BOTANICAL NAME: Moringa oleifera
FAMILY: Moringaceae
CLASSICAL CLASSIFICATION:
Charaka: Krimighana, Svedopaga, Sirovirechanopaga, Katuka skandha
ENGLISH NAME: Horse raddish tree, Drumstick tree
COMMON NAME:
Hindi– Sahijana
Punjabi– Sohajana
Bengali– Sajina, Sajne
Kannada– Nugge, Nuggemar Nuggekoyimara
REFERENCE: BHAVAPRAKASH SAMHITA with link e Nighantu:
https://niimh.nic.in/ebooks/e-Nighantu/bhavaprakashanighantu/?mod=read
शोभाञ्जनः शिग्रुतीक्ष्णगन्धकाक्षीवमोचकाः |
तद्बीजं श्वेतमरिचं मधुशिग्रुः सलोहितः ||९१||
शिग्रुः कटुः कटुः पाके तीक्ष्णोष्णो मधुरो लघुः |
दीपनो रोचनो रूक्षः क्षारस्तिक्तो विदाहकृत् |
संग्राही शुक्रलो हृद्यः पित्तरक्तप्रकोपणः ||९२||
चक्षुष्यः कफवातघ्नो विद्रधिश्वयथुक्रिमीन् |
मेदोऽपचीविषप्लीहगुल्मगण्डव्रणान्हरेत् ||९३||
श्वेतः प्रोक्तगुणो ज्ञेयो विशेषाद्दाहकृद्भवेत् |
प्लीहानं विद्रधिं हन्ति व्रणघ्नः पित्तरक्तहृत् ||९४||
मधुशिग्रुः प्रोक्तगुणो विशेषाद्दीपनः सरः |
शिग्रुवल्कलपत्राणां स्वरसः परमार्तिहृत् ||९५||
चक्षुष्यं शिग्रुजं बीजं तीक्ष्णोष्णं विषनाशनम् |
अवृष्यं कफवातघ्नं तन्नस्येन शिरोऽर्तिनुत् ||९६||
HABITAT: It is found in Rajasthan and Peninsular India.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION:
It is of medium size tree with rocky grey bark. The Leaves are about 30-60cm, long, tripinnate. The leaflets are about 6-9 pairs obovate. The flowers are white fragrant. Fruits are greenish, triangular, 9 ribbed. Seeds are about 2.5 cm, trigonous, winged. Flowering time is January to April and fruiting time is from April onwards.
AYURVEDIC CHARACTERISTICS:
| RASA | GUNA | VEERYA | VIPAKA | PRABHAVA | DOSHGHNTA |
| Katu, tikta | Laghu, ruksha, tikshana | Ushna | Katu | Vishaghana | Kapha vata shamak |
AYURVEDIC ENERGETICS:
| TASTE | PROPERTY | POTENCY | POST DIGESTIVE EFFECT | EFFECT ACTION | DOSHA ACTION |
| Pungent, Bitter | Light, Dry, Sharp | Heating | Pungent | Antipoisonous | Kapha vata pacifying |
MAJOR CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Alkaloids and essential oil
THERAPEUTIC USES:
- Pratishaya: Root of shigru should be taken with ghee and oil as anupana.
- Krimi: Decoction of shigru stem bark is given with Vidanga and honey.
- Netraroga: Eyes are cleansed with the juice shigru leaves.
- Dadru kustha: Shigru root bark paste is applied locally.
INDICATIONS: Prameha Diabetes, Ucchraktachapa Hypertension, Vrikashmari Kidney stones
USEFUL PART: Root bark
DOSE:
Stem bark juice 10 – 20 ml
Stem bark powder 2-5 g
AYURVEDIC FORMULATIONS:
1. Prabhanjan vimardana taila
2. Sarasvata ghrit
3. Kasara taila
4. Manikya Rasa