Parijatka (Parijatka (PariBhadra, Nimba Taru, Mandara))
Parijatka, also known as night-flowering jasmine, is a plant highly valued in Ayurveda for its medicinal properties. It is used to treat various ailments, including inflammation, fever, and respiratory issues. All parts of the plant are considered medicinally important.
Botanical name: Nyctanthes arbor-tristis. Also known as: Parijat, Night Jasmine, Harsingar, Coral Jasmine, Tree of Sorrow/Sadness, Sephalika, Prajakta.
Properties
Anti-inflammatory activity, Antioxidant activity, Antimicrobial activity
Dosage
Dry leaf powder: 5–10 g mixed with warm water, once or twice daily for fevers or arthritis (dose based on weight and age). Flower decoction: Boil 10–15 fresh flowers in 200 ml water for 10 minutes; strain and drink 50–100 ml twice daily for coughs. Parijat Juice: 10-20ml or as per requirement. Parijat Oil: 5-10 drops or as per requirement. Alcoholic extract/tincture: 1:5 ratio, 10–20 ml per day in divided doses, used by experienced Ayurvedic physicians for liver support. Fresh leaf juice: 5-10 ml for sciatica, 10-15 ml for constipation, intestinal worms, hepatomegaly and piles. Powder of dried leaf or bark: 2-3 g with betel leaf juice for asthma and cough.
Classical attributes
- Rasa: Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent)
- Virya: ["Ushna (Hot)"]
- Vipaka: ["Katu (Pungent)"]
Benefits
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antipyretic
- Anthelmintic
- Hepatoprotective
Traditional uses
- Arthritis
- Gout
- Fever
- Jaundice
- Liver disorders
- Respiratory ailments
- Sciatica
- Skin problems
- Hair fall
- Ringworm
Dosha effects
- vata: balancing
- kapha: balancing
- pitta: balancing
Preparation methods
- Powder: Dry and powder the leaves, flowers, or bark.
- Decoction: Boil fresh flowers or dry leaves in water, then strain. For Parijata tea, boil 10–15 flowers (or 5 g dry leaves) in 200 ml water for 10 minutes. Strain and drink 50–100 ml twice daily.
- Juice: Extract fresh juice from the leaves.
- Topical application: Prepare a paste from the leaf powder or fresh leaves.
- Oil: Parijat oil can be used with 5-10 drops or as per requirement.
- Herbal tea powder: Blend dried Parijat leaves and flowers with dried ginger, grind, mix and store in an airtight container. To prepare tea, add 1-2 teaspoons of this powder to a cup of hot water, steep for 5-10 minutes and add honey or jaggery for sweetening.
- Extraction: Maceration of dried and powdered leaves or flowers in solvents like ethanol, methanol, water, or hydroalcoholic mixtures.
Contraindications
- Anemia
- Hypersensitivity to Oleaceae family plants
- Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
- Children
- May cause vomiting for first-time users due to bitter taste
- Continuous use may cause gastric lesions
- May cause stomach irritation, nausea, and vomiting due to tannic acid
- Large amounts can cause nausea, stomach irritation, and diarrhea
Side effects
- Parijat should be used cautiously and in moderation.
- Bitter and sharp taste of leaves can cause vomiting, especially for first-time users.
- Continuous use of Parijat leaves may cause gastric lesions due to methyl salicylate content.
- Tannic acid in leaves can cause stomach irritation, nausea, and vomiting in some people.
- Ingesting large amounts of Parijat leaves at once can cause nausea, stomach irritation, and diarrhea due to glycosides.
- Cool potency may affect uterine tone; pregnant or nursing women should avoid or use only under expert supervision.
Interactions
- Potential interaction with blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering drugs. Always disclose Parijat use to your healthcare provider.
- Since Parijat is a natural anti-inflammatory herb, its interaction with NSAIDs can cause a distressed stomach and nausea.
- Avoid using Parijat if you have autoimmune diseases and are taking allopathic medications, as it might reduce the efficiency of those medications.
- If you are taking blood-thinning medicines like warfarin, you should not consume Parijat as it helps in clotting blood and can be fatal if consumed without a prescription.
- Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern medicine. If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is best to take Allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then take the Ayurvedic medicine.
Clinical evidence
Clinical trials show Parijatka has anti-malarial and anti-trypanosomal activities. Additional studies support its use as an anti-inflammatory agent. However, further research is needed to validate these findings comprehensively.
Ayurvedic karmas
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antipyretic
- Anthelmintic
- Hepatoprotective
Classical clinical indications
- Arthritis
- Gout
- Fever
- Jaundice
- Liver disorders
- Respiratory ailments
- Sciatica
- Skin problems
- Hair fall
- Ringworm