Photo: Dr. Raju Kasambe / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Piyavasa पियाबांसा
Barleria prionitis
Part used: Whole Plant
| Rasa (taste) | Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent) |
|---|---|
| Guna (qualities) | Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry) |
| Virya (potency) | Ushna (Hot) |
| Vipaka | Katu (Pungent) |
| Dosha | Balances Kapha & Vata |
| Prabhava | Classical systemic action |
Key takeaways
- Botanical name: Barleria prionitis
- Part used: Whole Plant
- Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata
- Typical dose: Whole plant powder 3–6 g per day; decoction 40–80 ml, internally or as a gargle; leaf chewed fresh as required.
Piyavasa in other languages
Introduction
Piyavasa (Barleria prionitis) is the porcupine flower, a spiny yellow-flowered shrub common on Indian roadsides and hedge banks.
Ayurveda uses the whole plant as a Kapha-clearing drug for the mouth, throat and joints — chewed for toothache and bleeding gums, and given in cough and joint pain.
Classification
Family Acanthaceae. The whole plant, chiefly leaf and root, is officinal. Rasa: Tikta, Kashaya. Guna: Laghu, Ruksha. Virya: Ushna. Vipaka: Katu. Doshaghnata: pacifies Kapha and Vata.
Uses & benefits
Given in toothache, bleeding and spongy gums and mouth ulcers — the leaf is chewed or the decoction used as a gargle. Also used in cough, in joint pain and swelling, and applied externally to skin complaints. It appears in Maha Rasnadi Kwath in this catalogue.
Piyavasa for the mouth and teeth
Its best-known use: the leaf chewed or the decoction gargled for toothache, bleeding gums and mouth ulcers.
Piyavasa for joints and cough
Warming and drying, it is used in Kapha-Vata joint pain and in cough with congestion, usually within a compound.
Dosage — how much to take
Whole plant powder 3–6 g per day; decoction 40–80 ml, internally or as a gargle; leaf chewed fresh as required.
Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm with a qualified Vaidya.
Traditional uses — questions answered from the classical texts
Answers are drawn from the citations and properties recorded for this drug. No chapter-and-verse reference appears that the record does not carry.
Which classical texts describe Piyavasa?
The citations held for Piyavasa in this catalogue are: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu (Guduchyadi Varga — Sahachara).
What does the Bhavaprakasha Nighantu record about Piyavasa?
Tikta-kashaya rasa, ushna virya; kaphavatahara and dantya. Reference: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Guduchyadi Varga — Sahachara.
What is Piyavasa traditionally used for in Ayurveda?
Given in toothache, bleeding and spongy gums and mouth ulcers — the leaf is chewed or the decoction used as a gargle. Also used in cough, in joint pain and swelling, and applied externally to skin complaints. It appears in Maha Rasnadi Kwath in this catalogue.
What are the Ayurvedic properties of Piyavasa?
Rasa Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent), Guna Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry), Virya Ushna (Hot), Vipaka Katu (Pungent). Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata. Prabhava: Classical systemic action.
Why is Piyavasa classified the way it is?
In dravya-guna a drug's dosha action follows from its taste, qualities, potency and post-digestive effect. Piyavasa carries Ushna (Hot) virya and Katu (Pungent) vipaka, which together give the recorded action: Balances Kapha & Vata.
Which part of Piyavasa is used medicinally?
The part used is Whole Plant.
How much Piyavasa is taken, and how?
Whole plant powder 3–6 g per day; decoction 40–80 ml, internally or as a gargle; leaf chewed fresh as required. Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm it with a qualified Vaidya.
When should Piyavasa be avoided?
Well tolerated. Heating and drying; may aggravate Pitta in excess. Consult a physician in pregnancy. The plant is spiny — handle fresh material with care.
Where does Piyavasa grow?
A common shrub of roadsides, hedges and waste ground throughout India up to about 1,000 m.
Classical references
- Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Guduchyadi Varga — Sahachara
Tikta-kashaya rasa, ushna virya; kaphavatahara and dantya. - Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India — Sahachara
Barleria prionitis; identity and dose.
Safety & precautions
Well tolerated. Heating and drying; may aggravate Pitta in excess. Consult a physician in pregnancy. The plant is spiny — handle fresh material with care.
Where it grows
A common shrub of roadsides, hedges and waste ground throughout India up to about 1,000 m.
Frequently asked questions
How is it used for toothache?
Traditionally the fresh leaf is chewed on the affected side, or a decoction of the plant is used as a gargle.
Is Sahachara the same plant?
Sahachara is the classical name, applied to Barleria species. Yellow-flowered and blue-flowered forms are both used, and the yellow one is this drug.
