Nerium indicum - Ashvaghna, Karavira

Ashvaghna, Karavira

Karavira consists of dried leaves of Nerium indicum Mill. Syn. Nerium odorum Soland (Fam.Apocynaceae), a large evergreen woody shrub with milky Juice, found throughout the year in upper Gangetic plains, Himalayas, from Nepal to Kashmir upto 2000 m. Central and Southern India, also cultivated near temples and gardens.

Uses

Fever, Wound healing, Skin diseases, Itching, Inflammation

Parts Used

Whole plant

Common names

Language	Common name
Kannada	Kanagalu, Kanagile
Hindi	Kaner
Malayalam	Kanave eram, Arali, Kattalari
Tamil	Arali, Alari, Aatrulari
Telugu	Ganneru
Marathi	Kanher
Gujarathi	Kanera, Karena, Karen
Punjabi	Kaner
Kashmiri	Gandeela, Gandula
Sanskrit	Hayamaaraka, Harapriya
English	Indian Oleander

Chemical Composition

Cardiac glucoside (oleandrin).

Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Rasa

Tikta, Kashaya, Katu

Guna

Laghu, Ruksha, Tikshna

Veerya

Ushna (heat)

Vipaka

Katu (Pungent)

Karma

Shvasahara, Caksusya, Krimighna, Kandughna, Kushaghna, Vranapaha,

Habit

Shrub

Identification

Leaf

Kind	Shape	Feature
Simple	Whorls of 3	10-15 x 1-2 cm, linear-lanceolate, tapering at both ends, acuminate, thick coriaceous, midrib prominent, nerves numerous; petiole 5-7.5 mm long

Flower

Type	Size	Color and composition	Stamen	More information
Bisexual	Terminal and axillary panicles	greenish yellow	5	Flowers white, pink or dark red, single or double in cultivated, form, fragrant 3-4 cm across, peduncle and pedicel hairy, bracts small, 5-7.5 mm long. Calyx c. 6.25 mm long, divided into 5 linear, acute lobes, hairy with gland at the base inside. Corolla tube 1.8 cm long, hairy within, throat narrow, ending in five twisted petals, tips rounded, corona of 5 scales near the throat of the corolla, cleft into 4-7 linear segments. Stamen included, filament short, Anthers connivent and adherent to stigma, connectives hairy, produced upward into long thread-like hairy appendages. Ovary with two distinct carpels, style filiform, thickened upward; stigma two lobed.

Fruit

Type	Size	Mass	Appearance	Seeds	More information
Follicle	12-20 cm x 7:5 mm long.		Seeds brown with bristles	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

• Manikya ras
• Chitrakadi taila
• Brihat Marichadi taila

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings.

Commonly seen growing in areas

Tropical area.

Photo Gallery

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  Leaves

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  Flowers

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  Seeds

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  Fruits

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  Seeds

External Links

THE AYURVEDIC PHARMACOPOEIA OF INDIA