Kantakari , कंटकारी Medicinal Benefits
Botanical Name-Solanum xanthocarpm
Common Name-Bhathataiya
Family-Solanaceae (Kanthari kul)
Habit-A perennial prostate herb.
Properties
Property-Lightness, dryness, sharpness
Taste-Bitter,
pungent Potency-Heating
Metabolic Property-Pungent
Specific Property
- Kaph-Vata-Samak
- Stomachic
- Digestive
- Bronchial sedative
- Anti-pyretic
Parts Used-Whole plant
Description-A prickly, much branched herb, usually spreading or diffused, flowers are purple; about 2cm long, few together in small bunches opposite the leaves. Fruits 1.5-2 cm, round yellow or pale with green veins. Flowers and fruits appear in summer.
The herb powder of this herb is very useful in Asthma, breathlessness and allergies of respiratory tracts. So it is very useful in many conditions. It is also a diuretic, carminative, expectorant, febrifuge, bitter, digestive, alterant and astringent.
Fruits eaten as an anthelmentic and for indigestion. Root is an expectorant, used in Ayurvedic medicine for cough, asthma, chest pain. Also used for flatulence, sore throat, and toothache. Has high concentration of solasodine, a starting material for the manufacture of cortisone and sex hormones. It cures asthma, cough, bronchspasm, sore throat, constipation, an effective expectorant and diuretic.
Bhavamisra, an ancient physician, mentions it as promoting conception in females. Given with honey, tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), datura (Datura metal), and black pepper it can be effective in cases of bronchial asthma.
Dosage
Expressed juice of leaves -Y4-1/2 tola
Decoction -40-80 ml.
Powder of Root -1-2 masha
Uses
- Decoction of Kantakari added with Ardrak is efficacious in all types of cough.
- Ghee cooked with decoction of Kantakari checks cough caused by Vata.
- The decoction of Kantakari added with Pippali removes all types of cough.
- Decoction of Kantakari with honey is useful in suppression and retention of urine.
- In fever and Cough-Decoction of Kantakari & Ambrita is useful as tonic.
