Agnimantha(Clerodendrum Phlomidis) - Benefits, Uses & Dosage

Agnimantha or Clerodendrum phlomidis is an important ingredient of Dashmool Plants. Its stem or sticks were used to produce fire. This plant is considered essential for rituals also, Agnimantha is best sothahara and vathahara drug. Like patala agnimantha is also found to be shothahara according to Charaka.

Agnimantha is used in the treatment of diseases related to the nervous and musculoskeletal system, inflammatory disorders, neuralgia, rheumatoid arthritis, anemia, piles, constipation, common cold, and loss of appetite. It is also useful in eruptive fevers, which include infections like scarlet fever (scarlatina), measles, small pox, varioloid eruptions, and erysipelas.

In India, the plant is known as Arni. It is a large shrub common in India and Sri Lanka. Clerodendrum myricoides from the same family is found in Africa and India.

Active Ingredients of Agnimantha

The main chemical constituents of Agnimantha plant are as follows:

•   LINALOOL
•   LINOLEIC ACID
•   p-METHOXY CINNAMIC ACID
•   APHELANDRINE
•   CARYOPHELLEN
•   CLERODENDRIN-A
•   GANIKARINE
•   IRIDOID GLYCOSIDE
•   LUTEOLIN
•   PENTACYCLIC TERPENEBETULIN
•   PREMNASPIRODIENE
•   PREMNAZOLE
•   PREMNENOL
•   PREMNINE, GANIARINE
•   ?-SITOSTEROL

Common Names Of Agnimantha

•   Botanical Name : Premna Integrifolia
•   Hindi Name : Agathu, Arni, Ganiyaar, Agethu
•   Sanskrit : Agnimantha, Vatghani, Shreeparn
•   Tamil : Pachumullai, Taludalai
•   Telugu : Taluki
•   Bengali : Ganibhari, Ganira
•   Oriya : Ganiyari

Classification of Agnimantha

•   Kingdom : Plantae
•   Subkingdom : Tracheobionta
•   Division : Magnoliophyta
•   Class : Magnoliopsida
•   Order : Lamiales
•   Family : Verbenaceae

Habitat of Agnimantha

Agnimantha is distributed throughout India. Mostly in drier part, upper gangetic planis, Uttarpradesh, Bihar, Orissa and other province.

Mostly found in the coastal areas in southern India, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and Western Coasts in dry regions. Flowering season in April and June. The wood in sometimes used for lighting fire by friction.

It also found in Bangal & on the banks of Ganges. In hilly Regions from kumaan to Bhutan up to 15 thousands meter in sahyadri ranges and kongan.

Uses & Effectiveness

•   Febrifuge
•   Digestive
•   Uterine Tonic
•   Stomachic
•   Metabolism enhancer
•   Cardioprotective
•   Anti-constipation
•   Digestive Stimulant
•   Carminative
•   Anti-obesity
•   Antioxidant
•   Stomachic
•   Cardiac stimulant
•   Hepatoprotective

Parts Used

Bark, Leaves, Roots.

Effect on Doshas

Balances Vata and Kapha

Bio Energetics of Agnimantha

Precautions of Agnimantha

•   Agnimantha is safe when used in natural form or in the form of juice, powder and decoction.
•   Avoid during pregnancy due to information lacking.
•   Safe to use by lactating mothers.