Trapa natans, Water Chestnut

Water Caltrops, Tribulus aquaticus, Nux aquatica
Shrngataka (Ayurveda)
Singara, Singhara (Siddha)
Singhara (Unani)
Joz Al-qastal (Arabic)
Ling (TCM)

Trapa natans
W. Roxburgh, Plants of the coast of Coromandel, vol. 3 (1819)

Trapa natans
Repräsentanten einheimischer Pflanzenfamilien in bunten
Wandtafeln mit erläuterndem, Bollmann (1879-1882)

Trapa natans
(Photo by MurielBendel) (Wikimedia)

Trapa natans nuts: ‘Water Chestnuts’
(Photo by Gdsaverio) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:

Trapa natans (syn. T. quadrispinosa, T. asiatica)

Parts used:

‘Nuts’ (fruit)

Temperature & Taste:

Cool, moist.

Uses:

1. Clears Heat, Nourishes Fluids, Relieves Thirst:
-Fever, Thirst during Fever or Sunstroke
-sore, dry throat, dry Cough
-Biliousness; Burning feeling
-Erysipelas
-used fresh is best for this function

2. Benefits Kidneys, Stop Leakage:
-Dysuria, Polyuria, Edema; obstinate urinary diseases including Diabetes
-Spermatorrhea, Sexual Debility
-attributed Aphrodisiac qualities, especially for Heat constitutions (Unani)
-Threatened Miscarriage
-by nourishing Yin and astringing, it helps settle Wind disease
-used in its dry form for this function

3. Clears Heat, Stops Bleeding:
-Bleeding from Heat; Hematuria
-excess Menstrual Bleeding
-bleeding during pregnancy from Heat

Dose:

Dried Seed in Powder: 5–10 grams (API)
Fresh 10–30 grams

Correctives:

1. Pepper and Salt
2. Sugar, Honey

Substitute:

Date

Main Combinations:

1. Sexual Debilty, Spermatorrhea, Water Chestnut with Dates, Asparagus racemosus, Almond, Pine kernel, Clove, Nutmeg (as in Majun E Arad Khurma)
2. To thicken the Sperm (for Premature Ejaculation), Water Chestnut with Gum Arabic

Major Formulas:

Majun E Arad Khurma

Cautions:

Not suitable in Cold and weak Kidneys. Excess use weakens and obstructs the Kidneys and Bladder.