Manal Health Dictionary

Wall. ex Royle.

Family: Ranunculaceae.

Family: Ranunculaceae.

Habitat: The alpine Himalayas from Sikkim to Garhwal and Assam.

English: Indian Aconite, Wolfsbane, Monkshood.

Ayurvedic: Vatsanaabha, Visha, Amrita, Vajraanga, Sthaavaravisha, Vatsanaagaka, Shrangikavisha, Garala.

Unani: Bish, Bishnaag.

Siddha/Tamil: Vasanaavi, Karunaab- hi.

Folk: Bacchanaag, Bish, Mithaa Zahar, Telia Visha.

Action: Narcotic, sedative, antilepro- tic, anti-inflammatory. Extremely poisonous. (Roots possess depressant activity, but after mitigation in cow's milk for 2-3 days, they exhibit stimulant activity.)

Key application: In neuralgia. (Aconitum napellus L. has been listed by German Commission E among unapproved herbs.)

The root contains diterpenoid alkaloids, which act as a powerful poison that affects the heart and central nervous system. Aconitine has a shortlived cardiotonic action followed by

Habitat: Cultivated at Manali and Rahla in Himachal Pradesh. Also found in northwestern Himalayas at altitudes ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 m.

English: Atis Root, Aconite.

Ayurvedic: Ativishaa, Arunaa, Vishaa, Shuklakandaa, Bhanguraa, Ghunapriyaa, Ghunavallabhaa, Kaashmiraa, Shishubhaishajyaa (indicating its use in paediatrics), Vishwaa.

Unani: Atees.

Siddha/Tamil: Athividayam.

Folk: Patis.

Action: Often regarded as non- poisosnous, antiperiodic, anti- inflammatory, astringent (used in cough, diarrhoea, dyspepsia), tonic (used after fevers), febrifuge, antispasmodic (used in irritability of stomach and abdominal pains).

Along with other therapeutic applications, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicates the use of the dried, tuberous root in emesis and helminthi- asis.

The roots yield 0.79% of total alkaloids, of which atisin is 0.4%. Atisine is much less toxic than aconitine and pseudoaconitine. (The inert character of the plant is well known to the hill people, who often use it as a vegetable.) The plant possesses potent immuno- stimulant properties.

Dosage: Root—0.6-2.08 g. (API Vol. I.)... aconitum heterophyllum

Boiss.

Synonym: P. morinda Link. Abies smithiana Lindl.

Family: Pinaceae.

Habitat: The Himalayas from Kashmir to Kumaon at altitudes of 1,500-3,500 m.

English: West Himalayan Spruce.

Folk: Roi, Rhai, Raghaa, Kathela, Kandre, Morindaa. Spruce (trade).

Action: Essential oil—antiseptic. Used in bath salts, room sprays and deodorants.

Key applications ? Fir Needle Oil, obtained from Picea abies, synonym P. excelsa)—externally and internally, for catarrhal illness of the upper and lower respiratory tract; externally, for rheumatic and neuralgic pains. (German Commission E.)

The oil contains alpha-pinene, l- alpha-phellandrene, dipentene, bornyl- acetate, cadinene, S-guaiazulene and a bicyclic sesquiterpene. The oil distilled from the leaves collected in Gul- marg had a ester content of 23.2% (as bornyl acetate). The bark contained 4.22% tannin.

Picea abies has been introduced at Manali (at 1,890 m). It yields an ole- oresin which is used in plasters and ointments. The essential oil is used in... picea smithiana

Sarg.

Synonym: P. longifolia Roxb.

Family: Pinaceae.

Habitat: The Western and Eastern Himalayas.

English: Long-leaved Pine, Three- leaved Pine, Chir Pine.

Ayurvedic: Sarala, Pita-vriksha, Surabhidaaruka, Dhuupavriksha, Namasu. Oleo-resin—Shriveshtaka, Ghandh-Birojaa.

Unani: Sanobar-ul-Hindi. Oleoresin—Gandh-Bihrojaa, Qinn, Berzad.

Siddha/Tamil: Simaidevadaru.

Action: Needle, needle oil— decongestant, expectorant, antiseptic. Oil—used in cough and cold remedies, particularly inhalations and in rubefacients for rheumatism and muscle stiffness. Resin— expectorant, antiseptic, antipruritic.

The essential oil from oleoresin contains chiefly alpha-and beta-pinene; carene and longifoline.

Pinus pinaster Ait (Cluster Pine, Maritime Pine) has been successfully grown in Kulu, Manali and Rahini. German Commission E recognized the efficacy of the needle-oil in catarrhal diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract (internally, as well as externally).

Dosage: Heartwood, root—1-3 g powder. (API, Vol. III.)... pinus roxburghii

sp. Linn.

Family: Tiliaceae.

Habitat: Temperate regions of northern hemisphere. Spp. introduced into India: Tilia cordata Mill. (Himachal Pradesh at elevations of 2,100 m.) and T. europaea Linn., synonym T. vulgaris Hayne (Kulu, Manali and Simla).

English: Small-leaved Lime or Linden and Common Lime or European Linden (respectively).

Action: Flowers—nervine tonic, spasmolytic, sedative, hypotensive. An infusion is used for the treatment of hysteria and indigestion.

The flowers contain a volatile oil up to about 0.1% containing farnesol; flavonoids including hesperidin, quer- cetin, astralagin, tiliroside; phenolic acids such as chlorogenic and caffeic, tannins and mucilage (in the bract).

In Western herbal, the flowers are an ingredient in blood pressure tablets and mixtures and blood pressure medicinal teas.... tilia