| Indian Sarsaparilla | ||||||||||||||||
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| Hemidesmus indicus |
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Indian Sarsaparilla (Hemidesmus indicus) is a species of plant that is found in South Asia. In Scientific nomenclature, synonyms are different Scientific names used for a single Taxon. In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. It is a slender, laticiferous, twining, sometimes prostrate or semi-erect shrub. Prostration is the placement of the body in a Reverentially or Submissively Prone position A shrub or Bush is a horticultural rather than strictly botanical category of Woody plant, distinguished from a Tree Roots are woody and aromatic. The stem is numerous, slender, terete, thickened at the nodes. The leaves are opposite, short-petioled, very variable, elliptic-oblong to linear-lanceolate. The flowers are greenish outside, purplish inside, crowded in sub-sessile axillary cymes. A flower, also known as a bloom or Blossom, is the reproductive structure found in Flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also
It is used to make beverages and also used in traditional medicine. In Ayurveda it goes by the name of ananthamoola or Anantmula. Ayurveda ( Devanāgarī: आयुर्वॆद the 'science of life' is a system of Traditional medicine native to India, and practiced in other It is also called the False Sarsaparilla. For the drink see Root beer. Sarsaparilla (IPA /ˌsæspəˈɹɪlə/ ( Smilax regelii and other closely related species of The plant enjoys a status as tonic, alterative, demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic and blood purifier. A demulcent (derived from the word "caress" is an agent that forms a soothing film over a Mucous membrane, relieving minor pain and inflammation of the membrane Diaphoresis is excessive sweating commonly associated with shock and other Medical emergency conditions A diuretic is any Drug that elevates the rate of urination ( Diuresis) It is employed in nutritional disorders, syphilis, chronic rheumatism, gravel and other urinary diseases and skin affections. Syphilis is a Sexually transmitted disease caused by the spirochetal Bacterium Treponema pallidum pallidum. Gravel is rock that is of a specific Particle size range In Geology, gravel is any loose rock that is larger than two millimeters (2mm It is administered in the form of powder, infusion or decoction as syrup. A decoction is a method of extraction of Herbal or plant material which includes but is not limited to Stems roots bark and Rhizomes Some In Cooking, a syrup (from Arabic' ar شراب sharab, beverage via Latin siropus) is a thick Viscous Liquid It is also a component of several medicinal preparations.
It is one of the Rasayana plants of Ayurveda, as it is anabolic in its effect. It stimulates the flow of bile and removes toxins from the body. It is a good diuretic and increases flow of urine three to four times. When used with Tinospora, the herb's effect is enhanced further. It relieves inflammation of urethra and burning micturition and is also helpful for third or fourth stages of syphilis.
It is sometimes confused with other Ayurvedic herb called white sariva.
The root is a substitute for Sarsaparilla (the dried root of the tropical species of Smilax, Smilacaceae; in India Smilax aspera L. For the Flower class corvette, see HMS Smilax (K280. For the United States Coast Guard Cutter, see (WLIC-315 Smilax. Smilacaceae, the greenbrier family is a family of Flowering plants. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country , and Smilax ovalifolia Roxb. ). It should be distinguished from American Sarsaparilla Smilax aristolochaefolia Mill and Jamaican Sarsaparilla Smilax ornata Hook. f. (Puri 2003)
Chemical analysis of the root showed the presence of coumarins, volatile oil the chief component of which is p-methoxy salicylic aldehyde, two sterols and a pregnane glycoside (Puri 2003).
It is occurring over the greater part of India, from the upper Gangetic plain eastwards to Assam and in some places in central, western and South India. The Indo-Gangetic Plain also known as the Northern plains and the North Indian River Plain is a large and fertile plain encompassing most of northern and eastern India, Assam) ( Assamese: অসম Ôxôm) is a northeastern state of India with its capital at Dispur, a suburb of the city
External links and references
- Botanical : A Modern Herbal - Indian Sarsaparilla
- Disabled World - Indian Sarsaparilla
- Henriette's Herbal Homepage - Indian Sarsaparilla
- RASAYANA: Ayurvedic Herbs for Longevity and Rejuvenation by Dr H. S. Puri (2003), published by Taylor & Francis, London, pages 43-45.