Argyreia nervosa is a
perennial climbing vine that is native to the Indian subcontinent and
introduced to numerous areas worldwide, including Hawaii, Africa and the
Caribbean.
There are two botanical
varieties: Argyreia nervosa var. nervosa with its proven psychoactive value and
Argyrea nervosa var. speciose, a species used in Ayurveda medicine, but with
little to no psychoactive value. Argyreia nervosa var. nervosa
plant has putative hallucinogenic properties and is famous for containing hallucinogenic
ergoline alkaloids. The seeds of Argyreia nervosa var. nervosa contains the
highest concentration of psychoactive compounds in the family. Traditional use
of Argyreia nervosa var. speciosa in India usually employed the leaves and
roots of the plants, which are not psychoactive, as antiseptic and
anti-inflammatory drugs.
Ayurvedic properties:
Rasa (Taste) – Katu (Pungent), Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya
(Astringent)
Guna (Characteristics) - Laghu (Light);
Snigdha (Unctuous)
Veerya (Potency) - Ushna (Hot)
Vipaka (Post digestion effect) - Madhura
(Sweet)
Effect on Tridosha: Vidhara mool
pacifies Kapha and Vata Doshas in the body so it can be used effectively in
management of all the diseases which originate from aggravation of Kapha, Vata
or both.
Actions according to
Ayurveda:
Rasayana: Vidhara mool rejuvenates each and every
cell of the body
Vrushya: is a good aphrodisiac, this herb increases
the sperm count and decreases the inflammation in the uterus
Aamvathar: is useful in all rheumatic conditions like
rheumatoid arthritis etc.
Arshahara: is useful in hemorrhoids
Shothahar: Vidhara mool alleviates swelling from
the body
Mehapranut: is useful in all urinary problems; passage of
sugar with urine for example.
Ayushkar: this herb enhances livingness in the body
Medhavardhaka: Vidhara mool nourishes the brain
tissues
Kantikar: Vidhara mool imparts a glowing and healthy look
to the body
Useful part: Roots, Seeds, Leaves
The whole plant is
reported to have antiseptic properties
Vidhara mool is one of the most nutritive Ayurveda herb which
specially nourishes the reproductive organs and is a good aphrodisiac.
Vidhara mool pacifies the Kapha and Vata Doshas so it is quite
useful in diseases of Kapha & Vata origin. It is used is vat diseases, heart diseases, cough,
hoarseness of voice, diabetes mellitus, sexual weakness, tuberculosis and
emaciation.
Vidhara mool corrects the metabolism and benefits a lot in
rheumatic conditions and metabolic disorders like rheumatic arthritis.
Vidhara mool helps in removing unwanted fluids from the body.
Vidhara mool also nourishes the brain cells and improves
cognitive and analytical abilities.
Vidhara mool corrects the working of the digestive system which makes it also useful in hemorrhoids and other issues of digestive system.
Vidhara mool corrects the working of the digestive system which makes it also useful in hemorrhoids and other issues of digestive system.
Vidhara mool is also good in diabetes.
Vidhara mool nourishes the skin and improves complexion.
Application of the Vidhara
leaves is done as an anti-inflammatory and wound healing. The leaves are antiphlogistic. They are applied over
skin diseases and wounds. The silky side of the leaf is applied over tumors,
boils, sores, and carbuncles, as an irritant to promote maturation and
suppuration. The leaves are also used for extracting guinea worms. A drop of
the leaf juice is used in otitis. An interesting point to note
is that when the lower whitish-green hairy surface of the leaf is applied on
the inflamed part, it accelerates suppuration while the upper smooth surface
helps in wound healing.
Powder of the root is
given with "ghee" as an alterative.
Elephantiasis the powder
is given with rice water.
In inflammation of the
joints it is given with milk and a little castor oil.
A paste of the roots
made with rice water is applied over rheumatic swelling and rubbed over the
body to reduce obesity.
This herb is:
- A good aphrodisiac
- Rejuvenates each and every cell of the body
- Useful in all rheumatic conditions like rheumatoid
arthritis etc.
- Useful in hemorrhoids
- Imparts a glowing and healthy look to the body
- Nourishes the brain tissues
- Treates Dementia - it is a brain disorder that
seriously affects a person's ability to carry out daily activities. Argyreia
speciosa commonly known as Vridha daraka is widely used in
ayurveda for the treatment of neurological disorders. Alzheimer's disease now
common among old aged people can also be treated. A person becomes intelligent,
with good memory and without any signs of aging if he takes Vidhara mool powder
treated with the juice of Shatavari in a process described in Bhaishajya Ratnavali
with Ghee (Ghrita) for one month.
It
is found that the root of Argyreia speciosa may responsible for central nervous
depressant activity as hypnosis, induced pyrexia and induced sleeping time in
animals.
The
extract of Argyrea nervosa var. speciosa leaves has antiulcer activity
and cures the ulcers.
Researches
show Antipyretic activity, Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity, hepatoprotective
and Antioxidant Effects, Aphrodisiac property in Argyreia speciose root
extracts.
Argyreia
speciosa is a potent medicinal plant in the Indian systems of medicine.
Traditionally it is used as an antibacterial, antifungal, antipyretic, etc.
The
present study has been designed to evaluate the liver protective
and in-vivoantioxidant role of Ethanolic extract (EtAS) and Ethyl acetate
extract (EAAS) of roots of Argyreia speciose. Research also shows that the
extracts of roots possessed strong antioxidant activity that protect liver cells
against toxins as Silymarin a well-known
liver protecting herbal formulation.
Argyreia speciose has potential to cure erectile
dysfunction and stimulating male sexual activity with an influence on sex ratio
favouring males. Argyrea nervosa flowers exhibited aphrodisiac activity
to a similar degree of its root extract.
