Ayurvedic Treasure Chest of Plants in Texas: Punarnava

    I began studying healing therapies and philosophies related to Ayurveda several years ago and each time I find popular traditional remedy that grows around me I get very excited about its possibilities.   My teacher Michael Moore taught with the idea that many species of the same Genus of plants may be used similarly for […]

    I began studying healing therapies and philosophies related to Ayurveda several years ago and each time I find popular traditional remedy that grows around me I get very excited about its possibilities.   My teacher Michael Moore taught with the idea that many species of the same Genus of plants may be used similarly for medicinal value and that idea has been a driving force behind the herbalism that I practice and teach.  In Texas, I have found several remedies that grow here as weeds that are used in many traditional Ayuvedic herbal remedies and I wanted to share them with you here.  Today we start with:


    PUNARNAVA  In August, in the middle of one of the worst droughts in Texas history I have bumped into several Red Spiderlings beginning to spread their trailing arms over the parched ground. Red Spiderling’s Latin binomial is  Boerhavia diffusa and you can see some basic distribution information and images here: http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=BODI3 

    This is a native plant and one of the most important medicinal plants in one of my Ayurvedic practitioner friend’s medicine chest.  I, of course, am thrilled to find it flourishing in even the direst, hottest and driest circumstances in Texas.
    The common names of this plant as used in Ayurvedic remedies are ghetului or punarnava
    Energetics/Properties and Uses:
    Punarnava is looked at as a “tridoshic herb” by many authors, which means it has the ability to calm or pacify all doshas(or body constitutions).  Its name means “that which rejuvenates”.  Uses can be seen from its growth pattern– it can spread and do well in extreme heat and has reddish, tube-like prostrate stems leading to two opposing leaves.  Purnarnava can be used for heated, inflamed conditions in the body.  The tube-like stems and the plant look vaguely succulent, yet not, like it is holding water–almost swollen.  Punarnava is used to treat inflammation, anemia, heart disease and kidney imbalances.  It can clear heat and excess fluid.  It is bitter, astringent and cooling.  Tasting it was quite an experience.  There is no doubt this plant has a strong effect on the body.  At first I was disappointed, it just tasted green-then its true flavors hit me, rather like Lobelia or Anemone.  There are definitely some strong alkaloids in that plant.  As soon as the taste faded, felt my energy drain downward, leaving my head feeling a little light. I felt everything shift internally, kind of like my insides went around in a drier for a second or two.   I ended up taking several deep breaths and then the initial response began to fade.  10-15 minutes later I feel a little heavy still.  This definitely results in a strong vital response.
    As much as I see literature pointing to it being tridoshic, my friend said she related it more to being Kapha pacifying. I ended up feeling a bit funny from it for about an hour or so… Maybe the drought concentrated its actions, dunno but I need to do a lot more research into this one.  Anyway, fun in the drought continues with  more Texas Ayurvedic herbs my next blog post
    Articles and information on the uses of the plant here http://www.agri-history.org/pdf/boerhaavia.pdf