Botanical name – Clitoria ternatea Linn.
Family - Fabaceae
Hindi name - Koyala
English name – Butterfly pea,Winged leaved clitoria
Sanskrit names – Girikarni, Gokarnika, Asphota, Katabhi, Dadhipusphika,
Vishantri, Mohanashini, Vishnukranta, Vajikhura.
Botanical Description - Aparajita is a perennial creeper with lavender
coloured flowers. The flowers are of the same shape of cow's ears. One type
has blue and the other has white coloured delicate flowers. The pods are of
the Length of a finger with 4-5 seeds. The pod opens when dried and seeds
fall off.
Varieties – 2 Types – (Bh.Pr.Ni.)
1) Swetapushpa Aparajita
2) Nila pushpa Aparajita
Habitat - All over Maharashtra. It is also seen in gardens.
Classical ref. – Charaka Samhita – Shiro virechanopaga( Group of herbs that
are used in Nasya panchakarma treatment).
Bh. Pr. Ni. – Guduchyadi varga
Therapeutics Properties -
Guna (qualities) – Rooksha(dryness),Laghu(lightness)
Rasa(Taste)- Tikta
Veerya- Sheeta(cold potency)
Vipak - katu (taste conversion after digestion pungent)
Dosha - Tridoshashamak.
Chemical composition - The seeds contain pale, bitter, saffron coloured resin which is acidic in nature.
Uses-
External uses -
In otitis with lymphadenitis, the crushed leaves, mixed with saindhav are applied locally. The seeds crushed in honey are applied locally on throat, in tonsilitis.
Nasal insufflation of roots is beneficial in headache (especially migraine).
Internal uses –
Respiratory system - The juice of roots along with milk is an expectorant, Root powder is given orally in cervical lymphadenitis.
Digestive system - Seed and root are used in ascites. Seeds are laxative. Shunthi (zingiber) is given to reduce griping pain.
Urinary system - The seeds are diuretic, the root decoction reduces burning of urinary tract.It increases volume of urine.
Reproductive system - Root is used in spermatorrhoea. The decoction of roots is also used in burning of vagina
Ciruculatory system - The juice of leaves along with juice of zingiber reduce perspiration.
Parts used - Root, seeds, leaves.
Dosage – The powder of roasted seeds-1.5 to 4 gms .
Formulations - Garbhapal Ras, Vataraktantak Ras.
References –
श्वेतनीलपुष्पा अपराजिता नामानिगुणाश्च ।
आस्फोता गिरिकर्णी स्यात् विष्णुक्रान्ताऽपराजिता ।
अपराजिते कटू मेध्ये शीते कण्ट्ये सुदृष्टिदे ।
कुष्ठमूत्रत्रिदोषामशोथव्रणविषापहे ।।
(Reference - Ayurvedic pharmacology & Therapeutic uses of Medicinal plants) for more information about health and ayurveda ,stay connected with us
