Punarnava

Botanical Name

Boerhavia Diffusa

Family

Nyctaginaceae

Sanskrit

Punarnava, Kathilla, Pravrishenya, Sophagni, Vishaghni, Sothaghni, Varsabu, Vrsciva, Vasihakhi

English

Spreading Hog Weed

Hindi

Punarnava, Pundera, Purnava, Gadhaparna, Sethi

Kannada

Gonajali, Sanadika, Ganajali

Malayalam

Tamilama, Thazhuthama

Telugu

Atikamamidi, Punarnava, Ambati Madu

Tamil

Mukkurattai, Mukaratte, Caranai

Marathi

Vosu, Ghetuli, Vasu, Rakthavasu

Distribution

In india, it is found adequately as weed throughout it is also cultivated in west bengal.

Parts Used

Root, Seed, Panchaang

Dose

Swarasa 5 To 10 Ml, Seed Churna 1 To 3 Grams

Chemical Constituents

Punarnava extracts contains beta-sitosterol, palmitic acid, archidic acid, ursolic acid, hypoxanthine-9-arabinofuranoside, punarnavosie, two retenoids- boeravinone a, b, c,d, e & f, two new retenoids- repenone & repenol, bothavi with some main chemicals such as punarnavoside.

Ayurvedic Properties

Quality (Guna)

Laghu, Ruksha

Taste (Rasa)

Madhur, Tikta, Kashaya

Metabolism (Vipaka)

Madhura

Potency (Virya)

Ushna

Impact (Prabhava)

Mutra Virechiniya

Pharmacological Action

  • The main pharmacological action of punarnava is being as diuretic and it is helpful in treating urinary tract infections.
  • It has antiinflammatory action and helps in treating various inflammations.
  • Antiviral, antibacterial, and antifibrinolytic properties are helpful in treating infections and fevers.
  • Hepatoprotective property of punarnava is helpful in treating liver disorders such as jaundice.
  • Anticonvulsant property is helpful in treating epilepsy and even various neurological disorders.
  • Cardiotonic property helps in treating cardiac ailments.

Therapeutic Uses

  • Punarnava is used widely used in the form medicine for urinary tract infections and pitta vikaras in ayurveda.
  • For herbal steam punarnava roots are used that subsides pain and inflammation.
  • Leprosy.
  • Skin disorders.
  • Cough.
  • Anemia: consuming 10 ml of punarnava juice for one to two months will helps to improve hemoglobin in blood as well as reduces edema.
  • Anti-pyretic.
  • Rasayana.
  • Menstrual disorders.
  • Punarnava is helpful in inflammatory conditions, when it is applied in the form of paste with other drugs, that helps to manage inflammation and reduces swelling.
  • When punarnava churna is taken along with pippali with honey, breathing difficulties like asthma can be managed.

Some of the common formulations

  • Abhaya lavana.
  • Dadhika ghritha.
  • Chyavanaprasha.
  • Brahma rasayana.
  • Punarnavasava.
  • Sukumara ghritha.
  • Triphala gritha.
  • Vataraktantka rasa.
  • Saptasara kvatha churna.
  • Ardhabilva kvatha churna.
  • Karpasasthyadi taila.
  • Narayana thailam.
  • Mahanarayana thailam.