Albezia lebbeck: important anti-poisonous herb of Ayurveda

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Shireesha is an important anti-poisoning herb of Ayurveda. Its use is even indicated in snake bite poisoning. It grows into a big tree, usually found in road sides of Southern India.
Botanical name: Albizia lebbeck
Family: Mimosoideae
Hindi name – Siris
Telugu name – Dirisena chettu
Tamil name – Vegiai
Kannada name – bage mara
Malayalam name – Vaga
Punjabi name – Siri, Shari
Gujarati name – Sarsado
Bengali name – sirosh
Marathi name –Siras
Sanskrit Synonyms:
Kapitana,
Mrudupushpa – Flowers are soft
Shukapirya, Shukapushpa – flower resembles bird beak
Bhandi, Bhandira
Classical categorization:
Charaka Samhita –
Vishaghna – group of anti-poisonous herbs
Vedanasthapana – Analgesic group of herbs
Shirovirechana – group of herbs that are used to cleanse and detoxify sense organs and brain
Kashaya skanda – astringent group of herbs
Sushruta – Salsaradi Gana
Vagbhata – Asanadi Gana
Distribution: It is quite commonly seen in all parts of India.
Medicinal qualities:
Guna (qualities) – Laghu (light to digest), Rooksha (dry), Teekshna (enters deep tissues, piercing)
Rasa (Taste) – Kashaya (astringent), Tikta (bitter), Madhura (sweet)
Vipaka (taste conversion after digestion) – Katu (pungent)
Veerya (potency) – Ishat Ushna – slightly hot.
Effect on Tridosha – Tridoshahara – It balances all the three Doshas.
Albizia lebbeck uses:
shireesha – ALbizia lebbeck – uses
Of all the herbs that are useful to treat poisoning, Shireesha – Albizia lebbeck is the best.
Shothahara – relieves inflammation
Visarpaghna – relieves herpes, spreading skin disease
Kasahara – relieves cold and cough
Vranahara – brings about quick wound healing
Vishapaha – Useful in treating poisoning
Varnya – Good for skin, improves complexion
Kushtaghna – Useful in skin diseases
Kandughna – relieves itching, pruritis
Twak Doshahara – detoxifies skin
Shwasahara – useful in Asthma, COPD< wheezing, breathing difficulty
Parts used -Bark, seeds, leaves and flowers of Albizia lebbeck are used for medicinal purposes.
Dose: Powder – 3 – 6 grams per day,
Water decoction – 50 – 100 ml
Fresh juice – 10 – 20 ml
Research:
Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity
Anti allergic activity
Ayurvedic medicines with Shirisha ingredient:
Dashang Lepa – Useful in wounds, eczema etc.
Ayaskriti – useful in obesity, anemia, vitiligo etc
Brihat Marichadi Taila – used in low back ache, spondylosis etc
Devdarvarishta – Used in skin and urine disorders.