NAT. ORDER NYCTAGINACEÆ.
BOERHAAVIA DIFFUSA, Linn.
Sans. Punarnavá, Sothaghni.
Vern. Svetapunarnabá, Beng. Sánt, Hind.
Both the red and white varieties of this plant are noticed by Sanskrit writers but the white is preferred for use. Its root is regarded as laxative, diuretic and stomachic; it is used in jaundice, ascites, anasarca, scanty urine and internal inflammations. One of its Sanskrit synonyms, namely, sothagni means cure for dropsy. A decoction of punarnavá root is recommended to be given with the addition of powdered chiretá and ginger in anasarca. A compound decoction much used in this disease is prepared as follows.
Punarnaváshṭaka. Take of Punarnavá root, nim bark, leaves of Trichosanthes dioica (paṭola), ginger, Picrorrhiza Kurroa (kaṭuki), chebulic myrobalan, gulancha, and the wood of Berberis Asiatica (dáruharidrá), quarter of a tola each, water thirty-two tolas; boil together till reduced to one-fourth. This decoction is given in general anasarca with ascites, cough, jaundice, difficult breathing, etc. An oil, prepared with a decoction of the root and a number of the usual aromatics in the form of a paste, is rubbed on the body in general ansarca complicated with jaundice. It is called Punarnavá taila.
The Bhávaprakása gives an electuary under the name of Punarnavávaleha. It is prepared with a decoction of the root of Boerhaavia diffusa and a number of other ingredients, and is used in strangury or scanty urine.
The Sanskrit names in Devanagari beside the heading and the Sanskrit verses in footnotes 1 to 3 are not transcribed, nor the superscript note numbers. Words hyphenated across a line break are joined.