Nees.Family: Acanthaceae.
Habitat: Distributed throughout India.
Ayurvedic: Nadikaantaa, Praachibalaa, Sulomshaa, Kaakatik- ta, Kaakajanghaa. (Aatarilaal is a wrong synonym. It is equated with Anthriscus cerefolium Hoffm., used in Unani medicine.)Siddha/Tamil: Chebisa.Action: Plant—febrifuge. The essential oil shows tuberculostatic activity in vitro. It inhibits the growth of various strains of Mycobaterium tuberculosis.
Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India recommends the dried root in insomnia and for fear-psychosis in children.Dosage: Root—1-5 g powder. (API, Vol III.)