Ayurvedic Herbs: Punarnava

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Five-Prana_Ayurvedic-Herbs-Punarnava

Ayurvedic Herbs

Ayurvedic herbs are one of the many chikitsas or treatments used in Ayurvedic medicine. These herbs are used as part of an herbal protocol recommended by an Ayurvedic professional. Thusly, all the Ayurvedic herbs should not be self-administered and Ayurvedic herbs should only be taken under-advisement of your Ayurvedic Counselor/Practitioner/Doctor and approved by your Primary Care Physician. The information on the Ayurvedic herb of Punarnava is only meant to educate you on the ways in which it is traditionally used in Ayurveda and is presented for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, or advice of a qualified, licensed medical professional. The facts presented are offered as information only, not medical advice, and in no way should anyone infer that we are practicing medicine. Seek the advice of a medical professional for proper application of this material to any specific situation. Do not use the information found within this post to self-diagnose any medical conditions or treat any health problems or diseases. The information provided is not intended to prescribe or be taken as medical advice. If you have or suspect that you have a medical condition please contact your health care provider immediately.

“The essence of all beings is Earth. The essence of Earth is Water. The essence of Water is plants. The essence of plants is the human being.

Esam bhutanam prthivi rasha, prthivya apo raso-pam osadhayo rasa, osadhinam puruso rasah.”
— Chandogya Upanishad I.1.2
Five-Prana_Ayurvedic-Herbs-Punarnava

Punarnava

  • Latin Name: Boerhaavia diffusa

  • Plant Family: Nyctaginaceae

  • English Name: Indian hogweed

  • Sanskrit Name: Punarnava means “what renews us”, “that makes one new again”, or “one that renews the old body”

  • Part Used: plant

  • Botanical Description: perennial 0.75-1 meter in length, sometimes grows to 4 meters; leaves are 2.5-4 cm long with soft hairs; flowers are small, white colored; fruits are 1 cm long and are round; root is thick and gets twisted once it is dried

  • Taste (Rasa): bitter, sweet

  • Energetics (Virya): cooling

  • Post-Digestive Effect (Vipaka): pungent

  • Quality (Guna): light, dry

  • Dosha: VPK- , V+ (in excess)

  • Tissues (Dhatu): plasma (rasa), blood (rakta), fat/adipose tissue (meda), nerve/bone marrow (majja), reproductive tissue (shukra [male]/artava [female])

  • Systems (Srotamsi): circulatory (rakta vaha srotas), digestive (anna vaha srotas), urinary (mutra vaha srotas), plasma (rasa vaha srotas)

  • Constituents: alkaloids (punarnavine); phytosterols (B-sitosterol); lignans (liriodendrin); rotenoids (punarnavoside); xanthones (boerhavine); salts (potassium nitrate)

  • Actions: alterative, blood tonic, diuretic, rejuvenative

  • Ayurvedic Actions: enkindles appetite (dipana); destroys oedema (sothaghna), alleviates cough (kasahara); promoter of youth and longevity (vyasthapana); rejuvenative (rasayana); nourishes the heart (hridaya); astringes bleeding (stambhana); benefits the eyes (caksusya); reduces hemorrhoids (arsoghna); absorbs fluids from the intestines (grahi); alleviates colic (sulaprasamana); diuretic (mutrala); rejuvenative to the urinary system (mutravaharasayana); lithotriptic (asmarighna); alleviates dysuria (mutrakrcchanghna)

  • Biomedical Actions: diuretic, lithagogue, cardiotonic, digestive

  • Indications: heart, kidneys, digestion, diabetes, arthritis, gynecology

  • Precautions: diarrhea, caution with sedative, antidepressive and antiepileptic medication, there is potential for positive potentiation of ACE inhibitors, dehydration

  • Preparations: powder, decoction

  • Formulations: punarnavashtak, punarnavasav, punarnavambu, purnarnavadi mandur

Punarnava is a rejuvenative that opens the tissues for cleansing so that they can be nourished. It is especially beneficial for Pitta and Kapha prakruti (constitution) and vikruti (imbalances). Punarnava has an affinity for the blood and kidneys.

References

Frawley D. Yoga & Ayurveda: Self-Healing and Self-Realization. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press; 1999.

Frawley D, Lad V. The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press; 2001.

Gogte VM. Ayurvedic Pharmacology & Therapeutic Uses of Medicinal Plants: Dravyagunavignyam. New Delhi, India: Chaukhambha Publications; 2016.

Pole S. Ayurvedic Medicine: The Principles of Traditional Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Singing Dragon; 2013.