Boerhavia diffusa-Punarnava

  

 Boerhavia diffusa is a species of flowering plant which is commonly known as punarnava. It is also known as tarvine, Red hogweed and spreading hogweed. These plant having thick taproot stem branching mainly from the base, fleshd, green, often Flushed with red,glabrescent to short or long hairy with multicellular hair,especially around the swollen nodes. Flowers are tiny purple-pink growing all over it. Fruit an achene,enclosed by the thickened lower part of perianth.These herb are found in all over India & various parts of Goa.

USES :

• It is used in urinary retention & water retention.
• Useful in curing anaemia,liver cardiac disorders and as an excellent diuretic.
• Useful in treating cough,cold,heavy periods,menorrhagia,hemorrohoids and relieves pain,sputum and abdominal colic.
•  It is also useful in healing wound faster,ascites and chronic toxic conditions.
• Its seeds are used as aphrodisiac.
• It's decoction is used in treating snake bites, rat bites etc.
• A decoction of the leaves is used to treat jaundice.
• The boiled roots are applied to ulcers abscess  and to assist in the extraction of guinea worm.