Vridha Gokshura

BOTANICAL NAME: Pedalium murex

FAMILY: Pedaliaceae

CLASSICAL CLASSIFICATION:

ENGLISH NAME: Large caltrop

COMMON NAME:

Hindi name: Badha gokhru, Dakshina gokhru, Fareedbooti

Bengali name: Badh gokhru

Kannad name: Aanenranchi

HABITAT: It is found mainly in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is mostly seen in countries like South Africa, Sri Lanka, India, Mexico and Pakistan. It is distributed in the western and coastal regions of India and is mainly considered as weed which grows in waste and dry places.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION: It is a branched, succulent fleshy, and annual glandular herbal plant that reaches up to the height of 30–50 cm. The stem of the plant is stiffed. The roots of the plant are white and have sweet fragrance. The leaves are simple, reticulate, ovoid, alternate, and opposite. Flowers are round, solitary, bright yellow and axillary with short pedicle. Fruits are four angled, fleshy containing conical horizontal spine from the angles. Seeds are 4 in number.

MAJOR CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: The main chemical components present in the P. murex plant are diosegenin and vanillin.

THERAPEUTIC USES:

• Hepatomegaly and splenomegaly – Decoction or juice of the whole plant is used internally.
• As aphrodisiac – Powder of the fruit is being used with sharkara, ghrita and milk.
• Urinary incontinence – Hot infusion of its fruit can be used
• Puerperial disorders – Decoction of its fruit or leaf juice is used internally
• Osteoarthritis – Powder of its leaves is used with milk and sharkara.

INDICATIONS:

Ashmari Urinary calculi, Shotha Inflammation, Shoola Pain, Vatarakta Gout, Raktapitta Bleeding disorders, Amlapitta acidity, Vrishya Aphrodisiac

USEFUL PART: Fruit, leaves

DOSAGE: Leaf juice: 10-15 ml, Powder: 1-3 gm, Decoction: 50 to 100 ml