Land caltrops
Hindi	Gokharu
Malayalam	Nerinjil
Marathi	Kante gokaru
Sanskrit	Gokshura. Trikantaka
Tamil	Nerinjil
Telugu	Palleru
Urdu	Gokhru

Gokshura is cooling in nature. Sweet in taste and have the strengthening in action. Tribulus terrestris cleans the bladder. It increases appetite and in an aphrodisiac. It promotes plumpiness and cures urinary stones.

Gokshuram is given in Rheumatisms along with sonthi regularly every morning as a decoction  and as an aphrodisiac boiled with milk and sugar. in consumption along with aswagandha and milk. It is combined with gugulu in the treatment of diabetes and vata diseases.

Dose :- 1 tola of the seeds of the whole plant to be taken as a decoction boiled with 8 times the quantity of water and reduced to one-fouth or 20 to 60 grains of the churnam or powder to be taken with ghee or honey or coconut water or liquid extract of coconut roots and flowers and sugar. 

Action : - Non- irritant diuretic and urinary antiseptic, alternative, demulcent and aphrodisiac.

Uses : - an infusion or decoctin is used to relieve painful micturation to increase the flow of urine and as a vehicle for diuretic medicines in dysuria, gonorrhea and other urinary disorders and for the relief of nocturnal emissions and incontinence of urine. In impotence or sexual debility, it is given with milk and sugar or ghee and sugar according to the strength of digestion. the leaf made into a curry is used in dropsy

Gokshura is a procumbent annual or perennial herb with many spreading slender branches, the immature portions covered in a fine silky hair. 

Leaves are oppositely arranged, pinnate, with 3-8 eight simple leaflets that are almost sessile to the leaf stem, with   appressed hairs below, and to a lesser extent above. 

Flowers - solitary yellow flowers have five petals, and are borne in the leaf axils, on hairy pedicles up to 2 cm long.       Fruits -  are globose, comprised of five woody cocci that bear two pairs of sharp spines, each cocci containing several     

seeds. 

Part used:   Fruit and root.

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES

 Rasa:         Madhura
 Vipaka:      Madhura
 Virya:         Shita, Snigdha
 Karma:      Dipana, pachana, bhedana, krimiaghna, chedana, kasahara, svasahara, kusthaghna 
                    vedanasthapana, mutravirechana, ashmaribhedana, mutravishodhana, shothahara, 
                    dahaprashamana, raktaprasadana, 
                    hrdaya, vajikarana, balya, tridoshahara
Prabhava:   Sattvic

Terminalia chebula

Terminalia Chebula is called the "king of medicines" in Tibet and is always listed first in the Ayurvedic meteria medica because of its extraordinary powers of healing. In Ayurveda it is considered to destroy all diseases and eliminate all waste from the body. At the same time, it is known to promote tissue growth and health. 

Modern science has found that Terminalia Chebula has a strong effect against the herpes simplex virus HSV, has antibacterial activity, and exhibits strong cardio tonic properties. Terminalia Chebula also has antioxidant components, which indicates it can increase the life of tissues. Yet another study shows the anti-tumor activity of Terminalia Chebula and another study shows that it has considerable effect in inhibiting the HIV virus which ultimately results in AIDS

Thus, Terminalia Chebula can be seen to be a valuable addition to anyone's herbal collection. With its rejuvenating and cleansing properties, Terminalia Chebula is excellent for the digestive system. As a preventative supplement it has great anti viral attributes, as shown by its anti tumor and HIV action. It is also effective for alleviating constipation in general, and is helpful for vata persons because it works in the Triphala formula which is a well balanced digestive and rejuvenating aid.

Habitat 
Terminalia chebula is found in the sub Himalayan tracks form Ravi eastwards to west Bengal and Assam, ascending up to at altitude of 1500m in the Himalayas, In the This tree is wild in the forests of Northern India, central provinces And Bengal, common in madras, Mysore and in the southern Parts of the Bombay presidency.

A tree 15.24m in height & 1.5-2.4m in girth with a cylindrical bole of 4-9m, a rounded crown and spreading branched found throughout the greater parts of India.

Bark dark brown often longitudinally
cracked, exfoliating in woody scales,

Leaves ovate or elliptic with a pair of large gland at the tip of the pedicel

Flowers yellowish white; in terminal spikes, drupes ellipsoidal, obovoid or ovoid, yellow to orange brown, sometimes tinged with red or black and hard when ripe. 3-5cm long becomes 5 ribbed on drying. 

Fruits the ovoid, yellow to orange brown fruits are 2.5 to 4.0cms long. Usually 5- angled when dry, stone very think, bony, obsurely angled, rough, grooved, having gum vessels on the wall.

(A). Classification according to the size of the fruit 
(i) Survari harade - which are large, dense and heavy about 2 inches long, yellowish-brown: when cut it contains yellowish or darkish brown, pulp and stone

(ii) Rangari harade - these are smaller, less wrinkled and less furrowed than the above variety; in length about an inch; the epidermis is yellow; when cut it presents a yellow dried pulp and a stone. The pulp is less astringent than that of survari harade

(iii) Bala harade - are smaller than the above two varieties. Their color is deep brown or black; highly wrinkled, dark or brown epidermis. Their pulp I dark and homogenous; there is no stone.

(iv) Java harade - these are the smallest of all. Other characters are similar to those of Bala harade.

(B) Classification according to shape
(i) Vijaya      - having alabu shape used in all diseases, habitat in vindahya mountains 

(ii) Rohini      - Round in shape- used in vrana, habitat in zansi and other sate other parts of M.P

(iii) Pootana  - Size is small,mesocarp is less, seed is bigger, externally used, habitate Sind.

(iv) Amirtha  - Mesocarp is more used for shodhanakarma habituate M.P and Champaranya 

(v) Abhya     - Fruit having five ribbed used in eye diseases, habitate champaranya, himalaya 

(vi) Jeevantee  - fruit is golden yellow, used in all diseases, habitate himalaya.

(vii) Chetaki  - Fruit having three ribs, used as purgative. 

(C) Classification according to the growth of the fruit 
(I)     Halileh - Zira. When the size is that of a cumin seed. 
(II)    Halileh - Javi, when the size is that of a barely corn. 
(III)   Halileh - Zangi when the size is of a raisin 
(IV)   Halileh - Chini when fruit is greenish yellow and somewhat hard. 
(V)    Halileh - Asfer when it is very nearly mature 
(VI)   Halileh - Kabul or fully matured fruit 

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
Fruit contains 45% tannin, gallic acid, albumin, yellow color, chebulic acid, which turns into tannic acid and gallic acid when boiled.

COLLECTION
Generally two good years are followed by one or two poor ones, fruits are collected when they turn yellow. The seeds can be collected as soon as they fall on the ground and are dried under shade. The seeds can be stored in gunny bags for one year but fresh seeds germinate quicker.

INDICATIONS 
Digestive diseases, urinary diseases, diabetes, skin diseases, parasitic infections, heart diseases, irregular fevers, flatulence, constipation, ulcers, vomiting, colic pain and hemorrhoids Terminalia Chebula is used to treat. If taken after meals it prevents imbalance of any of the humors due to bad food or drink. It promotes wisdom, intellect and eyesight.

USAGE & DOSAGE 
The fruit pulp is used as a dentifrice to cure bleeding and ulceration of gums. 

Water in which the fruits have been steeped overnight is a good cooling wash for eyes, affording relief in conjunctivitis and similar affections of the eyes.

                                       AYURVEDA DETAILS ABOUT ABHYA

Synonyms -    
            Abhya- The medicine is safest for use
            Amirtha – Plant survives hundreds of years
            Avyatha – Not having unpleasant.
            Chetaki- Keeps alert or stimulates jnanendriyas
            Hareetaki- Fruits are yellow colored.
            Haimavati- Lavishly grows in Himalayan regions 
            Kayastha – Arrest aging factors 
            Pathya – It is always “Pathya” 


AYURVEDA PROPERTIES

           Rasa/ Taste –              Vilavana pancharasa
                                                Endocarp is sweet in taste.
                                                Epicarp is pungent in taste.
                                                Seed portion contains astringent
                                                Fiber portion is sour
                                                Peduncle region of the fruit is bitter
           Vipaka                         Madura 
           Veerya / Potency        Ushna
           Guna / Property        Laghu, rooksha,
           Doshaghnata              Tridoshaghna

Tridoshaghnata of hareetaki
           It pacifies Pitta with its sweet, bitter, and astringent taste. It pacifies Vata with its Amala rasa. It pacifies Kapha with its katu, thikha & kashaya rasa.

    It pacifies Kapha administered with salt. It pacifies Pitta administered with sugar. It pacifies Vata administered with ghee.

Karma / Action    Chakshushya, Brimhana, Rasayana, Anulomaka, Deepana, Medhya, Krimighana, Swarya,

Uses                     Swasa, Kasa, Premaha, Arshas, Kusta, Shotha, Udhara, Vaishwarya, Grahanee,                
                             Vibandha, Vishamajwara, Gulma, Admana, Vrana, Charadi, Hikka, 
                             Diseases of hear and throat, Kamala, Shoola, Aanaha, Diseases of spleen and liver,    
                             Ashmaree, Mootrakrichchra, Mootraahata.

Visista yoga    
                    Aristam/Asvam – Infusion Abhyarista,Aravindasavam, Dasamoolaristam, Punarnasavam 
                    Kashayam – Decoction Amurthotharam Kashayam, Bharangyadi Kashayam, Chiruvilwadi    
                    Kashayam, Ghandharvahasthadi Kashayam, Kathaga Kathiradi Kashayam, Manjishtadi   
                    Kashayam, Mahaikthakam Kashayam, Patolamooladi Kashayam, Punarnavadi Kashayam
                    Lehyam – Pastries Gomuthra Haritaki, Agasthaya Rasayanam, Manibhadra Lehyam,    
                                    Chitrakahareetaki, Danteehareetaki, Vyaghree chareetaki
                    Choornam – Powders Thriphaladi choornam, Avipathi choornam, Hinguvachadi choornam,    
                    Hutabhugadi choornam, Navayasam Choornam
                    Gulika / Vati – Tablets Pathyadi vati, Thriphala gulgulu, Yogaraja gulgulu 
                    Thailam – Oil I Thriphaladi thailam, Thriphaladi Coconut oil
    
Gana / Groups classified (Mentioned in  Ayurveda texts)

    (Charaka) - Triphala, Amalakyadi, Parooshakadi, Trivritadi

    (Susrutha) - Prajasthapana, Arshoghana, Jwaraghna,Kusthaghana, Kasaghana 

References 
Astanga Hridya 
Charaka Shamitha
Susrutha Shamitha
Wealth of India
Indian Materia Medica – 1982 Nadkarani K.M – 
Medicinal Plant of India – Vil 2 Indian Council of Medicinal Research New Delhi

Aconitum heterophyllum

Botanical Name	:	Aconitum heterophyllum
Sanskrit Name	:	Ativisa
Common Name	:	Indian Atees
Family Name	:	Ranunculaceae

VERNACULAR NAME:
English         :  Indian Atees
Bengalih      :  Ataich
Gujarati        :  Ativakhani Kali
Hindi             :  Atis
Kannada      :  Ativisa                                                     
Malayalam   :  Atividayam
Marathi         :  Ativish                                                       
Persian        :  Vajjeturki
Punjabi         :  Atis                                                             
Tamil            :  Aitividayam
Telugu          :  Ativisa                                                        
Bhoti            :  Ais
Canarese    :  Atibaje                                                     
Cutch           :  Ativista
Sanskirit :     Aruna, Ardra, Upavisa, Kasaya, Krsna, Ghunavallabha, Candri, Visva, Visama, Sisubhaisajya, Sukakanda, Suklakanda, Sringika, Syamakanda, Svetakanda, Svedavaca, Laksha, Bhangura, Madri, Mrdvi, Mahausadha, Pithavallabha, Rakta, Madhya-Desastha.
SYNONYMS:
Aruna, Ardra, Upavisa, Kasaya, Krsna, Ghuna  vallabha, Candri, Pita Vallabha, Prati Visa, Bhangura, Madhya-desastha, Mahausadha, Madri, Mrdvi, Rakta Visva, Visama, Visa, Shishu bhaishajya, Suka kanda, Shukla kanda, Shringee, Syama Kanda, Sveta, Sveta Kanda, Sveta Vaca, Ativisa and Laksa.

Word Meaning Of the Synonyms:

Aruna- A variety having reddish coloured stem
Krsna- Its black variety is called krsna due to its black colour
Ghuna Vallabha- Modified stems are relishing to insects
Prativisa- It is an antidote to many poisons
Bhangura- Roots or stems are brittle
Mahaushadha- It is an important drug in materia medica
Visva- It spreads to every part of the body due to its sukshma guna
Shishubhaishajya- Useful in pediatric diseases
Shukla kanda- Main stems having white colour
Shringee- Modified stems appear like horn
Suka Kanda- Due to the fragile nature the stem is easily breakable
Ativisa- Even though it occurs under visha varga it is non-poisonous
Kashmira- Grows mainly in the region of Kashmir
VARIETIES:
Vagbhata:-  Ativisa, Visa
Sodhala:-   Sukla, Krsna, Aruna
Madanadi Nighantu:-  Raktha, Swetha, Krisna, Pita

INDUKARA- In his context describes visa and ativisa as dvaya The herb “Visa” is delineated in sathapatha brhamana, Sayana considered this plant as “Vyapina”

Acharya P.V.SHARMA compared it to a variety of BANAPARANI however SAYANAS version on the synonyms of visa (ie) visakakiindicates that visa and ativisa are one and the same.

CHARAKA-denotes this plants only with the name “ativisa”, he also explains as “prativisa” twice in his text in Charaka Samhitha-Chikitsa Sthana.

SUSRUTHA-also quoted it as ‘ativisa” and “prativisa” term is used in the context of ativisa in Susruta Samhitha-Uttara Sthana.

VAGBHATA-There must be two varieties (ie) “Aitvisa and Prativisa”. It is clear from the fact that Vagbhata mention about Visadvaya in Ashtanga Hridaya-Uttara Sthana.
Vagbhata for the first time quoted the term Ghunesta in Ashtanga Hridaya-Chikitsa Sthana , Ghunapriya in Ashtanga Hridaya-Sutra Sthana  to denote ativisa.

GANA:
Charka Samhita: Lekhaniya, Arshoghna, Titktaskandha, Sirovirecana

Susruta Samhita: Pippalyadi, Mustadi, Vacadi

Astanga Sangraha: Lekaniya, Arshoghna, Vacadi, Mustadi, Pippalyadi

Astanga Hridaya: Pippalyadi, Mustadi, Vacadi

Dhanvantari Nighantu: Guducyadi Varga

Sodhala Nighantu: Guducyadi Varga, Anekarthavarga

Kaiyadeva Nighantu: Oushadi Varga

Bhavaprakasha Nighantu: Haritakyadi Varga

Raja Nighantu: Pippalyadi Varga, Upavisa gana

FAMILY DESCRIPTION:
Generally plants of this family are annuals or perennials herbs or rarely shrubs

Leaves : Radical or alternate, rarely opposite

Flowers : Bisexual or unisexual, regular or irregular

Sepals : Five or more, rarely fewer or very rarely persistent, often petoloid, imbricate or rarely       valvate.

Petals : Five or more or zero, rarely four or three, hypogynous, imbricate, often minute.

Stamens : Hypogynous usually numerous in many rows

Anthers : Adnate, opening laterally
Carpel’s : Numerous, rarely free
Stigma : Simple
Ovules: Numerous or solitary on ventral suture
Fruits: One seeded beaked or plumose, achenes or many seeded follicles or rarely capsules or berry

DISTRIBUTION:
Ativisa is a native of the Western Himalayas and it is found in Gurhwal, Kumaon and Kashmir. Also is Sub- Alphine and Alphine zone in the temperate zone of about 2500-3900 meters.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION:
An erect, perennial and tuberous herb, glabrous. Stem erect, simple or branched from 15- 19cm. High glabrous below, finely crispo-pubescent in the upper part, lowest 2-4 internodes short.

Leaves: Heteromorphous, glabrous, lowest on long petiole (13cms) blade-orbicular cordate or ovate in outline with usually narrow sinus 1-1.5cm deep, lobes usually five lobed to the middle. Lobes crenate or incisocrenate, crenate, rotundate, apiculate, intermediate leaves shortly petioled or sessile.

Inflorescence: Slender receme or a lax, leafy panicle, crispo pubescent, sepals bluish or violet rarely white, upper sepals almost navicular obiliquely erect shortly or obscurely beaked 18-20mm high, 8-9mm wide, carpels 5 elliptic, oblong.

Follicles: Contagious, linear-oblong, straight 16-18mm long

Seeds: Obpyrandial 3-4mm long blackish brown

Roots: Paired biennials, tuberous, whitish or grey 2.8cm long, and 0.4-1.5 cm thick grey brown outside with scattered pointed minute notches. Starchy white inside 4-9 xylem bundles near the periphery embedded in the secondary phloem tissue.

Flowering and Fruiting: Rainy autumn season onwards, July to September. Fruits have two sections one from previous year and one from the current year.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS:

Roots contain non toxic amorphous alkaloids and it is one of the best bitter tonics for children

Alkaloid atisine, Aconitic acid, Tannic acid, Palmitic acid, Stearic acid

Abundant starch, fat, vegetable mucilage, cane sugar, glycerides and Ash

Atisinol, Heterophyllisine, Entatisine dipterpenoid lactone, F-dishydroatisine, Benzylleteratisine, Hetisine, Hetratisine, Hetidine, Atinide, Hestinone, Carotene, Diterpene alkaloid

Four Diterpenes viz., Heterophyllisine, Hetidine, Atidine, Hetisinone, Atisine

PROPERTIES:
Rasa:      Katu, Tikta
Guna:      Laghu, Ruksha
Virya:      Usna
Vipaka:   Katu
Karma:    Dipanam, Pacana, Grahi, Sotha Hara, Visaghna, Krimihara, Arshoghna, Jwarahara,      Kasa hara
Dosakarma: Tri doshahara

PARTS USED: The tuberous root is medicinally used both alone and in combination

Dosage:
Root powder 1-3gm/day (divided dose)
Solid extract as tonic 65-195mg in terms of 2% alkaloid
Solid extract as anthelminthic 49-65mg in terms of 2% alkaloid
Solid extract as antiperiodic 260-390mg in terms of 2% alkaloid

TOXIC EFFECT:
Over dosage (more than 5-6gm) produces symptoms like dryness of mouth, tremors etc
Drugs which are vata hara in nature may be useful under these conditions

PURIFICATION:
Roots of Ativisa are cut into pieces and tied in a cloth. Then it is soaked in cow’s urine for three days by changing cow’s urine every day. Afterwards the pieces are shade dried.

EXTERNAL USES:
Antidote for poison:

The dasanga agada formulated by KASYAPA cures the poison of all kinds of insects

Ghee prepared with Ativisa and cow’s milk is orally administered or as a nasal drops in case of acute poisoning.

Ativisa is made into paste by grinding with honey and administered orally

INTERNAL USES:
Digestive System: It has appetizing, digestive, astringent, antihaemorrhoidal, and antihelmentic due to its bitter, pungent and ushna properties. Useful in diarrhea and dysentery.

Circulatory System: It is a blood purifier, haemostatic and anti-inflammatory because it alleviates pitta.

Respiratory System: It reduces phlegm and clears airways.

Reproductive System: Purifies milk secretion because of its katu property. Aphrodisiacs due to usna property.

Temperature: Febrifuge, useful as a prophylactic in intermittent fever

Satmikarana: Reduces body weight due to ruksha guna, bitter tonic and antidote for poisons, useful in scorpion bite.

INDICATIONS:
DOSA: Diseases induced by all three dhosas but mainly useful in diseases due to kapha and pitta.

Digestive System: Useful in dyspepsia, indigestion, amadosa, vomiting, fever associated with diarrhea, Haemorrhoids, helminthiasis.

Respiratory System: Useful in cold and cough

Reproductive System: Useful in impotency

Temperature: Effective in fever mainly periodical fever. It should be given in the dose of 2-3gm as prophylactic treatment for malaria and act faster if given along with any fragrant drug

Satmikaran: Useful in post pyrexia debility because it is a bitter tonic. It is an antidote for rat poison.

Specific Uses: No medicine is better than Aconitum heterophyllum for pediatric diseases.

Indicated diseases: Atisara, Jwara, Kasa, Bala roga, Visa roga, Ama dosa, Chardi, Krimi roga, Agnimandya, Raktha pitta, Yakrit roga, Trsna, Pinasa, Arsa, Pittodara.