Boerhavia Diffusa: An Ancient Herb for Rejuvenation (Punarnava)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

Punarnava, also known as Boerhavia Diffusa, is an herb commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine. There are about 40 tropical and subtropical species of Boerhavia, out of which 6 are found in India, namely, Boerhavia diffusa, Boerhavia chinensis, Boerhavia erecta, Boerhavia repens, Boerhavia rependa and Boerhavia rubicund. In Atharva Veda, Punarnava is described as a herb that rejuvenates the entire body. Morphologically, it is observed that the plant dries up during the summer season and regenerates during the rainy season.

Charaka and Sushruta Samhitas used this plant widely for the treatment of many human ailments. Charaka considered it rasayana and Kasahara whereas Sushrut described its shaka as the best pathyashaka in shotha. Charaka included it in asthapana basti Dravya whereas Sushrut in vata sansamana varga.

Fresh leaves and roots are eaten as vegetables in curries and soups by the tribals, and roots and seeds are added to cereals, pancakes, and other food as nutrient sources. Seeds are also served as bird feed; the leaves are given to cattle as fodder to increase milk yield.

You may also like

2. Vernacular Names

• Assamese – Ranga Punarnabha
• Bengali – Rakta Punarnava
• Kannada – Sanadika, Kommeberu, Komma
• Kashmiri – Vanjula Punarnava
• Malayalam – Chunanna Tazhutawa
• Marathi – Ghetuli, Vasuchimuli, Punarnava
• Oriya – Lalapuiruni, Nalipuruni
• Punjabi – Itcit, Khattan
• Tamil – Mukurattai
• Telugu – Atikamamidi

3. Synonyms

• Deerghapatrika – It bears extra megaphyllous leaves.
• Shilatika – Therapeutically, it is a useful drug.
• Shothaghni – It is a potent anti-inflammatory drug.
• Shwetmoola – The plant has white roots.
• Varshketu – The plant regenerates every year in the rainy season.

4. Classical Categorization

• Charaka Samhita – Vyasthapana, Kasahara
• Sushrut Samhita – Vidarigandhadi
• Ashtang Hridaya - Vidaryadi gana
• Dhanvantari Nighantu – Guduchyadi varga
• Madanpal Nighantu – Abhayadi varga
• Kaiyadev Nighantu – Oshadhi varga
• Raj Nighantu – Parpatadi varga
• Bhavaprakasha Nighantu – Guduchyadi varga

5. Distribution

Punarnava is a creeping and spreading perennial herb with a stout rootstock and many erect or spreading branches. It is found throughout India as weed up to an altitude of 2,000 ft. It grows abundantly in waste places, fields, and marshy places during the rainy season.

6. Morphology

It is a perennial diffuse herb with stout rootstock and many procumbent branches. The leaves are simple, broad, somewhat rough, thick and brittle. The flowers are pink or red.

Leaves

Simple, opposite or sub opposite, short petiole, broadly, unequal pairs, green above and reddish beneath, ovate or suborbicular shape, acute-obtuse apex, round or subcordate at the base.

Flowers

Pink, red or purple, small, short-stalked, in irregular clusters of axillary or terminal corymbs.

Fruits

Ovoid or sub-ellipsoid, rounded above, slightly cuneate below, five-ribbed with glandular, viscid hair, easily detachable, single-seeded, indehiscent with a thin pericarp.

Explore More Herbs

7. Types of Punarnava

• Bhavaprakash Nighantu – There are two types, Shweta Punarnava and Rakta Punarnava.
• Dhavantari Nighantu – Two types, Punarnava and Krura
• Raj Nighantu – Three types, Shweta Punarnava, Rakta Punarnava and Neel Punarnava.

8. Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa (Taste): Punarnava is known to have a bitter (Tikta) and astringent (Kashaya) taste.

Virya (Potency): It is naturally cooling (Sheeta Virya).

Vipaka (post-digestive taste): The post-digestive taste is bitter (Katu).

Dosha Effects: Boerhavia diffusa mainly balances Pitta and Kapha doshas. Its cooling nature helps pacify excess heat in the body.

9. Chemical Constituent

The whole plant contains a large number of active compounds like crystalline acid known as boerhavia acid, flavonoids, alkaloids, proteins, and glycoproteins. Roots mainly contain alkaloids punarnavine, punernavoside, boeravinone A-F, boerhaavic acid. The herb contains large quantities of potassium salts which account for its diuretic properties.

10. Identity, Purity, and Strength

For Root

• Foreign Matter – Not more than 2%
• Total Ash – Not more than 10%
• Acid-insoluble ash – Not more than 0.8%
• Alcohol-soluble extractive – Not less than 4%
• Water-soluble extractive – Not less than 10%

(Source: The Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India 2001)

11. Ayurvedic and Pharmacological Actions

Ayurveda – It classics attributes shothaghna, sara, deepan, rochna, pandughna, mutravirechana, anulomana, hridya, raktavardhana, Kasahara, vrishya, netrya and jwaraghna.

• Doshakarma – Kapha pittahra
• Dhatukarma – Shothaghana, rasayana
• Malakarma – Mutravirechan, swedopaga.

Pharmacological – It possesses antioxidant, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, hypoglycemic, antiestrogenic, anticonvulsant, adaptogenic, antifertility, and insecticidal.

12. Health Benefits

The herb has been indigenous medicine since ancient times, it is a laxative and produces a cooling sensation. Medicinally, the most important part of the herb is the root. The roots are beneficial in different health ailments like inflammation, abdominal problems, dyspepsia, anemia, jaundice, diabetes, loss of appetite, cough, heart disease, piles, skin problems, fever, asthma, calculus, conjunctivitis, and constipation.  

Explore Herbal Tea

13. Therapeutic Uses

External Uses

Conjunctivitis – the application of root paste of Punarnava with honey, helps to reduce inflammation and redness.

Obstructed Labor – Punarnava root lubricated with oil is introduced into the vagina to expel the fetus in Obstructed Labor.

Internal Uses

Anemia – Daily intake of Punarnava leaf juice or two tablets of Punarnava mandoor or decoction of Punarnava is also useful in anemia.

Edema – Daily intake of decoction or paste of Punarnava root mixed with ginger paste gives relief in all types of inflammatory disorders. Or intake of Guggulu with a decoction of Punarnava, Devdaru, and ginger is beneficial in ascites and edema.

Skin Problems – The root of Punarnava is an effective remedy for several skin problems. A paste of the root can be applied as a dressing for oedematous swellings. A hot poultice of the root can be applied with gratifying results to ulcers, abscesses, and similar skin problems. It is also used for extracting guinea-worms.

Calculus – Daily use of a decoction of Punarnava, Gokhru, Varun bark, and Pashanbheda increases urine output, breaks stones, and expels out gravels.

Stomach Disorders – The roots are useful in strengthening the stomach and promoting its actions. The root powder in doses of 5 grams, thrice a day is useful in killing or expelling intestinal worms.

Internal Abscess – To get rid of the internal abscess, a decoction of Punarnava and Varun bark should be used daily.

Jaundice, Hepatitis – The decoction of Punarnava root or powder helps in the expulsion of excessive pitta from the body; thus, it gives relief in hepatitis, jaundice, hepatomegaly, skin disease, and other liver problems.

Rejuvenator – To attain rejuvenation of the entire body, one should take a fresh paste of Punarnava root 20gm with milk for a fortnight, 2 months, 6 months, or a year.

Heart Disease – heart diseases associated with pedal edema, breathlessness, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, decoction, or Punarnava root powder with Kutki, Chirata and Ginger.

14. General Recommended Doses

• Juice – 5 to 10 ml
• Decoction – 50 to 100ml.

15. Precautions

• If you are on medication, please consult your doctor first before using Punarnava.
• It is not safe for pregnant ladies.
• It is not recommended for children under age 12.
• Do not overdose on Punarnava, it may cause a medical emergency.
• Do not take after or with drinking alcohol, it may cause drowsiness.

16. Formulations

Punarnavasava, Punarnavashtaka kwath, Punarnava mandoor, Punarnavarishta, Punarnava guggulu, kumaryasava, Shothaghna lepa.