Oriss Root: Best Herb for Obesity and Heart Problems (Inula Racemosa)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

“Oriss Root guggulu is popular formulation for ischemic heart disease (IHD), obesity and hyperlipidemia.”

Oriss Root Hindi name is Pushakrmool, the plant is name Pushkarmool because the fresh root has a strong aromatic odor resembling lotus flower or orris. The plant first mentioned in Agnipurana as a variety of Kustha. Since then, it is used as a drug of choice kasa, hridya school, and kustha.

Charaka has described it as the best drug for hikka, shwsa, and parshvasula. Sushrut and Ashtang have also advocated its use as antiasthmatic, cardiotonic drug. Other systems of medicine like Unani, Siddha, Tibetan, European, Chinese and American make free use of Oriss Root in treating major ailments.

The Americans used it for treating tuberculosis and cardiovascular disorders. In Himachal Pradesh, root or leaf paste is applied on swellings and sprains as an antiseptic. Root powder also helps in lowering elevated blood pressure. Roots are also kept with garments to protect them from infestation.

Leaves are used to particulate pollutants, chiefly carbon particles. Due to its indiscriminate overexploitation and destruction of natural habitat, the plant is reported to be a critically endangered species.

You may also like

2. Common Names

• Family – Composiate
• Hindi Name – Pushkarmool, Pohkarmool
• English Name – Oriss Root, Elicampane root

3. Vernacular Names

• Assamese – Pohakarmul
• Bengali – Pushkara
• Gujrati – Pushkarmula
• Kannada – Pushkara Moola
• Malayalam – Puskara
• Marathi – Pokhar Mool
• Tamil – Pushkarmulam
• Telugu – Pushkara Mulamu

4. Synonyms

• Kashmira – The plant grows at high altitude and is native to Kashmir.
• Padmapatra – Its leaves resemble lotus leaves.
• Pouskara – The plant is native to cold regions like the ponds.
• Kushta Bheda – It is considered a variety of Kustha plant.

5. Distribution

The plant is abundantly found in India, China, and Europe. In India, it is found in temperate and alpine regions of Western Himalayas at an altitude of 5,000 to 14,000 ft from Kashmir to Kumaon. It is also wild among strong alpine vegetation in the cold desert of Ladakh.

Explore More Herbs

6. Classical Categorization

• Charaka Samhita – Shwasahara, Hikkani grahana
• Sushrut Samhita – Phala varga
• Ashtang Sangraha – Hikkanigrahana
• Dhanvantari Nighantu – Guduchyadi varga
• Madanpal Nighantu – Abhyadi varga
• Kaiyadev Nighantu – Oushadi varga
• Raj Nighantu – Pippalayadi varga
• Bhavaprakasha Nighantu – Haritakyadi varga

7. Morphology

It is a tall, stout herb of 0.3 to 1.5 m in height, stems is rough, grooved and tomentose.

Leaves – Simple, alternate, crenate, leathery, rough above and densely tomentose below, radical or cauline. Upper leaves and lanceolate and stem clasping. Radical leaves are broad and elliptical shaped with long stalk. The cauline leaves are smaller, oblong and semi-amplexicaule.

Flowers – Yellow, very large 3.8 to 5cm in diameter, many in heads/racemes, born on apical spike-like cluster.

Fruits – Reddish, slender, hairless, achene 4 mm long with pappus 8 mm long.

Root – Root stock branched, fresh root is irregularly fusiform, brownish externally and yellowish white internally. The dry root is dark brown, irregularly wrinkled, camphor-like odor and bitter in taste. The plant is propagated by its seeds and root cuttings.

8. Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa (Taste): It has Tikta, Katu(astringent, bitter) taste.

Virya (Potency): It is Ushna in nature (hot).

Vipaka (Post-digestive taste): It is Katu (bitter).

Guna (Qualities) – Laghu, Tikshna

9. Chemical Constituent

The root has large amount of sesquiterpene lactones, alantolactone, isoalantolactone, neo-alantolactone, dihydroisoalanto lactone, inunol, inunolide, dihydroxinunolide, in-unolise, inulin, alantodiene.

Explore Wholesale Herbs Powder

10. Identity, Purity, and Strength

• Foreign Matter – Not more than 2%
• Total Ash – Not more than 5%
• Acid-insoluble ash – Not more than 0.6%
• Alcohol-soluble extractive – Not less than 10%
• Water-soluble extractive – Not less than 20%

(Source: The Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India 2004)

11. Ayurvedic and Pharmacological Actions

Ayurvedic Actions

Ayurvedic actions of Oriss Root are anti-inflammatory, anti-hic-cough, anti-asthmatic, antipyretic, cardioprotective, anti-bacterial, analgesic, appetizer, digestive, antiflatulent, diuretic, diaphoretic, antiobesity, aphrodisiac, rejuvenator properties.

• Doshakarma – Kapha vatahara
• Dhatukarma – Shwasahara, Hridya
• Malakarma - Mutral

Pharmacological Actions

Oriss Root is reported to exhibit bronchodilator, antiallergic, antiasthmatic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, cardiotonic, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, cytotoxic, expectorant, antibacterial, antifungal, larvicidal, immunomodulator, antimutagenic, adaptogenic, antihyperglycemic, and adrenergic activities.

12. Health Benefits

In Ayurveda, Oriss Root is used in the treatment of cough, asthma, pleurisy, bronchial asthma, hic-cough, fever, tuberculosis, heart diseases, obesity, inflammation, rheumatic pains, dyspepsia, flatulence and anemia.

13. Therapeutic Uses

Tooth Disease - Oriss Root powder is rubbed on gums and teeth in tooth ache and other oral problems.

Abscess - Oriss Root powder mixed with coconut oil is applies externally in abscess and boils.

Heart Disease – One to three grams root powder of Oriss with honey is given in cardiac pain, dyspepsia, cough and hic-cough.

Cough and Asthma – Dashmool kwath added with Oriss Root and honey should be taken twice a day.

Pleurisy - Oriss Root powder is specifically recommended in pleurisy.

Obesity - Oriss Root powder with Guggulu is given twice daily in hyperlipidemia, obesity and cardiac ailments.

Explore Herbal Tea

14. Official Part Used

Root

15. General Doses

Powder – 1 to 3 g

16. Formulations

Pushkaradi guggul, Pushkarmulasava, Puskaradi churana, Puskaradi Kashaya, Lodhraasava, Kankayana gutika, Kumaryasava.