A perennial diffuse herb that consists of creeping stem that is usually purple in color. The plant is about 0.75-1m in length. Occasionally it grows up to 4mtrs in rainy seasons and dries in summer.
Leaves are usually whitish and smooth underneath and rough green on upper surface which are 2.5-4cm long, fleshy with soft hairs, whitish ventrally. Flowers are small, pink colored. Fruits are one seeded nuts which are round or circular, about 1cm long, containing seeds like cow's beans. Root are fairly long, somewhat circular and yellowish brown to brown colored, surface is twisted on drying. It is soft to touch but rough due to minute longitudinal markings and root scars, fracture and short. Flowering and fruiting of plant during winter.
Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa) is rightly called so as it can brings back missing vigor and vitality. It is a brilliant natural diuretic and very important herb for urinary system. This herb can be white or red. It has been used since long times for the treatment of liver disorders such as jaundice and hepatitis. Throughout the tropical region, it is used as a natural remedy for guinea worms.
Boerhavia diffusa has important property as of being an anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective & diuretic agent.
Chemical composition of Punarnava consists of b-Sitosterol, a-2-sitosterol, palmitic acid, ester of b-sitosterol, hentriacontane, tetracosanoic, hexacosonoic, stearic, arachidic acid, urosilic acid, b-Ecdysone, triacontanol etc.
It is found in Australia, Pakistan, Sudan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Brazil and USA, in several countries of the Middle East and in Myanmar, China, and India. Boerhavia diffusa is also indigenous herb to India and found all over the warmer parts of the country up to an altitude of 2000 m in the Himalayan region.
Hindi / Sanskrit |
English |
||
Rasa |
Madhura, Tikta, Kashaya |
Taste |
Sweet, Bitter, Astringent |
Guna |
Laghu, Rooksha |
Physical Property |
Light, Dry |
Virya |
Ushna |
Potency |
Hot |
Vipaka |
Katu |
Metabolic Property (After Digestion) |
Pungent |
It balances Pitta and Kapha doshas.
Charak Samhita |
Sushrut Samhita |
· Vayahsthapana - Anti-aging group of herbs · Kasahara - Useful against cough · Anuvasanopaga - Group of herbs useful in oil enema · Svedopaga - Useful in sweating treatment · Madhurskanda - Group of herb with sweet taste. |
· Vidarigandhadi Gana |
Bhavprakash nighantu edition of 1998: verse - 231-232, page no. - 422-424
It has two varieties Red Punarnava and White Punarnava.
The name and the properties of White Punarnava are (Punarnava, Shvetmula, Shothaghni, and Dhigrpatrika). White Punarnava is bitter and astringent in taste. It manages Anemia, Vata and Kapha Diseases. This herb promotes digestive fire, removes inflammation and toxins.
The name and properties of Red Punarnava are (Raktapunarnava, Raktapushpa, Shilatika, Shothaghni, Vashketu and Kathillaka). It is bitter in taste and cold in potency. Red Punarnava increases Vata dosha. It binds stool, manages (Kapha and Pitta dosha) related diseases and impurities of blood.
The Bhavprakash nighantu with elaborated Hindi commentary by Padmashri prof. K.C. Chunekar, edited by Dr. G.S. Pandey: edition of 1998: verse - 231-232, page no. - 422-424.
Part Used
Dosage
Caution
As it has excess of Iron & act as laxative, therefore this herb should be avoided by pregnant women.