Witnessed by: Ayurveda · Western · Unani
German pellitory (Anacyclus officinarum), of the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. Low chamomile-like perennial with finely cut leaves and a thick pungent taproot; native range: the cultivated German garden form of the pellitory of Spain, raised in central Europe as the officinal root. Globally recognized as akarakarabha in Sanskrit, akarkara in Hindi, aqarqarha (عاقرقرحا) in Arabic, and pellitory of Spain · Spanish chamomile in English. The part used is root. The root is at first almost tasteless, then fiercely acrid and tingling, flooding the mouth with saliva and leaving a lasting numbing burn.
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.
GERMAN PELLITORY
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- German pellitory
- Scientific name
- Anacyclus officinarum Hayne
- Family
- Asteraceae (Compositae)
Form
- Part used
- root
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- pungent (katu)
- Western
- pungent · acrid
- Unani
- pungent · acrid
Temperature
- Ayurveda
- heating (ushna, intensely)
- Western
- hot
- Unani
- hot & dry (3rd degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- nerves · mucous membranes · circulation
- Unani
- brain · nerves · stomach
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- vata-kaphahara, medhya (nervine), vrishya (aphrodisiac), for slurred speech and palsy
- Western
- sialagogue, rubefacient, local irritant, nervine stimulant, for toothache and palsy of the tongue
- Unani
- munabbih (nervine stimulant), muharrik-e-bah (aphrodisiac), for laqwa (facial palsy) and falij (paralysis), sialagogue
Cautions
- Contraindications
- high pitta, fever and inflammatory states; pregnancy
- Toxicity
- an acrid irritant — large doses burn and inflame the mouth and gut; for internal use only in minute dose
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