Apr 14, 2014

Nagaguha - Vellarugu




Botanical Name: Enicostema Axillare (Syn:Enicostemma Littorale)
Sanskrit: Nagaguha
Hindi: Chota Chirayata, Nahli, Nawari
Marathi: Kadavinayi
Gujarati: Mamijeva
Kannada: Karibandita
Malayalam: Vellaragu, Vallari
Tamil: Vellarugu
Telugu: Nelagolimidi, Nelagurugudi
                                 
Description:                    
Perennial, glabrous, erect or procumbent herb 16-30 cm high; stem subquadrangular or ubterete. Leaves simple, opposite, sessile, varibale, 2-4 * 0.1-0.5 cm, linear or linear-oblong or elliptic-oblong, or lanceolate, entire, 1 cm long.

Distribution:                  
Allover India at a height of 1500 feet above the sea level
                                 
Medicinal Uses & Benefit:
The plant is bitter,tonic,stomachic and laxative.The whole plant is dried, powdered and given with honey as a blood purifier and in dropsy,rheumatism,abdominal ulcers, hernia,swellings,itches and insect poisoning. It is used as a substitute for chiretta(Swertia Chirayitta). The plant is bitter due to presence of glycosides and ophelic acid. It is acrid, anti inflammatory, antipyretic and liver tonic.



Note: Siddha treatment is based on complete physical examination of the patient, Naadi diagnosis, and other diagnostic criteria of the disease. The content given in this article is purely meant for information and education purpose only. Kindly consult a Siddha physician before any sort of self medication.


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