Witnessed by: Ayurveda · Unani
East Indian globe thistle (Sphaeranthus indicus), of the Asteraceae family. Aromatic annual herb with globular purple flower-heads; native range: the wet rice-field margins and damp ground of India. Globally recognized as mundi, sravani in Sanskrit, gorakhmundi, mundi in Hindi, and East Indian globe thistle, hedgehog's head in English. The part used is whole plant, flower-heads and seed. Aromatic, bitter herb bearing round, bristly purple heads.
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.
EAST INDIAN GLOBE THISTLE
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- East Indian globe thistle
- Scientific name
- Sphaeranthus indicus L.
- Family
- Asteraceae
Form
- Part used
- whole plant, flower-heads and seed
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- pungent · bitter · astringent (katu, tikta, kashaya)
- Unani
- pungent · bitter
Temperature
Ayurveda: heating (ushna)
Unani: hot & dry (2nd degree)
convergence: both {witness_count} witnesses reckon it hot and dry
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Unani
- brain · nerves · skin
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- medhya (nootropic), rasayana, raktashodhaka (blood purifier), krimighna and deepana; for skin disease, epilepsy and mental disorder, worms, and as a rejuvenative to mind and body
- Unani
- musaffi-e-khoon (blood purifier), muqawwi-e-dimagh (brain tonic) and muhallil (resolvent); for chronic skin disease, epilepsy, insanity and chronic fever
Cautions
- Contraindications
- pregnancy; high pitta and heat states in excess
- Toxicity
- generally well tolerated; large doses may irritate
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