Argemone Mexicana or prickly poppy is annual medicinal shrub that is found almost throughout India. It can be easily found in parks, roadside or abandoned fields growing as weed. This herb exhibits antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity.
Argemone Mexicana or prickly poppy(satyanashi) is antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antioxidant and hepatoprotective used to treat many diseases in ayurvedic medicine.
Its leaves decoction is used to cure malarial fever, ulcers and skin problems. Its root is diuretic, alterative, anodyne and is used in chronic skin diseases. Its seeds are laxative, expectorant and demulcent. The juice of the plant is used in jaundice and skin problems. Its latex is used to treat cataract, reddening and itching in the eyes. Oil extracted from its seeds is very toxic and must not be consumed.
Botanical name: Argemone Mexicana Linn.
Family: Papaveraceae
Sanskrit: Brahmadandi, Hemavati, Hemadugdha
Hindi: Pila-dhatura, Shialkanta, Bharbhand, Satyanashi
English: Prickly poppy, Mexican poppy
Bengali: Shialkanta
Malayalam: Brahmdanti
Gujarati: Darudi
Marathi: Daruri
Rajasthani: Dhaturi
Oriya: Kantakusham
Tamil: Karukkansedi
Telugu: Brahmdandidandu
Here are few remedies that can be done at home to cure various clinical conditions using prickly poppy
- Impotency, infertility
Take root of satyanashi. Make powder of it after cleaning. Take this powder with misri to cure impotency. - Ascites, low urine output
Take all parts (panchang) of this herb. Clean them and dry in shade. Grind to make powder. Take 10 gm powder in 200ml water. Cook at low flame till water reduces to 50 ml. Filter and drink twice a day. - Skin diseases
Take powder of satyanashi. Soak in water at night and next morning boil in water and drink. - Psoriasis, eczema, skin problems
Take fresh satyanashi plant. Clean it and grind to extract its juice. Cook this juice in mustard oil (ratio 2:1) till all water evaporates and only oil is left. Apply this oil externally on affected area. - Boils, ulcers, warts
Take latex of Argemone and apply externally on boils. - Ringworm infections (daad khaj khujli)
Boil fresh leaves in water. Filter and use it to wash affected area.