Amberboa ramosa

White Acanthus, Arabian Thorn
Badaward, Shukai (Unani)
Shokat-al-Baida (Arabic)
Sakayi (Hindi)
Fen Zhi Po Ju (TCM)
Picture Amberboa ramosa as Volutarella divaricata
Kirtikar, K.R., Basu, B.D., Indian medicinal plants, Plates, vol. 3 (?)

Picture Onopordum acanthium
(Photo by H. Zell) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:


Amberboa ramosa
Synonyms:
  1. Oligochaeta ramosa
  2. Centaurea divaricata
  3. Volutarella divaricata
  4. Microlonchus divaricatus
  5. Tricholepis procumbens
Onopordum acanthium has also been equated with Badaward

Parts used:


Above-ground herb; Root

Temperature & Taste:


Herb, Root: Cool, dry. Bitter.
Seeds are Warm.

Classifications:


dissolvent, deobstruent, mildly astringent, styptic, febrifuge

Uses:


1. Clears Deficient Heat, Benefits Yin, Stops Bleeding:
-Chronic Fevers, Chronic Phlegmatic Fever (herb)
-Chronic Cough (herb)
-Hemoptysis (herb, especially root) (Avicenna)
-in Unani it is regarded as a Digestive of Melancholy
-taken with milk for Seminal Debility

2. Resists Poison:
-Bites of Scorpions, Insects etc (Seed)
-claimed to keep away vermin and reptiles when kept in the home (India)

3. Clears Damp-Heat, Resolves Swelling:
-obstruction and pain of the Liver
-Stomach weakness with obstruction, Indigestion,
-for Phlegmatic swellings (Avicenna)
-Tumors; anti-cancer
-Diarrhea, Chronic Diarrhea

4. Benefits Qi:
-mild Qi tonic effect
-general debility, digestive weakness

5. Clears Heat, Settles Spasms:
-Convulsions (Avicenna)
-muscular disorders in children (Seed) (Avicenna)
-used for Nervous debility and Depression

6. Externally:
-decoction gargled for pain of the gums and toothache
-seed applied to Scorpion bite
-poultice is applied to Eclampsia
-in plasters for Phlegmatic Swellings
-topically for Leucoderma


Dose:


Powder: 1–3 grams
Decoction: 3–6 grams
Decoction (1 in 20): half–2 fluid ounce doses.

Correctives:


1. Wormwood (Unani)

Substitutes:


1. Fumitory (F. indica, F. parviflora) (Avicenna)
2. Swertia
3. Carduus benedictus
4. Centaurea bruguierana has also been listed as a source.
5. Some of the herb on the market sold as Badaward is said to be Fagonia arabica

Main Combinations:


1. Liver disorders and Phlegm Fever, Amberboa with Yarrow, Balm, Fennel, Black Nightshade, Raisin (as in Distilled Water of Yarrow Compound of Unani)
2. Inflammation of the Liver or Stomach, Amberboa with Fennel, Licorice, Balm, Caper root-bark, Tinospora, Borage, Raisin (Unani)

Major Formulas:



Cautions:


1. Avoid overdose or long-term use.
2. Harmful for the Lungs used for long periods or large doses. (Unani)

Main Preparations used: