Kantakari
ØRemoves unwanted fat from the body
ØUseful in management of infertility
ØIgnites digestive fire
ØUseful in management of kidney stones
ØAlleviates discomfort of long stay in cold
ØAlleviates itching
Common Name:
Yellow- berried night shade(Eng.)
Sanskrit Names:
Kantakari- Means it is having lots of kantaka(Thorns) with itself
Duhsparsha- Means a plant which is very painful to touch because of thorns
Kshudra- Means its plant is small in size
Vyaghri- Means a plant that makes sound like vyaghra(Tiger)
Nidigdhika- Means this plant spreads over a large area very fast
Lt. Name:
Solanum surratense- Solanaceae
Bio energetics:
Rasa(Taste)- Tikta (Bitter); Katu(Pungent)
Guna(Characteristics)- Laghu(Light);
Veerya(Potency)- Ushna(Warm)
Vipaka(Post digestion effect)- Katu(Pungent)
Effect on Tridosha (Three bio humors):
Because of its warm potency Kantakari pacifies the Vata and Kapha Doshas i.e. it is useful in management of diseases having their origin in Kapha/ Vata or both.
Action according to Ayurveda:
Kasa- shwasahara- Kantakari is useful in all types of cough and repiratory discomforts
Kanthya- Improves voice
Hikka nigrahana- Alleviates hicough
Shothahara- Kantakari is useful in management of all edematous conditions
Sheeta prashamana- Kantakari alleviates discomfort of long stay in cold
Angamarda prashamana-Kantakari has tranquilizer(Pain killer) effect
Deepana-Kantakari ignites digestive fire
Krimihara-Kantakari is useful in all infectiuous conditions
Kanduhara-Alleviates itching
Garbha karini- Useful in management of infertility
Meda hara- Kantakari removes unwanted fat from the body
Swarabheda hara- Kantakari is useful in all disorders of voice
Ashmari hara- Useful in management of kidney stones
Medicinal value:
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Kantakari is employed in the treatment of dropsy, a disease marked by an excessive collection of fluid in the tissues and cavities or natural hollows of the body.
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When alcohol extract of Kantakari are given to Diabetic rats, it showed significant reduction in the glycogen content and in the activities of glucose metabolizing enzymes such as glucokinase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and an elevation in the activities of gluconeogeneic enzymes such as glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase.
Useful part:
Whole plant
Doses:
Powder 3-6 gm; Decoction 40-80 ml
Some useful combinations with Kantakari:
Vyaghriharitaki; Kantakari ghruta; Vyaghari tail; Nidigdhikadi kwatha
Some special notes about Kantakari:
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In any type of cough Kantakari should be taken with soup of grean gram treated with Haridra and Amalaki.
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Taking clarified butter treated with Kantakari is very useful in management of all types of cough and respiratory discomforts.
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In kidney stones Kantakari and Brihati should be taken with honey.
Ayurveda Herbs | 
Kantakari
