Salaparni

 Salaparni is a small plant that grows throughout India. The herb is commonly known as Sal leaved Desmodium and have many therapeutic uses. Dr. Varun Ram Raj of Ayurvedatarian uses the herb Salaparni for the treatment diseases caused by the vitiation of Pitta and Vata doshas as the herb is Pitta Vata samaka in it’s action. Salaparni is used to treat numerous diseases including Cough , Arthritis etc. Nowadays it is also used as an antioxidant , digestive and anti-inflammatory agent as it contains Phytoconstituents like hypaphorine , hordenine etc.

General aspects and geography

Botanical name : Desmodium gangeticum         

Family :  Papilionaceae 

Habitat: Through out India 

Parts used

• Root

Classical categorization based on Ayurveda textbooks

Charaka Samhita – Sothahara varga (alleviate Inflammation)

Susruta Samhita – Vidarigandadi gana

Pharmacological action

• Digestive 
• Antioxidant 
• Febrifuge 
• Antiinflammatory 

Medicinal property according to Ayurveda

• Sothahara (antiinflammatory )
• Jwarahara (Antipyretic )
• Krimighna (kills worms)
• Arsoghna (Alleviate Haemorrhoids)

Therapeutic indications

• Gout (Vatarakta)- Salaparni is mixed with and triturated with milk and is taken internally to alleviate Gout
• Hemicrania (Ardhavabhedaka)- Paste prepared from Salaparni is applied locally to alleviate pain in Hemicrania. 

Dosage

Powder (Churna) – 3 g

Decoction (kwatha )- 90 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 

• Salaparni churna
• Laghupancamula kwatha
• Salaparnyadi kwatha 

Morphology :

An undershrub with irregularly angled stem. Leaves are linear. Inflorescence is terminal racemes. Flowers are Violet. Fruits are pods.

Vernacular names of Salaparni

English – Sal leaved Desomodium 

Hindi- Sarivan

Malayalam – Orila

Sanskrit – Salaparni 

Synonyms 

• Tanvika
• Sthira
• Guha

Rasapanchaka 

Rasa-  Tikta (Bitter ) Madhura (Sweet)

Guna-  Guru (Heavy)

Vipaka- Madhura (Sweet)

Virya-  Sita (Cold)

शालपर्णीगुरुछर्दिज्वरश्वासातिसारजित् ।

शोषदोषत्रयहरीबृंहयुक् रसायनी ||

(Bhavaprakasa Nighantu -Guducyadi varga-shloka 32)

Salaparni is Pitta Vata samaka because of it’s properties like Sweet taste and cold potency. The herb is used to alleviate diseases caused by Pitta and Vata doshas like Fever, Swelling, Cough and Gout etc. Ayurvedatarian lead by Dr. Varun Ram Raj, is currently conducting various researches based on ancient Ayurvedic textbooks, involving Salaparni for preparing various combinations of medicines to alleviate conditions involving vitiation of Vata and Pitta. Reach Ayurvedatarian for better health management.

Frequently asked Questions

1)What are the uses of Salaparni kashaya  ?

   Used for alleviating Fever and Diarrhoea.

2)What is the scientific name of Salaparni  ?

Botanical name of  Salaparni is Desmodium gangeticum