IKSHURAK
BOTANICAL NAME: Asteracantha longifolia
FAMILY: Acanthaceae
ENGLISH NAME: Hygrophila
COMMON NAME:
Hindi: Kokilaksha
Bengali: Kaatakalia
Gujrati: Ekharo
CLASSICAL CATEGORIZATION:
Charak Samhita – Shukra shodhana
Bhavprakasha nighantu – Guduchyadi varga
PLANT IMAGE with Unique Identification Feature:
REFERENCE: BHAVAPRAKASH SAMHITA with link [e nighantu):
कोकिलाक्षस्तु काकेक्षुरिक्षुरः क्षुरकः क्षुरः |
भिक्षुः काण्डेक्षुरप्युक्त इक्षुगन्धेक्षुबालिका ||१९२||
क्षुरकः शीतलो वृष्यः स्वाद्वम्लः पित्तलस्तथा |
तिक्तो वातामशोथाश्मतृष्णादृष्ट्यनिलास्रजित् ||१९३||
HABITAT: A small plant growing to a height of 3-5 feet with small thorns or hairy parts.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION:
STEM – It resembles that of a sugarcane.
Flowers – Flowers of the plant are of purple color.
Seeds – It is black in colour and it swells and becomes slimy when it comes in contact with water or saliva.
Flowers and fruits are seen in the month of September to November.
AYURVEDIC CHARACTERISTICS: Ref. By P.V.Sharma Dravyguna Vigyan
| RASA | GUNA | VEERYA | VIPAKA | PRABHAVA | DOSHGHNTA |
| Madhura | Guru, Snigdha | Sheeta | Madhura | Balya | Vatapittashamak |
AYURVEDIC ENERGETICS:
| TASTE | PROPERTY | POTENCY | POST DIGESTIVE EFFECT | EFFECT ACTION | DOSHA ACTION |
| Sweet | Heavy, Slimy | Cold | Sweet | Improves strength and immunity | Balances vatapitta |
MAJOR CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Lupeol, stigmasterol, apigenin.
THERAPEUTIC USES:
Vatarakta – 1 tablespoon of powder is added with 2 cups of water, boiled and reduced to 1 cup and filtered.
Shukrakshaya – 1 tablespoon of the seed or its powder is added to 300 ml of hot water, filtered it. Added with a teaspoon of sugar powder and administered.
Daurbalya – Powder is administered with a cup of lukewarm milk.
INDICATIONS:
Vatarakta Gout, Vibandha Constipation, Pandu Anemia, Shopha inflammation
USEFUL PART: Root, Seeds.
DOSAGE:
Decoction: 5-10ml
Seed powder: 3-5 gm
AYURVEDIC FORMULATION:
Chopachinyadi choorna
Kokilaksha kashaya