Indian Jalap: Best Herb for Constipation, Edema (Turpeth Root)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

Operculina Turpethum, also known as Indian Jalap, is a medicinal plant that has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. It is a climbing plant that belongs to the Convolvulaceae family and is native to India and other parts of Southeast Asia. The roots of the plant are the main part used for medicinal purposes, and they contain a compound called turpethin, which has potent laxative, diuretic, and expectorant properties. Indian Jalap has been used to treat a wide range of health issues, including constipation, respiratory problems, liver disorders, and skin diseases.

Only bark of root is used for treatment, various seasonal recipes or medicinal preparations of Turpeth root are also described by Acharya Charaka. According to him, Turpeth Root is best drug for smooth purgation, the root is best for purgation. Due to its triangular stem, it is called “Trivrut.”

The roots being fleshy, care is taken in drying as they decay easily, roots therefore, are cut into pieces and exposed to sun for a day or so, after which it is finally dried in shade.

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2. Common Names

Family – Convolvulaceae

Hindi Name – Nisshoth, Nishut

English Name – Indian Jalap, Turpeth Root

3. Vernacular Names

Bengali – Teudi, Tvuri

Gujrati – Kala nasottara

Kannada – Vili Tigade

Malayalam – Trikolpokanna

Marathi – Nisottar

Tamil – Karum

Telugu – Tella, Tegada

Oriya - Dudholomo

4. Synonyms

Nishotha – It is useful in edema.

Nishottra – It relieves the sotha by the action of purgation.

Rechana/Suvaha – With purgative action.

Sarala – The plant has the properties of relieving constipation.

Sarcanubhuti – It is a reputed purgative drug, safe and effective.

Sweta – The stem is whitish in color.

5. Distribution

It is a large, stout twining perennial herb with sap. It grows wild throughout India up to 1,000 m. This plant is native to Asia, (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Sri-Lanka, Myanmar), Africa, and Australia. It is reported that the plant is found is warmer parts of India up to 900m.

6. Morphology

It is a stout perennial climber up to 10m long with milky exudate.

Root – Fleshy, long, slender.

Stem – Long, twisted, pubescent, angled, and winged which become very tough and brown in old age.

Leaves – Simple, pubescent on both sides, variable in shape, entire margin, subacute or apiculate apex, cordate or truncate at base, 5 to 15 cm long x 2 to 7 cm wide.

Flowers – White, campanulate, long sepals, borne in cyme of few flowers. Five calyx-lobbed funnel-shaped corolla, 5 to 7 cm long and 5 to 6 cm across, white, vivacious purple at the base of the tube within five stamens with long filament.

Fruits – Globose capsule 1.5 to 2 cm diameter enclosed by persistent brittle sepals. Contains four black seeds.

Indian Jalap Leaves

Indian Jalap Flowers

Indian Jalap Root

7. Ayurvedic Properties

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

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

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

Guna – Ruksha, Laghu, Tikshna

8. Types

Indian Jalap is of two types:

• Aruna (reddish color root)
• Shyama (blackish root)

Aruna is best for therapeutic purgation, it is used in weak person, children, oil person for easy purgation. Shyama can treat the conditions like intoxication and abdominal tumours due to its drastic purgative actions.

Shayma is considered as inferior and can cause fainting, burning sensation, giddiness, confusion, chest pain, and roughness of throat and hence it is rarely used in medicine.

9. Chemical Constituent

Root bark is rich in turpeth resin consisting of 10% turpethin. Other constituents are turpethinic acids-A, B, C, D and E, scopoletin, botulin, lupiol, Beta-sitosterol, A and B turpethin, volatile oil, starch, ligen aslts, lignen salts, ferric oxide, resin, glycoside, saponin and flavonoids.

10. Identity, Purity, and Strength

Foreign Matter – Nil

Total Ash – Not more than 10%

Acid-insoluble ash – Not more than 1.5%

Alcohol-soluble extractive – Not less than 10%

Water-soluble extractive – Not less than 8%

(Source: The Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India 2001)

11. Ayurvedic and Pharmacological Actions

Ayurvedic Action

The herb has the properties of antipyretics, eliminate pitta and kaphadosha, aggravate vata dosha, purgative, mild purgative, scarping.

• Doshakarma – Kaphapittashodhan, vatakarak.
• Dhatukarma – Lekhan
• Malakarma - Rechana

Pharmacological Action

The pharmacological action is anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antipyretic, antisecretary, hepatoprotective, ulcer-protective, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, cathartic, anthelminitic, cardiac depressant and spasmodic to smooth and skeletal muscle.

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12. Health Benefits

Indian Jalap is used to treat fever caused by pitta, fever, edema, anaemia, ascites, constipation, hepato-splenomegaly, hepatitis, abdominal tumors, wound, worm infestation, and various skin problems. It is also used in piles, obesity, cough, asthma, flatulence, gout and rheumatism.

For Arthritis - Indian Jalap is beneficial in treating rheumatic and paralytic diseases.

For Chronic Constipation – The root powder is used as a purgative and to relieve chronic constipation. Its pulverized roots are used as a laxative and to alleviate any acute constipation.

For Dropsy – Indian Jalap is a valuable herb in the treatment of dropsical affections.

For Gout – It is also beneficial in gout due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties.

For Jaundice – Indian Jalap is one of the major drugs which are used in the treatment of jaundice.

Other Health Aliments - Operculina Turpethum is also effective for other diseases like melancholia, leprosy, enlargement of the spleen, and paralysis. Its efficacy increases when mixed with chebulic myrobalan.

Anti-Venom - Indian Jalap helps in purgation and is most efficacious for a scorpion or snake bite.

For Worms – Due to its anti-worm property, it helps to kill and control intestinal worms and infections.

For Cough & Cold - Due to its antioxidant property, it gives relief from respiratory problems like cough, bronchitis, asthma, and breathlessness caused due to excess mucus.

For Diabetes – Indian Jalap has antidiabetic properties which are beneficial to controlling and treating diabetes and blood sugar.

For Piles - Operculina Turpethum gives relief from piles and their symptoms like itching, burning, and swelling in the anus region.

13. Contradictions

Indian Jalap should not be used in pregnancy, in children below age of 12 years, in elderly, physically or mentally weaker persons, and for diarrhoea, bleeding per rectum, rectal prolapse, or fecal incontinence. It may act as an abortifacient when used in pregnant ladies.

Use in children or physically or mentally weaker person or overdose of Indian Jalap may lead to complications like excessive purgative activity, vomiting, abdominal pain, chest pain, dehydration, hypotension, vertigo, confusion, shock and unconsciousness.

14. Therapeutic Uses

Arthritis - Take 3 to 4 grams of Operculina Turpethum root powder with water daily, beneficial in arthritis.

Chronic Constipation - Take 5 grams of Indian Jalap root powder with lukewarm water after meal and twice a day, beneficial in chronic constipation.

Dropsy - Take 2-4 grams of Indian Jalap root powder with chebulic myrobalan (harad) daily, beneficial in dropsy.

Gout - Take 5-6 grams of Indian Jalap root powder with chebulic myrobalan (harad) daily twice a day, beneficial in gout.

Jaundice - Take one tsp of each powder, Indian Jalap, and Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutki), mix them and take them with water daily, beneficial in jaundice.

Spleen, And Paralysis - Take 5-6 grams of each powder, Indian Jalap root with chebulic myrobalan (harad), which helps to treat leprosy, enlargement of the spleen, and paralysis.

Fever - Indian Jalap with sugar is used in kapha pitta jwara.

Malaria Fever - Indian Jalap is given with honey to get relief from malaria fever.

Piles - Indian Jalap powder is given with Triphala decoction to treat piles by eliminating the impurities through anal orifice.

Abdominal Disorders - Indian Jalap paste should be given with milk.

Erysipelas - Indian Jalap is mixed with ghee/milk/hot water/grape juice and given for purgation to alleviate erysipelas.

Gout – Decoction of Indian Jalap, Vidari, is beneficial.

Abscess – Powder of Indian Jalap and Haritaki taken with ample quantity of honey.

Purification of breast milk - Indian Jalap is given with Triphala decoction.

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15. Official Part Used

Root Bark

16. Doses

Powder – 1 to 3g

17. Indian Jalap Tea Recipe.

Here is a simple and easy recipe for Indian Jalap tea, you can make it at home.

Ingredients

• Indian Jalap Root Powder – 1 tsp
• Water – 1 cup
• Green Tea – ½ cup

Method

• Take a tea pan and add water to boil.
• Add all the items and boil them for 2 minutes.
• Strain the tea in a cup and enjoy the taste.