Botanical Name : Strobilanthes ciliates Nees.
Family : Acanthaceae
Introduction :
In kerala Strobilanthes ciliates used as ‘sahachara’ but in North Barleria Prionitis used
Names in different Indian languages :
Hindi : Karvi, kara
Malayalam : Karimkurunni, kurunni, vellakurunni
Sanskrit : Sahachara
Tamil : Kurinji, Sinnangurinji
Synonyms :
Nilgirianthus ciliates (Nees) Bremek
Varieties & adulterants – (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants) :
Barleria prionitis – CV
Morphology :
It is a shrub, grows up to 1-2 m , height, with purple colored stem.
Leaves – simple, opposite, darkgreen, rough, elliptic-lanceolate, serrate
Flower – blue- violet
Fruit – rarely formed
Distribution & Habitat :
South India, western Ghats
Properties :
RASA-madhur, kashaya
GUNA-snighdha
VIRYA-ushna
VIPAKA-katu
Karma : dipana, pachana, sophahara, keshya, balya, rasayana. Diuretic, expectorant, thermogenic, anti inflammatory
Indication :
Rakta vikara, vatha, sula, kandu, raktha vata, sciatica, glandular swellings and oedema, cough, lumbago, fever, leucoderma, skin disease
Part used :
Whole plant
Dosage :
Leaf juice 10-15 ml
Powder 2-4 g
Decoction 50-100 ml
Important Yogas or Formations :
Sahachardi kashaya, taila
Therapeutic Uses : Decoction useful in Low back ache
