Gloriosa, Glory Lily

Superb Lily, Flame Lily, Climbing Lily, Tiger’s Claw
Langali, Langalaki, Kalihari, Visalya, Shakrapushpi (Ayurveda)
Akinichalam, Kalappankizhangu (Siddha)
Kanol (Unani)
Jia Lan (TCM)

Gloriosa supbera
Pole Evans, I.B., Flowering plants of (South) Africa, 1931

Gloriosa superba
(Photo by Dinesh Valke) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:

Gloriosa superba
Synonyms include Clinostylis speciosa., Gloriosa abyssinica, G. homble, G. hybrid, G. rothschildiana, G. simplex, G. speciosa, G. virescens

Parts used:

Prepared Root

Temperature & Taste:

Hot, dry. Toxic

Uses:

1. Clears Wind-Damp, Eases Pain:
-swollen, painful joints; gout; arthritis; rheumatism
-obstinate skin diseases from Wind-Damp/Phlegm including Leprosy
-used similarly to Colchicum and is used as a source of colchicine.
-adjunct for Ulcers

2. Warm and Strengthen the Kidneys:
-impotence, infertility
-traditionally used to aid conception. Larger doses hinder conception and cause miscarriage
-Spermatorrhea
-Bright’s Disease
-Edema
-Swelling of the whole body (TCM)

3. Settles Wind, Clears Damp, Stops Spasm:
-Hemiplegia, Paralysis
-convulsions associated with High Fever (TCM)

4. Moves the Blood, clears Stasis:
-Bruises, Trauma
-strongly promotes Menstruation; Abortifacient
-stimulates Childbirth; Sushruta used it for retention of the Placenta.
-Malposition of the Fetus
-Postnatal disorders
-has been used as a Contraceptive
-Tumors and Cancer

5. Kills Worms
-incl. Guinea Worm

6. Resists Poison:
-venomous bites, especially. Snake Bite and Scorpion Sting
-Syphilis, Gonorrhea
-obstinate skin diseases including Leprosy
-Malaria

7. Externally:
-parasitic diseases of the skin; incl. Lice, Scabies
-paste was applied to hemorrhoids, boils, scrofula (Ayurveda, Ashtanga Hridaya)
-used topically as an oil for obstinate skin diseases including Leprosy in Siddha and Ayurveda.
-cataplasm for Neuralgia (Ayurveda)
-topically for Baldness (oil).
-topically for ear diseases including Pain and Tinnitus (oil)
-tuber is crushed to a paste and applied warm to Rheumatism

Dose:

Prepared root: 125–250mg (1–2 ratti) (Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India)

Adulterants:
Costus speciosus

Substitutes:

1. Costus has been used as a substitute
2. Form Arthritic and Rheumatic diseases, Colchicum can be considered

Preparations:
1. Prepared with Cow Urine
The root is soaked in Cow Urine for 24 hours, then washed in water, dried well and kept for use. (Ayurveda)
2. Prepared with Buttermilk
The root is soaked in Buttermilk and Rock Salt for 5 days, changing the Buttermilk every day. They are then removed and washed in hot water, then dried and kept for use. (Ayurveda)

Main Combinations:

1. Fistula-in-Ano, Gloriosa with Nerium bark, Plumbago, Turpeth, Calamus, Gloriosa, Alstonia (equal parts), decocted in Sesame oil (as in Citrakadi Taila of Ayurveda)
2. To promote Labor, apply infused oil to hands and feet (Ayurveda)

Cautions:

1. Toxic in overdose. It irritates gastrointestinal system. Overdose induces vomiting, purging and burning sensation and can be fatal. The whole plant contains colchicine (0.2–0.3% in the root)
2. Avoid in those with Liver or Kidney disease
3. Not used during Pregnancy or during Breastfeeding.

Toxicity:

Fatal dose is in the range of 2.5–5 grams of the tubers

Main Preparations used:

An oil is prepared for external use

Extra Info
Research