BOTANICAL NAME: Tephrosia purpurea
FAMILY: Fabaceae
ENGLISH NAME: Wild indigo
COMMON NAME:
Hindi name: saraphonka
Bengali name: Saraphonka
Punjabi name: jhojhru
Kannada name: Empali
REFERENCE: BHAVAPRAKASH SAMHITA with link e Nighantu:
https://niimh.nic.in/ebooks/e-Nighantu/bhavaprakashanighantu/?mod=read
शरपुङ्खः प्लीहशत्रुर्नीलीवृक्षाकृतिश्च सः |
शरपुङ्खो यकृत्प्लीहगुल्मव्रणविषापहः |
तिक्तः कषायः कासास्रश्वासज्वरहरो लघुः ||१७९||
HABITAT: It is found in dry places all over the India. It is grown as green manure and as cover crop.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION: It is herbaceous perennial. Its height is about 2 -2.5 feet. Leaves are 3-6 inches, imparipinnate. Flowers are blue or purple in color, small. Seeds are about 6-10 in number. Flowering time is rainy season and fruiting time is winter season.
AYURVEDIC CHARACTERISTICS:
| RASA | GUNA | VEERYA | VIPAKA | PRABHAVA | DOSHGHNTA |
| Tikta, kashya | Laghu, ruksha, tikshana | Ushna | Katu | Pleehaghana | Kapha vaat shamaka |
AYURVEDIC ENERGETICS:
| TASTE | PROPERTY | POTENCY | POST DIGESTIVE EFFECT | EFFECT ACTION | DOSHA ACTION |
| Bitter, Astringent | Light, Dry, Sharp | Heating | Pungent | spleenomegaly | Kapha vata pacifying |
MAJOR CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Rutin, Rotenoid
THERAPEUTIC USES:
- Sukrastambhana- Root of Sveta Sarpunkha is chewed as well as applied on the penis with sugar and tushodaka.
- Kasa- Inhalation of sarapunkha smoke is an excellent remedy.
- Mushika visha- Sarapunkha seed powder is given with buttermilk.
- Gulma- Sharpunkha ksara and haritaki powder shall be taken.
INDICATIONS: Pliha roga Spleenomegaly, Yakrita roga Liver disorders, Kasa-swasa Cough, Jwara Pyrexia, Krimighana Anthelminthic, Rasayana Rejuvenating
USEFUL PART: Moola, panchang kshara
DOSAGE: 3- 6gm churna, 1-3gm kshara
AYURVEDIC FORMULATION:
1. Grahanyantaka ghrita
2. Sharpunkha ksara
3. Sarapunkha-hamuladi khadya