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Shalparni शालपर्णी
Desmodium gangeticum
Part used: Whole Plant, 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: Desmodium gangeticum
- Part used: Whole Plant, Plant
- Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata
- Typical dose: Root powder 3–6 g per day; decoction 50–100 ml twice daily.
Shalparni in other languages
Introduction
Shalparni (Desmodium gangeticum) is a small leguminous undershrub of Indian forest floors. Its root is the first of the ten roots of Dashamula and one of the most-used drugs in the whole pharmacopoeia.
Charaka lists it in the Balya, Sandhaniya and Snehopaga groups: it gives strength, helps tissue knit, and supports oleation therapy. It is a sweet, gently warming drug rather than a sharp one.
Classification
Family Fabaceae. The root and whole plant are officinal. Rasa: Madhura, Tikta. Guna: Guru, Snigdha. Virya: Ushna. Vipaka: Madhura. Doshaghnata: pacifies all three doshas, chiefly Vata; one of the Laghu Panchamula.
Uses & benefits
Encountered mainly within Dashamula, where it contributes strength and tissue support. Used alone in fever with debility, in Vata disorders with weakness, and in respiratory complaints. Classical texts also give it in Raktapitta and in the recovery period after illness.
Shalparni in Dashamula
As the first of the lesser five roots it appears in every Dashamula preparation — the decoctions, the arishtas and the Vata oils — and contributes the nourishing rather than the drying half of that formula.
Shalparni as a Balya drug
Charaka lists it among the drugs that give strength. It is used in the weakness that follows a long fever, where a heating drug alone would not be tolerated.
Dosage — how much to take
Root powder 3–6 g per day; decoction 50–100 ml twice daily. Usually taken as part of Dashamula.
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 Shalparni?
The citations held for Shalparni in this catalogue are: Charaka Samhita (Sutrasthana 4 — Balya and Sandhaniya groups); Bhavaprakasha Nighantu (Guduchyadi Varga — Shalaparni).
What does the Charaka Samhita record about Shalparni?
Listed among drugs giving strength and promoting union of tissue. Reference: Charaka Samhita — Sutrasthana 4 — Balya and Sandhaniya groups.
What does the Bhavaprakasha Nighantu record about Shalparni?
Madhura-tikta rasa; one of the Laghu Panchamula. Reference: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Guduchyadi Varga — Shalaparni.
What is Shalparni traditionally used for in Ayurveda?
Encountered mainly within Dashamula, where it contributes strength and tissue support. Used alone in fever with debility, in Vata disorders with weakness, and in respiratory complaints. Classical texts also give it in Raktapitta and in the recovery period after illness.
What are the Ayurvedic properties of Shalparni?
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 Shalparni classified the way it is?
In dravya-guna a drug's dosha action follows from its taste, qualities, potency and post-digestive effect. Shalparni carries Ushna (Hot) virya and Katu (Pungent) vipaka, which together give the recorded action: Balances Kapha & Vata.
Which part of Shalparni is used medicinally?
The part used is Whole Plant, Plant.
How much Shalparni is taken, and how?
Root powder 3–6 g per day; decoction 50–100 ml twice daily. Usually taken as part of Dashamula. Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm it with a qualified Vaidya.
When should Shalparni be avoided?
One of the gentler classical drugs and well tolerated. Consult a physician in pregnancy. Trade material is sometimes mixed with other Desmodium species; confirm the botanical source.
Where does Shalparni grow?
A common undershrub of open forest, grassland and scrub throughout India up to about 1,500 m.
Which classical formulations include Shalparni?
Dashamula.
Classical references
- Charaka Samhita — Sutrasthana 4 — Balya and Sandhaniya groups
Listed among drugs giving strength and promoting union of tissue. - Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Guduchyadi Varga — Shalaparni
Madhura-tikta rasa; one of the Laghu Panchamula.
Safety & precautions
One of the gentler classical drugs and well tolerated. Consult a physician in pregnancy. Trade material is sometimes mixed with other Desmodium species; confirm the botanical source.
Where it grows
A common undershrub of open forest, grassland and scrub throughout India up to about 1,500 m.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shalparni used on its own?
Occasionally, but it is overwhelmingly met as one of the ten roots of Dashamula, which is the base of a great many classical preparations.
What is Panchamula?
The five roots. Dashamula is made of two sets: the Brihat (greater) Panchamula of tree roots, and the Laghu (lesser) Panchamula of herb roots, of which Shalparni is one.
Part of: Dashamula
