Shankhpushpi Plant – How to use flower, leaves, roots & seed for health benefit?

 Shankhpushpi Plant – How to use flower, leaves, roots & seed for health benefit? Image Source: Creative Commons

Shankhapushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis) is a perennial herb and consider as a most wonderful gift of nature to the mankind, it looks like morning glory with blue flowers situated at alternate positions with flowers or branches. Shankhapushpi flowers are found in blue, pink and white in color, it’s about 5mm in size the leaves are located at alternate positions with branches, the flowers are elliptic in shape and about 2mm in size.

Health Benefits & Uses Of Shankhpushpi Plant (flower/leaves/roots)

Shankhapushpi branches are spread around the ground with more than 30 cm long. It is known as Aloe weed in English and a botanical name, Convolvulus pluricaulis. All part of Shankhapushpi herb is known to possess therapeutic benefits and is used as medicine to cure many diseases.

Shankhapushpi (Convolvulus Pluricaulis Choisy) herb is commonly found in India, especially in the state of Bihar and Punjab. It generally grows on sandy or rocky area, under xerophytic conditions in northern India. Convolvulus pluricaulis is generally known in the region around Sind deserts and the Sahara and the area called Saharo Sindian. The herb produces flowers during the months of September and October which can range from white, blue to light pink in colour.

Shankhapushpi Indian Names

• Sanskrit : Shankhapushpi
• Hindi : Shankhpushpi, Aparajit
• Urdu : Sankhali
• Punjabi : Shankhpushpi
• Bengali : Sankhapuspi
• Gujarati : Shankhavali
• Kannada : Bilikanthisoppu
• Malayalam : Krsna kranti, Vishnukranthi,
• Marathi : Shankhabela
• Oriya : Krishna-enkranti
• Tamil : Sanghupushpam, kakkurattai
• Telugu : Shankhapushpi

Regional Name Of Plant:

• Australia : butterfly-pea
• English : English speedwheel
• French: Honte
• German: Blaue clitorie
• Portuguese: Clitoria azul
• Spanish: Bejuco de conchitas
• Brazil: Cunha

It is also known by other names such as azulejo, bandera, conchita azul, campanilla, cordofan-pea, choroque, papito, zapotillo, etc.

Ayurvedic view:

Shankhapushpi is an indigenous and considered as one the very important herbs in Ayurveda. According to Ayurveda, Shankhapushpi is pungent, alternative tonic, bitter, brightens intellect, improves complexion, increases appetite, useful in biliousness, epilepsy, bronchitis, teething troubles of infants etc.

It is regarded as alexiteric and tonic to improve memory and to tone brain. From ancient times in India, people of all age groups (especially students, teachers and philosophers) always have tried Shankhapushpi. It is also one of the best herbs that are used for enhancing beauty and helps in nourishing all the layers of skin.

Shankupushpam or Bluepea flowers are mentioned in a variety of synonyms in the books of Ayurveda. Shankupushpam flowers and plants are mentioned in most of the old Ayurvedic scriptures for its herbal remedy. The are many synonyms for Shankupushpam some of the common ayurvedic synonyms are aparajita are mohanasi, supuspi, sveta, mahasveta, girikarnika, ardrakarni, gokarnika, sephanda, vishnukrantha etc. Also the flower is known as aral, malayamukki, Kakkanam etc.

Parts Of The Plant Used:

• Plant
• Leaves
• Flowers
• Roots
• Seeds
• Ashes

Ayurveda Properties

• Rasa : Katu, Kashaya
• Virya : Ushna
• Guna : Guru, Sara, Snigdha, Pichchila
• Vipaka : Madhura
• Dosha : Balances and alleviates all the three doshas viz Vata, Pitta and Kapha
• Karma : Medhakrita, Svarakara, Grahabhutadi doshaghna, Vashikaran Siddhi

Ayurveda Medicinal Properties

• Medhya : Promotes intellectual capacity
• Swarakarini : Improves voice
• Kantida : Enhances the aura of the body and gives it a healthy look
• Grahabhootadi doshaghni :Useful in diseases of supernatural origin
• Rasayani :Rejuvenates the body
• Unmadaghna : Alleviates insanity and emotional instability
• Majjadhatu rasayana : Rejuvenates the nervous tissue
• Vrishya : Aphrodisiac
• Pachambala : Increases the strength of the digestive system
• Chedana : Laxative
• Nidrajnana : Promotes sleep

Ayurvedic Formulations

There are many ayurvedic formulations containing Shankhpushpi as a single drug or in combination with other drugs available in Indian market. It is generally advertised for “memory enhancement”. Some of the important Ayurvedic formulations using the herb are given below:

• Abhrak bhasma
• Brahmi ghrita
• Brahmi vati
• Brahm rasayan
• Manasmrita gutika
• Mukta vati
• Memorex tablets
• Manjisthadi Kasayam
• Stress guard capsules
• Medhya kashaya
• Shankhapushpi panaka
• Shankhpushpi syrup (Unjha)
• Dimagheen (Dawakhana Tibiya College, Aligarh)
• Shankhavali Churna (Narnaryan Pharmacy)
• BR-16A (Himalaya Drug. Co. Ltd.)

Shankupushpam plant uses

• The herbal extracts of plants are seen to possess spermatogenic properties, so it can be beneficial in cases of sperm debility.
• It is used to treat urinary system ailments.
• It known to have cooling effects which alleviates symptoms of vomiting, burning sensations and thirst which are common during fever.
• Plant extracts can is used for ailments in respiratory system like cough and cold, it is also used to prevent irritation of respiratory organs as it has expectorant properties.
• The Herbal extracts of the plant are used for treatment of Asthma.
• The Herbal extracts have tranquilizing effects and thus used for syncope, vertigo etc.
• It is used for nervous system and brain related ailments.
• Herbal extracts are also used for treating digestive system and other ailment such as jaundice, constipation, piles dyspepsia, etc.
• It is also used for treating circulatory system of blood.
• It is also used for treating smallpox.
• The haemostatic effects of shankupushpams are beneficial for piles mostly the bleeding piles.
• Decoction of this herbal plant is used for cleaning wounds and it has ability to prevent pus formation.
• Plant extract are known to use for alleviators of pain and swellings.
• In Ayurveda Shankhapushpi plant is also used for treatment of epilepsy.
• Plant extract avoids fluid retention in the body and supports digestion.
• The Shankhapushpi plant extract is well known for treating insanity and hematemesis.
• The ethanolic extract of Shankhapushpi herb reduces the levels of NEFA define as “non esterified fatty-acid” which is main cause of death due to cardiac arrest.

Shankupushpam Leaves Uses

• Leaves of Shankupushpam plants can be grounded and mixed with salt for applying over swellings.
• Powder of leaves is also used for treating brain disorders.
• The leaves of white flower shankupushpams are mixed with salt made into a paste and applied for retroauricular adenitis.
• The ground leaves mixed with salt is used for applying over swellings.
• The past of Leaves of white flower plant mixed with salt is used for applying on glandular swellings and cervical adenitis.
• The fresh leaves juice mixed with ginger juice is effective remedy for controlling excessive sweating.
• The powdered leaves are used for treating brain disorders.
• Leaves of Shankhapushpi plant are used to treat bronchitis and asthma.

Shankupushpam Flower Uses

• A gram of Shankupushpam flower powder if taken daily with honey can be useful for uterus bleeding problems.
• The blue flowers of shankupushpams are used for food coloring for rice and other recipes in some of the Asian region.

Shankupushpam Roots uses

• The roots of grounded shankupushpams are used with ghee or butter, two to three times daily to increase memory and intelligence.
• The root extracts of shankupushpams are used for eye, throat infections, ulcer and urinary.
• For migraine the root juice extracts are poured through nostrils.
• The roots of the white flowered shankupushpams are used as medicinal paste for skin diseases. Extract of root is useful to treat throat infections , eye , ulcer , urinary troubles etc.
• For migraine, the root juice extracts are poured thru nostrils.
• The root juice with milk is beneficial in sticky phlegm cough and it can also relieve asthma problems.
• The plant root is herbal remedy to treat childhood fever.

Shankupushpam Seed Uses

• The seeds are fried in ghee and powdered and consumed with hot water for skin diseases.
• The crushed Seeds mixed with honey and are used for applying of Tonsillitis

Other Health Benefits:

1. Hypertension

Shankhapushpi plant is used as remedy for many diseases; it is also one of the most important ingredients used for treating syndromes- disorders such as anxiety neurosis, stresses, hypertension, hypotension etc. Shankhapushpi herbs have the properties that control the production of body’s stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol thus helps in reducing anxiety and stress. The herb has the properties that work as psycho-stimulant and tranquilizer.

2. Neurodegenerative Diseases

Due to its memory boosting property Shankhapushpi herb is useful to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer. It has anti-ulcer properties that is helpfulness in ease the symptoms of Dementia, hyperthyroidism and reduces the activeness of a liver enzyme.

3. Improve Memory

Shankhapushpi is one of the best and important herbal remedy for improving memory, it is due to its phytonutrients like Scopoline ß-Sitosterol, Phyllabine, Convolvidine, Confoline Subhirsine, Convolvine and Convoline. Shankhapushpi is mainly used as a brain tonic and brain stimulator. Daily consumption of Shankhapushpi prevents memory loss.

4. Ulcers

The Shankhapushpi herb is very beneficial in fighting with different types of ulcers which are formed in the body due to mucous secretions and glycoprotein I can also improves the nerve tissues, increasing bone marrow quality and nerve tissues. The plant has anti-ulcer properties, it also has mucosal defensive element like mucin secretion and glycoprotein’s. It also have been studied that Shankhapushpi is best remedy for hypothyroidism.

5. Beauty

Shankhapushpi herb is used as an alternative, tonic, and febrifuge it is also used for nourishing the layers of skin and helps in Enhancing Beauty. Shankhapushpi is used in the form of decoction with milk and cumin

6. Cholesterol Decrease

The extract of Shankhapushpi herb helps to decrease the cholesterol level in the blood including phospholipids and triglycerides; it also helps in removing certain types of fatty acids that are harmful for the body.

7. Analgesic properties

Pain killing or analgesic is one of the important properties of Shankhapushpi plant. These pain killer properties are beneficial in dealing with osteoarthritis, rheumatic pains, arthritis etc. The pain killer effects produced by Shankhapushpi were very similar to a morphine induced ones.

8. Can cure hyperthyroid

Thyroid gland is an important gland which controls the function of metabolism in our body by producing thyroid hormones. The excess of thyroid hormones can result in to hyperthyroidism disorder. This Hyperthyroidism can be reduced by taking Shankhapushpi extracts on a regular basis.

Note: To get the best remedial effect it is necessary that the quality and part of the herbs used must be of best quality. The properties of the herbs may be different from one region to another. Harvest at proper ripening time is yet another important factor for herbal quality. Naturally grown herbs are supposed to be more powerful and effective than the herbs cultivated as habitat plays an important role.

 

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