Sarpagandha

  Sarpagandha is commonly known as Serpentine. The plant have numerous medicinal properties and is used in alleviating many diseases. The herb have strong odour and is used as an antidote for snake venom hence the name given. Dr. Varun Ram Raj of Ayurvedatarian uses the herb Sarpagandha in conditions involving the vitiation of Kapha and Vata doshas as it alleviates these doshas. The herb is used to treat conditions like Fever, Hypertension etc. Sarpagandha is also used as a tranquilizer , sedative etc as it contains Phytoconstituents like reserpine, ajmaline etc.

General aspects and Geography

Botanical name : Rouwolfia serpentina           

Family :  Apocyanaceae 

Habitat: Found through out India

Parts used

• Root

Classical categorization based on Ayurveda Textbooks

Charaka Samhita – Not mentioned 

Susruta Samhita – Not mentioned 

Pharmacological action

• Sedative 
• Tranquilizer 
• Antihypertensive 

 

Medicinal property according to Ayurveda

• Krimighna (Antimicrobial)
• Visaghna (Antipoisonous )
• Jwarahara (Antipyretic )
• Vranahara (Heals ulcers)

Therapeutic indications

• Snake bite (Sarpa visa)- In snake bite, 10-20 g Sarpagandha powder is mixed with water and is taken internally 
• Hypertension (Raktachapa)- Powder of Sarpagandha is taken at a dose of 125 mg to alleviate Hypertension 

Dosage

Powder (Churna) – 1 g

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 

• Ekasara yoga

Morphology :

A small erect shrub with pale bark. Leaves are lanceolate. Inflorescence is corymbose cyme. Fruits are drupes. Flowers are white.

Vernacular names of Sarpagandha 

English – Serpentine 

Hindi- Chota chand

Malayalam – Avelpori

Sanskrit -Sarpagandha 

Synonyms 

• Vishamardini
• Chandramara 

 

Rasapanchaka 

Rasa- Tikta (Bitter)

Guna-  Ruksa (Dry)

Vipaka- Katu (Acrid ) 

Virya- Ushna (hot )

नाकुली तुवरा तिक्ता कटुकोष्णा विनाशयेत् । भोगिलूतावृश्चिकाखुविषज्वरकृमिव्रणान् ||

(Bhavaprakasa Nighantu -Haritakyadi varga-shloka 166)

   Sarpagandha alleviate Vata Kapha doshas because of its properties like hot potency and Acrid taste. Ayurvedatarian lead by Dr. Varun Ram Raj, uses the herb Sarpagandha to treat numerous diseases including Hypertension and Fever and also conducts researches on the herb to prepare new combinations of medicines to cure diseases effectively. Reach Ayurvedatarian for better health management.

Frequently asked Questions

1. What are the uses of Sarpagandha churna?

According to Ayurvedic textbooks, Sarpagandha churna can be used to treat Hypertension and snake bite.

2. What is the Dosage of Sarpagandha churna?

         Sarpagandha  churna can be taken at a dose of 125 mg for Hypertension and 10-20 g incase of Snake bite.