Hemidesmus, Sariva

Indian Sarsaparilla
Sariva, Anantamula (Ayurveda)
Nannari (Siddha)
Sugandhi (Hindi)
Ushba (Unani)
Picture Picture
Witsen, N., Jager, H. de, Plantae Javanicae pictae, ex Java transmissae’ (1700)

 Burman, J.,
Thesaurus Zeylanicus, (1737)
Picture Hemidesmus indicus
(Photo by Rison Thumboor) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:


Hemidesmus indicus (syn. Periploca indicus)
Traditional Ayurvedic texts described 2 varieties of Sariva:
  1. Black Variety: Cryptolepis buchananii
  2. White Variety: Hemidesmus indicus
They are similar in effect, and were often used together. Today, Hemidesmus is most used.

Parts used:


Root

Temperature & Taste:


Neutral, Sweet

Classification:


B. Clear Heat
3K. EXPECTORANT

Uses:


1. Clears Heat and Poison:
-Skin diseases, Eczema, Erysipelas, Leukoderma, Acne Rosacea
-Scrofula, Lymphatic Swellings and Nodes, Elephantiasis
-Syphilis, Gonorrhea
-Chronic Fever, Burning Sensations

2. Clears Phlegm-Heat, Stops Cough: 
-Cough, Bronchitis, Wheezing, Asthma
-Loss of Voice, Hoarseness

3. Benefits Qi and Yin:
-weakness, pale complexion
-Consumption, Wasting diseases, Loss of weight
-Sperm-promoting; used for Impotence and male Infertility

4. Clears Heat and Damp:
-Diarrhea, Dysentery
-Urinary Tract Infections; Dysuria; cloudy, painful urine; Prostatitis
-abdominal swelling
-Leukorrhea
-aching limbs, Rheumatism, Arthritis with red and swollen joints
-Venereal Diseases from Damp-Heat, Heat-Toxin

5. Externally:
-applied as a paste over inflammations
-as a paste or ointment for any of the above-mentioned skin diseases


Dose:


Powder: 3–5 grams (up to 10 grams daily);
Decoction: 10–30 grams

Substitutes:


1. Sarsaparilla, China root (Hemidesmus is used as a substitute for Sarsaparilla)
2. Bittersweet (Waring)
3. Cryptolepis buchananii (Black Variety of Sariva)
4. Ichnocarpus fruitescens (in South India)
5. Decalepis hemiltonii (in Kerala and Tamil Nadu)

Main Combinations:


1. Fever, Hemidesmus with Cyperus rotundus, Picrorrhiza
2. Burning Sensation anywhere on the body, Hemidesmus with Sandalwood
3. Skin diseases:
i. Acne, Hemidesmus with Madder
ii. Hemidesmus with Neem, Madder, Tinospora, Sandalwood, Licorice
iii. Hemidesmus with Raisins, China root, Madder, Swertia, Fumitory, Neem bark (as in Raktshodhakarishta of Ayurveda)
4. Diarrhea, Hemidesmus with Chebulic Myrobalan, Aegle, Holarrhena
5. Urinary Tract Infections, Hemidesmus with Coriander seed, Tribulus, Sandalwood
6. Syphilis, Elephantiasis, Chronic Skin diseases, Hemiplegia, with Colocynth root, Bdellium, Long Pepper
7. Arthralgia and Skin disorders, with China root (as in Arq E Ushba of Unani Medicine)
8. Arthritis with Heat, Hemidesmus with Tinospora, Barberry, Turmeric
9. Calm the mind and settle the emotions, Hemidesmus with Rose, Sandalwood
10. Bleeding, Hemidesmus with Madder, Asparagus root, Rose
11. Male infertility, Hemidesmus with Tribulus, Withania, Asparagus root

Major Formulas:


Pushyanuga Churna (Ayurveda)

Cautions:


None noted

Main Preparations used:



  • Extra Info
  • Research
GENERAL / REVIEW
–Indian Sarsaparilla (Hemidesmus indicus): Recent progress in research on ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology.