Why You Really Need GORAKSHAGANJA PLANT

Botanical Name : Aerva lanata Juss.

·         Classification:

§  According To Modern

o   Kingdom – Plantae

o   Order – Caryophyllales

o   Family – Amaranthaceae

§  According To Ayurveda

• Charak- Not classified in Varga
• Sushruta-Not classified in gana
• Bhavprakash- not classified in varga

§  Other Names

Hindi name: Gorakhbuti or Kapuri jadi, Gorakshaganja, Gorkhabundi, Kapurijidi, chaya.
English name: Mountain knot grass
Bengali name: Chaya
Kannada name: Bilesuli, Bilihindi soppu
Malayalam name: Cherula, Cerula, Ceruvuta
Marathi name: Kapuri-madhura, Kapurmadhura, Kumrapindi , Kapurphuti
Punjabi name: Bui-kaltan (flowers as sold in bazaars)
Tamil name: Sirru -pulay –vayr, Cerupulai, Poolai
Telugu name: Pindi-kura, Pindi-chettu, Pindiuttu, Kondapindichettu
Gujarathi name – Bur, Kapurimadhuri
Assamese name – Bameha
Spanish name- Sanguinaria de cuba
Deccan name – Khul-Khul
Mundari- Cauliara
Sind- Bui
Trans- Indus-Azmei
Punjab- Baikallau,

• General Information :

Habit- Annual herb, Root- tap root and branched , stem- herbaceous, green, white-tomentose, divided into nodes and internodes. Leaf- simple, exstipulate, alternate, ovate, entire, rounded to acute with a short micro, unicostate reticulate venation. Inflorescence- axillary, dense and compact spike. Flowers- minute, actinomorphic and bisexual, fruits- a one- seeded pyxis seed, with tough, shinuy testa and embryo curved.

• Properties (Gunadharma):
  • Rasa –Tikta, Kashaya
  • Vipak-Katu
  • Virya –Ushna
  • Guna –Laghu, Teekshna
• Specific Parts:

Root

• Doshaghnata:

Kapha, vataghna

• Shlok:

गोरक्षगत्र्जा तुवरासतिक्ता लघ्वी च तीक्ष्णा परमोष्णवीर्या Ι 
कफर्तीह्रत मूत्रवीरेचनिया प्रभावतोप्यष्मरिनाशनी स्यात ΙΙ 

• Benefits :

It is useful in sashmari and mootrakrichchhra being ashmaribhedana and mootrala, it is known as pashanabheda in south india and its ashmarighna action is well experienced.
The decoction of the root of Aerva lanata is given in a dose of 50-60 ml to treat renal calculi and retention of urine.
Cold infusion of the whole plant is given in a dose of 30-40 ml to treat cough and sore throat.

Asmari ( urinary Calculus )

Kwatha (Decoction ) of Goraksaganja (Aerva lanata) to be taken internally thrice a day will dissolove the stone and clears the Urinary tract.

Tamaka swasa (Asthma )

In case of tamaka swasa ( Asthma ) the dried leaves and flowers of goraksa ganja ( Aerva lanata ) are used to Dhumapana to smoke )

• Chemical Composition:

The plant contains palmitic acid, beta-sitosterol and alpha-amyrin. The flowering and fruiting parts contained hemicellulose, starch an acid- soluble polysaccharide & H₂o soluble polysaccharides, monosaccharide contents of polysaccharides determined.

• Research corner :

A study is done to analyze the phytochemical composition and in vitro antioxidant properties of aqueous extract of Aerva lanata stem. The results showed that Aerva lanata has phenolic compounds, saponins , flavonoides, tannins and phytosterols as major phytochemical groups. The plant possesses high antioxidant activity.