Pushkarmool (Inula Racemosa)
Description of Plant
Inula racemosa is a perennial herb with a height extending from 0.5 to 1.5 meter. The stem is grooved, rough and very hairy. The leaves of this plants are large, elliptical, and 3-6 cm long with 2-3 cm breadth, having long petioles. The fruits being slender achenes, 0.4 cm long, bewhiskered with 0.75 cm long pappus hairs. The flowers are bright yellow in color with many in heads, 0.5-1 cm in diameter.
The fresh root has dull brownish skin with yellowish color inside. It changes to grayish on drying. It has sweet and camphoraceous odor and has a bitter taste.
It blooms from July through September and get dries to a shiny bronze color in early winter. It grows well in waterside or in the meadow garden.
In Kashmir, the roots are used as adulterant of Saussurea lappa.
General Description of Inula racemosa
Pushkaramula is a herb that is useful to pacify Kapha (water) and Vata (air) Doshas (humors) in body. It is widely used in Ayurveda because of its beneficial therapeutic uses: like Aruchi, Adhyaman (gas), Hikka (hiccups), Jvara (fever), Kasa (cough), Svasa (asthma), Parsvashula (chest pain), Sosh (edema), Ardit (facial paralysis), Pandu (low hemoglobin level).
In Ayurvedic practice it is mainly used as an expectorant and bronchodilator since old times. Root powder has strong aromatic odor resembling camphor.
The rhizome of this plant having sweet, bitter and acrid taste with a neutral potency and acts as antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and mild diuretic.
Main Chemical found in these plants which bring therapeutic benefits are lantalactone, Isoalantalactone, Inunolide (germacranolide), Dihydro isoalanlactone, Beta –Sitosterd, D- Mannitd, Dihydroinundide, Neo-alantolactone, Inunolise, Sesqiterpene, Lactone (inunol), Alantadiene, Octadecanoic acid.
Classification of Pushkaramula
- Kingdom - Plantae
- Subkingdom - Tracheobionta
- Super division - Spermatophyta
- Division - Magnoliophyta
- Class - Magnoliopsida
- Subclass - Asteridae
- Order - Asterales
- Family - Asteraceae
- Genus - Inula
- Species - racemosa
Habitat of Pushkaramula
This herb grows in the temperate and alpine conditions which are found in the Hindu-Kush Himalayan regions.
It is found within India, in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh at an altitude range of 2800-3200 meters. Also outside India in regions across Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal also.
Names of Inula rcemosa in Different Languages
- Latin name – Inula Racemosa
- Hindi name - Pohkarmool, Pushkarmool
- Sanskrit name - Kashmira, Poushkara, Puskara mula, Sugandhikam
- Assamese name – Pohakarmul, Puskar
- Kannada name - Pushkara Moola
- Punjabi - Pokhar Mool
- Malayalam name - Puskara
- Tamil name - Pushkarmulam
- Telugu name - Pushkara Mulamu
- Marathi name - Pokhar Mool
- Oriya name - Puskara
- Persian name – Gharsa
- Arabic name - Rasan
- Italian name – Azurro, Iride ralvatica
- French name – Lis sauvage, Flambe
- German name – Blaweiris, Dentsche lisch
Chemical Composition
High quality powder of wild crafted herbs from its natural habitat without chemicals, fertilizer & pesticides contains Inulin, alantolactone, isoalantolactone.
Ayurvedic Properties
| Hindi / Sanskrit | English | ||
| Rasa | Tikta | Taste | Bitter |
| Guna | Lagu | Physical Property | Light |
| Virya | Ushna | Potency | Warm |
| Vipaka | Katu | Metabolic Property (After Digestion) | Pungent |
Effects on Doshas
It balances Vata and Kapha doshas.
| Charak Samhita | Sushrut Samhita |
|
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Ancient Verse about Inula racemosa
The Bhavprakash nighantu edition of 1998: verse 174-175, page no-94- 96
Its name are Pushkaramul, Poshkar, Pushkar, Padmapatra, Kashmirr, and Kushtbhed. It is bitter and pungent in taste and manages Vataj and Kaphaj fever, inflammation, swelling, asthma and anorexia. It is mainly used for managing severe backache.
References
The Bhavprakash nighantu with elaborated Hindi commentary by Padmashri prof. K.C. Chunekar, edited by Dr. G.S. Pandey: edition of 1998: verse 174-175, page no-94- 96.
Properties and Practical Uses of Inula racemosa
Pushkaramula is an herb, widely rich in therapeutic properties. Below is given medicinal properties along with the meaning. It can be used both internally and externally. It is useful in reducing additional Kapha (water) from body.
Properties
Pushkaramula is has so many medicinal uses because of its amazing properties which are Antibacterial, Ant catarrhal, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial: Analgesic, Ant diabetic, Aphrodisiac, Antispasmodic, Antiseptic, Antihistaminic, Diuretic, Expectorant, Cardio- protective, Stomachic, Hypotensive and also rejuvenator a well as immunomodulator.
- Because of its hot, pungent and expectorant action its use has been found traditionally in respiratory ailments such as asthma, throat infection (sore throat) cough
- Also has useful positive effects in, pleurisy, tuberculosis and chest pain.
- It is good wonderful tonic for heart for Heart acting as anti anginal and anti-ischemic.
- It suitable to lowers blood pressure.
- Externally it is useful in the treatment of sprain, bruises. abscess
- The powder of root is useful in dental Problems
- It has ability to reduce the edema of any patient as it's a good diuretic
- It is good to use in Mental Disorders.
- Also provides relief in menstrual disorders as well as in skin disorders.
- Beneficial in maintaining the cholesterol, triglyceride and total lipid levels that are already in the normal range.
- It is useful in conditions involving nervous system
- It provides reliefs by controlling the swelling and pain.
- It can also treat Anorexia.
Parts Used
Root
