Latakasturi

BOTANICAL NAME: Hibiscus abelmoschus

FAMILY: Malvaceae

CLASSICAL CLASSIFICATION:

Bhavaprakash: Karpuradi varga

ENGLISH NAME: Musk Seed, Musk Mallow, Ambrette Seed.

COMMON NAME:

Tamil: Kasturi-vendai

Punjabi: Mushak Dana, Lata Kasturi

Kannada: Kasturi Kande, Kadu Kastuar

Bengali: Latakastur

Hindi: Bhinda

REFERENCE: BHAVAPRAKASH SAMHITA with link e Nighantu:

https://niimh.nic.in/ebooks/e-Nighantu/bhavaprakashanighantu/?mod=read

लता कस्तूरिका तिक्ता स्वाद्वी वृष्या हिमा लघुः |

चक्षुष्या छेदिनी श्लेष्मतृष्णाबस्त्यास्यरोगहृत् ||९||

HABITAT: Throughout the warmer parts and hilly regions of India; also cultivated.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION: It is erect, annual or biennial, hirsute herb, 0.6-1.8 m in height

Leaves are polymorphous, lower ovate, acute, upper palmately 3-7 lobed. Flowers are bright yellow, large, solitary, axillary, recemes. Fruit are capsules, 6.5-6.7 cm, long, ovate, acute, hispids. Seeds are subreniform, black, musk scented. Flowering time is in cold season

MAJOR CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Fixed Oil and Volatile Oils

THERAPEUTIC USES:

• Aphrodisiac-Seeds are soaked in water for 1-2 hours and later added to 4 times hot water. Macerated and filtered.
• Mouth ulcers- The fresh decoction of the seeds is taken by adding sugar candy.
• Burning sensation in scalp –The leaf or root are taken and fine paste is made by pounding with water or aloe vera juice/pulp. This is applied to the forehead or middle of the scalp.
• Dryness of mouth-Fine powder of the seeds is retained in the mouth or chewed. for 5-10 minutes of time.

INDICATIONS

Trishna Excessive thirst, Mukha Roga Oral disorders, Vasti Roga Urinary bladder disorders.

USEFUL PART: Seeds

DOSAGE: 2- 4 gm in powder form

 

AYURVEDIC FORMULATION:

Karpuradyarka