Witnessed by: Unani
Golden collyrium / sweet suranjan (Colchicum luteum), of the Colchicaceae family. Small stemless perennial rising from a corm, with yellow crocus-like flowers; native range: alpine meadows of the western Himalaya, Kashmir and Central Asia. Globally recognized as suranjan in Arabic, suranjan shireen in Urdu, suranjan-e-shirin in Persian, and yellow colchicum, golden collyrium, sweet suranjan in English. The part used is corm (root). A firm pale corm, faintly bitter and acrid.
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.
SWEET SURANJAN
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- golden collyrium / sweet suranjan
- Scientific name
- Colchicum luteum Baker
- Family
- Colchicaceae
Form
- Part used
- corm (root)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Unani
- bitter
Temperature
- Unani
- hot & dry (3rd degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Unani
- joints
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Unani
- muhallil (resolvent), musakkin-e-dard (analgesic), mus-hil (purgative in larger dose); specific for gout and joint disease
Cautions
- Contraindications
- pregnancy, and the weak or much debilitated
- Toxicity
- the corm contains colchicine and is poisonous in overdose — nausea, vomiting, violent purging and collapse; the bitter suranjan (talkh) is the more toxic
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