Prickly Chaff: Health Benefits, Therapeutic Uses, Dosage, Side Effects

Table of Contents

1. What is Prickly Chaff Flower?

Prickly Chaff scientific name is Achyranthes Aspera, some other common names are rough chaff, chirchita, latjira, apamarga, and mayuraka. It has been used for thousands of years in medicinal practices and in the traditional medical system for its numerous health benefits. It's high in calcium, iron, and other important nutrients that can help your body function at its best.

The ash of the herb contains a high proportion of potash and is an antacid, it is an important constituent of alkaline medicine that is useful in counteracting acidity.

2. Morphology

Rough Chaff is an erect and stiff annual herb that grows pointing up to 50 gm in height, the branches have downward-pointed thrones. The leaves are simple, egg-shaped, and green, the leaves have numerous oil glands which exude strongly scented volatile oil and its flowers are small and face downwards. Old flowers are found at the bottom and fresh ones are on the upper portion. Although can properly grow in a variety of climatic specifications and environmental conditions, the optimum conditions are found in countries having warm climates.

3. Chemical Constituent 

Chaff flower contains a low amount of fat content and less caloric value; it is also known as a good source of vitamin C and minerals. It contains small amounts of other vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, and fiber, its seeds are rich in dietary fiber.

4. Habitat 

The herb occurs in temperate and sub-tropical Himalayas from Kishtwar to Sikkim and Khasi hills at 1200 to 1820 meters from Bihar, Konkan, Nilgiris, and Travancore hills. In India, its seeds and dried plants are available to grocers and dealers of raw drugs.

5. Ayurvedic Properties 

• Rasa (Taste): It has bitter, pungent (Tikta, Katu) taste.
• Virya (Potency): It is hot in nature (Ushna).
• Vipaka (Post-digestive taste):  It has pungent (Katu Vipaka) taste.
• Guna (qualities): Laghu, Tikshna, Sar.

6. Types

Kaiyadev Nighantu has described its three types:

• Apamarga
• Vashir
• Ramatha

Bhavprakash Nighantu has described its two types:

• Apamarga
• Rakta Apamarga

7. Identity, Purity & Strength

• Foreign Matter – Not more than 2%
• Total Ash – Not more than 17%
• Acid-insoluble ash – Not more than 5%
• Alcohol-soluble extractive – Not less than 12%
• Water-soluble extractive – Not less than 12%

(Source - The Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India 1999)

8. Health Benefits 

Prickly Chaff is an important herb used in rural India for preparing mixed greens, the leaves are tasteless but assume a mild bitter taste after cooking. They have soft cellulose. 

In classical Ayurveda texts whole plant of Prickly Chaff or its roots, seeds, and kshara, is traditionally used in the treatment of asthma, boils, bronchitis, cold, cough, dysentery, ear diseases, leukoderma, headache and renal complications. The paste of roots taken with buttermilk, internally as an antifertility. 

9. Therapeutic Uses

Cholera

The powdered root of the herb is useful in treating cholera, about 6 grams of the powder mixed with water is the suggested treatment.

Cough

The ash of the herb mixed with honey is sued for treating cough, a mixture of the ash and 4 times its weight of the water should be allowed to stand for 24 hours. The residue obtained by evaporating the supernatant or upper layers of the liquid is the well-known Ayurvedic preparation known as aghada khara. It is taken in doses of 6 to 12 centigrams for relieving cough.

Eye Disorders

The root of the herb is useful for eye disorders, a paste of the roots with water can be applied beneficially in ophthalmia and opacity of the cornea.

Insect Bites

A paste of the leaves made with water is effective in treating bites of poisonous insects, wasps, bees, etc. It should be applied externally over the affected parts.

Menorrhagia

This is a condition of excessive menstrual bleeding; the drug is useful in arresting secretion or bleeding. It is therefore valuable in abnormally excessive menstruation. An infusion of the herb should be used in treating this condition.

Renal Dropsy

A decoction of the plant is beneficial in renal dropsy as it increases the secretion and discharge of urine. The decoction is prepared by boiling 60 grams of the plant in 150 ml of water for 20 to 30 minutes, about 30 to 60 grams of this strained mixture should be taken twice or thrice a day.

Skin Problem

The leaves of rough chaff are useful in cuts and wounds from a sharp-edged weapons like knives and blades. The wound is thoroughly soaked with the juice of a few leaves and a leaf bandaged over it. It heals within a day or two with a single application. An ointment made of the ash of the herb with orpiment is used for cleaning warts and ulcers.

Spleen Enlargement

The herb is specific for spleen enlargement, the powder of the plant is used in 25 grams doses twice daily with a little beaten curd, this brings good results in 3 to 4 weeks.

Stomach Disorders

The juice of the leaves is valuable in the stomach disorders like stomach aches, bowel complaints, and piles. A decoction of powdered leaves mixed with honey or sugar candy is useful in the early stages of diarrhea and dysentery.

Other Uses

Easy Delivery – Rough chaff seeds are useful in facilitating easy and painless delivery, the seeds are ground in water to prepare a fine paste that is applied on the navel, pubis, and vulva.

10. Side Effects 

In high does it may induce vomiting, otherwise no major side effects.

11. General Doses

• Juice: 10 to 20ml.
• Root Powder: 3 to 6gm.
• Seeds: 3gm.
• Kshara (alkali): 0.5 to 2gm.

12. Official Part Used

Whole plant, root, leaves, seeds.

13. Ayurvedic Formulations

Apamarga kshara taila, Mahashankha vati, Agastya haritaki, Apamarga taila, Gulmakalanal rasa, Agnimukha rasa.