Harmala Peganum harmala is a medicinal plant used in various Ayurvedic medicines. It is indicated as an analgesic to get relief from pain like a toothache, earache, sciatica pain etc.
- Botanical name of Harmala is Peganum harmala.
- The family name of Harmala is Zygophyllaceae.
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Literary Review
Harmala Peganum harmala is one of the drugs mentioned in Adarsha Nighantu and Shankara Nighantu. This drug is elaborately mentioned in Dravya guna vijnana by Prof. P.V. Sharma and by Dr. J.L.N. Shastry where they described it main use as hridya (cardiac tonic).
Varieties of Harmala Peganum harmala
According to Dr. J.L.N. Shastry, there are two varieties of Harmala Peganum harmala are found.
- Dark seeded
- White seeded
Classical Categorization
According to Adarsha Nighantu and Bhavaprakasha – Beeja purakadi varga
Vernacular Names
Harmala Peganum harmala is known by different names in different languages.
- English – Foreign Henna, Harmal Syrian Rue, Wild Rue
- Hindi – Harmal, Isbanda houri, Kaladana
- Malayalam – Haramala
- Sanskrit – Haramala
- Tamil – Simaiyalavinai
- Telugu – Simagoranta
- Kannada – Simagoranta
- French – Rue savage
- German – Harmal kraute
- Spain – Alharme
Systemic Classification
- Kingdom – Plantae
- Division – Magnoliophyta
- Class – Magnoliopside
- Order – Sapindales
- Family – Nitrariaceae
- Genus – peganum
- Species – Haramala
Useful Parts
Harmala Peganum harmala is used in various Ayurvedic medicines. Following parts of Harmal is used as medicine –
- Seeds
- Leaves
- Root
Ayurvedic Properties
In Ayurveda, properties of every plants / drug are described by Rasa, Guna, Veerya, Vipaka and doshaghnata. Have a look below to know about Ayurvedic properties of Harmala Peganum harmala –
- Rasa – Tikta, Katu
- Guna – Laghu, Ruksha, Tikshna
- Virya – Ushna
- Vipaka – Katu
- Doshaghnata – Kapha vataghna, pitta vardhaka
Actions
- Artava janana (promotes ovulation)
- Stanya janana (galactagogue)
- Kamottejaka (stimulate sexual urge)
- Kapha nisaraka (expectorant)
- Vajikarak (aphrodisiac)
- Krimighna (antihelmintic)
- Javarghna (antipyretic)
- Kapha vata shamaka (pacify Kapha and Vata)
- Nidra janana (good for proper sleep)
- Vatanulomana (balances Vata)
- Shula prashamana (analgesic)
- Rakta shodhaka (blood purifier)
- Garbhashaya sankochaka (contracts uterus)
- Mutrala (diuretic)
Indications
Harmala Peganum harmala is indicated in following diseases –
- Kaphavata vikara (all diseases where Kapha and Vata are dominant)
- Danta shula (a toothache)
- Karna shula (an earache)
- Dushta Vrana (chronic non-healing wounds)
- Gridhrasi (sciatica)
- Agnimandya (loss of appetite)
- Ashmari (calculus)
- Gulma (cysts and internal tumours)
- Udavarta (a typical Vata disease)
- Vedana shamana (analgesic)
- Udara shula (abdominal pain)
- Rakta vikara (blood impurities and diseases related with blood)
- Kasa (cough)
- Shwasa (asthma and bronchitis)
- Hikka (hiccup)
- Rajorodha (amenorrhea)
- Kashta artava (dysmenorrhea)
- Javara (fever)
Dosage
- Churna (powder) – 1 to 3 gm
- Kashaya (decoction) – 20- 80 ml
Photographs of Harmala Peganum harmala
(Click on image to zoom)
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