ADARAKA

Botanical Name: Zingiber officinale Rosc.

Family: Zingiberaceae
Introduction: Mainly dried ginger using in Ayurveda formulation.. So it used as the prashepa
dravyas for many drugs.
Names in different Indian languages:
English : Ginger
Hindi : Adarak
Kannada : Hasisunti, Ardraka
Malayalam : Inci, Erukkilannu
Sanskrit : Ardrakam
Tamil : Inji, Allam, Lokottai
Telugu : Allamu,ardrakamu
Unani : Zanjabeele- Ratab,Al-Zanjabeel
Dry Rhizome
English : Dry Ginger
Hindi : Soth
Kannada: sunti
Malayalam: Chukku
Sanskrit : Sunthi, Visvabhesajam
Tamil : Chukku, Sunthi
Telugu : Sunti
Unani : zanjabeel,Zanjabeel-eyaabis.
Synonyms :
Fresh rhizome—
Aardraka, Aadrikaa, Shrngibera, shrngavera, Katubhadra.

Dried rhizome—
Shunthi, Naagara,Naagaraa, Naagaraka, Aushadha, Mahaushadha, Vishvaa, Vishvabheshaja,
Vishvaaushadha

Amomum zingiber L.

Classification according to Charaka, Susrutha & Vagbhata :

Charaka : Triptighna, Arsoghna, Dipaniya, sulaprasamana, Trisnã nigrahana
Susrutha : Pippalyãdi, Trikatu
Vagbhata : Pippalyãdi, Trikatu
Varieties & adulterants – (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants) :
1. Dry Ginger – Nagara, Visvabhesaja
2. Fresh Ginger – Ardraka, Srngabera.
3. Adulterants – Japanese Ginger
Morphology:
An erect perennial herb with aromatic rhizome.

Stem— erect, leafy, 15-150 cm tall.

Leaves— subsessile, linear-lanceolate or lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, 10-30 cm long.

Flowers— shoot upto 15 cm long, clothed with sheaths; bracts -2-5 cm x 2 cm, light green;
corolla tube light yellow, lip orbicular, dull purple with creamy blotches.
Flowering and fruiting during July-September

Habitat & Distribution :

All over India, Srilanka, Nepal

Chemical composition :
geranial and neral; and sesquiterpenes, beta-sesquiphellandrene, betabisabolene,

ar-curcumene and alphazingiberene, gingerols, shogaols, curcumene, beta-boürbornene, d-

borneal, citral, d-camphene, citronellol, geraniol, gingerol, a- & beta- Zingiberenes,
zingiberol, zingerone, gingerols, paradol, gingerenone A, ginger glycolipids A, B, & C;
gingerdiol; gingerone B & C

Properties :
Rasa : Katu
Guna : Guru Ruksa, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipãka : Madhura
Karma : Vãta-kaphahara, Dipana, Bhedana,pachana, vrisya, balya, rochana, sophahara,
jwaraghna
antiemetic, antiflatulent, hypocholesterolaemic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic,
expectorant, laxative,circulatory stimulant, diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic,
analgesic, hypotensive and hepatoprotective.

Gingerol and shogaol have been shown to suppress gastric contractions. Both fresh and dried
rhizomes suppress gastric secretion and reduce vomiting
Indications :
Sula, Amavãta, Adhmãna, Atisãra, slipada, Kãsa, svãsa, Hrdroga, sopha, Arsas, Hikkã,
Vibandha, Raktapitta, Pãndu, Vrana, Jvara. Kustha, Agnimãndya

Irritable bowel , diarrhoea, fever,cough, asthma,flatulence,colic, colds ,influenza,migraine,

nausea, vomiting

Part used :
Rhizome (raw and dry)

Dosage :
Powder 2-4 g

Decoction 50-100 ml

Important Yoga’s or Formulations :

Ardraka rasayana, Ardraka Khaãvalehya, Nagaradi Kasaya,Ardraka ghrta, Ardraka Khanda,
Soubhaya Suñti, Samasarkarã churna

Amayika Prayoga(Therapeutic Uses) :

(1) Pratisyaya— Ardraka is given with milk (S.S.Ut. 24).
(2) Kaphaja Arsas— Ardraka and Kulastha are used (S.S.Ci.6)
(3) Murcha— Ardraka svarasa is used as Nasya (B.P.).
 Ashwagandha
Botanical Name: Withania somnifera (Linn.) Dunal
Family: Solanaceae
Identification No: SDACH/HG/002
Introduction: Asvagandha root juice is given as Nasya to achieve conception. Now a days
scientists believe that the cultivated variety of withania have different than naturally
occurring.
Names in different Indian languages :
English: Winter Cherry Hindi: Asgandha,punir
Kannada: Viremaddinagaddi, kiremallinagida Malayalam: Amukkuram
Sanskrit: Asvagandha,varahakarni Tamil: Amukkira, amukkirakkilangu
Telugu: Vajigandha,pannirugadda,pulivendramu
Synonyms:
“वािजग ा वराहकण बलदा कु ग नी।”
Hayagandhaa, Ashwakanda, Gandharvagandhaa, Turaga, Turagagandhaa, Turangagandhaa,
Vaajigandhaa, Gokarnaa, Vrishaa, Varaahakarni, Varadaa, Balyaa, Vaajikari.

Withania ashwagandha Kaul (cultivated var.)

Withania somnifera (Linn.) Dunal (Chemotype I, II, III: Israele.)

Classification according to Charaka, Susrutha & Vagbhata:

Charaka: Brmhaniya, Madhuraskandha

Varieties & adulterants – (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants)

1. W. somnifera
2. W. coagulans.
3. Nagori
4. WS-27-7 – cultivated
5. WS-23-55- cultivated
6. WS – 10 – 28- cultivated
Morphology:
It is a under shrub, erect stem, 0.5-2 m high. Clothed with minute hairy tomentum.

Leaves—simple, alternate, entire, ovate up to 10 cm long. subacute;

Flowers— axillary, sessile or shortly pedicled, fascicled or solitary, hermaphrodite; calyx

campanulate, acutely 5-6-toothed, fruit-calyx inflated, larger than the berry; corolla
campanulate, 3-6 lobed, short, greenish or lurid yellow; stamens attached at the base of
corolla.

Fruits— berries, globose. Seeds— many, discoid.

Habitat & Distribution:

Cultivated, dry places.

Chemical constituents:
withananine, withananinine, pseudo-withanine, somnine, somniferine, somniferinine,
Withaferin, withanone, somnirol, nicotine withanone, withanolide WS-1, withanolide A to Y;
somnirol, somnitol; withasomniferin A, nicotine, preudotropine tropine, solasodifle,
withasomnifle, sitoindosides VII-X, sominone, sominolide

Properties:
Rasa : Katu,Tikta,kashaya Guna : Laghu, snighta Virya : Usna

Vipãka : Katu

Karma: Kapha-vãtahara, Sukrakara, Rasayana, Balya anti-inflammatory, Hepatoprotective,

antibacteria , sedative, hypnotic,diuretic, Antibacterial, antitumour, aphrodisiac
Srotogamitva:
Dosha : vatha hara
Dhatu :meda, sukra
Mala : mutrala
Organ : testis
Indication:
Sopha, Svitra, Ksaya, Jvara, Chardi, Kustha, Kandu, Krmi, Sonitha sukla, Leucoderma,
Insomnia, Nerve Disorder, Ulcer, Constipation, Insomnia

Part used: Root, leaves

Dosage:
Leaf juice 10-15 ml

Powder 2-4 g

Decoction 50-100 ml

External uses: It reduces oedema and pain, that is why leaves or root paste is applied on
enlarged cervical glands or swelling of other glands. In vata diseases and weakness, oil
massage is done. The juice of ashwagandha leaves is used as eardrops in ear discharge.
Internal uses:
Nervous system: As it is a sedative and nervine tonic, it helps in atonic nerves, fainting,
giddiness and insomnia.
Digestive system : The bark powder is appetizer. carminative and anthelmintic and hence is
used in abdominal pain, constipation and worms.
Circulatory system: It has an effect on the heart, purifies the blood and reduces oedema. So it
is used for the weakness of heart, blood disorders and oedema. Its decoction is used in
rheumatoid arthritis.
Respiratory system : It is an expectorant and has antiasthmatic property due to which it is
useful in cough. Ashwagandha ash along with ghee and honey is effective in asthma, If
phlegm is thin, it is used in the form of ash or its alkaline extract is used. Decoction of bark
should be given in low dose for cough and asthma. It is also used as a tonic in the above
conditions.
Reproductive system : Ashwagandha is well known for its aphrodisiac property. It is used in
semen disorders and leucorrhoea caused due to endometritis. A mixture of 5 g. of
ashwagandha powder + 10 gms of ghee + 250 ml milk + sugar is a good tonic, nutritious and
also aphrodisiac. It completely cures puerperal backache.
Urinary system: It is diuretic and so used in oliguria or anurea. It is used to strengthen meda
dhatu.
Skin: It is used in vitiligo and other skin diseases, blisters heal when black ashes ‘of the roots
are applied on them.
Important Yogas or Formulations:
Ashwagandhadi churna, Ashwagandha rasayana, Ashwagandharishta, Maharasanadi,
Sukumarghrut, Saubhagyasunthipak

Amayika Prayoga (Therapeutic Uses) :

External:
– Paste for joint pain and inflammation.

– Oil for muscle relaxation (Ashwagandha Taila).

Internal:
– Powder (1-3g) with milk for strength.

– Decoction for stress and fatigue.