Shankhpushpi
The Ayurvedic herb Shankhapushpi or Shankhpushpi is one of the best and prominent natural medicine which helps in improving memory. It is also used to treat various disorders related to nervous weakness, problems like insomnia, loss of memory, mental as well as physical fatigue etc. Shankhpushpi is a wonderful brain tonic that works as a stimulant for brain in a way to improve its ability and capacity.
From ancient times in India, people of all age groups (especially students, teachers and philosophers) always have tried Shankhpushpi. The herb has been used in Ayurveda for rejuvenating nervous functions. It is a natural tonic for mental development of children. The herb enhances brain power such as learning, memory and the ability to recall, intelligence and concentration level. It makes students more receptive to learning and reduces stress of examination and overwork.
Many leading pharmaceutical companies in India prepare formulations using Shankhpushpi. In these formulations they use Shankhpushpi alone or in combination with other herbs. The natives of India have deep faith in this herb. And from childhood they give Shankhpushpi based herbal populations to their children in order to enhance the memory power. In Chhattisgarh, Shankhpushpi occurs as wasteland plant. Although for agriculture scientists it is harmful weed that compete with agricultural crops for light, moisture and food but for the natives and traditional healers, it is valuable herb.
Every year the herb collectors collect tons of Shankhpushpi herbs and after shade drying supply it to the traders. This is good thing that the buyers at national and international levels are aware of its natural occurrence in Chhattisgarh and according to them, in terms of quality and medicinal value, the Shankhpushpi of Chhattisgarh is better than the Shankhpushpi of other states. This herb is in the list of non-wood forest produces of Chhattisgarh having regular demand. Although Shankhpushpi occurs as wasteland plant the adulteration of other herbs in Shankhpushpi is common and according to the traders most of the pharmaceutical companies use it as such without sorting out the adulteration. This is the reason that the formulations prepared by the traditional healers using fresh herb acts more quickly and effectively as compared to the formulations available in attractive packets. This is very sad that some researchers are considering this useful herb as crop weed.
Many herb growers unaware of the natural occurrence in abundance are trying to cultivate this herb commercially. For cultivation they are selecting good soil and using growth promoters. In nature, Shankhpushpi grows in poor soils. The cultivation in good soil increases the production but from quality point of view, the produce is inferior. The detailed package of practice for commercial cultivation has yet not been developed. Botanically, Shankhpushpi is perennial herb with woody rootstock; stems many, more than 5cm long, prostrate, spreading, wiry, usually clothed with long hairs; Leaves many, elliptic-oblong, base acute, silky hairy; Flowers light blue; Flowering time July-November. As medicine whole plant is used.
According to Ayurveda, Shankhpushpi is bitter, pungent, alternative tonic, brightens intellect, improves complexion, increase appetite, useful in bronchitis, biliousness, epilepsy and teething troubles of infants etc.
On the basis of flower colours, three types of Shankhpushpi are described in reference literatures viz. Red, white and blue. According to reference literatures, white flowered Shankhpushpi is most powerful and genuine. But for the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, blue flowered Shankhpushpi is the best one. They give second preference to red flowered type and least preference to white flowered type. The herb collectors are not aware of these specifications and they collect all types of Shankhpushpi for sell. As memory enhancer they use Shankhpushpi with Kali Mirch and sugar. According to the healers, its regular use gives desirable effects in very short time. Beside memory enhancer, the healers also use this herb in treatment of respiratory troubles. They prepare herbal cigarettes using this herb. According to them, the use of these herbal cigarettes is much beneficial in case of asthma and bronchitis. The healers of Chhattisgarh use this herb internally in treatment of insanity and epilepsy. The juice of fresh herb is given daily to the patients till complete cure.
It is also good for chronic constipation. In treatment of hysteria, the healers use Shankhpushpi in combination with other herbs mainly Bach, Shatavari, etc. It is considered as good female tonic.
