ACHYRANTHES ASPERA LINN.

ACHYRANTHES ASPERA LINN.

Common name: English Name : Prickly-chaff Flower,Rough-chaff Tree.,Prickly Chaff Flower, Chaff-flower, Crocus stuff, Crokars staff, Devil's horsewhip •Hindi: चिरचिटा Chirchita,लटजीरा Latjira • Manipuri: খুজুম্পেৰে Khujumpere • Sanskrit: अपामार्ग Apamarga, Gujarati  Name : Chirchita

Botanical name: Achyranthes aspera   

Family: Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family)

Geographical distribution: The plant occurs throughout the country in tropical and subtropical regions uptoan elevation of 1800 Meters.

Introduction : Prickly Chaff-flower is an erect or prostrate, annual or perennial herb, often with a woody base, which grows as wasteland herb every where. Since time immemorial, it is in use as folk medicine. It holds a reputed position as medicinal herb in different systems of medicine in India. Stems 0.4-2 m, pilose or puberulent. Leaf blades elliptic, ovate, or broadly ovate to orbiculate, obovate-orbiculate, or broadly rhombate, 1-20 × 2-6 cm, adpressed-pubescent abaxially and adaxially. Inflorescences to 30 cm; bracts membranous; bracteoles long-aristate, spinose; wings attached at sides and base. Flowers: tepals 4 or 5, length 3-7 mm; pseudostaminodes with margins fimbriate at apex, often with dorsal scale. According to the Black Yajurveda, Indra, having killed Vritra and other demons was overcome by Namuchi and made peace with him, promising never to kill him with any solid or liquid, neither by day or by night. But Indra collected some foam, which is neither solid nor liquid, and killed Namuchi in the morning between night and daybreak. From the head of the demon sprung the herb Apamarga, with the assistance of which Indra was able to kill all demons. Hence this plant has the reputation of being a powerful talisman, and is now popularly supposed to act as a safeguard against scorpions and snakes by paralysing them.

Medicinal uses: Different parts of the plant are ingredients in many native prescriptions in combination with more active remedies. In Western India the juice is applied to relieve toothache. The ashes with honey are given to relieve cough; the root in dosed of one tola is given at bedtime for night blindness, and rubbed into a paste with water it is used as an anjan (eye salve) in opacities of the cornea. The seeds are often used as a famine food in India, especially in Rajputana, where the plant is called Bharotha (grass).

Chemical composition

Seed contains saponin A and saponin B. Saponin a-methyl ester, b-methyl ester, have also been found.

Therapeutic uses

As a diuretic a decoction of the herb is given in doses of 25 ml. three times aday. It is laxative, stomachic, depurative and astringent. It’s juice is given in diarrhoea,dysentery, menorrhagia, piles, rheumatism, inflammation of internal organs, skin

diseases.The plant is also reported to possess anti-diabetic and used in abdominaltumours. The seed powder is used in the treatment of bleeding piles. The leaf is used asa remedy for boil and abscess.

Folk medicinal uses

Root of Chirchita is chewed twice daily to cure Pyorrhoea and to strengthenteeth. The folk claim is commonly employed by local people.The root paste of Chirchita (A.aspera) is applied externally at the point of sting.This gives instant relief as claimed by local people, in case of scorpion sting.

Preparations

Apamarg Tel, Apamargkshar Tel, Apamargkshar, Vang-Bhasm.

Flowers and Fruits : Throughout the year.