Introduction
"Sarpagandha is one of the popular herbal medicines used in the treatment of high blood pressure, insanity and schizophrenia."
Sarpagandha, also known as Rauvolfia serpentina or Indian Snakeroot, is one of the most powerful in Ayurveda which has been used in the treatment of anxiety, restlessness, mind, high blood pressure and sleep. It is used as an effective antihypertensive drug, and it is also considered as world's first antihypertensive drug.
Based on studies its roots contain natural alkaloids like reserpine, the more important being two chemical classes known as the ajmaline and the serpentine group, the roots also contain a lot of resin and starch.
Because of this, it has been traditionally used for conditions related to:
- Stress
- High blood pressure
- Disturbed sleep
- Irritability
- Emotional imbalance
Today, Sarpagandha is one of the most important herbs for heart and mind balance in Ayurveda. In this blog we will explore why this herb has so much importance and how you can use for health issues at home.
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Common Names
- Assamese - Arachontita
- Bengali – Chaandar, Chandra, Chotachand
- Kannada – Sutranaabhu, Sarpangadhi, Sutraanabhi
- Sanskrit – Nakuli, Chandrika, Chandramarah
- Gujrati – Amelpodee, Sarpagandha
- Malayalam – Amalpori, Chivanavilpuri, Chivan, Tulunni
- Marathi – Adaki, Chandra, Harkaya, Harki
- Oriya – Dhanbarua, Sanochado
- Tamil – Sarppaganti, Chivan melpodi
- Telugu – Sarpagandhi, Patalgani, Patala
- Urdu – Asrel
Botanical Profile
| Details | Description |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Rauvolfia serpentina |
| Family | Apocynaceae |
| Parts Used | Root (most important) |
| Type | Perennial, evergreen shrub |
| Distribution | India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand |
Main Ayurvedic Actions
- Nidrajanana – promotes sleep
- Unmadahara – calms the mind and reduces emotional disturbances
- Hrudya – supports heart health
- Shothahara – reduces inflammation
- Vishaghna – traditionally used for snake and insect poisons
Ayurvedic Properties
- Rasa (Taste): It has bitter taste (tikta).
- Virya (Potency): It is hot in nature (ushna).
- Vipaka (post-digestive taste): It has pungent taste (Katu).
- Guna: Ruksha.
- Effects: Nidrajanana.
Uses of Rauvolfia Serpentina (Sarpagandha)
It has carminative, hypotensive, sedative, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is bitter in aromatic, astringent, bitter in taste, and hot in potency. Sarpgandha root produces Alkaline reserpine, a plethora of phytonutrient compounds that have antihypertensive and antipsychotic effects on the human body. It exerts antihypertensive properties by depleting the catecholamine.
For High Blood Pressure
How to Use
Take half tsp of full root powder of Rauvolfia, twice a day or 2 tablets of Sarpagandhaghana vati once a day with water.
Why It Works
Sarpagandha contains reserpine, a natural compound that calms the nervous system and helps relax blood vessels.
For Anxiety, Stress & Restlessness
How to Use
Take 5 grams root powder with cow ghee or rose water at night before sleep.
Why It Works
It slows down excessive nerve activity and reduces overthinking, irritation, and emotional imbalance.
For Disturbed Sleep / Insomnia
How to Use
Take Rauvolfia root powder is given in doses of 5gm with ghee or rose water at bedtime
Why It Works
It helps to induces sound sleep and gives relief in panic attacks, palpitations, nervousness, anxiety, and epilepsy.
For Hyperactivity & Irritability
How to Use
Take 125–250 mg powder after dinner.
Why It Works
It lowers excessive nerve stimulation and balances Pitta-related emotional heat.
Traditional Therapeutic Uses
- Insomnia – small nightly dose helps induce sleep
- Mental imbalance / emotional disturbance – calms the mind
- High BP – lowers blood pressure naturally
- Giddiness and nervous irritability – reduces nerve tension
- Snake poison – used traditionally in emergency care
- Headache – especially stress-induced
- Anxiety attacks – helps settle the mind
- Epilepsy (traditional) – used with other herbs
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Heath Benefits
The herb is an effective drug for lowering blood pressure and reducing fever. It has an extensive spectrum of valuable therapeutic actions, mainly effective in the treatment of hypertension and psychotic disorders like schizophrenia, anxiety, epilepsy, insomnia, and insanity, and used as a sedative, a hypnotic drug. Extracts of the roots are valued for the treatment of intestinal disorders, particularly diarrhea and dysentery, and as anathematic. Mixed with other plant extracts, they have been used in the treatment of cholera, colic, and fever. The juice of the leaves has been used as a remedy for the opacity of the cornea.
Rauvolfia juice and extract obtained from the root can be used for treating gastrointestinal and circulatory diseases. The juice of tender leaves and root extract is used to treat liver pain, stomach pain, dysentery and expel intestinal worms.
Rauvolfia roots are also used to treat hypertension associated with cerebral pain, wooziness, and menorrhea in the Siddha system of medicine. In the Unani system, it is used as a nervine tonic, sedative, hypnotic, diuretic, and anesthetic.
General Recommended Dosage
Root Powder – 3 to 6 gm (sedative, insanity), 1 to 2gm (in hypertension)
Formulations
Sarpagandhadi churna, Sarpagandhaghana vati, Sarpagandhayoga, Sarpagandha vati.
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Side Effects
Higher doses may cause flushing, injection of conjunctive, insomnia, bradycardia, asthenia, edema, occasionally parkinsonism, and severe mental depression which may lead to suicide. Prolonged previous use of reserpine may cause disturbances in blood pressure during operation under general anesthesia, while some patients may be highly susceptible to small parental dosage.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQS)
Q- What are the primary uses of Rauvolfia serpentina?
In Ayurveda, Rauvolfia Serpentina is used for:
- High Blood Pressure - It has an extensive spectrum of valuable therapeutic actions, mainly effective in the treatment of hypertension
- Mental Disorders - Sarpagandha is included in Aparajita gana which is indicated in mental disorders.
- Insomnia - It acts as a sedative and tranquilizer.
Q- What are the potential side effects?
Higher doses may cause flushing, injection of conjunctive, insomnia, bradycardia, asthenia, edema, occasionally parkinsonism, and severe mental depression which may lead to suicide.
Q- What is the right dose of Rauvolfia Serpentina?
Root Powder
- 3 to 6 gm (sedative, insanity)
- 1 to 2gm (in hypertension)