Witnessed by: Ayurveda · Unani
Porcupine flower (Barleria prionitis), of the Acanthaceae family. Spiny much-branched shrub with axillary spines and yellow flowers; native range: tropical India and Southeast Asia, on waste ground. Globally recognized as sahachara / kurantaka in Sanskrit, katsaraiya, vajradanti in Hindi, piyabansa in Arabic, and porcupine flower, yellow barleria in English. The part used is whole plant, leaf and root. Stiff spiny branches, glossy leaves and bright yellow tubular flowers; the leaf-juice bitter and mucilaginous.
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.
PORCUPINE FLOWER
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- porcupine flower
- Scientific name
- Barleria prionitis L.
- Family
- Acanthaceae
Form
- Part used
- whole plant, leaf and root
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- bitter · pungent · astringent (tikta, katu, kashaya)
- Unani
- bitter · astringent
Temperature
- Ayurveda
- heating (ushna)
- Unani
- hot & dry (2nd degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Unani
- nerves · joints · lungs
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- vata-kaphahara, shothahara (anti-inflammatory), dantya (strengthens teeth and gums), kasahara (antitussive), keshya (hair tonic), krimighna
- Unani
- muhallil-e-warm (anti-inflammatory), musakkin-e-alam (analgesic), daf-e-humma (antipyretic), mundamil-e-qaruh (wound-healing)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- high pitta and bleeding heat conditions (its heat)
- Toxicity
- none of note in customary use
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