subject: Aquargarha (ANACYCLUS PYRETHRUM) a Unani medicine [print this page] Aquargarha (ANACYCLUS PYRETHRUM) a Unani medicine
VERNACULAR NAMES
English - Pellitory
Hindi - Akarakara
Kannada - Akalakari
Malayalam - Akkalakaram
Telugu - Akkalakara
Tamil - Akkirakaram
Gujarati - Akarkara
Marathi - Akarkara
Bengali - Akarkara
Arabi - Aquargarha
ANACYCLUS PYRETHRUM FLOWER IMAGE
classification
Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Spermatophyta
Sub division : Angiosperms
Class : Dicotyledons
Sub class : Metachlamydae
Order : Companulatae
Family : Compositae or Asteraceae
Genus : Anacyclus
Species : Pyrethrum
HABITAT OF THE DRUG
The drug widely seen in
Northern Africa
Arabia
Syria
Algeria
Varieties of the drug are seen in some places of India such as
Jammu & Kashmir
Bengal
Imported to India from Algeria.
MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS OF DRUG
Habit:
A perennial or annual procumbent herb
Root:
Roots long finger like 7-10cm in length have hair like root lets.
Stem:
Possesses many hairs
Bark:
Brown in colour bitter in taste.
Leaves:
Bipinnatisect, with small hairs elliptic 20-40mm long.
Flowers:
Head inflorescence yellowish, white, pink in colour.
Fruits:
Shallow oval in shape.
Cultivation
Planting may be done in autumn, but the best time is about the end of April. Any ordinary good soil is suitable, but better results are obtained when it is well-drained, and of a stiff loamy character, enriched with good manure. Propagation is done in three ways, by seed, by division of roots and by cuttings. If grown byseed, sow in February or March, thin out to 2 to 3 inches between the plants, and plant out early in June to permanent quarters, allowing a foot or more between the plants and 2 feet between the rows, selecting, if possible, a showery day for the operation. The seedlings will quickly establish themselves. Weeding should be done by hand, the plants when first put out being small, might be injured by hoeing. To propagate bydivision, lift the plants in March, or whenever the roots are in an active condition, and with a sharp spade, divide them into three or five fairly large pieces.Cuttings should be made from the young shoots that start from the base of the plant, and should be taken with a heel of the old plant attached, which will greatly assist their rooting. They may be inserted at any time from October to May. The foliage should be shortened to about 3 inches, when the cuttings will be ready for insertion in a bed of light, sandy soil. Plant very firmly, surface the bed with sand, and water in well. Shade is necessary while the cuttings are rooting.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES: Root is the useful part. Properly preserved root will not lose their potency up to 7 years. Fresh root of Akarakarabha, which produce pungent sensation and induces salivation when tasted. Active chemical compound is pyrethrin. The Unani herbal medicine is Used in paralysis, dental pain, tonsillitis, nervous weakness or debility, headache, epilepsy, indigestion, sexual weakness, impotency, erectile dysfunction, Urinary tract infections, heart ailments, diabetes etc.
Dosage: Powdered medicine can be consumed gm to 1gm with water or milk.
