Pergularia is a small, perennial, twining herb with greenish yellow or dull white, small flowers in tiny clusters and fruits reflexed in pairs, covered with spinous outgrowths. It has hairy stems with milky juice and board, egg-shaped leaves. The entire plant constitutes the drug and is used as medicine. It is pungent, antibilious and laxative.
Pergularia contains a bitter resin, two bitter principles and a glucoside possessing physiological action similar to pituitrin and several sterols.
Botanical Name: Pergularia extensa
Indian Name: Uttran or Sadorani
Below are some of the medicinal properties of pergularia:
- The herb promotes the removal of catarrhal matter and phlegm from the bronchial tubes. It is highly beneficial in the treatment of asthma. The juice from the leaves is used as an expectorant in catarrhal diseases. A decoction of its leaves is given in cough as an expectorant.
- The juice of the pergularia leaves can be given to treat diarrhea among children.
- Pergularia is useful in the treatment of bleeding piles. It should be used in the same manner as for intestinal worms.
- It forms a constituents of a preparation used in rheumatism. The leaf juice can be given mixed with the juice of fresh ginger in the treatment. The root bark is also useful in the treatment of rheumatism. It should be given in 4 to 8 gram doses with milk. The bark, mixed with cow's milk, can be used beneficially as a purgative in rheumatic complaints.
- Pergularia is a useful uterine tonic. It is beneficial in excessive uterine bleeding. The drug forms a constituent of a preparation given in amenorrhea or abnormal suppression of menses.
- The herb has diuretic properties. It is valuable in stranguary, that is, discharge of urine in droplets accompanied by pain.
- It possesses anthelmintic properties and finds its use in removing intestinal worms. About 24 grams of the leaves fried in ghee should be taken for a few days.
- Pergularia is beneficial in the treatment of several skin disorders. A mixture of the leaf juice and slaked lime can be applied to rheumatic swellings, hard tumors and cysts. A poultice of the leaves can be applied to carbuncles with beneficial effect.