Witnessed by: Ayurveda · Western · Unani
Indian sarsaparilla (Hemidesmus indicus), of the Apocynaceae (formerly Asclepiadaceae) family. Slender, twining perennial vine with woody rootstock and milky juice; native range: Throughout India and Sri Lanka, in scrub, hedges and open forest; twining over low bushes. Globally recognized as sariva, anantamula ('the endless root') in Sanskrit, anantmul, magrabu, salsa in Hindi, ushba hindi (عشبة هندية) in Arabic, and Indian sarsaparilla, false sarsaparilla, nannari in English. The part used is root. Long, cylindrical, purplish-brown roots with a thick bark and slender woody core, breathing a sweet, warm, vanilla-and-tar fragrance; the taste sweetish then bitter.
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 SARSAPARILLA
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Indian sarsaparilla
- Scientific name
- Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R.Br.
- Family
- Apocynaceae (formerly Asclepiadaceae)
Form
- Part used
- root
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- sweet (madhura) · bitter (tikta)
- Western
- sweet · aromatic · bitter
- Unani
- sweet · bitter · aromatic
Temperature
- Ayurveda
- cooling (shita)
- Western
- cool (a refrigerant alterative)
- Unani
- hot & dry (2nd degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- blood · skin · kidneys · liver
- Unani
- liver · spleen · kidneys
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- raktaprasadana (blood-purifying), pittahara, dahaprashamana (relieves burning), jvaraghna (antipyretic), varnya (improves complexion), stanyashodhana (cleanses breast milk), rasayana
- Western
- alterative, blood purifier, tonic, diaphoretic, diuretic, demulcent; a domestic substitute for sarsaparilla
- Unani
- musaffi-e-dam (blood purifier), muharrik (stimulant), mudir-e-baul (diuretic), muhallil (resolvent)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- generally safe; caution with very large or prolonged doses
- Toxicity
- low toxicity; occasional gastric upset from concentrated preparations
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