Shankhapushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis) is a perennial herb and consider as a most wonderful gift of nature to mankind, it looks like morning glory with blue flowers situated at alternate positions with flowers or branches.Shankhapushpi flowers are found in blue, pink, and white in color, it’s about 5mm in size the leaves are located at alternate positions with branches, the flowers are elliptic in shape and about 2mm in size.
Shankhapushpi branches
are spread around the ground with more than 30 cm long. It is known as Aloe
weed in English and a botanical name, Convolvulus
pluricaulis.All part of Shankhapushpi herb is known to possess therapeutic
benefits and is used as medicine to cure many diseases. Shankhapushpi
(Convolvulus Pluricaulis Choisy) herb is commonly found in India, especially in
the state of Bihar and Punjab.
It generally grows on a sandy or rocky area, under xerophytic
conditions in northern India. Convolvulus pluricaulis is
generally known in the region around Sind deserts and the Sahara and the area
called Saharo Sindian.
The herb produces flowers during the months of September and
October which can range from white, blue to light pink in color.
Shankhapushpi Indian Names
§ Sanskrit:
Shankhapushpi
§ Hindi:
Shankhpushpi, Aparajit
§ Urdu:
Sankhali
§ Punjabi:
Shankhpushpi
§ Bengali:
Sankhapuspi
§ Gujarati:
Shankhavali
§ Kannada:
Bilikanthisoppu
§ Malayalam:
Krsna Kranti, Vishnukranthi,
§ Marathi:
Shankhabela
§ Oriya:
Krishna-Sankranti
§ Tamil:
Sanghupushpam, kakkurattai
§ Telugu:
Shankhapushpi
Regional Name Of Plant
§ Australia:
butterfly-pea
§ English:
English speed wheel
§ French:
Honte
§ German:
Blaue clitorie
§ Portuguese:
Clitoria azul
§ Spanish:
Bejuco de conchitas
§ Brazil:
Cunha
It is also known by other names such as azulejo, bandera, conchita
azul, campanilla, cordofan-pea, choroque, papito, zapotillo, etc.
Ayurvedic view
Shankhapushpi is
indigenous and considered one of the very important herbs in Ayurveda.
According to Ayurveda, Shankhapushpi
is pungent, alternative tonic, bitter, brightens intellect, improves
complexion, increases appetite, useful in biliousness, epilepsy, bronchitis,
teething troubles of infants, etc.
It is regarded as alexiteric and tonic to improve memory and to
tone the brain. From ancient times in India, people of all age groups
(especially students, teachers, and philosophers) always have tried
Shankhapushpi. It is also one of the best herbs that are used for enhancing
beauty and helps in nourishing all the layers of skin.
Shankupushpam
or Blue pea flowers are mentioned in a variety of synonyms in the books of
Ayurveda. Shankupushpam flowers and plants are mentioned in most of the old
Ayurvedic scriptures for its herbal remedy.
The are many synonyms for Shankupushpam
some of the common ayurvedic synonyms are aparajita are mohanasi, supuspi,
Sveta, mahasveta, girikarnika, ardrakarni, gokarnika, sephanda,
vishnukrantha, etc. Also, the flower is known as oral, malayamukki, Kakkanam,
etc..
§ Plant
§ Leaves
§ Flowers
§ Roots
§ Seeds
§ Ashes
Ayurveda Properties
§ Rasa:
Katu, Kashaya
§ Virya:
Ushna
§ Guna:
Guru, Sara, Snigdha, Pichchila
§ Vipaka:
Madhura
§ Dosha:
Balances and alleviates all the three doshas viz Vata, Pitta, and Kapha
§ Karma:
Medhakrita, Svarakara, Grahabhutadi doshaghna, Vashikaran Siddhi
Ayurveda Medicinal
Properties
§ Medhya:
Promotes intellectual capacity
§ Swarakarini:
Improves voice
§ Kantida:
Enhances the aura of the body and gives it a healthy look
§ Grahabhootadi
doshaghni: Useful in diseases of supernatural origin
§ Rasayani:
Rejuvenates the body
§ UUnmadaghna:
Alleviates insanity and emotional instability
§ Majjadhatu
Rasayana: Rejuvenates the nervous tissue
§ Vrishya:
Aphrodisiac
§ Pachambala:
Increases the strength of the digestive system
§ Chedana:
Laxative
§ Nidrajnana:
Promotes sleep
Ayurvedic Formulations
There are many ayurvedic
formulations containing Shankhpushpi as a single drug or in combination
with other drugs available in the Indian market.
It is generally advertised for “memory enhancement”. Some of
the important Ayurvedic formulations using the herb are given below:
§ Abhrak
bhasma
§ Brahmi
ghrita
§ Brahmi
Vati
§ Brahm
Rasayana
§ Manasmrita
gutka
§ Mukta
Vati
§ Memorex
tablets
§ Manjisthadi
Kasayam
§ Stress
guard capsules
§ Medhya
kashaya
§ Shankhapushpi
panaka
§ Shankhpushpi
syrup (Unjha)
§ Dimagheen
(Dawakhana Tibiya College, Aligarh)
§ Shankhavali
Churna (Narnaryan Pharmacy)
§ BR-16A
(Himalaya Drug. Co. Ltd.)
Shankupushpam plant uses
§ The
herbal extracts of plants are seen to possess spermatogenic properties, so it
can be beneficial in cases of sperm debility.
§ It is
used to treat the urinary system ailments.
§ It is
known to have cooling effects that alleviate symptoms of vomiting, burning
sensations, and thirst which is common during fever.
§ Plant
extracts can is used for ailments in a respiratory system like cough and cold,
it is also used to prevent irritation of respiratory organs as it has
expectorant properties.
§ The
Herbal extracts of the plant are used for the treatment of Asthma.
§ The
Herbal extracts have tranquilizing effects and thus used for syncope, vertigo,
etc.
§ It is
used for the nervous system and brain-related ailments.
§ Herbal
extracts are also used for treating the digestive system and other ailments
such as jaundice, constipation, piles dyspepsia, etc.
§ It is
also used for treating the circulatory system of blood.
§ It is
also used for treating smallpox.
§ The
hemostatic effects of shankupushpams are beneficial for piles mostly the
bleeding piles.
§ A
decoction of this herbal plant is used for cleaning wounds and it has the
ability to prevent pus formation.
§ Plant
extract is known to use for alleviators of pain and swellings.
§ In
Ayurveda, the Shankhapushpi plant is also used for the treatment of epilepsy.
§ Plant
extract avoids fluid retention in the body and supports digestion.
§ The
Shankhapushpi plant extract is well known for treating insanity and hematemesis.
§ The
ethanolic extract of Shankhapushpi herb reduces the levels of NEFA define as
“nonesterified fatty-acid” which is the main cause of death due to cardiac
arrest.
Shankupushpam Leaves Uses
§ Leaves of
Shankupushpam
plants can be grounded and mixed with salt for applying over swellings.
§ Powder of
leaves is also used for treating brain disorders.
§ The
leaves of white flower shankupushpams
are mixed with salt made into a paste and applied for retroauricular adenitis.
§ The
ground leaves mixed with salt is used for applying over swellings.
§ The past
of Leaves of white flower plant mixed with salt is used for applying on
glandular swellings and cervical adenitis.
§ The fresh
leaves juice mixed with ginger juice is an effective remedy for controlling
excessive sweating.
§ The
powdered leaves are used for treating brain disorders.
§ Leaves of
Shankhapushpi plant are used to treat bronchitis and asthma.
Shankupushpam
Flower Uses
§ A gram of
Shankupushpam
flower powder if taken daily with honey can be useful for uterus bleeding
problems.
§ The blue
flowers of shankupushpams
are used for food coloring for rice and other recipes in some of the Asian
region.
Shankupushpam Roots uses
§ The roots
of grounded shankupushpams
are used with ghee or butter, two to three times daily to increase memory and
intelligence.
§ The root
extracts of shankupushpams
are used for eye, throat infections, ulcers, and urinary.
§ For
migraines, the root juice extracts are poured through nostrils.
§ The roots
of the white-flowered shankupushpams
are used as a medicinal paste for skin diseases. Extract of the root is useful
to treat throat infections, eye, ulcer, urinary troubles, etc.
§ For
migraine, the root juice extracts are poured thru nostrils.
§ The root
juice with milk is beneficial in sticky phlegm cough and it can also relieve
asthma problems.
§ The plant
root is an herbal remedy to treat childhood fever.
Shankupushpam Seed Uses
§ The seeds
are fried in ghee and powdered and consumed with hot water for skin diseases.
§ The
crushed seeds mixed with honey and are used for applying Tonsillitis
Other Health Benefits.
1. It helps in hypertension
Shankhapushpi
plant is used as a remedy for many diseases; it is also one of the most
important ingredients used for treating syndromes- disorders such as anxiety
neurosis, stresses, hypertension, hypotension, etc.
Shankhapushpi herbs have the properties that control the
production of the body’s stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol thus
helps in reducing anxiety and stress. The herb has properties that work as a
psycho-stimulant and tranquilizer.
2. It helps in
neurodegenerative diseases
Due to its memory-boosting property, Shankhapushpi herb is
useful to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. It has
anti-ulcer properties that are helpful in ease the symptoms of Dementia,
hyperthyroidism, and reduces the activeness of a liver enzyme.
3. It improves memory
Shankhapushpi
is one of the best and important herbal remedy for improving memory, it is due
to its phytonutrients like Scopoline ß-Sitosterol, Phyllabine, Convolvidine,
Confoline Subhirsine, Convolving, and Congo line.
Shankhapushpi
is mainly used as a brain tonic and a brain stimulator. Daily consumption of Shankhapushpi
prevents memory loss.
4. It helps in ulcers
The Shankhapushpi herb is very beneficial in fighting with
different types of ulcers which are formed in the body due to mucous secretions
and glycoprotein I can also improve the nerve tissues, increasing bone marrow
quality and nerve tissues.
The plant has anti-ulcer properties, it also has a mucosal
defensive element like mucin secretion and glycoproteins. It also has been
studied that Shankhapushpi
is the best remedy for hypothyroidism.
5. It helps to enhance skin
beauty
Shankhapushpi herb is used as an alternative, tonic, and febrifuge
it is also used for nourishing the layers of skin and helps in Enhancing
Beauty. Shankhapushpi
is used in the form of decoction with milk and cumin
6. It helps to decrease
cholesterol
The extract of Shankhapushpi herb
helps to decrease the cholesterol level in the blood including phospholipids
and triglycerides; it also helps in removing certain types of fatty acids that
are harmful to the body.
7. It has analgesic
properties
Painkilling or analgesic is one of the important properties of the
Shankhapushpi
plant. These pain killer properties are beneficial in dealing with
osteoarthritis, rheumatic pains, arthritis, etc.
The pain killer effects produced by Shankhapushpi were very
similar to morphine-induced ones.
8. It helps to cure
hyperthyroid
The thyroid gland is an important gland that controls the function
of metabolism in our body by producing thyroid hormones. The excess of thyroid
hormones can result in hyperthyroidism disorder.
This Hyperthyroidism can be reduced by taking Shankhapushpi extracts
on a regular basis.
Note: To get the best remedial effect it is necessary that the
quality and part of the herbs used must be of the best quality. The properties
of the herbs may be different from one region to another. Harvest at a
proper ripening time is yet another important factor for herbal quality.
Naturally grown herbs are supposed to be more
powerful and effective than the herbs cultivated as habitat plays an important
role.
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