Herb of the Month

Sarpagandha

Botanical name: Rauvolfia/Rauwolfia serpentina     
Family: Apocynaceae (oleander family)



Description of Herbs:  

Sarpagandha is an erect, evergreen shrub, merely 15 to 45 cm high. Its leaves are large, in whorls of three - dark green above and pale green below. The flowers are white, pinkish or red, occurring in whorls. Its fruit are tiny, oval, fleshy which turn a shiny purple-black when ripe. It is the roots of the plant that are mainly used for medicinal purposes.

Botany: An erect perennial shrub with a long, irregularly, nodular, yellowish root stock.

Leaves: In whorls of 3, thin, lanceolate, acute, bright green above and pale beneath.

Flowers: in irregular corymbose cymes, white, often tinged with violet.

Fruit: Drupe, single or didymous, shining black, the inflorescenece with red pedicels and calyx and white corolla.

Flowering Time: March to May in Indian conditions.

Parts Used: Roots.

Healing power:

Hypertension:

The Rauwolfia constituent ajmaline not only lowers blood pressure, but also has a potent anti arrhythmic effect which used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Rauwolfia work by controlling nerve impulses along with certain nerve pathways. As a result, they act on the heart and blood vessels to lower blood pressure.

Nervous system:

It is used in insomnia and irritative conditions of the central nervous system. It causes depletion of catecholamines at the central and peripheral level and depletion of Serotonin at the central level.

Digestive system:

Root is a valuable remedy for dysentery and painful affections of bowel.

Reproductive system:

Decoction of root is applied to increase uterine contractions and promote expulsion of fetus.

Eyes:

Juice of leaves is instilled in eyes as a remedy for the opacities of cornea.

Ayurvedic Supplements that contains Sarpagandha :