Witnessed by: Ayurveda
Indian ipecac (Tylophora indica), of the Apocynaceae (Asclepiadaceae) family. Slender twining perennial climber with milky sap; native range: peninsular and eastern India, in plains and hill scrub. Globally recognized as antamula · arkaparni in Sanskrit, antamul · janglipikvan in Hindi, and Indian ipecac · emetic swallow-wort · country ipecac in English. The part used is leaf, root. Thin ovate leaves and a knotty root, acrid and nauseous, leaving a lasting bitter catch in the throat.
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 IPECAC
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Indian ipecac
- Scientific name
- Tylophora indica (Burm.f.) Merr.
- Family
- Apocynaceae (Asclepiadaceae)
Form
- Part used
- leaf, root
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- pungent · bitter · astringent (katu , tikta , kashaya)
Temperature
- Ayurveda
- heating (ushna)
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- vamaka (emetic in dose), shwasahara (relieves asthma), kasahara, kaphavata-hara, grahi (in dysentery), krimighna
Cautions
- Contraindications
- avoided in high pitta, in the debilitated, the pregnant and the very young; not for prolonged use
- Toxicity
- the alkaloid tylophorine is a strong emetic and gastro-intestinal irritant, purging and prostration following overdose
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