It is a very common weed found everywhere in roadside. If you take a soup of 10 gm of its seed you are free from hunger for about a week.If you tie a root of this to your arm, scorpion dare not attack you.In old time midwives were tying a root of this plant to the hair of a mother experiencing labor pain and instant trouble free delivery was achieved.Do you recognize it?

Its name is Tabatakhanda, Kukurdanti in Odia; Chirchita, Latjira in Hindi

Apang in Bengali; Apamarga, Sikhari in Sanskrit. Botanical name Achyranthes aspera.

There two varieties of this plant, white and red. Of these the white variety is considered better for medicinal use.

When pittadosa gets aggravated byond limit in a body such a disease occurs.The patient experience too much of hunger. Even eating stomach full does not pacify the hunger. Inspite of eating a lot the health of the patient detoriates gradually to a remarkable extent. In this disease patient is kept 

on diet containg sweets. 10 gm seeds of this plant is cooked with 50 ml milk and given twice daily in empty stomach regularly for about 15 days. In diabetes, when a person's body fail to assimilate sugar, such a hunger is also felt by the patient. That occurs due to unavailability of sugar to tissues of body. But in diabetes frequent

urination is an allied symptom which is not found in Bhasmaka disease.

Bronchitis  - In bronchitis total plant of Achyranthes in the quantity of 100 gm boiled with 400 ml water reduced to 200 ml. This extract is administer in the dose of 20ml 4 to 5 times a day. It acts like expectorant and excessive phelgum comes out gradually.

  

Oedema(sotha) - the total plant in green condition is boiled with water (volume of water taken is 4 times that of the herb) reduced to half. This extract is given in dose of 20 ml 5 times a day in empty stomach. This causes increase in the volume of urination and drained out excessive water retained in body. This application is effective in oedema causedby malfuctioning of Kedney. A regular use of 10 days is advised.

Mental disorders - This application mainly works in psychotic disordes like schizophernia, which is mostly associated with helluatinations and delusions.

A mixture of 10 gm root of Achyranthes and 10gm root of Bala( Sida cordifolia) boiled with 200ml water and 200ml milk till it reduces to half. This preparation

is given twice daily for a fortnight regularly.

Chicken pox - green leaves of Achyranthes is pounded with equal quantity of black pepper and pills of the size of pea are prepared. After proper drying this pills are kept in a bottle.

In chickenpox two pills are given in an interval of every 3 hours. The painful fever of chickenpox is relieved with in 8 hours.

Muscualr spasm - Its leaf is pounded and rubbed to the area of the body where one experience muscular spasm( Raka, Arka) and it gives instant relief.

Scorpion bite - Its root is applied to the place of attack and the burning sensation stops immidiately. It is also effective for bite of other venomus insects.

DANGER ! Achyranthes is abortive by effect. Hence pregnant women should refrain from using it.

APAMARGA ( Achyranthes aspera )

FAMILY : Amaranthaceae

GENUS : Achyranthes

SPECIES : aspera

... ENGLISH NAME : Prickly chaff flower

LOCAL NAME : Apamarga , Latjeera,

MEDICINAL USAGE :

1.Most of Gynecology disorders and complications

2. Asthma

3. Boils

4. Bronchitis and cold related disease

5. Snake bite, Scorpion bite

6. Urinal problems

7. Head ache, ear ache

8. Digestive problems

9. Piles

10. Inflammation of cervical glands

11. Leprosy

12. Gonorrhoea

13 Rheumatid Arthritis

Roots are used for :

blood pressure problems, cancer, bladder stone and intestinal problems

Leaves are used for :

Gonorrhoea

Seeds are used for :

Urinal complication,Bronchitis,leprosy