Witnessed by: Ayurveda · Unani
Indian spurge (Euphorbia neriifolia), of the Euphorbiaceae family. Succulent thorny shrub of fleshy jointed branches bearing a copious white latex; native range: dry rocky hills of India, grown widely as a hedge. Globally recognized as snuhi / snuk in Sanskrit, thor / sehund in Hindi, thuhar / zaqqum in Arabic, and hedge euphorbia, oleander-leaved spurge in English. The part used is latex (milky juice); the leaf. Thick five-angled green branches oozing an intensely acrid white latex that burns the skin and tongue.
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.
INDIAN SPURGE
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Indian spurge
- Scientific name
- Euphorbia neriifolia L.
- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
Form
- Part used
- latex (milky juice); the leaf
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- pungent
- Unani
- pungent · bitter
Temperature
- Ayurveda
- heating
- Unani
- hot & dry (4th degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Unani
- intestines · skin
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- tikshna virechana (drastic purgative), bhedana (breaks up accumulations), krimighna (anthelmintic), and caustic to the skin
- Unani
- mus-hil-e-qawi (drastic purgative), jali (detergent), akkal (caustic), muhallil-e-warm (resolvent)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- pregnancy, debility, high pitta, and any inflamed or ulcerated gut; internal use only by the skilled
- Toxicity
- a caustic irritant poison — the latex severely inflames skin and eyes and, taken to excess, causes violent purging, vomiting and collapse
- Sourcing status
- cites-ii
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