Gorakhmundi(Sphaeranthus indicus) is aromatic herb found throughout India, Srilanka, Africa and Australia. This herb has number of medicinal properties and used to treat many disease in Indian Ayurvedic and Unani medicine system. This is know as East Indian globe thistle in English.
Overview
Sphaeranthus indicus is know as Gorakhmundi Or Mundi in Hindi, this can found in unused dry paddy fields in summers. One can identify this herb by it’s spherical(magenta to purplish) flowers. This herb can be found very easily in India in empty paddy fields between Feb-Jun. You can identify this by using below image.
This plan has many many medicinal properties to treat various disease like epilepsy, mental illness, hemicrania, jaundice, diabetes, leprosy, fever, cough, gastropathy, hernia, hemorrhoids, helminthiasis, dyspepsia and skin diseases.
There are scientific evidences which shows hypotensive, anxiolytic, neuroleptic, hypolipidemic, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, bronchodialatory, antihyperglycemic and hepatoprotective activities of this plant.
Other Indian name of Gorakhmundi
| Sanskrit: Mahamundi, shravani, tapasvini, mundi, hapus Hindi: Gorakhmundi, mundi Bengali: Chagulnadi, ghorkmundi Marathi: Barasavodi, gorakhmundi Gujarati: Bodiokalara, mundi, dorakhmundi Panjabi: Ghundi, khamadrus, mundibuti |
Telugu: Boddatarupa, boddasoram Tamil: Kottakaranthai Urdu: Kamdaryus Malayalam: Adakkamanian, attakkamanni, mirangani Santal: Belaunja Undari: Mundi Riya: Murisa, bokashungi |
Medicinal uses of Gorakhmundi
In Ayurveda the whole herb is used in insanity, tuberculous glands, indigestion, bronchitis, spleen diseases, anemia, pain in the uterus and vagina, piles, asthma, leukoderma, dysentery, vomiting, urinary discharges, pain in the rectum, looseness of the breasts, hemicrania.
In Unani medicine system, Gorakhmundi is used as a Tonic, laxative, emmenagogue, and also it increases the appetite, enriches the blood, lessens inflammation, cools the brain and gives luster to the eye, is good for sore eyes, jaundice, scalding of urine, gleet, biliousness, boils, scabies, ringworm in the waist, diseases of the chest.
Parts used
Gorakhmundi, whole plant is valuable. It’s flowers, seeds, stem and roots are valuable for making medicine and home remedies. Whole plant can be used by making decoction, flowers can be used by making powder, can be applet externally by making paste or extracting oil.
Ayurvedic preparations of Gorakhmundi
Mundi churna, mundi panchang swarasa, mundi kavatha. These preparations are manufactured and sold by many pharmaceuticals world wide.