Witnessed by: Unani
Asarabacca (Asarum europaeum), of the Aristolochiaceae family. Creeping evergreen perennial with glossy kidney-shaped leaves and a slender aromatic rhizome; native range: shaded broad-leaved woodlands of Europe and western Asia. Globally recognized as asaroon in Arabic, asaroon · tagar in Urdu, and asarabacca · hazelwort · wild nard in English. The part used is rhizome and leaf. A dark aromatic rootstock, pungent, bitter and acrid, with a pepper-like scent that provokes sneezing.
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.
ASARABACCA
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- asarabacca
- Scientific name
- Asarum europaeum L.
- Family
- Aristolochiaceae
Form
- Part used
- rhizome and leaf
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Unani
- pungent · bitter · acrid
Temperature
- Unani
- hot (3rd degree)
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Unani
- muqai (emetic), mufattih-e-sudad (deobstruent), mudir-e-baul wa haid (diuretic and emmenagogue), and errhine when snuffed
Cautions
- Toxicity
- large doses are violently emetic and purgative; the volatile oil contains asarone, a genotoxic constituent, so internal use is restricted
- Sourcing status
- legally-restricted
This is the card. Sign in for the full four-tradition entry — the aligned TCM · Ayurveda · Western · Unani reading, actions, dosing and cautions.