Cavya (Piper chaba)
Sanskrit Names: Cavya
English Name: Indian long pepper, Javanese long pepper, long pepper
Hindu Name: Chabh, Chavya
Botanical Name: Pipper chaba Hunter
Synonyms: Gaja Pippalimula, Cavika mula,
Family: Piperaceae
Description
An annual herb growing upto a meter hight. Its flowers are white coloured. The plant is considered to be poisonous, It is used in traditional medicine as an emmenogogue and galactogogue.
There are four types of Pippali incorporated in textual sources of the materia medica, Pippali, Gajapipplai, Samhali and Vanapippali. Gajapipplai is classically named as Chavya which is botanically indentified as Piper Chava Hunter Pippalimula forms the roots and thicker parts of the stem and are cut and dried for trading and utilising as a medical drug.
Principle Constituents
Classical Categories (Gana)
Caraka Ganas: Sulaprasamana, Triptighna, Arshogna, Deepaniya
Susruta Ganas: Pippaladi
Energetics
Rasa (taste): Katu (pungent), Tikta (bitter)
Guna (quality): Tikshna (sharp), Ruksha (dry)
Virya (energy): Ushna (hot)
Vipaka (post digestive effect): Katu (pungent)
Prabhava (Special quality): none
Dosha Effect: KV- P+
Dhatus (tissues): Rasa, Rakta, Meda, Majja, Shukra
Srotas (channels): Mamsavaha, Annavaha, Raktavaha, Purishavaha
Chemical Constituents
Whole plant except the seeds yeilds an essential oil containing protoanemonine (an irritant material) and seratonin. Anemonin is the active principle.
Balya - strengthening
Bhedana - laxative
Deepana - kindles agni
Kasahara - coughs)
Krimighna - destroys worms and parasites
Kustraghna - good for the skin
Mutrala - diuretic
Pachana - digests ama
hirovirechana - mild purgative
Swasahara - relieves asthma
Important Actions
Indications
Weak appetitive or agni (agnimandya), abdominal diseases (udara), colic (sula), glandular enlargement or lump in abdomen (gulma), parasites or worms (krimi), skin diseases (kustha).
External use
Internal use
Digestive system: Stimulates agni and clears weak digestion with symptoms of nasusea, slow digestion, flatulence with a cold and painful abdomen. In malabsorption it can increase assimilation of nutrients. Clinical studies show that the piperine increases the absorption of curcumin in tumeric root (used 1:10). Its anthelmintic qualities are used as part of a formula to kill worms, amoebas and parasites. It helps to treat diarrhoea from cold symptoms and constipation. Also used in diabetes as it reduces any excess of and rejuvenates the meda dhatus..
Respiratory system: Generally used for colds, wet and mucousy conditions of the lungs. It Is a great rejuvenative for the lungs, encouraging vasodilation and therefore increases circulation, especially to the lungs. It is used with honey for asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and compromised immunity in respiratory systems to reduce Kapha. It is also used to relieve mild fever by removing āma from rasa dhatu and alleviating the concurrent aches in the muscles and joints.
Precautions
Excess Pitta and inflammation of the intestines.
Safety
The piperine content, when used as an isolated ingredient has been associated with enhancing blood levels of certain medication such as propranolol, theophylline, and rifampicin, as it may inhibit drug metabolism in the liver whenit is used over a long period of time at high doses. Hence all patients taking drugs that are metabolised in the liver must be carefully monitored.
Parts Used
Parts used: root or fruit
Dosage: Powder 1-2g ms per day.
Important Combinations
Pancakola phanta, Kankayana Modak, Cavyadi ghrita
Research
