Bharangi

Bharangi is oldest herb used in ayurvedic system which is very famous for healthy respiratory system and to give good rhythm to voice. Its common names are glory bower, bag flower and bleeding heart. Bharangi Plant Leaves are used to increase appetite and also has expectoration activities. Bharangi flowers resemble to lotus. Bharangi was discovered by rishi “Bhrigu” thousands of years back.

Bharangi Plant is perennial woody shrub with bluntly quadrangular stems. Bharangi Leaves are usually three at node, 3-8 inch long, oval in shape with sharp thorns. Bharangi Thorns are pulpy and oily. Bharangi Flowers grow in bunches are slightly fragrant and pale blue pinkish in color. Bharangi Fruits appear in group of 16 and after ripening color changes to purple black. Bharangi Flowers appear in summer season and fruits at the end of rainy season.

Habitat

Bharangi is a medicinal shrub growing in tropical and warm regions of world. There are about 150 to 450 species of this plant and it is distributed throughout world. Especially, it is found in warm temperate regions and native of South Africa, Southern Asia and Malaysia and distributed in various regions of tropical America, Northern Australia, India and Sri Lanka. In India Bharangi plant is easily available in regions like Himalayan region, Bhopal, Bengal and Bihar. Red loam soils are best for the growth of this herb.

Classification

Kingdom
Plantae

Order
Lamiales

Family
Lamiaceae

Subfamily
Teucrioideae

Vernacular Names

Latin– Clerodendrum serratum
English– Turk’s turban moon, Beetle killer, Blue glory
Sanskrit– Bhramanayastika, Kharashakha, Padma, Kasajith, Barbura
Common– Bharangi, Kasaghni, Phajuka, Vtari, Beetle killer, Blue glory
Hindi– Bharangi, Babhanaiti
Malayalam – Kankabharani
Bengali– Bamun hatee, Baman hatee, Bhumijam

Gujarat– Bharangee
Kannada– Gantubarangee
Oriya– Chinds
Punjabi– Bhadangee
Tamil– Cheruteku
Telugu– Canttubrarangee
Urdu– Bharangi, Baharangi

Ayurvedic Properties of Bharangi

Hindi / Sanskrit		English
Rasa	Katu, Tikta	Taste	Pungent, Bitter
Guna	Laghu, Ruksha	Physical Property	Light, Dry
Virya	Ushna	Potency	Hot
Vipaka	Katu	Metabolic Property (After Digestion)	Pungent

Bharangi Effects on Doshas

It balances kapha and vata doshas.

Charak Samhita	Sushrut Samhita	Ashtanga sanghrah	Ashtang hridya
Pureesh sanghrehniya – Herbs used to increase the bulk of feces.	Pipalyadi gana.	Pipalyadi gana	Akradi and Sursadi gana

Practical Uses of Bharangi

Kasaghni is common name of this herb and is used to cure common cold, cough, tuberculosis, rhinitis, Asthma (shwasa roga), chronic respiratory disorders and their underlying symptoms.
Decoction of leaves acts as bronchodilator and mucolytic in nature and it is used to break down phlegm, extra mucus and eases it out from body.
Paste of bharangi leaves are used in lymphadenopathy.
Root of this herb is used to treat jaundice and various disorders associated with liver.
It is helpful in the pacification of vata dosha and is useful in rheumatic conditions, gout and joint pain.
Bharangi has anti-microbial properties and used in various worm infestations.
It acts as appetizer and used to stimulate digestive fire.
Root paste of Bharangi applied on forehead relieves headaches.
Decoction of this herb is used to cure cyst, raktagulam and uterine fibroids.
Paste of leaves are applied on wounds and ulcers to extract out extra pus and relieve burning sensation. It is also helpful in the quick healing of abscesses.
It is also used to cure abdominal tumors.
This herb has anti-inflammatory properties and reduce inflammation.
It pacifies vata and kapha roga.