Akash Bail – Cassytha filiformis Medical Uses, Benefits, Dosage and side effects

Akash bail in Hindi is known as Amar bael and in English, it is known as Cuscuta. This is an endless growing twinning herb that grows parasitically on other trees. It can grow forever to cover the tree and when it gets attached to the whole tree once, it can grow parasitically for an entire lifespan on the plant without any contact with the soil. This herb has various medicinal values and has been used in Ayurveda for many ages to treat inflammation, infertility, etc. According to Ayurveda, it works by “parbhava” and acts as a stambhana herb that shows restrictive and restorative action on the body. 

  • Latin Name: Cassytha filiformis
  • Family: Convolvulaceae

Akash Bail – Cassytha filiformis Names in different languages:

  1. English Name: Hell weed, Scald weed, Dodder plant, Dodder of thyme, Lesser dodder, Cuscuta, Greater dodder, Devil’s gut, Begger weed
  2. Hindi Name: Amal bel, Agas bel, Akash bel, Kasus
  3. Sanskrit Name: Vyomavallika, Khavalli, Amarvalli, Akashpavana, Akashvalli, Akashbhavana, Antravalli, Nilatara
  4. Punjabi Name: Zarbut
  5. Telugu Name: Sitama purgonalu, Sithammasavaram, Lanjasavaramu, Sitama purgonalu, Savarapukada, Sitammapogunulu, Passi teega
  6. Marathi Name: Nirmuli Akashvela, Nirmali
  7. Assamese Name: Akashilata, Honborialoti
  8. Bengali Name: Swarnalatha, Akasbel
  9. Tamil Name: Kodiyagundal, Verillakothan
  10. Arabic Name: Tikhme kasus, Kasuth, Afitmun
  11. Urdu Name: Akashbel
  12. Oriya Name: Kolanirmuli
  13. Gujarati Name: Amarbel, Akaswel
  14. Malayalam Name: Akasathamara, Akasagarudakodi, Moodillathali, Akasavalli
  15. German Name: Dodder Pflanze
  16. French Name: Cuscute
  17. Spanish Name: Planta de dodder

Synonyms in the Sanskrit Language:

  • Nirmuli – Herbs that don’t have roots
  • Vyomallika, Khavalli, Vyomavalli, Amaravalli – Plants those have a long life span period
  • Swarnalatha – Looks golden in color
  • Other synonyms are: Katkara, Asparsha, Dusparsha, Amaravalli, Avanti

According to this shloka, synonyms of akash bail are akashvalli, khavalli, and amarvalli. This herb is of bitter and astringent taste, sliminess in nature, treats eye disorders, increases digestive fire, cardiac tonic, pacifies Kapha and pitta dosha, and treats indigestion.

(Reference- Bhavaprakash Nighantu- page no. 433 and Shloka no. 258-89)

Morphological characteristics:

Akash bail is a climber and parasitic plant that climbs to bigger plants and trees. It is of green color and color gets changed into golden when it grows. It does not have any leaves but has white flowers. Its stem and branches are flesh which bears flowers as well as flowers. Its seeds have a bitter taste.

It is native to India and is found very commonly across the varied landscape of Indian soil from semi-arid plains to the top f hills up to the height of 3000 meters.

Medicinal properties of Amar Bail:

  • Rasa (Taste): Tikta (Bitter) and Kashaya (Astringent)
  • Guna (Quality): Picchila (Slimy)
  • Veerya (Potency): Sheeta (Cold)
  • Vipaka (Undergoes taste conversion after digestion): Katu (Pungent)
  • Karma (Actions): Pittakapha Shamaka (Balances pitta and kapha dosha)

Main chemical constituents:

Amarbelin, linoic, myricetin, abscissic acid, linolenic, cuscutin, D-Mannitol, o leic, beetasitosterol, stectoric, cerotic, palmitic acid, kaempferol, luiteolin and its glucoside, abscissic acid, dulcilol, casculatin, and amino acids.

Pharmacological action:

Demulcent, Anthelmintic, Anti-atrabilious, Analgesic, Febrifuge, Blood Purifier, Carminative, Diuretic, Diaphoretic, Sedative, Expectorant, Purgative, and Resolvent.

Categorization according to classical books:

1. Raj Nighantu : According to this nighantu, the synonyms of akash bail are akashvalli, khavalli, vyomvallika, and asprsha. The combination of the word Akash with valli (climber) word makes a synonym “akashavalli”. Akashvalli has madhura rasa (sweet taste) and has pittashamak property (pacifies pitta dosha). It acts as rasayana (rejuvenation), and balavardhak (provides strength to the body).


2. Bhavaprakash Nighantu : According to Bhavaprakash nighantu, synonyms of Aakashballi are Amarballri, akashballi, and khaballi. It is of tikta (bitter) and kashaya (astringent) taste and works as a malasangrhahak (stool binder). It is of picchila (sticky) property and treats netra roga (eye disorders). This herb works as jathragnibardhak (appetizer), hridya (cardiac tonic), and pacifies the pitta as well as kapha dosha and also eliminates aam (undigested food).


3. Nighantu Adarsh : As per Nighantu Adarsh, this herb is distributed with the name of aakashbel and amarbel. It is mentioned under karpurtwakadi varga and is found on trees nearby to it. It acts as balya (provides strength to body), keshya (best for hairs), vranropan (heals non-healing wounds), and also acts as vrishya (aphrodisiac).

  • Bhavaprakash Nighantu – Guduchyadi Varga
  • Raja Nighatu– Guduchyadi Varga
  • Kaiyadeva Nighantu – Aushadhi Varga

Medicinal uses according to Ayurveda:

  1. Hrudya – Acts as a cardio-tonic and treats congenital heart diseases
  2. Balya – Provides immunity and strength to the body
  3. Agnikari – Increases digestive fire           
  4. Vrushya – Improves vigor and acts as an aphrodisiac
  5. Rayasani – Have cell and tissue rejuvenation properties, anti-aging

Therapeutic uses of Amar Bail:

  • Gastrointestinal problems: Akash bail is a very effective plant to manage gastrointestinal issues because it acts as an anti-inflammatory that helps to prevent any inflammation and swelling internally in the large and small intestine. Being a natural purgative, it helps to clear out the bowels in case of any issue like constipation and worm infestation. In these diseases, this herb works by expelling out the fecal matter and keeps the colon clean and healthy. In some other diseases like abdominal belching, flatulence, constipation, indigestion, etc. it shows very effective results.
  • Liver problems: In liver-related issues, it works as a detoxifier that expels out the toxins and reduces the toxic loads. As a great liver tonic, it helps in improving the liver functions and keeps them in the normal range. It also helps to remove the damaged cells and increases the production of healthy liver cells.
  • Hemorrhoids: In piles or hemorrhoids, it helps to suppress the bleeding and reduces pain, inflammation, and redness. This herb also regularizes bowel habits and prevents aggravation of symptoms.
  • Skin diseases: Its local application works as a great healer in non-healing and open wounds or rashes. As a natural anti-allergic, it treats redness, itching, swelling, watery discharge, etc. by working on the root cause.

Part used:

Whole plant 

Dosage:

Juice- 10 to 20 ml

Conclusion:

From the above article, it is concluded that it has several medicinal uses. But avoid the use of akash bail during pregnancy and breastfeeding because it has anti-fertility action which is also referred to as “Stambhana” properties.

Note: Our purpose is to serve useful information related to akash bail’s benefits, dosage, and other properties. It is advised to the patients not to consume akash bail on the basis of this information. Before taking akash bail 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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