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Shirisha        
Common Name:
Albizia or The women's tongue tree
 
Sanskrit Name:
Shirisha- Means sacred or delicate flower; it points towards holiness and delicacy. It is connsidered so sacred that it is told to be the best among the plants useful in toxicities.
Shukapriya- It is the favorite food of parrot
 
Lt. Name:
Albizzia lebbeck- Leguminosae
 
Bio energetics:
Rasa (Taste)- Kashaya (Astringent); Tikta (Bitter); Madhura (Sweet)
Guna (Characteristics)- Laghu (Light); Ruksha (Rough); Teekshna (Acute in action)
Veerya (Potency)- Ishda Ushna (A little bit warm)
Vipaka (Post digestion effect)- Katu (Pungent)
 
Effect on Tridoshas (Three bio humors):
Pacifies all the three Doshas, i.e. it is useful in management of diseases involving either of the three Doshas or all the three Doshas.
 
Chemical constituents:
  • The bark yield tannins of condensed type, viz, D-catechin, isoners of leucocyanidin and melacacidin and a new leucoantho-cyanidin, lebbecacidin. It also gives friedelin and b-sittosterol.
  • Seeds gave crude protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, niacin and ascorbic acid, amino acid, composition of the protein is: arginine, histidine, leucine, and isoleucine lysine. Methionine etc.
  • The flowers contain lupeol, a & b- amyrin and a pigment similar to crocetin.

Actions according to Ayurveda:

Vishaghna- Useful in toxicities
Vedana sthapana- Manages painful conditions
Shiro virechana- Useful in therapeutic cleansing of the region above the clavicle; given through nasal route
Visarpaghna- Useful in inflammatory skin diseases especially of Herpes type
Shwas kasahara- Useful in managing respiratory discomfort and cough
Varnya- Improves complexion of the skin
 
Medicinal Value:
Methanolic extract of Albizia lebbeck bark when administered orally at the dose level of 100 mg/rat/day to male rats of proven fertility for 60 days did not cause any significant loss in their body weights but the weights of reproductive organs, i.e. testis, epididymides, seminal vesicle and ventral prostate were decreased in a significant manner when compared to controls. Sperm motility as well as sperm density were reduced significantly which resulted in reduction of male fertility by 100%. Marked decline in the germ cell population was noticed. It shows its significant contraceptive use.
 
Useful part:
Bark; Seeds; Leaves; Flowers
 
Doses:
Powder- 3-6 gm; Juice- 10-20 ml; Decoction- 50-100 ml
 
Some important combinations with Shirisha:
Shirisharishta; Maha shirishs agada
 
Special notes on Shirisha:
  • It is the best plant amongst all those useful in management of toxicities.
  • In snake bite Nasya (Giving medicine through nasal route) and Anjana (A medicated eye cleanse) of white pepper treated with juice of Shirisha flowers for one week is of great use.

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Shirisha Powder 1/2Lbs 12.95US$
Shirisha Powder 1Lbs 22.85US$
Shirisha Capsules 60Capsules 13.95US$