Anantamoola - Means 'the eternal root' as its root spreads for a long way underground.
Karpoori - As its roots give the smell of Karpoora (Camphor)
Sugandhi - Means 'the fragrant one' as it smells sweet and aromatic
Lt. Name:
Hemidesmus indicus - Asclepiadaceae
Bio Energetics:
Rasa (Taste) - Madhura (Sweet); Tikta (Pungent)
Guna (Characteristics) - Guru (Heavy); Snigdha (Unctuous)
Veerya (Potency) - Sheeta (Cool and calm)
Vipaka (Post Digestion effect) - Madhura (Sweet)
Chemical Composition:
Roots contain ß-sitosterol, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde, a - amyrin, ß - amyrin and its acetate, hexatriacontane, lupeol octacosonoate, lupeol and its acetate.
Effect on Tridoshas (Three bio humors):
Anantamoola pacifies all the three Doshas i.e. it can be used in managing diseases resulting from aggravation of any of Dosha.
Actions according to Ayurveda:
Shukrakaram - Anantamool improves quality and quantity of sperms
Agnimandya nashnam - Anantamool alleviates loss of appetite and indigestion
Swas kasa nashnam - Anantamool is useful in cough and respiratody discomfort
Pradara nashanam - Anantamool alleviates excessive bleeding during menstration
Atisara nashanam - Anantamool is useful in passage of watery stools
Pittadaham - Anantamool cools pitta and inflammations,
Raktapittaghna - Anantamool alleviates bleeding disorders from heat,
Doshtrayanashanam- Anantamool clears an excess of all three dosha
Medicinal Uses:
Sariva has antibacterial and antilithic activity. [Indian Perfumer, 1983, 27: 19; Proc. Indian Sci. Congr., 1981, IV, 156].
An immunomodulatory activity of H.indicus, related to IgG secretion and ADA activity, is revealed during the study. The herbal extract has shown to promote the release of IgG by lymphocytes, and also the ADA activity after 72 h of culture. (KAINTHLA R.P. ; KASHYAP R. S. ; DEOPUJARI J. Y. ; PUROHIT H. J. ;TAORI G. M. ; DAGINAWALA H. F. ; Indian Pharmacological Society, Pondicherry, INDE (1969) (Revue)
Useful Part:
Roots
Doses:
Paste - 5-10 gm; Hot infusion - 50 - 100 ml
Some combinations with Anantamool:
Sarivadi Kwatha, Sarivadi Vati, Sarivadi Avaleha, Sarivadi Arishtha etc.
Some important notes about Anantamool:
According to Unani system of medicine, root and stem are laxative, diaphoretic, diuretic and useful in treatment of syphilis and leucoderma. Alone roots are useful in hemicrania, joint pains and syphilis whereas stem is good in treatment of brain, lever and kidney related diseases. It is also useful in treatment of gleet, urinary discharges, uterine complaints, paralysis, cough, asthma etc.
It promotes health and vigor. Decoction of stalks and leaves is used for skin eruptions, hearing disorders,fevers etc. Root decoction helps in skin diseases, syphilis, elephantiasis,loss of sensation, hemiplegia, loss of appetite, blood purification and for kidney and urinary disorders (herbs for ever, 2005).
The plant is said to be alterative, depurative, diaphoretic, tonic, used in autoimmune disease,rheumatoid arthritis, chronic skin disorders, asthma, bronchitis, gonorrheal neuralgia, syphilis, venereal diseases, nephritic complaints, scrofula, chronicskin diseases, ulcers etc. (Global herbal, 2005).
The traditional healers of Southern parts of Chhattisgarh prepare a special Herbal Mala from the root pieces of Anantmool and Semal (Bombax ceiba). In this Mala, they use red colored string. The root pieces are arranged alternatively in the Herbal mala. In general the healers use seven root pieces of each herbs. This Mala is used in treatment of Sukhandi (Marasmus) and healers advise the child patients to wear it around the neck as part of the treatment.
The traditional healers depend on local herb shops clearly identify the Anantmool roots by its typical smell. According to them it smells like Chandan (Sandal) and Kapur Kachri (Hedychium spicatum). As Kapur Kachri occurs as natural herb, it is used as adulterate in Anantmool. In big lots , it is very difficult to find out the adulteration through the specific smells.
Anantamoola
