Kantakari
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 it 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- Useful in all types of cough and repiratory discomforts
Kanthya- Improves voice
Hikka nigrahana- Alleviates hicough
Shothahara-Useful in management of all edematous conditions
Sheeta prashamana- Alleviates discomfort of long stay in cold
Angamarda prashamana- Has tranquilizer(Pain killer) effect
Deepana- Ignites digestive fire
Krimihara- Useful in all infectiuous conditions
Kanduhara-Alleviates itching
Garbha karini- Useful in management of infertility
Meda hara- Removes unwanted fat from the body
Swarabheda hara- Useful in all disorders of voice
Ashmari hara- Useful in management of kidney stones
Medicinal value:
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It 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.
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