Lithiasis Health Dictionary

(L.) Juss. ex Schult.

Family: Amaranthaceae.

Habitat: The warmer parts of India, ascending to 1,000 m.

Ayurvedic: Paashaanabheda. Gorakshaganjaa, Aadaanpaaki, Shatkabhedi.

Siddha/Tamil: Sirupeelai.

Folk: Paashaanabheda (southern India), Gorakhagaanjaa.

Action: Anticalculus (used in lithiasis), diuretic, demulcent, anthelmintic, antidiarrhoeal, anticholerin, bechic; leaf used in hepatitis, root in strangury. A decoction of the plant is used in catarrh of bladder. The flowers and roots are used for headache.

Key application: As diuretic and lithontriptic. (The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.)

The plant contains palmitic acid, beta-sitosterol and alpha-amyrin.

Aerva scandens Wall., synonym A. sanguinolenta Blume, is also known as Paashaanabheda in the south.

Species used as Paashaanabheda: Bergenia ligulata (north), Aerva lanata (south), Coleus amboinicus (east) and Bryophyllum pinnatum (west).

Dosage: 50-100 ml decoction. (CCRAS.)... aerva lanata

Nees.

Synonym: Hygrophila spinosa T. Anders

Family: Acanthaceae.

Habitat: Common in moist places, paddy fields, throughout India and Sri Lanka.

Ayurvedic: Kokilaaksha, Kokilaak- shi, Ikshura, Ikshuraka, Kaakekshu, Kshurak, Bhikshu.

Unani: Taalmakhaanaa. (Wrongly equated with Euryaleferox Salisb. (Fox Nut) in National Formulary of Unani Medicine, Part I, first edn., 1981.)

Siddha/Tamil: Neermulli, Nerugobbi.

Action: Diuretic, used for catarrh of the urinary organs, also for dropsy when accompanied by hepatic obstruction.

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia ofIn- dia recommends the seed in lithiasis; the whole plant and root for gout.

Aqueous extract of herb ash—diuretic in albino rats. EtOH (50%)— spasmolytic and hypotensive. The herb exhibits antihepatotoxic activity in dogs. Essential oil from whole plant—antibacterial.

The plant gave lupeol, stigmasterol and hydrocarbons; seed gave sterols; flowers, apigenin glucuronide.

Aqueous extract decreased fasting glucose and improved glucose tolerance in rats. (Sharon M. Herr.)

Dosage: Whole plant—3-6 g, powder; dried seed—3-6 g powder; dried root—3-6 g for decoction. (API Vol. II.) Herb ash—1-3 g (CCRAS.)... asteracantha longifolia

(Wall.) Engl.

Synonym: B. ciliata Sternb. Saxífraga ligulata Wall.

Family: Saxifragaceae.

Habitat: Temperate Himalaya from Kashmir to Bhutan, between altitudes of 900 and 3,000 m.

Ayurvedic: Paashaanabheda, Ashmaribhedikaa, Ashmaribhit, Ashmghna, Shilaabhit, Shilaabheda. (These synonyms are also equated with Aerva lanata Juss.)

Siddha/Tamil: Padanbethi.

Action: Leaf and root—antiscorbutic, astringent, spasmolytic, antidiarrhoeal. Used in dysuria, spleen enlargement, pulmonary affections as a cough remedy, menorrhagia, urinary tract infections. Alcoholic extract of roots— antilithic. Acetone extract of root- bark—cardiotoxic, CNS depressant and anti-inflammatory; in mild doses diuretic but antidiuretic in higher doses. Anti-inflammatory activity decreases with increasing dosage.

Due to its depressant action on the central nervous system, the drug is used against vertigo, dizziness and headache in moderate or low dosage.

Key application: In lithiasis, dysuria, polyuria. (The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia.)

The rhizome contains an active principle bergenin (0.6%), gallic acid, glucose (5.6%), tannins (14.2-016.3%), mucilage and wax; a C-glycoside and beta-sitosterol.

Bergenin prevented stress-induced erosions in rats and lowered gastric outputs.

(Paashaanabheda indicates that the plant grows between rocks appearing to break them; it does not necessarily mean that it possesses lithotriptic property.)

Dosage: Rhizome—20-30 g for decoction. (API Vol. I)... bergenia ligulata

Linn. var. utilissimus Duth. & Fuller.

Synonym: C. utilissimus Roxb.

Family: Cucurbitaceae.

Habitat: Cultivated in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

English: Snake Cucumber.

Ayurvedic: Ervaaru, Ervaaruka, Urvaaru, Bahukanda, Karkati.

Unani: Kakari.

Siddha/Tamil: Kakkarikkay, Vellarikkai.

Action: Seeds—cooling, diuretic; used in painful micturition and suppression of urine.

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India recommends the seed in dysuria and lithiasis.

Dosage: Seed—3-6 g. (API Vol. II.)... cucumis melo

(Retz.) C. E. Hubbard.

Synonym: Pollinidium angustifolium Haines.

Family: Gramineae; Poaceae.

Habitat: Many parts of North India. English: Baib grass, Sabai grass. Ayurvedic: Balvaja. Folk: Bhaabar.

Action: Diuretic. Used for treating lithiasis.

EtOH (50%) extract of the plant is sasmogenic.... eulaliopsis binata

(Linn.) DC.

Synonym: K. schweinfurthii Penzig. Cotyledon laciniata Roxb.

Family: Crassulaceae.

Habitat: Maharashtra, Deccan and Bengal.

Ayurvedic: Parnabija (var.), Vatapatri.

Unani: Zakhm-e-Hayaat.

Siddha/Tamil: Malakalli.

Folk: Hemasaagar.

Action: Plant—used in fever, dyspepsia, skin allergy, asthma, bronchitis. Leaves—astringent, antiseptic, astringent. Applied to insect bites. Lotions are used for smallpox. Leaf juice is given in diarrhoea, dysentery, lithiasis.... kalanchoe laciniata

Linn.

Vernonia patula Merrill.

Synonym: V. chinensis Less.

Family: Compositae; Asteraceae.

Habitat: The Aka hills of Arunachal Pradesh, as a weed.

Action: Leaves and roots— decoction used in colds and fevers. Young plants—used for the treatment of convulsions in children.

Family: Scrophulariaceae.

Habitat: Western Himalayas and Kashmir at 2,700-3,600 m.

English: Brooklime.

Folk: Titalokiyaa, Tezhak.

Action: Antiscorbutic, blood purifier, alterative, diuretic. Used for scurvy, scrofulous affections, swollen piles, lithiasis, skin diseases, burns, ulcers.

The plant gave iridoid glycosides including aucubin; bitters and tannins. Aucubin has been reported to stimulate the uric acid secretion of the kidneys.... veronica beccabunga