Nepeta hindostana, Badranjboya
Badranjboya (Unani)
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Nepeta hindostana K.R. Kirtikar, B.D. Basu, Indian medicinal plants (1918) |
Melissa parviflora Flora Malesiana, vol. 8 (1978) |
Botanical name:
Three plants are covered by the name Badranjboya in Unani medicine:
- Nepeta hindostana (syn. N. calaminthodea, N. ruderalis, Glechoma indica, G. hindostana, G. calaminthodea, Thymus nepetoides)
- Melissa parviflora (syn. M. axillaris)
- Nepeta cataria (Catnip or Catmint)
Parts used:
Whole herb; aerial parts
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Pungent, slightly Bitter
“Hot and Dry in the Second degree”. (Avicenna)
Classification:
Hepatic, Stomachic, Cephalic, Cardiac
Uses:
1. Strengthens the Heart:
-Heart weakness; Palpitations with Anxiety
2. Benefits the Brain, Clears Melancholy:
-Melancholy, especially with Heart weakness, but also for Qi stagnation
-Cerebral tonic; used in formula for Poor Memory, Paralysis, Insanity, nerve weakness, dizziness etc
-classed as Exhilarants; Seed is also regarded as a Brain tonic
-“an Exhilarant and tonic for the Heart and also removes Palpitations”. (Avicenna)
-“useful in all kinds of Phlegmatic and Black Bile diseases” (Avicenna)
3. Clears Liver Heat, Moves the Qi:
-Liver heat with Qi stagnation
-inflammation of the Liver
-regarded as being strengthening to the Liver
4. Benefits Stomach, Moves Qi:
-strengthens Stomach
-Indigestion, Gastritis
-Hiccup
5. Clears Wind-Heat, Opens the Lungs:
-cooling drink in Fever
-acute Cough, Bronchitis
-difficult breathing
6. Externally:
-as a mouth wash or gargle to strengthen gums and freshen the breath
-topically to Toothache
-Breast inflammations
Dose:
Powder: 2–4 grams
Decoction: 3–9 grams
Comment:
Regarded as strengthening to the Noble Organs (Heart, Brain, Liver)
Substitutes:
1. Lemon Balm
2. Silkworm Cocoon (double weight)
3. “Equal weight of Silkworm Cocoon with two-thirds weight of Citron peel is its substitute for its exhilarant effects”. (Avicenna)
4. Orange peel (double weight)
5. Nepeta hindostana has been used as a substitute for Valerian in Unani.
Correctives:
1. Frankincense
2. Silkworm Cocoon
3. Tragacanth (Unani)
Main Combinations:
1. Weakness of the Heart or Brain with Damp and Qi stagnation, Nepeta hindostana with Pomegranate seed, Lemongrass, Borage, Indian Spikenard, Pearl (as in Water of Ambergris of Unani)
2. Weakness of the Heart, Brain or Stomach:
i. Nepeta hindostana with Rose, Sandalwood
ii. Nepeta hindostana with Emblic Myrobalan, Tabasheer, Sandalwood, Rose, Coriander seed, Purslane seed, Pearl, Silver leaf in a base of Quince paste. (as in Jawarish-E-Amla Ambari of Unani)
3. Heart tonic, for Palpitations from Melancholy, Nepeta hindostana with Sandalwood, Coriander seed, Emblic Myrobalan, Quince seed, Barberry fruit, Tabasheer (as in Dawaul Misk Motadil Sada of Unani)
4. Heart Yin deficiency, Nepeta hindostana with Silkworm Cocoons, Basil seed, Borage, Sandalwood, Rose (as in Khamira-E-Abresham Saada of Unani)
5. Liver disorders, Nepeta hindostana with Yarrow, Black Nightshade, Fennel seed, Raisins (Unani)
6. Gastritis, Nepeta hindostana with Licorice, Fennel seed, Yarrow, Black Nightshade fruit, Lemongrass, Raisins (Unani)
7. Excess hunger (from excess Bile) and Indigestion, Nepeta hindostana with Aloeswood, Lesser Cardamon, Mastic, Citron peel, Clove, Indian Spikenard, Tabasheer (as in Jawarish Ood Tursh of Unani)
Major Formulas:
Water of Ambergris (Arq E Amber)
Khamira Abresham Saada
Khamira Abresham Ood Mastagi Wala
Khamira Gaozaban Ambari
Jawarish Amla Ambari
Jawarish Ood Tursh
Majun Salab
Dawaul Misk Motadil Sada
Cautions:
1. Generally safe
2. In Unani it is not recommended for those with diseases of the Pelvic region (Indusyunic)