Botanical name – Anacyclus pyrethrum Linn.
Family - Asteraceae
Hindi name - Akarkara
English name – Pellitory,Mount Atlas
Sanskrit names - Akalla, Akorkaro, Akkirkaram, Akarkaram,Akallakah.
Botanical Description - Akarakaraba is a small hairy perennial herb
growing to a hight of 3 to 4 feet in the plains of north india .
Bark-brown in colour, bitter in taste.
Root-7 to 10 cm. in length. It is interesting to note that its root protects its
potency till 7 years.
Leaves small, like the leaves of kapittha.
Flowers-round in shape, flowering occurs in summer.
Petals - white, pink, yellowish on the upper side.
Fruits shallow, oval in shape.
The plant does not appear to be of Indian origin because it is not mentioned in
Charaka samhita. But Bhavaprakash has described this plant just as he has
mentioned tobacco plant which is not of Indian origin. Akarkarabh must have
come from Arabastan.
Habitat - Northern Africa, Arabia, Syria, Bengal. (There is a plant which is
called false akarkarabh.)
Therapeutics Properties -
Guna (qualities) – Rooksha(dryness), tikshana
Rasa(Taste)- Katu(pungent)
Veerya- Ushna(hot potency)
Vipak - katu (taste conversion after digestion pungent)
Dosha - kaphavataghna.
Chemical composition - It contains a volatile oil and an active principle called pyrethrin.
Uses-
External uses - Akkalkara is used with oil for massage in hemiplegia and
nervine debility.
Decoction of akarkarabh root is used for gargling in dental caries, toothache and tonsilitis.
In abscess, it is applied externally for assimilation and daran. By its application,
skin becomes reddish and boils occur. It is applied externally as an analgesic. Its
nasya is given in chronic rhinitis and cold. It is used in various aphrodisiac oils
prepared in unani medicine.
Internal uses -
akarkarabh is used internally in various types of vata disorders. A small dose of akarkarabh acts as an appetite stimulant in indigestion and pittakshaya. It increases heart rate. It is used in sexually transmitted diseases and inflammation Useful in cough and hoarseness of voice. It is also used in children like Achorus calamus. It is useful in diabetes. It is also helpful in impotency caused by weakness of nerves. It is used as rasayana in kaphaj diseases.
If the root powder is given in a dose of more than 0.5 to 0.75 gm., it results in nausea, bleeding, increase in heart rate, unconsciousness etc.
Parts used - Root
Dosage - powder 0.5 to 1 gm
Formulations - Akallakara choorna , Choipachinyadi choorna, Kumaryasava.
Adulteration - Anacyclus officinarum
References –
आकारकरमश्चैव कल्लकोऽय ह्यकल्लकः ।
अकल्लकोष्णो वीर्येण बलकृत् कटुको मतः ।
प्रतिश्यायं च शोथं च वातं चैव विनाशयेत् (भा. प्र. )
(Reference - Ayurvedic pharmacology & Therapeutic uses of Medicinal plants) for more information about health and ayurveda ,stay connected with us
