Herbsforever Inc. (Since 1932)

Biological name : Boerhavia diffusa

English/Common name : Red Hogweed

Indian name : Spreading Hogweed, Beshakapore, Punarvava, Raktpunarnava

Part used : Herb, root

Description/Habitant : This Ayurvedic herb is found throughout India. Growing to 70 centimeters in height. It has a large root system and produces yellow and white flowers. It can be found in many tropical and warm-climate countries.

Remedies For

Punarnava in India where it has a long history of use by indigenous and tribal people, and in Aruyvedic or natural/herbal medicine in India. There, the roots are employed for many purposes including liver, gallbladder, kidney, renal and urinary disorders.

Bitter, stomachic, laxative, diuretic, expectorant, rejuvenative, diaphoretic, emetic Root-purgative, anthelmintic, febrifuge, White-laxative, diaphoretic.

Red-vermifuge. Abdomen, Abdominal Pain, Anemia, Anthelmintic, Anti-inflammatory, Ascites, Asthma, Blood Purifier, Calculi, Cancer(abdominal), Cataract, Childbirth, Cholera, Cough, Debility, Diuretic, Dropsy, Dyspepsia, Edema, Emetic, Expectorant, Eye, Fever, Food, Gonorrhea, Guinea Worms, Heart Disease, Heart Ailments, Hemorrhages(childbirth) Hemorrhages(thoracic) Hemorrhoids, Hepatoprotective, Inflammation(internal), Jaundice, Lactagogue, Liver, Menstrual, Ophthalmic, Renal, Rheumatism, Spleen(enlarged), Weakness.

Ayurvedic Applications

White-edema, anemia, heart disease, cough, intestinal colic, kidney disorders; same uses as red.

Red-nervous system, heart disease, hemorrhoids, skin diseases, kidney stones, edema, rat and snake bites; chronic alcoholism, wasting diseases, insomnia, rheumatism, eye diseases, asthma (moderate doses), induces vomiting in large doses, jaundice, ascites due to early liver and peritoneal concerns; urethritis.

Leaf juice with honey, dropped into the eyes for chronic ophthalmia.

No side effects have been noted so far.

According to Ayurveda, herbs are taken in combination with other herbs to neutralize the toxicity of one herb with the opposing effect of the other or to enhance the particular effect of one herb with the help of other.

References

Jain, S.P., et.al., 1984. Ethnomedicinal Plants of Jaunsar-Bawar Hills, Uttar Pradesh, India J Ethnopharmacol 12 2: 213-222 (1984)

Anis, M. et.al., 1994. Medicinal Plantlore of Aligarh, India. Int J Pharmacog 32 1: 59-64 Agarwal,R.R. 1934. Chemical Examination of Punar-nava or Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. Proc Acad Sci 4 : 73-76 (1934)

Mudgal, V., 1975. Studies on Medicinal Properties of Convolvulus Pluricaulis and Boerhaavia Diffusa. Planta Med 28 : 62- (1975)

Gaitonde,B.B., et.al., 1974. Diuretic Activity of Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa). Bull Haffkine Inst 2 : 24- (1974)

Chowdhury, A. et.al., 1955 Boerhaavia diffusa - Effect on Diuresis and Some Renal Enzymes. Ann Biochem Exp Med 15 : 119-126 (1955)

Singh, R.P., et.al., 1992 Recent Approach in Clinical and Experimental Evaluation of Diuretic Action of Punarnava (B.diffusa) with Special Reference to Nephrotic Syndrome. J Res Edu Ind Med 7 1: 29-35 (1992)

Devi, M.V., et.al., 1986 Effect of Phyllanthus niruri on the Diuretic Activity of Punarnava Tablets. J Res Edu Ind Med 5 1: 11-12 (1986)

Mishra, J.P. et.al., Studies on the Effect of Indigenous Drug Boerhaavia diffusa Rom.on Kidney Regeneration. Indian J Pharmacy 12 : 59-. (1980)

Chandan, B.K. et.al., 1991. Boerhaavia diffusa: A Study of its Hepatoprotective Activity. J Ethnopharmacol 31 3: 299-307 (1991)

Hansen, K., et.al., 1995. In Vitro Screening of Traditional Medicines for Anti-Hypertensive Effect Based on Inhibition of the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (Ace) J Ethnopharmacol48 1: 43-51 (1995)

Dhar, M., et.al., 1968. Screening of Indian Plants for Biological Activity: Part I. Indian J Exp Biol 6 : 232-247 (1968)

Sohni, Y., et.al., 1995 The Antiamoebic Effect of a Crude Drug Formulation of Herbal Extracts Against Entamoeba histolytica in Vitro and in Vivo. J Ethnopharmacol 45 1: 43-52 (1995)

Antifertility Studies on Plants. Anon: Indian Counc Med Res-Ann Rept Director General1978 : 63-64 (1978)

Adesina, S., 1979. Anticonvulsant Properties of the Roots of Boerhaavia diffusa. Q J Crude Drug Res 17 : 84-86 (1979)

Akah, P., et.al., 1993. Nigerian Plants with Anti-convulsant Property. Fitoterapia 64 1: 42-44 (1993)

Olukoya,D., et.al., 1993. Antibacterial Activity of Some Medicinal Plants from Nigeria. J Ethnopharmacol 39 1: 69-72 (1993)

Vijayalakshimi, K., et.al., 1979. Nematicidal Properties of Some Indigenous Plant Materials Against Second Stage Juveniles of Meloidogyne Incognita (Koffoid and White) Chitwood. Indian J Entomol 41 4: 326-331 (1979)

Verma, H., et.al., 1979. Antiviral Activity of Boerhaavia diffusa Root Extract and Physical Properties of the Virus Inhibitor. Can J Bot 57 : 926-932 (1979)

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