Introduction and Names
- Non-Sanskrit Names: Parpat, Baratikta, Arka, Charka, Kalpanga, Katupatr, Kavachanamak, Krishnashastra, Pashuparyaya, Pragasva, Pittari, Shitavallabha, Sutikta, Trishnari, Chipdi, among others.
- Hindi Name: Pittapapada, Shahtara.
- Persian Name: Shahtara.
- Bengali Name: Vansulka.
- Gujarati Name: Pittapapada, Barsalia.
- Tamil Name: You.
- Telugu Name: Chatrasi.
- Urdu Name: Shahtara.
- Latin Name: Fumaria parviflora.
Description
Pittapapada plants thrive abundantly during the rainy season. They typically grow just above ground level, spreading their branches outward in all directions. In fertile soil, especially near floodplains or under the cover of other shrubs, the plant can reach up to 1 foot tall. However, when grown in open areas, it tends to spread across the ground. The leaves range from half an inch to 2 inches long and about five inches wide, forming dense clusters on either side of the stem. Its branches can grow up to 6 inches long, with pinkish flowers featuring a subtle purple shade. The fruit, resembling lentil seeds, appears blue or brown in color. The entire plant produces white flowers, and it has a bitter smell and taste. Interestingly, there are two main varieties of Pittapapada. One, called Shahtara, originates from Iran, and the other, Pittapapada, is native to this region. The Iranian variety is often considered superior in quality.
Properties, Defects and Effects-Ayurvedic Opinion-According to Nibindu Ratnakar
According to Ayurvedic opinion and Niantu Ratnakar, Pittapapada is described as a cooling, bitter, and light herb. It helps with constipation, is easy to digest, and aids in balancing finances, phlegm, fever, and blood disorders. Additionally, it is effective in relieving loss of appetite, burning sensations, confusion, and mental unrest. Pittapapada is particularly known for calming conditions like Mada, Premah, vomiting, thirst, and bleeding disorders. The branches of Pittapapada offer anti-stool properties, act as cooling agents, and are mildly bitter. They are effective in treating blood diseases, bile disorders, fever, cough, and burning sensations.
Chemical Analysis
Chemical analysis reveals that Pittapapada contains an acidic substance and alkali, with about 6% alkali present. The alkali in this plant is key to its medicinal properties, as it exits through the skin, liver, and kidneys, making Pittapapada a diaphoretic, diuretic, and bitter but nutritious herb. It is especially beneficial in treating indigestion caused by intestinal dysfunction. Pittapapada has been renowned in India since ancient times for its ability to calm bile-related disorders. It is particularly useful for conditions where pitta (bile) is dominant, such as malarial fever. This herb purifies the blood by inducing sweat, helping to reduce the heat of fever and redness in urine. Pittapapada also alleviates head heat, severe headaches, and burning sensations in the hands, feet, and eyes. It reduces the weakness that comes after fever and helps clear urine. By consuming this herb as an icy beverage, various fever-related ailments are relieved.
How to Prepare the Icy Beverage for Hay Fever
To prepare this cooling remedy, grind 1 tola of Pittapapada into powder in the evening. Dissolve the powder in 1 liter of water and, in the morning, strain it. Give 5 to 10 tola (1tola Approx 11.66 gram)of this mixture to fever patients every hour. This drink reduces fever-related thirst, soothes throat dryness, stops headaches, and clears the urine while reducing hay fever heat.
Combined Remedy:
For chronic fever, cough, and dysentery, a decoction made from equal parts of Pittapapada and Giloy, with added black pepper powder, offers relief.
Western Usage for Skin Disease , Diarrhea & Fever
According to Baden Powell, Pittapapada is useful in treating mild fever. This plant is also recognized for its anthelmintic, diuretic, diaphoretic, and mild laxative properties, especially in skin diseases, where it purifies the blood. In Europe, Pittapapada is used as a metal converter, laxative, and antipyretic, while in Spain, it is considered helpful in treating intestinal issues, diarrhea, and skin diseases. Although Coman used this plant to treat mild fever, the results were not entirely satisfactory.
Unani Medicines Belief:
Unani Perspective – Unani practitioners believe that this plant possesses a bitter and slightly sour-sweet taste. It acts as a diuretic, improves digestion, cures blood and skin diseases, strengthens the lungs and teeth, purifies the eyes, stops vomiting, and benefits the spleen.
Dry Pittapapda proves useful in treating chronic fever, air-related diseases, and jaundice. It also eliminates vomiting and nausea, increases urination, and stimulates appetite. When applying a paste of fresh Pittapapda, it becomes particularly beneficial for honey bee stings.
However, Pittapapda negatively affects the spleen and heart. For this reason, combining it with Badi Harad works well, as Badi Harad neutralizes its harmful effects.
Pittapapda purifies and thins the blood. Grinding it with henna leaves and massaging it over the entire body relieves both wet and dry itching. Furthermore, by adding sugar to its juice, you can make a syrup that eliminates bodily impurities and brain defects. If you also mix Badi Harad into this syrup, it becomes especially potent.
Applying its juice to the eyes enhances vision and promotes tear flow to cleanse the eyes. Interestingly, if you uproot parwal (pointed gourd) from the fire, fill its roots with Pittapapda juice mixed with a bit of gum, hair growth in that area ceases.
Gargling with its decoction strengthens the gums and heals tongue and palate wounds, effectively reducing heat in the mouth and tongue.
Pittapapda also strengthens the stomach, but using the dried version yields better results. Taking it with alcohol enhances stomach strength, while consuming it with vinegar boosts appetite and curbs nausea and phlegm. Extracting it from the fire brings further benefits. Its use clears stench from the liver and spleen.
Caution
Caution – Excessive consumption of Pittapapda can harm the spleen, kidneys, and heart, and may cause restlessness.
Antidote
Antidote – To counter its effects, Badi Harad, honey, and lemon help with spleen and kidney issues, while plums are effective against restlessness. The recommended amount of powder ranges from 6 to 10 majhas, and fresh juice should be consumed between 1 to 10 tolas (11,660 to 116,600 milligrams).
Preparation
Preparation – For Pittapapdaadi Arishta, mix 400 tola (4,664 grams or 4,664,000 milligrams) Pittapapda with 1024 tola (11,942 grams or 11,942,000 milligrams) of water and boil it until 256 tola (2,987 grams or 2,987,000 milligrams) of water remains. After filtering it, add 800 tola (9,328 grams or 9,328,000 milligrams) of old jaggery and 64 tola (746 grams or 746,000 milligrams) of Dhawadi flower powder along with Giloy, Nagar Mosha, Daruhaldi, Teliyadevdar, Bhori-Gani, Ghamasa, Chavya, Chitrak Ki Jai, dry ginger, chili, pepper, and Byabidang. Use 4 tola (46.64 grams or 46,640 milligrams) of each of these powders. Fill ceramic jars with this mixture, seal the jars, and let them sit for one month. Afterward, filter the Arishta and use it.
To use, mix 1 to 2 tolas (11,660 to 23,320 milligrams) of this Arishta with four times water and drink it in the morning and evening. This remedy cures all types of chronic and intermittent fevers, along with anemia, jaundice, and the swelling and enlargement of the spleen and liver caused by these conditions.
Uses in Many illness
Uses:
- Kamala disease: Drinking a decoction of Pittapapda benefits those with Kamala.
- Pagatli: Applying its leaf juice alleviates palm and foot burning sensations.
- Paksthali: Drinking its juice with milk and sugar removes the stench of Paksthali.
- Fever: A decoction of Pittapapda, Kateri, and Giloy cures fevers caused by a polluted climate or soil.
- Worms: Mixing Pittapapda with Bybidang destroys stomach worms.
- Chronic fever: Drinking a decoction of coriander and Pittapapda cures chronic fever.
- Skin diseases: Licking a paste of Bajli-Pittapapda treats itching and skin ailments.
- Vomiting of bile: Mixing honey with its juice cures vomiting caused by bile.
