punarnava :

Taxonomical Classification

Kingdom: Plantae - Plants
Subkingdom: Streptophyta
Superdivision: Spermatophyta - Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Family: Nyctaginaceae
Genus: Boerhavia
Species: Boerhavia diffusa

Allied species:

1. Charak Samhita

Vayahsthapana - Anti-aging group of herbs

Kasahara - Useful against cough

Anuvasanopaga - Group of herbs useful in oil enema

Svedopaga - Useful in sweating treatment

Madhurskanda - Group of herb with sweet taste.

2. Sushrut Samhita

Vidarigandhadi Gana

VERNACULAR NAMES

Sanskrit: Punarnava, Shothagni, Varshabhu
English: Hog weed, Pig weed, spreading hogweed
Hindi: Gadha-cand, Shothagni.Gadhapurana, Gadapurna, Lalpunarnava, Sant, Thikri, Beshakapore, Lal Punarnava
Urdu: Tukhm-i-ispast
Telugu: Atika mamidi, Atikamamidi, Erra galijeru
Bengali: Punarnova, Rakta punarnava
Marathi: Ghetuli, Vasuchimuli, Satodimula, Punarnava, Khaparkhuti
Konkani: Punarnava
Oriya: Lalapuiruni, Nalipuruni
Gujarathi: Dholisaturdi, Motosatodo
Tamil: Karichcharanai, Mukaratte, Mukurattai, Mukkaraichchi
Malayalam: Thazhuthamame,Thavizhama, Chuvanna Tazhutawa
Kannada: Komme,Komme gida, Sanadika, Kommeberu, Komma, Teglame, Ganajali
Punjabi: ltcit (Ial), Khattan
Arabic: handakuki; sabaka
Spanish: Hierba de cabro, Yierba de puerco, Matapavo
Assamese: Ranga Punarnabha
Japanese: Benikasumi
Chinese: Shu shen, Huang xi xin.
French: ipecacuanha de Cayenne (Fr. Guiana).
Burma: parannawa
Nepal: Punarnava
Persian: Atsiz
Sinhalese: Pitasudupala, Pitasudu-sarana

Varities:

It has two varieties Red Punarnava and White Punarnava.

The name and the properties of White Punarnava are (Punarnava, Shvetmula, Shothaghni, and Dhigrpatrika). White Punarnava is bitter and astringent in taste. It manages Anemia, Vata and Kapha Diseases. This herb promotes digestive fire, removes inflammation and toxins.

The name and properties of Red Punarnava are (Raktapunarnava, Raktapushpa, Shilatika, Shothaghni, Vashketu and Kathillaka). It is bitter in taste and cold in potency. Red Punarnava increases Vata dosha. It binds stool, manages (Kapha and Pitta dosha) related diseases and impurities of blood.

Dr Mohamed Rifas

A dual country licensed Ayurveda Physician, currently working in Dubai as Head of Ayurveda and Yoga department. He also works as visiting doctor for Dr Hassan Ayurveda Brain and Spine Specialty Hospital. He is specialized in joint issues, brain and spine related issues and gastrointestinal issues with respect to anxiety.
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