Sigru: The nearest healer

 

       Sigru is a very potent herb commonly known as Drum stick. The plant is cultivated through out India as it’s fruits and leaves are edible. The herb is known to have many medicinal properties. Sigru is used in diseases like worm infestations, eye disorders, skin ailments etc. Dr. Varun Ram Raj of Ayurvedatarian uses the herb Sigru for the treatment of Psoriasis, Acetonuria etc. due to the Kapha dosha pacifying nature. This herb contains phytoconstituents like leucine, aspartic acid, etc which are proven to have antimicrobial action. The herb is Vata-Kapha  dosha balancing in nature and hence is used to treat many conditions arises due to vitiation of these 2 doshas.

General aspects and Geography 

Botanical name : Moringa oleifera   

Family :  Moringaceae 

Habitat: Cultivated through out India

Parts used

Bark Fruit Leaves Seed 

Classical categorization based on Ayurveda Textbooks

Charaka Samhita – Krimghna varga (Antimicrobial )

Susruta Samhita – Varunadi gana

Pharmacological action 

Antimicrobial 

Diuretic 

Antiinflammatory 

Antioxidant 

Antispasmodic 

 

Medicinal property according to Ayurveda

Sulahara (analgesic property)

Swasahara ( alleviates cough )

Krimighna (Insecticidal )

Kandughna (Beneficial for reducing itching)

Kushtaghna (Used for treating skin disorders )

Therapeutic indications

Worm infestation (Krimi roga)- Decoction of Sigru and Embelia ribes(Vidanga) is mixed with honey and taken at a dose of 90ml.

Eye diseases (Nethraroga) – Juice prepared from tender leaves of Sigru is taken internally to alleviate Eye disorders like Stye, Chalazion etc

Headache (Sirasula) – The juice of tender leaves of Sigru is mixed with honey and taken as Nasya(Nasal administration ).

Dosage

Powder (Churna) – 5 g

Decoction (Kashaya)- 60 ml

Juice (Swarasa)- 10-20 ml

Tablet - 2 tablets twice daily or as per the advice of the Ayurveda doctor 

Note: Ayurveda medications must be taken only after consulting an Ayurveda doctor. 

Formulations 

Swetakaraviradya taila 

Kanakaksiri taila

Sigru kwatha

Sobhanjanadi lepa  

Morphology :

  Small to medium sized tree with soft wood and corky bark. Leaves are tripinnate with many leaflets. Inflorescence is large puberculous panicles. Flowers are white. Fruits are pod type with seeds in it.

Vernacular names of Sigru

English – Drum stick tree

Hindi- Sahijan

Malayalam – Muringa 

Sanskrit - Sigru

Synonyms of Sigru

Bahumula

Mocaka

Ghanacheda

Akshiva

Rasapanchaka of Sigru

Rasa- Katu (Acrid ) 

Guna-  Laghu (Light)

Vipaka- Katu (Acrid)

Virya- Usna (hot)

शिग्रुः कटुः कटुः पाके तीक्ष्णोष्णे मधुरो लघुः ।

दीपनो रोचनो रूक्षः क्षारस्तिक्तो विदाहकृत् ।।

संग्राही शुक्रलो हृद्यः पित्तरक्त प्रकोपणः ।।

(Bhavaprakasa Nighantu Guducyadi Varga- shloka 105)

  Sigru alleviates Kapha and Vata doshas due to the  property of Hot potency (Usna virya). The herb can used to treat diseases arising by the vitiation of Vata and Kapha doshas including Swayathu(Swelling), Kushta (Skin ailments ), Krimi(Worm infestation ) etc. Dr. Varun Ram Raj, is leading the research for Ayurvedatarian using Sigru as well as similar other single herbs and poly-herbal combinations for making the availability of high quality Ayurvedic products to the entire globe. 

Researches on Sigru 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349519398_SHIGRU_Moringa_oleifera_Lam_AS_VISHAGNA_DRAVYA-AN_OVERVIEW#:~:text=Shigru%20is%20very%20common%20and,and%20most%20widely%20cultivated%20species

https://escipub.com/jhmr-2018-03-0502/

Frequently asked Questions

1) Is Sigru good for controlling eye diseases ?

   Yes, According to Ayurveda, Sigru is Chakshushya(Beneficial for eyes). Proper intake of Sigru leaves after cooking can increase eye sight and cures eye disorders.

2)Can Sigru be used as an analgesic agent?

Yes. The bark of Sigru is found to have sulahara(Analgesic ) property. Paste made up of Sigru bark can be applied in affected part to relive pain or Sigru tablet helps in releiving pain.