Suvarchala (Suvarchala (Suryabhakta, Varada, Badara))
Suvarchala (Cleome viscosa), also known as wild or dog mustard, is an annual herb traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine. It is known for its antipyretic, analgesic, antidiabetic, and hepatoprotective properties.
Botanical name: Cleome viscosa. Also known as: Asian spiderflower, Tick weed, Sticky spider-flower, Pili Talavani, Talavani, Wild-dog Mustard, Sticky Cleome, Junglee Hur-Hur, Hul-Hul (Hindi), Kaadusasive, Naayisasive (Kannada), Manja-kadugu, Nai-kadagu, Naivelai (Tamil), Kukka-vominta (Telugu), Banosorisho, Anasorisho (Oriya), Tilaparni (Sanskrit), Jirlpirringarni (Walmajarri, Australia), Namijin yar anguwa (Hausa), 'eya'zo' (Nupe), Jakhya.
Properties
Antipyretic activity, Analgesic activity, Antidiabetic activity, Hepatoprotective activity, Antidiarrheal activity, Antiemetic activity, Antitumor activity, Wound healing activity
Dosage
For headache, crushing 10g of leaves/fruit to make a paste, applying it to the forehead for 10 minutes, and then rinsing off is suggested. In acute toxicity studies, methanolic extracts were found to be safe in mice at doses up to 2g/kg body weight. The oral median lethal dose of the extract was found to be greater than 5000 mg/kg.
Classical attributes
- Rasa: Cooling
- Virya: ["Cooling"]
- Vipaka: ["Sweet"]
Benefits
- Laxative
- Antipyretic
- Analgesic
Traditional uses
- Fever
- Inflammation
- Liver diseases
- Skin diseases
- Malaria
- Earache
- Ulcers and wounds
- Headache
- Rheumatism
Dosha effects
- vata: balancing
- kapha: increasing
- pitta: balancing
Preparation methods
- Paste: Crushed leaves or fruit can be made into a paste for topical application.
- Decoction: A decoction (extract boiled in water) can be made from the leaves or seeds. The vapor from a steaming decoction of the whole plant can be inhaled.
- Juice: The juice of the leaves can be extracted.
- Extracts: Methanolic extracts are prepared for research purposes.
- Vegetable: Young shoots and leaves are cooked as a vegetable.
- Seeds as Condiment: Seeds are used as a condiment.
- Oil: Seed oil can be extracted and used for cooking.
- Leaf Infusion: Leaves can be used to make an infusion.
Contraindications
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Best avoided during these periods.
- Specific Conditions: Consult a qualified healthcare professional before use, especially with underlying health conditions or when taking other medications.
Side effects
- Reported to have a strong, pungent odor and a bitter taste.
- In acute toxicity studies in mice, mild congestion of the pulmonary vessels, mild diffuse vacuolar degeneration of hepatocytes, and mild renal cortical congestion were observed at high doses.
- The oral median lethal dose of the methanolic extract indicates it is non-toxic by oral administration at the tested doses.
Interactions
- Specific interactions with pharmaceutical drugs are not detailed in the provided documents.
- May interact with antibiotic medications due to antimicrobial activity.
- Effective at inhibiting microbial growth, similar to the antibiotic tetracycline.
- May need to be controlled in some annual crops; soil-applied and foliar-applied herbicides can be used for chemical control.
Clinical evidence
Several animal studies support the traditional uses of Cleome viscosa, indicating potential antipyretic, analgesic, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antiemetic, antidiarrheal, antitumor, and wound healing activities. Clinical trials are needed to confirm these effects in humans.
Ayurvedic karmas
- Laxative
- Antipyretic
- Analgesic
Classical clinical indications
- Fever
- Inflammation
- Liver diseases
- Skin diseases
- Malaria
- Earache
- Ulcers and wounds
- Headache
- Rheumatism