Witnessed by: Ayurveda · Western · Unani · TCM
Velvet leaf (Cissampelos pareira), of the Menispermaceae family. Slender twining perennial vine with soft velvety, near-round (peltate) leaves; native range: Pantropical — India, tropical Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Globally recognized as patha · ambashtha in Sanskrit, padh · pahadvel in Hindi, xi sheng teng (锡生藤) in Chinese, patha in Arabic, and pareira; false pareira brava in English. The part used is root and whole plant (root chiefly). Woody twisted root, greyish-brown without and pale yellow within, with a lasting bitter taste; the leaves are soft and downy beneath.
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.
VELVET LEAF (PAREIRA)
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- velvet leaf
- Scientific name
- Cissampelos pareira L.
- Family
- Menispermaceae
Form
- Part used
- root and whole plant (root chiefly)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- dominant: bitter (tikta) · then: pungent (katu)
- Western
- bitter
- Unani
- bitter
Temperature
- Ayurveda
- heating (ushna virya)
- Western
- warming
- Unani
- hot & dry
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- digestion · bladder
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- activates the channels, disperses stasis, stops bleeding and relieves pain (regional use)
- Ayurveda
- grahi (absorbent, anti-diarrhoeal), dipana-pachana, jvaraghna (antipyretic), shothahara
- Western
- diuretic, tonic, mild aperient, demulcent to the urinary tract
- Unani
- habis-e-ishal (checks diarrhoea), musakkin, mudirr-e-baul (diuretic)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- constipation from dryness; caution in high pitta given its heat
- Toxicity
- no serious toxicity at customary doses; the genus carries bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, so avoid large amounts
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