Ativisha

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Aconitum heterophyllum (Ranunculaceae)

Sanskrit Names: Ativisha
English Name: Aconite
Hindu Name:
Botanical Name: Aconitum heterophyllum
Synonyms: Ghunavallabha, Kasmira, Sukla kanda, Shishubhaishgya
Family: Ranunculaceae

Description

An erect perennial tuberous herb, stem erect, simple branch, seeds are blackish brown. Leaves – sessile, ovate, and cordate. Flowers – Sepals more or less blue violet. Roots - Tuberous 2-8 cm long grey brown, some types are white.

Principle Constituents

Classical Categories (Gana)

This herb belongs to the following classical groups:

Caraka Ganas: Arshoghna, Lekhaniya

Susruta Ganas: Pippalyadi, Vachadi, Mustadi

Energetics

Rasa (taste): Tikta (bitter), Katu (pungent)

Guna (quality): Ruksha (dry)

Virya (energy): Ushna (heating)

Vipaka (post digestive effect): Katu (pungent)

Prabhava (Special quality): none

Dosha Effect: KPV- P+

Dhatus: Rasa, Rakta, Meda, Shukra

Srotas (channels): Annavaha, Purishavaha, Stanyavaha

Chemical Constituents

Tubers contain non crystalline and very bitter alkaloid, aconite acid, tannic acid, pectin, ample starch, fat, oleic, palmic and stearic glycerine mixture, veritable mucilaginous matter, sucrose and ash.

Ayurveda Actions

Amapachana - digests toxins

Arshoghna - relieves piles

Deepana - digestive stimulant

Chardhinigrahana - stops vomiting

Grahi - stops excess loss

Jvaraghna - antipyretic

Kaphaghna - dispels kapha

Krumighna - anthelmintic

Pachana - digestive

Rakta Shodhaka - blood purifier

akta Stambhaka - hemostatic

Shothahara - anti-inflammatory

Stanya Shodana - purifies breast milk

Vajikara - aphrodisiac

Vishama Jvara - irregular fevers

Vishaghna - anti-poison

Important Actions

Bitter tonic, haemostatic, anthelmintic, anti-periodic, carminative, alterative, aphrodisiac.

Indications

Useful in dyspepsia, indigestion, amadosha, vomiting, fever associated with diarrhoea, diarrhoea, haemorrhoids, helminthisasis. Along with C. sativa and C. calamos it is effective for diarrhoea in children. Appetizing, digestive and astringent activities are carried out in sequence by A. heterophyllum.

Internal use

Circulatory system: Blood purifier, haemostatic and anti inflammatory drug - alleviates pitta.
Digestive system: It has appetizing, digestive, astringent, anti-haemorrhoidal and anthelmintic properties due to its bitter, pungent and ushna properties. Useful in diarrhoea and dysentery.
Respiratory system: Reduces phlegm and clears airway.
Reproductive system: Purifies milk secretion (lactation) because of its katu property. Aphrodisiac due to ushna property.
Temperature: Febrifuge, useful as a prophylactic in intermittent fever.

Precautions

Whole plant is highly toxic, simple skin contact has caused numbness in some people. The plant must undergo procedures that render it non toxic before it can be used. Overuse > 5-6 gms.

Safety

Parts Used

Parts used: Roots and Tubers
Dosage: 1-3 gms

Important Combinations

Preparations: Balasanjeevani churna, Balachaturbhadra, Ativishadi churna

Research