Witnessed by: Western · Unani
Khella (Ammi visnaga), of the Apiaceae family. Erect annual umbellifer with finely divided leaves and a dense umbel that stiffens in fruit; native range: the Mediterranean and North Africa, especially the Nile valley. Globally recognized as khilal / khella in Arabic, khilal in Urdu, and toothpick weed, bishop's weed, khella in English. The part used is ripe fruit (seed). Tiny ridged greyish fruits, aromatic and bitter with a warm acrid pungency on chewing.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
KHELLA
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- khella
- Scientific name
- Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam.
- Family
- Apiaceae
Form
- Part used
- ripe fruit (seed)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Western
- aromatic · bitter
- Unani
- aromatic · pungent · bitter
Temperature
- Western
- warm
- Unani
- hot & dry (2nd degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- heart · circulation · lungs · kidneys
- Unani
- kidneys · bladder · stomach · lungs
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Western
- antispasmodic, coronary vasodilator, bronchodilator, urinary antispasmodic and lithagogue
- Unani
- mufattit-e-hasat (dissolves stones), mudirr-e-baul (diuretic), kaasir-e-riyah (carminative), mohallil (resolvent), emmenagogue
Cautions
Contraindications: avoid in pregnancy and in severe liver disease; not for hypotension
Toxicity: large or prolonged doses may cause nausea, headache, insomnia and, with the furanochromones, reversible liver disturbance; can provoke photosensitivity of the skin
Interactions
- Western
- antihypertensives: additive vasodilation and blood-pressure lowering · photosensitising drugs: furanochromones add to photosensitisation of the skin
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