ØStimulates appetite

ØAlleviates vommitting

ØRemoves unwanted fat from the body

ØUseful in management of heart diseases as it is a rich source of Pottasium

ØMedicated threads (kshara sutra) of apamarga are salubrious in anal fistula.

Common Name:

Prickly chaff flower ( Eng.)

Sanskrit Name :

Apamarga: Which clears out the toxins from the body

Shikhari: As its flowers and fruits are in the form of a flag

Adhah Shalya: As its fruits are having the spins which are directed downwards

Khara Manjari : As its flower is rough in touch

Kinihi: As it mitigates wounds and ulcers

Mayuraka: As it has Mayura (peacock) colored spikes

Pratyak pushpa: As its flowers are directed downwards

Ksaramadhya- As ksara is prepared from it

 Lt. Name:

Achyranthus aspera- Amaranthaceae

Bio energetics:

Rasa- Katu (Pungent); Tikta (Bitter).

Guna (Characteristics)- Laghu (Loght); Ruksha (Rough); Tikshna (Sharp or fast in action)

Veerya (Potency)- Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka (Post digestion effect)- Katu (Pungent)

Chemical composition:

The whole plant contains the traces of basic substances e.g. betaine. Achyranthine has been isolated from the plant. The seeds have a saponin which contains oleanolic acid, glucose, galactose, rhamnose and xylose, Two Achyranthes saponins A and B have isolated. Two new saponins C and D are also isolated from fruits. Ecdysterone (polypodine A) and ecdysone from roots are isolated. In the seed-oil linoleic (49.4), oileic (22.6). Palmitic (1.6) , stearic (4.4), beheic (1.5), arachidec (1.6) , myristic (1.2) and lauric (0.4%) acids present.

Effect on Tridosha (Three bio humors):

Apamarga has Shamana effect on Kapha and Vata i.e. it pacifies these with in the body; and has shodhana effect on Kapha and Pitta i.e. it expells Kapha and Pitta out of the body.

Actions according to Ayurveda:

• Deepana: Apamarga stimulates appetite.
  
• Pachana:  Apamarga ignites the digestive fire.
  
• Chhardi Apahara: Apamarga alleviates vommitting
  
• Medohara: Apamarga removes unwanted fat from the body
  
• Nihanti Hrudruja: Apamarga is useful in management of heart diseases as it is a rich source of Pottasium.
  

Medicinal Uses:

• The paste of its leaves applied on wounds, alleviates the pain, swelling and disinfect them effectively.
  
• The fresh juice of its leaves arrests the bleeding from the wounds and ulcer.
  
• In snake and scorpion bites the pulp of the leaves is applied on the site of lesions.
  
• The medicated oil of it is salutary in deafness, tinnitus and to control the ear ache,
  
• The seed powder is used nasally to alleviate migraine, heaviness in the head.
  
• The root powder is extremely rewarding to cleanse the teeth and to prevent caries.
  
• The medicated threads (ksara sutra) of apamarga are salubrious in anal fistula.
  
• The topical application of its seed powder arrests the bleeding in piles.
  
• Alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the roots cause fall in blood pressure¹ but the chloroform extract raised the blood pressure² in dogs. Achyranthine produced hypertension and depression of the heart, dilation of blood vessels in dogs, spasmogenic effect in frog rectus muscle and diuretic and purgative effect in albino rats³. Alcoholic extract has hypoglycemic activity⁴. Seed saponins increased contraction of the isolated heart of frog, guinea pig & rabbit. The effect was quicker in onset and shorter in duration than that exerted by digoxin⁵. Saponins have phosphorylate activity in heart⁶. Saponins have diuretic activity in albino rats and in dogs⁷.
  

1. Gambir et. al., Indian J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 9, 185, 1965.

2.Kopoor and Singh, Indian J. Pharm. 29, 285, 1967.

3.Neogi et. al., Indian J. Pharm. 32, 43, 1970.

4.Dhar, Indian J. Exptl. Biol. 6, 232, 1968.

5.Gupta et. al., Indian J. Med. Res. 60, 462, 1972.

6.Ram et. al., Indian J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 14, 47, 1970; 15, 6, 1971; 15, 107, 1971.

7.Ram and Gupta Indian J. Physiol. Pharmacol.

• In leprosy patients, the deception of the whole plant along with DDS (Diamino diphenyl sulphone) showed definite improvement in the general health and bacterial index. It is useful in sub acute and mild type of leprosy. Ojha, Lep. Rev. 39, 23, 1968; 37,115, 1966.
  
• RBL and KSL are comparable forms of treatment for grade II internal hemorrhoids with no external haemorrhoidal plexus involvement. However, in cases of grade II and grade III internal hemorrhoids with external haemorrhoidal plexus involvement, KSL is a better treatment option.
  
• It has also been found that KSL is the treatment of choice in patients who have already been subjected to repeated non-operative procedures like RBL, Sclerotherapy but again show up in OPD with persistent haemorrhoidal symptoms. RBL has the distinct advantages of being an OPD procedure, thus obviating the need for hospitalization and requires no anesthesia. Postoperative pain is significantly lesser. Time spent off work by the patient is also significantly lesser as compared to KSL. But RBL did nothing to reduce or cure external haemorrhoidal engorgement which was not only unaesthetic but also created problems like pruritus ani, mucoid discharge, perianal dermatitis and soiling of underclothes.
  
• However, KSL resulted in higher degree of patient satisfaction index as compared to RBL in terms of complete cure of symptoms like prolapse, bleeding per anum, mucoid discharge, external haemorrhoidal engorgement. Therefore, better treatment outcome and higher patient satisfaction index render Kshar Sutra Ligation as an ideal form of treatment for internal hemorrhoids of grade II and grade III  
  
• A Comparative Study of Guggul Based Apamarga Kshar Sutra Ligation with Barron’s Rubber Band Ligation in Hemorrhoids Rakhi Singh Medical Wing, Savera Association, Sreeniwaspuri, New Delhi-110065, Arya Ramesh, Dutt Anil Department of Shalya,Rggpgac ,Paprola H.P, Minhas Satinder Department of General Surgery, I.G.M.C Shimla (H.P)
• Achyranthes aspera (Linn.) extracts were evaluated for antibacterial activity against human pathogenic bacterial strains of Gram positive Streptococcus mutans, S. salivarius, S. sanguis, Staphylococcus aureus, Lactobacillus acidophillus, Bacillus subtilis and Gram negative E. coii. The methanolic extract shows the maximum activity against S. salivarius and the petroleum ether extract shows the minimum activity against E. coli. The use of extracts of A. aspera as a potential antibacterial activity and treatment of dental plaque has been suggested.
• NAVNEET Prabhat ; KRISHNA Sri ; Antimicrobial activity of Apamarga (Achyranthes aspera Linn.) National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad, INDE  (1978) (Revue)
• The ethanol and aqueous extracts of leaves of Achyranthes aspera were prepared and its wound healing and antioxidant activity were evaluated. The wound healing activity was studied using two wound models, excision wound model and incision wound model. The free radical scavenging activity of the extracts was also assessed using two methods, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and superoxide scavenging activity. The extracts responded significantly in both the wound models tested. Also, the plant exhibited good antioxidant effect by preventing the formation of free radicals in the two models studied. Comparatively, the aqueous extract was found to be more effective. These findings could justify the inclusion of this plant in the management of cuts by the local people. Wound Healing and Antioxidant Activity of Achyranthes aspera 
  
• S. Edwin ; E. Edwin Jarald; L. Deb ; A. Jain ; H. Kinger ; K. R. Dutt ;A. Amal Raj Herbal Drug Research Lab, B.R. Nahata College Pharmacy & Research Centre, Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, India

Useful part:

Roots; seeds; Leaves; Whole plant

Doses:

Kshara 1/2-2 gm; Juice- 10-20 ml; Powder- 1.5-2 gm

Some combinations with Apamarga:

Apamarga ksara; Apamarga siddha taila; Agnimukha; Agasti-haritaki leha

Some important notes about Apamarga :

• The Charaka Samhita says, "Apamarga is the best among herbs useful in removing the Doshas from head and neck region."