Agastya Sesbania Grandiflora – Uses, Benefits, Dosage and Side effects
Agastya Sesbania Grandiflora’s name comes from the sage Agastya who is one of the seven rishis that are mentioned in Vedas. He is also known as a vegetable hummingbird in English. Theories have stated that he is considered the father of the Siddha system of medicine and had a deep love for the plant. This is the reason that plant is named so.
This flower is dear to the munis and the flowers bloom in Sharad Ritu i.e., autumn on the day when the Agastya star can be seen. The flowers of this plant are also offered to Lord Shiva to please him. The whole plant has various medicinal characteristics. Its flowers, leaves, and pods are used in cooking various delicious recipes.
The wood of this plant is useful for domestic purposes and its consistency resembles bamboo due to which it can be replaced in furniture making. Diamond purification within 3 days is also done with this plant. It shows a soothing effect on the mind and body, and that’s why it helps to manage anxiety and stress.
Latin name: Sesbania grandiflora
Family: Fabaceae
Agastya Sesbania Grandiflora Names in different languages:
- English Name: Vegetable hummingbird, White dragon tree, Tree bean, West Indian sesban, Mascareigners, August flower, West Indian Pea, Flamingo bill, crokwooded trees, and brede Malabar.
- Hindi Name: Agasti, Aghastya, Chogache, basna, Agasti, agastha, Bakapushpa, agathiya, vakrapushpa, Chogache, and basma.
- Bengali Name: Bak, Bagphal, Vak, Vasna, Bagfal, Agustua, Bangfal, Bukao, Buka, and Heta.
- Malayalam Name: Aagatti, Akatti, Agatti, athi, and Atti.
- Oriya Name: Agastee
- Kannada Name: Chogache, Agache, Agase, Agase soppu, Kempagase, Vakrapushpi, and Chogachi.
- Telugu Name: Avishi, Avisa
- Gujarati Name: Agath-thi-nar, Agathiyo, Ayathio
- Nepali Name: Agasti
- Cambodia Name: Angkea day
- Phillipino Name: Gauai-gauai
- French Name: Pois Valette
- Berar Name: Hela, Bako, Hadga, Bisna
- Indonesian Name: Toroy
- Sinhalese Name: Kathuru
- Burmese Name: Paukpan, Paukhya
Agastya Synonyms in Sanskrit:
Agasti, Agastya- Flowers blossom in Agastya star day Sharad Ritu (Autumn)
Vangasena- Found in Bengal region
Kumbhayoni, Sheeghrapushpa, Munidurma, Agasti, Munipushpa, Kumbhayoni, Madhuryati, Madhushigruka, and Kumbhayoni.
This shloka means that synonyms of Agastya are Agastya, Vangsena, munipushpa, Munidrum, and Agasti. Agastiya is bitter, cool, dry, vitiates Vata and Pitta, Kapha, treats intermittent fever and cold.
(Reference: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Page no. 495 and Shloka no. 60-61)
Morphological Characteristics: of Agastya Sesbania Grandiflora
Agastya Sesbania Grandiflora is a soft wooded and fast-growing tree that grows up to the height of 3 to 8 meters. Its leaves are regular and deciduous, have a length of 15 to 30 cm. It has 10 to 20 leaflets. Flowers are racemes, 2 lipped and of boat shape. Flowers bloom in September and October. Fruit pods contain 15-30 seeds and falcate about 30 cm. It is native to North America and Malaysia. In India, it is cultivated in Bengal, Punjab, Assam, Andaman, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Delhi, etc. in between rice fields and guinea grass. Its cultivation is also done in other countries like the Philippines, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia.
Varieties of Agastya Sesbania Grandiflora :
According to Raja Nighantu- It has four types because based on its flower’s color-
- Neela- Blue
- Sita- White
- Peeta- Yellow
- Lohita- Red
Agastya Sesbania Grandiflora Classification according to classical books:
Categorization according to:
- Acharya Sushruta: It is mentioned in vishista drava dravya vigyanam
- Ashtanga hridaya: Given in naktandhya chikitsa
- Bhavaprakasha Nighantu: Pushpavarga and Shaka Varga
- Raja Nighantu: Prabhadradi varga and Karaveeradi varga
- Kaiyadeva Nighantu: Aushadi varga
- Nighantu Aadarsha: Palashaadi varga (in poorvardha)
- Shodala nighantu: Aushasha varga
- Dhanvantari Nighantu: Aushadha varga
- Madhava Dravyagunadarsha- Vanaushadha varga
- Bruhad nighantu ratnakara: Pushpa varga
Chemical Constituents:
Leaves of Agastya (Sesbania Grandiflora) contain- Grandiferol, glucuronic acid, oleanolic acid, saponin, Histidine, ollecicine, alanine, aspartic acid, asparagine, phenylamine, etc. Flowers have methyl oleanolate in them and seeds consist of leucocyanidin, Kaempferol. Other chemical constituents are tryptophan, aspargine, oleanolic acid, glucuronic acid, phenylalanine, aspartic acid, cysteine, arginine, etc.
Medicinal Qualities of Agastya Sesbania Grandiflora
- Rasa (Taste): Tikta (bitter)
- Guna (Qualities): Rooksha (dry) and Laghu (Light)
- Veerya (Potency): Sheet (cool)
- Vipaka: (Undergoes pungent taste after digestion): Katu
- Karma (Effect on tridosha): Balances pitta and kapha dosha
- Prabhava: Vishaghna (anti-toxic)
But according to Bhojana Kutuhalam’s 12th chapter, Agastya has cold potency and imparts strength. Its rasa (taste is Madhura (sweet) and balances three doshas, and treats various psychiatric disorders. Its leaves are not so much cold in potency and treat loss of complexion and fatigue. As per the Ayurveda aspect, it is used in treating Chaturthika jwar and night blindness. Flowers of this plant remove all sins and fluid removes the sins and fruits act as a digestive stimulant. It also reduces libido and works as an appetizer.
Medicinal uses of Agastya Sesbania Grandiflora according to Ayurveda
Agastya is used in various diseases like running nose and coryza, abdominal colic, night blindness, intermittent fever, splenomegaly, initial stages of liver diseases, etc. Its leaves are used in itching, worm infestation, menorrhagia, nasal bleeding, ulcerative colitis, etc. Fruits are beneficial in weight loss, emaciation, and abdominal tumor.
Therapeutic uses of Agastya (Sesbania Grandiflora) :
High blood pressure:
Its regular use helps to maintain blood pressure because it has vitamin C in it that lowers the risk of high blood pressure and prevents the hardening of the arterial wall. It also decreases triglycerides and bad cholesterol levels.
Female health:
Flowers of Agastya help to maintain female health and elevate female reproductive health. This herb also treats leucorrhea. Its extract is useful in treating uterus or vaginal infections.
Digestion process:
Leaves of Agastya works as a digestive tonic and treat indigestion, heartburn, abdominal pain, etc. Being a natural laxative, it treats constipation caused by painful and difficult bowel movements. It loosens up a stool to pass it easily.
Intermittent fever:
Being an antibacterial and antiviral, it kills harmful bacteria and virus that causes infection in the body. As a great detoxifier, it helps to treat intermittent fever by working on the root cause.
Part used: Leaves, bark, tender fruits, flowers, and the whole point
Dosage: Flower- 5 to 10; Leaves juice- 10 to 20 ml; Decoction- 50 to 100 ml
Conclusion:
It is concluded that Agastya can be used in various disorders that are mentioned above, but it is contraindicated in Vata disorders like abdominal bloating, neuropathy, etc.
Note: Our purpose is to serve useful information related to Agastya (Sesbania Grandiflora)‘s benefits, dosage, and other properties. It is advised to the patients not to consume Agastya (Sesbania Grandiflora) on the basis of this information. Before taking Agastya (Sesbania Grandiflora) as a medicine it is better to have an expert opinion because dosage and treatment vary from patient to patient depending on their symptoms and medical history.
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