Witnessed by: Western · Unani
Birthwort (Aristolochia longa), of the Aristolochiaceae family. A twining or scrambling perennial with heart-shaped leaves and strange pipe-shaped, dull yellowish-brown tubular flowers; native range: Mediterranean Europe and North Africa, on dry banks and hedgerows. Globally recognized as zarawand taweel in Arabic, and long birthwort in English. The part used is root (rhizome). A long, tapering, cinnamon-brown root, bitter and acrid to the taste, faintly aromatic when cut.
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.
BIRTHWORT
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Birthwort
- Scientific name
- Aristolochia longa L.
- Family
- Aristolochiaceae
Form
- Part used
- root (rhizome)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Western
- bitter · acrid
- Unani
- bitter · acrid
Temperature
- Western
- hot (Galenic: hot and dry, 3rd degree)
- Unani
- hot, dry (3rd degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- uterus · kidneys
- Unani
- uterus · intestines · skin
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Western
- emmenagogue, parturient (aids labour and expels the afterbirth), vulnerary, alexipharmic (antidote to venomous bites)
- Unani
- mohallil (resolvent), mudirr-e-haiz (emmenagogue), moharrik-e-rahem (uterine stimulant), daafeh-e-samm (antidote to poison and venom), jali (detergent, for foul wounds and ulcers)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- pregnancy (other than at the moment of delivery under skilled hands), any pre-existing kidney impairment, prolonged or repeated use
- Toxicity
- contains aristolochic acid, a potent nephrotoxin and human carcinogen — even brief use can cause progressive kidney failure (aristolochic acid nephropathy) and is linked to urothelial cancer; modern regulators have banned Aristolochia species from internal use in most countries
- Sourcing status
- legally-restricted
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