Nagakeshar
Common Name:
Mesua, Iron wood tree, Indian rose chestnut (Eng.)
Sanskrit Name:
Naagakeshara
Naagapushpa
Champeya
Lt. Name:
Mesua ferrea- Guttiferae
Bio energetics:
Rasa (Taste)- Kashaya (Astringent); Tikta (Bitter)
Guna (Characteristics)- Laghu (Light); Ruksha (Rough)
Veerya (Potency)- Ushna (Warm)
Vipaka (Post digestion effect)- Katu (Pungent)
Effect on Tridoshas (Three bio humors):
Pacifies Kapha and Pitta i.e. it is useful in management of diseases resulting from the aggravation of Kapha/ Pitta or both.
Actions according to Ayurveda:
Vishapaham- Useful in management of all toxic conditions
Aam pachanam- Useful in management of metabolic disorders
Vataamayaghna- Specially useful in management of Vata diseases
Kantha shirsha rujapaham- Valued in management of pain in Throat and head region
Arshaansyapayanti raktani- Useful in management of hemorrhoids specially bleeding ones
Besides this Nagkeshara is also useful in management of chronic fever, itching, excessive thirst, sweating, nausea, vomiting and skin and urinary diseases.
Medicinal value:
- The whole flower extract of Mesua ferrea Linn. was tested for its in vitro antimicrobial efficacy against five different strains of Salmonella spp. All the strains were found to be highly sensitive to the extract.
- The antibacterial efficacy of the methanol extract of whole flowers of Mesua ferrea Linn. was studied against various strains of bacteria. It could inhibit a large number of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria at concentration ranges of 100 to 50 microg/ml, or even lower, as against vibrios and Escherichia coli.
Useful part:
Doses:
Powder- 2-3 gm
Special notes on Naagkeshara:
In bleeding piles Naagkeshara should be taken with fresh butter and sugar.
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