SHAHEED KARTAR SINGH SARABHA AYURVEDIC MEDICAL COLLEGE & HOSPITAL

Karavirah

Botanical Name : Nerium indicum Mill

Family : Apocynaceae

Introduction :

It is used for brushing the teeth. Karavira flowers are described in Mahãbhya.. Caraka advocated Karavira for Snãna (bathing) and Pãna (internal administration). Suruta indicated Karavira Ksära in Asmari treatment.

Names in different Indian languages :

English : Indian oleander, White oleander

Hindi : Kaner, karber, karu vira

Kannada : Kanagilu, paddale, dhavekaneri

Malayalam : Arali, kanaviram, karaviram

Sanskrit : Karavirah

Tamil : Arali, Alari, Aatrulari, Karaviram.

Telugu : Ganneru, kasturipattu

Unani : Kaner Safed, Diflaa, Samm-ul-maar, Khar-zaharah

Synonyms :

Viraka, Ashvamaaraka, Hayamaaraka, Gauripushpa, Divyapushpa, Shatakumbha, Siddhapushpa (white-flowered var.). Raktapushpa, Raktaprasava, Ravipriya (red-flowered var.) 

Nerium odorum Soland

Nerium oleander Linn

Classification according to Charaka, Susrutha & Vagbhata :

Charaka

Kuthaghna, Tiktaskañdha

Susrutha

Lãksãdi, sirovirecana

Vagbhata

Lãksãdi

Varieties & adulterants – (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants) :

1. Sevta,

2. Rakta,

3. Pita (yellow)

4. Krsna – T. peruviana

Thevetia peruviana

Morphology :

A large glabrous erect shrub with milky juice, about 1-3 m high. Leaves— thrice in a whorl, linear-lanceolate, dark green and shining above, thickly coriaceous.

Flowers— red, rose-coloured, white or yellow; fragrant.

Fruit— Cylindric, straight, hard follicles, 10-15 cm long, rigid. Flowers and fruits usually during April-June.

Distribution & Habitat :

Cultivated as or namental shrub in gardens throughout India.

Chemical composition :

pregnanolone glycosides, neriodorin ,glucoside, rosaginine, an essential: oil, a crystalline principle like digilalin. nereine, tannic acid and wax. Leaves contain an alkaloid oleandrine, glucoside, pseudoqurarine, nereine and neriantine.

Karabin, neriodorein, neriodorin, -sitostero1, neriodin, neriodorin, nerium D, nerioum E (anhydrooleandrin), digitaloside, nerioside, obandrin, digitoxigenin, oleañdroside, rutin, plumericin etc.

Properties :

Rasa Katu-Tikta

Guna Laghu, Rüksa

Virya Usna

Vipãka Katu

Karma : Kapha-Vatahara, Kusthaghna, Vranahara, Cakusya

Anthelmintic, stomachic, diuretic, Cardioactive, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, insecticidal, toxic

Part Used :

Root/root bark

Dosage :

Powder 30-125 mg

Indications :

Indralupta, Pãlitya, Dusta vrana, Upadama, Kustha, Krmi, Kandü, Netra roga

asthma, arthragia, ulcers, ringworm, scabies, haemorrhoids, pruritus, skin disease

External use :

It cures skin disorders, cleanses and heals wounds and reduces swelling. The application of root paste is helpful in skin disorders, cancer, ulcers and ringworm infection. Leaf juice is put in the eyes in eye disorders. (Care must he taken as it is a poisonous plant).

Internal use :

Digestive system : Stimulant or appetite and useful in appetite, digestive disorders and constipation.

Circulatory system : In a low dose it provides energy to the heart. But in higher dose, it is lethal to the heart. Nerium is a blood purifier. It is useful in oedema. weakness and dyspnoea induced due to cardiac debility.

Urinary system : It increases the blood flow in the kidneys, thus increasing the urine quantity and flow, It is used in dysuria and stones.

Skin : Diaphoretic and useful in clearing skin infection. It can be used in very chronic skin diseases.

Temperature : Febrifuges. mainly episodic fever. The action of 1 ratti lie. 120 mg.) of the bark of yellow nerium is same as 15 ratti of the bark of Cinchona. In malaria, after the temperature comes to normal.

Satmikaran : It is a powerful poison, this should be kept in mind.

Higher dose Causes toxicity, feeble pulse, cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest and then leads to death.

Antidote After stomach wash, cow’s ghee should be given.

Parts used : Roots, bark of the root.

It is better to avoid internal use of this plant.

Important Yogas or Formations :

Karavirãdi taila, Hayamarãdi taila, Karavira yoga, sveta Karaviryadi taila,

Important research work going on :

1) cardio tonic activity

2) insecticidal activity

3) CNS-depressant effects

4) anti cancerous activity

5) bradycardia

6) antipyretic effect and anti-inflammatory activity.  

Therapeutic Uses :

(1) Indralupta— The affected are should be pasted with Karavira juice (A.H. Ut. 24/29).

(2) Kustha— Oil prepared with Karavira root and aconite along with cow’s urine is useful .

(3) Apasmãra— The powder of sveta karavira leaves is used for Nasya