What is Plumbago Zeylanica?
It is the most effective medicinal herb used in Ayurveda in the treatment of various diseases. It is a perennial herb, 1.5 to 2 m tall, with green branches. Its stem is woody and leaves are oval, narrow, opposite, 4 to 10 cm long, 3 to 5 cm broad. Roots are unbranched or slightly branched and are reddish brown in color when they are dry and light yellow colored when they are fresh.
Flowers are white in color with terminal elongated spikes and are bisexual. Its botanical name is Plumbago zeylanica and it belongs to family Plumbaginaceae.
Names in Different Languages:-
- English name: Leadwort
- Hindi name: Cheeta
- Marathi Name: Chitramul
- Tamil name: Chittira
- Telugu name: Chitramulamu
- Arabian name: Sheetaraj
Synonyms:-
- Vahni, Agni, pithi
- Hutasana, vyala, vahni
- Vahnisajnaka, anala
Part used:-
Root, Bark, Seeds
What are the Medicinal Properties of Plumbago Zeylanica?
- Rasa (taste): Katu (pungent)
- Guna (qualities): Teekshna (Strong), Laghu (light), Rooksha (dryness)
- Veerya (potency): Ushna (hot)
- Vipaka: Katu (undergoes pungent taste after digestion)
- Effect on tridosha: Balances Vata and Kapha doshas.
- Karma (actions): Arshahar, Shoolahar, Dipana, shothhar, pachana, and grahi
What are the Medicinal Uses of Plumbago Zeylanica?
- It is useful in intestinal worm infestation.
- It acts as an anti-inflammatory.
- It improves the digestive strength and helps to gain weight.
- It is helpful in treating cough disorders.
- It is effective in treating hemorrhoids.
- It is useful in the treatment of liver and spleen disorders.
- It is quite helpful in treating amenorrhea.
What are the Health Benefits of Plumbago Zeylanica?
Worm Infestation
There are several types of parasitic worms that include flatworm, roundworm, and tapeworms. Plumbago zeylanica is used as an anthelmintic that expels the parasitic worms from the body. It is also used in the treatment of sleeping sickness and also effective against liver flukes and detoxifies the blood by acting as a blood purifier.
Cough
Chitrak acts as an expectorant and anti-tussive. It clears the airways by expelling the mucus from the lungs. It relieves the cough reflex and mainly useful in the cough that disturbs the sleep during the night. It provides relief in other symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue, headache etc.
Increases Appetite
This herb is most effective in increasing the digestive power. It also neutralizes the formation of acid in the abdomen thus improves the appetite. It provides relief in other symptoms such as indigestion, abdominal flatulence, headache, acidity, and heartburn. It also relieves dyspepsia.
Hemorrhoids
This herb acts as an anti-inflammatory that reduces the inflammation and also acts as a blood coagulant. It also provides relief in pain by acting as an analgesic. Constipation is the main symptom and this herb acts as a laxative that passes the hard stools easily. It also increases the bowel movements and also provides relief in flatulence, abdominal pain, acidity etc.
Liver Disorders
This herb has hepato-protective activity and acts as an antioxidant that inhibits the oxidation process I.e., it removes the toxins that are produced by the free radicals. It also regenerates new cells and protects the other cells of the liver. It also increases the metabolism of the liver. Liver disorders such as hepatomegaly and cirrhosis of liver.
Spleen Disorders
Chitrak helps in treating several spleen disorders such as splenomegaly, splenic rupture by regenerating the cells of the spleen. It also removes the toxins from the spleen and also helpful in reducing the inflammation.
Menstrual Disorders
Amenorrhea, PCOS, dysmenorrhea are the most common problem in females these days. This occurs due to the hormonal imbalance that hinders the ovulation. This herb is useful in balancing the hormones I.e., estrogen and progesterone. Balancing of these hormones increases the chances of ovulation process. This also acts as a blood purifier and removes all the other waste products from the body. It provides relief from pain during periods.
Arthritis
This herb is very effective in arthritis by acting as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory. It also provides relief in morning stiffness. In rheumatoid arthritis, this herb decreases the RA factor and provides relief to the factor. It also decreases the uric acid levels that are precipitated in the joints causing pain, tenderness, and swelling.
Skin Diseases
Chitrak acts as a skin tonic that protects the skin from harmful toxins by eliminating these toxins from the body. It reduces the blemishes and brightens the complexion. It also reduces the inflammation and reaches into the deep skin layers. It also acts as a blood purifier.
