Chopchini - Parangipattai

Botanical Name: Smilax China

Common Name : China Root, Chinese Smilax

Sanskrit : Madhusnuhi

Hindi: Chopchini, Chobchini

Tamil : Parangipattai

Bengali : Topchini, Kumarika, Shukchin

Gujarati : Chopchini

Marathi : Chobchini

Punjabi : Chobchini

Description : 

Smilax china is a climbing plant species in the genus Smilax. It is native to China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Assam in India. Chobchini or China root has been used for ages in various tribal and folk medicine for a large number of health issues. Technically called Smilax china, Chobchini is hailed as a wonder medicine in Ayurveda and Unani too. The root or rhizome of Smilax is used in herbal formulations in India, China, Japan, Iran, Indonesia and in many countries in Africa and South America.

The rhizome of Chobchini can be used in the form of powder or paste, cooked or raw. The daily intake of the rhizome should not exceed 10 grams a day, as heavy dosage may result in nausea and vomiting.

Home Remedies:

-        -  Leukorrhea or white discharge can be controlled effectively by taking Chobchini with milk. Take 5 mg of Chobchini powder, mix it in milk and drink it.

-       - Chobchini powder is also prescribed as a general health tonic. Chobchini is bitter in taste. A little quantity of Chobchini power can be taken after meals to tone up the body system and purify the blood and it can be used for skin ailments like psoriasis, leprosy and venereal diseases like syphilis.

-        - There are Chobchini formulations which serve as aphrodisiac, besides improving the sperm count.

-       - The most important medicinal properties of Chobchini are its ability to fight psoriasis, syphilis and leprosy. It is a preferred herbal treatment for psoriasis.

-     - Herbal and Unani doctors prescribe Chobchini for white discharge or leukorrhea in women. It has been found to be quite effective in controlling the problem.

-       - Chobchini contains several medicinal properties including control of swellings (anti-inflammatory), removal of pus from wounds, promotion of urine (diuretic), bringing down high body temperature, removing gas (flatulence) and clearing bowels.

Contraindication: 

This herb is not recommended during pregnancy or lactation. Large dose (many times the recommended dosage) may cause nausea and vomiting.

Dosages  :

Take 4-5 gms powder in Empty Stomach, mix with warm water or Honey 

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.