Botanical name – Hemidesmus indicus
Family name – Asclepiadaceae
English name – Indian Sarsaparilla
Common name – Anantamool
Habit – Perennial herb
Common Uses –
1- It is an alternative, diaphoretic, depurative, diuretic, immunosuppressant, aphrodisiac, refrigerant and tonic action. It is also antisyphilitic, anti-leucorrhoeic, galactogenic, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-rheumatic, and febrifuge. It helps in indigestion. It improves the quality and quantity of sperms.
2- It helps in curing dyspepsia, dysentery, cough, bronchitis, leucorrhoea, uterine haemorrhage, dysuria, and blood diseases. The drug is also useful in skin diseases, fever, thirst, vomiting, poisoning, anemia, and debility. Poly-herbal preparations containing Hemidesmus are used for the treatment of cancer.
Parts used – Roots
Indications – It is used externally as paste in burning sensation, conjunctivitis. It is used internally in gout, rheumatoid arthritis, burning micturition, leucorrhoea, skin disorders, and oedema.
Formulation – Anantamool is the main ingredient in Bhringraj Oil, PratirodhaKalpa, and Sundarikalp (Menopause) Tea