SHAHEED KARTAR SINGH SARABHA AYURVEDIC MEDICAL COLLEGE & HOSPITAL

Lajjaalu

Botanical Name : Mimosa pudica Linn.

Family : Mimosaceae

Introduction :

Latin name : Mimosa – mimos = mimic, sensitivity of the leaves.

Names in different Indian languages :

English : Sensitive-plant,Humble-Plant,touch me not plant

Hindi : Lajjavanti

Kannada : Nacikegida

Malayalam : Tottavati,thindarmanni

Sanskrit : Lajjaalu,samanga

Tamil : Thottalsurungi

Telugu : Manugumaramu, muttavaplagamucettu

Unani : Chhuimui,Sharmili,Laajwanti.

Synonyms :

Lajjaalu, Laajavanti, Namaskaari, Samangaa, Sankochini, Shamipatraa, Khadirkaa, Raktapaadi, rakta mooli,

Morphology :

This thorny shrub grows 30 to 100 cms. in height. The stalk of the leaf is long and 4 leaves in the form of paw arise from it. Leaves resemble that of khadir leaves and close up on touching, hence the name lajjalu. namaskari.

Flowers – delicate and pink arise from the tip of flower stalk. They contain four big androceiums.

Legumes – 1.5 to 2 cms long and bear thorns. Each legume contains 3 to 4 seeds The plant flowers in winter followed by fruiting. It has one more small variety which grows 10.12 cms. High

Distribution & Habitat :

It is said that this plant was originally found in Brazil and now it is seen all over India.

Chemical constituents :

mimosine , turgorin, gallic acid,  C-glycosylflavones,  O-rhamnosylorientin

Properties :

Guna : laghu, ruksha;

Rasa : kashaya, tikta:

Virya : sheeta:

Vipaka: madhur

Karma :

Atisara hara, yoni dosha hara, sopha hara

astringent, alterative, antiseptic, , blood purifier

Srotogamitva :

Dosha : Kaphaghna. pittaghna.

Dhatu : Rakta (hemostatic – haemoptysis. haemorrhoids and menorrhagia); shukra (seeds – diseases of semen), asthi (uniting property).

Mala : Mutra diabetes), purisha (diarrhoea, dysentery and colitis). Organs Uterus (menorrhagia).

Indication :

Mandali visham, sopham, rakta pittam,  ganda mala, kusta,diarrhoea, dysentery, haemophilic conditions, leucorrhoea, piles, fistula, hydrocele, glandular swellings

Part used :

Whole plant

Dosage :

Leaf juice 10-15 ml

Powder 2-4 g

Decoction 50-100 ml

Uses :

External Uses : It has uniting, wound healing and hemostatic properties, hence is used in wounds, ulcers and fistulae.

Internal Uses : It is a good astringent. It acts as a vasoconstrictor. thus providing relief in haemoptysis, menorrhagia and bleeding piles. Lajjalu is also a blood purifier and anti-inflammatory. Because of its astringent property, it is used in diarrhoea and dysentery Seeds are particularly useful in prameha and diseases of the semen. It is also useful in fractures and poisons.