6/11/2016

MedicinalPlantsofIndia

PricklyChaffFlower

ative

Photo:ThingnamGirija

Commonname:PricklyChaffFlower,Chaffflower,Crocusstuff,Crokarsstaff,Devil'shorsewhip
Hindi:Chirchita,LatjiraManipuri:

KhujumpereSanskrit:Apamarga
Botanicalname:AchyranthesasperaFamily:Amaranthaceae(Amaranthfamily)
PricklyChaffflowerisanerectorprostrate,annualorperennialherb,oftenwithawoodybase,which
growsaswastelandherbeverywhere.Sincetimeimmemorial,itisinuseasfolkmedicine.Itholdsa
reputedpositionasmedicinalherbindifferentsystemsofmedicineinIndia.Stems0.42m,piloseor
puberulent.Leafbladeselliptic,ovate,orbroadlyovatetoorbiculate,obovateorbiculate,orbroadly
rhombate,12026cm,adpressedpubescentabaxiallyandadaxially.Inflorescencesto30cmbracts
membranousbracteoleslongaristate,spinosewingsattachedatsidesandbase.Flowers:tepals4or
5,length37mmpseudostaminodeswithmarginsfimbriateatapex,oftenwithdorsalscale.According
totheBlackYajurveda,Indra,havingkilledVritraandotherdemonswasovercomebyNamuchiand
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6/11/2016

MedicinalPlantsofIndia

madepeacewithhim,promisingnevertokillhimwithanysolidorliquid,neitherbydayorbynight.But
Indracollectedsomefoam,whichisneithersolidnorliquid,andkilledNamuchiinthemorningbetween
nightanddaybreak.FromtheheadofthedemonsprungtheherbApamarga,withtheassistanceof
whichIndrawasabletokillalldemons.Hencethisplanthasthereputationofbeingapowerful
talisman,andisnowpopularlysupposedtoactasasafeguardagainstscorpionsandsnakesby
paralysingthem.
Medicinaluses: Differentpartsoftheplantareingredientsinmanynativeprescriptionsin
combinationwithmoreactiveremedies.InWesternIndiathejuiceisappliedtorelievetoothache.The
asheswithhoneyaregiventorelievecoughtherootindosedofonetolaisgivenatbedtimefornight
blindness,andrubbedintoapastewithwateritisusedasananjan(eyesalve)inopacitiesofthe
cornea.TheseedsareoftenusedasafaminefoodinIndia,especiallyinRajputana,wheretheplantis
calledBharotha(grass).

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