Habitat: Cultivated fields, waste places and along roadsides.
English: Spiny Amaranth, Thorny Amaranth, Spiny Pigweed.Ayurvedic: Tanduliya, Tandulaka, Meghnaad, Megharava, Vishaghn, Alpamaarish.Siddha/Tamil: Mullukkeerai.Folk: Katili-chaulai.Action: Galactogenic, laxative, emollient, spasmolytic, diuretic. Pollen extract—used for allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis. Root— used in menorrhoea.
Plant contains sterols. Leaves and stems contain alpha-spinasterol and hentriacontane. Leaves also contain amino acids with high content of lysine.Dosage: Whole plant—10-20 ml juice; 400-800 mg powder. (CCRAS.)