Punarnava
Punarnava which literally translates into ‘something that renews or replenishes the body’ i.e. a reviver, is a herb belonging to the 4 o’clock Nyctaginaceae family with botanical name Boerhavia diffusa. It is commonly known as Hogweed, Sterling. It is a perennial, straggling herb, with stem tallness up to 60 cm.
Nutritional Content –
Punarnava is a treasure trove of nutrients like proteins, vitamin C, sodium, calcium, iron and bioactive components like punarnavoside, serratagenic acid, hypoxanthine 9-L-arabinofuranoside, boeravinone A to F, liriodendron, ursolic acid, and oleanolic acid.
Properties –
• Diuretic
• Analgesic
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Healing effect
• Hepatoprotective
• Antidiabetic
• Rejuvenator
• Laxative
• Appetizer
• Digestive
• Expectorant
Effect on Doshas –
The host of bioactive components in Punarnava balances the Tridoshas and helps to pacify the Vata (i.e. air) and Kapha (i.e. earth and water) doshas and effectively removes the AMA doshas which are toxins from the body.
Useful Part –
Punarnava leaf, root and ark is used for all the medicinal purposes.
Dosage –
• Punarnava Juice – 1-2 teaspoon once or twice a day.
• Punarnava Churna – ¼ – ½ teaspoon twice a day.
• Punarnava Capsule – 1-2 capsule twice a day.
• Punarnava Tablet – 1-2 tablet twice a day.
Benefits –
• Healing effect.
Punarnava helps in quick healing of the wound, decreases swelling and brings back the normal texture of the skin. It helps in quick healing of the wound and reduces inflammation.
• Expels kidney stones.
Punarnava is very useful in case of kidney stone. It helps to pass the stone through urine by increasing urine flow.
• Manages UTI Problems.
In urinary tract infection, Punarnava helps to control burning sensation because it has Mutral (diuretic) effect. It increases the urine flow and subsides the symptoms of urinary tract infections (UTI )like burning sensation during urination.
• Protects liver.
Punarnava is used to revitalize and clean the liver. It fights against liver cell damage caused by free radicals thereby showing hepatoprotective activity and manages jaundice like problems.
• Manages Diabetes.
helps to control the normal production of insulin in the body and thereby regulate blood sugar levels.
• Cures eye diseases.
It might also be useful for managing the symptoms of conjunctivitis, itching and eye infections due to its anti-inflammatory activity.
• Good for Digestion.
It helps provide relief from abdominal pain and gas due to its flatulent and strong laxative properties.
• Improves men’s libido, treats impotence and improves fertility.
Impotence can be a huge problem. Punarnava’s seeds are extremely beneficial to those who are suffering from impotence. It increases blood circulation in the genitals which thereby improves the libido in men and also promotes the quality of semen.
• Helps in reducing weight.
Punarnava is useful to control obesity as it helps improve metabolism and reduce Ama thus it helps in managing weight by controlling the appetite.
• Manages Anaemia.
Punarnava might help in anaemia as it helps to increase the total haemoglobin count which may be due to iron present in it.
• Helps in treating gout.
It helps in managing gout and high uric acid levels in blood.
• Manages Rheumatic Arthritis.
helps to reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis-like pain and swelling.
• Helps in treating Asthma.
It is helpful in managing bronchial asthma. It helps to remove mucus from the respiratory tract due to its expectorant property and helps ease breathing.
• Good for heart health.
It relaxes the cardiac system, by calming the mind, which is extremely beneficial for patients suffering from arrhythmias and palpitations. It holds high significance in strengthening the heart muscles, lowering cholesterol levels in the blood and preventing lipid build-up, which in turn reduces the risk of atherosclerosis, heart attacks, heart blocks, blood clots, etc.
Side Effects –
• It can increase the blood pressure and thereby affect the functioning of the heart.
• It has a lot of iron in it, and is also used widely as a laxative. Due to this, pregnant women should avoid using this herb.
• Punarnava should not be given to children who are under 12 years of age.
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