Tephrosia, Sharapunkha

Wild Indigo, Purple Tephrosia, Yellow Thitsle
Sharapunkha (Ayurveda)
Kolingi (Siddha)
Sarphoka, Sarphuka (Unani)

Tephrosia purpurea
J. Moninckx, Moninckx atlas, vol. 8 (1682-1709)

Tephrosia purpurea
(Photo by Dinesh Valke) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:

Tephrosia purpurea (syn. T. hamiltonii, Cracca purpurea, Galega purpurea, Galiga purpurea)
There are several species of Tephrosia used. The white variety of Sharpunkhaa is equated with Tephrosia procumbens, and Tephrosia candida. In Unani, the White variety is collected from T. villosa.

Parts used:

Herb, Root

Temperature & Taste:

Warm, moist (by some Unani sources)
Cool by some sources (including TCM)

Uses:

HERB:
1. Clears Wind-Heat, Resists Poison: (Ayurveda, Unani, TCM)
-Acne, boils, furuncles
-chronic skin conditions eczema, dermatitis, leprosy
-Wind-Heat Common Cold, Fever
-Chronic Infectious diseases; Syphilis, Gonorrhea
-effective against various toxins either consumed or from insect bites etc.
-regarded as effective for the side effects of taking Bhasma or Kushta (mettalic ash medicines)
-herb and root are both used for this function; also the ash

2. Clears Damp, Opens Obstructions:
-Jaundice
-Breast swellings and inflammations
-Hemorrhoids, Tumor, Cancer
-Hepatoprotective

3. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Edema, Ascites

4. Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough and Wheezing:
-Cough, Bronchitis, Asthma
-tightness and pain in the Chest
-leaf is smoked to relieve Asthma

5. Externally:
-gargle for sore throat
-paste of the whole plant is applied to skin diseases, eczema, boils, acne etc.
-leaf juice is applied over swellings of the hands and face
-seed oil can be applied to Eczema, Scabies, Leprosy

ROOT:
1. Clears Heat, Moves Qi, Opens Obstruction:
-Indigestion, stomachache, Gastritis, abdominal distention (TCM)
-Liver or Spleen inflammation
-leaf decoction is also used for stomachache; the root may be chewed, the root juice or root powder may be taken

2. Strengthens Kidneys:
-recently found effective for Diabetes
-root and seed both showed hypoglycemic effects

3. Externally:
-root paste topically for Swollen glands, Scofula, Elephantiasis and Hemorrhoids

WHITE VARIETY:
-Promotes fertility in infertile women
-delays ejaculation in premature ejaculation.

Dose:

Herb, root and seed can be used in similar doses
Powder: 2–7 grams (up to 10 grams has been used for stomachache)
Ashes: 1–3 grams

Substitutes:

1. Tricholepis glaberrima and Tephrosia purpure are both used as substitutes for Sphaeranthus indicus (Indian Herbal Remedies). Therefore, Tricholepis glaberrima and Sphaeranthus indicus are possible substitutes for Tephrosia. (Ayurveda)
2. Wormwood as an alterative (Unani)

Corrective:

1. Echinops echinatus

Main Combinations:

1. Skin diseases, Tephrosia herb with Fumitory
2. Leucoderma. Tephrosia herb with Celery seed, Red Earth, Black Pepper (as in Safuf-e-Bars)
3. Inflammation of the Spleen, Liver, Kidneys or enlarged Scrotum, Tephrosia root is taken with Black Pepper.
4. Breast Inflammations and Swellings, Tephrosia leaf applied with Black Pepper
5. Bleeding Hemorrhoids, Tephrosia leaf (100 grams), Cannabis leaf (60 grams), powder. Take in 4–6 grams doses for 40 days. (Unani)