Parijat - sciatica leaves

 

                                      Harsingar / Parijat  /  Nyctanthes arbor-tristis

                 Parijat  ( tree of sorrow or Night-flowering Jasmine ) is a big shrub growing to a 20-22 feet height with grey flaky bark and its leaves are quite broad , lanceolate with a margin ,small hair on the underside , which are found in all over India .  It is important plant used in traditional medicine for treatment of Sciatica, arthritis , fever and others . Flower are fragrant  with five to eight lobed white corolla petals having  an orangish red Centre and they bloom at night and fall down as the dawn appears forming the white icy carpet . These flowers are used in many spiritual activities .Fruit is a bilobed , flat brown heart shaped to round 2 cm in diameter . Parijat  is ornamental and medicinal plant loaded with many health benefits  and is native to Southeast Asia and South Asia region . The plant uses as a herbal remedy for treating various infectious and noninfectious disease .

Vernacular names of Parijat –  Family – Oleaceae

               Hindi ( Harsingar / Parijat , Har , Siaharu , Harsing har , Saherwa , Seoli , Shefali ) , English ( Night jasmine or Coral jasmine ) , Sanskrit ( Paarijaata , Shefali , Shefalika ), Tamil ( Majjapu ) , Marathi ( Parijath ) , Bengali ( Shivuli ) , Telgu ( Pavilamalligai ) , Odia ( Shingadahar , Harsingar , Gangaseuli , Jharasephali ) , Malayalam ( Pavilamalli , Parijatam  ) , Botanical name ( Nyctanthes arbor-tristis ) .

Physical properties –

1-     Some ayurvedic properties are – Rasa / Taste ( Tikta / Bitter ) , Guna / Qualities ( Light for digestion ) , Vipaka ( Katu /Taste undergoes Pungent taste after digestion ) , Veerya / Potency ( Ushna / Hot ) , Karma/ Action ( Minimize vitiated Kapha and Vata dosha ) , Pharma-logical actions ( Hypertensive , Laxative, Antipyretic , Blood purifier , Antispasmodic, Anti-inflammatory , anti-fungal and Antibacterial properties ) . Parijat leaves are rich in Anti-oxidants, which help protects the body against oxidative stress . Its leaves have antimicrobial properties , which inhibiting the growth of certain bacteria . Parijat may help to rejuvenates the whole body , improves muscles strength ,prevent ageing , and relieving breathing difficulties .

2-     Arthritis and Sciatica – Parijat  leaves decoction are excellent relieving arthritis and Sciatica pain, due to antipyretic activities, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, which minimize inflammation and pain . The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in our body . Being  Parijat is a natural vasodilator , it is also used to treat painful muscles , sciatica etc. According to Ayurveda Arthritis , osteoarthritis , Sciatica pain occurs due to aggravation of Vata dosha , which can causes pain , swelling . Harsingar leaves helps to balance the aggravated Vata and minimize the symptom of arthritis because of its Vata balancing activities .

3-     Diabetes – Diabetes mainly occurs due to an aggravation of Vata-Kapha dosha as well as impaired digestion . Parijat leaves may helps manage diabetes due to its Vata-Kapha balancing and bitter properties . It helps prevent the accumulation of Ama        (Toxins remain in the body ) and improves the production of  Insulin , thereby controlling blood sugar level and reducing the symptoms of diabetes .The excellent anti-glycemic nature of the herb plays a important role in controlling blood sugar level .It activate the pancreas and stimulates the secretion of insulin and also regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates .

4-     Flower -Parijat flowers are useful in gastric and respiratory problems . They work as a hair tonic and are used to strengthen the hair with preventing hair fall .Flowers has antioxidant , diuretic effects , astringent and antimicrobial properties , which are very useful for strengthen hair . It enhance blood circulation in the hair follicles but also prevent hair infection .Its flower and leaves also act as immunostimulatory to boost immunity due to presence of ethanol compound in it . Its flower extract has a potent anti-diabetic effect . Parijat  leaves and flowers acts as an immune-stimulator to boost the immunity . Its flower have anti-anxiety and anti-depressant effects .Parijat leaves and flower is used to minimize cough , cold and bronchitis .

5-     Reduces Anxiety  – Its oil is used in aromatherapy to relieve stress and anxiety . It increase serotonin levels in our brain and regulate mood thus making our feel happier . Parijat is believed to have calming properties that can help alleviate anxiety issues .

6-     Cough and respiratory – Ethanol Parijat  extract is an excellent bronchodilator ( dilates the throat muscles ) . The anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory action of this plant may help to kill any bacterial infection and soothe our throat muscles .Thus , Harsingar leaves consuming daily it can help in relieving cough . Parijat is powerful anti-inflammatory , anti-biotic and anti-asthmatic properties , is useful to treating common cold , sore throat , cough and flu symptoms .It is also highly beneficial for providing faster relief from non productive cough , asthma and other bronchial condition .

7-     Others  – The whole plant exhibit wide pharmacological effects . Leaves are also utilized as a purgative , diaphoretic , diuretic and cholagogue .The leaves decoction is generally used to treat hepatic ailments , biliary scatters , intestinal sickness , joint inflammation  and constant fever . Due to its tikta rasa and hot virya ,  are the drug used in treatment of chronic fever . The bark may be used as a tanning material and the leaves are used for polishing the ivory also used like sandpaper to polish wood .

8-     Parijat oil work wonderfully as an antiallergic , antiviral and antibacterial . It helps to inhibit germs like E.coli , staph infection and some fungal infection . It can also used to treat the many fungal infection of the skin .

 

Chemical constituent –

1-     Leaves contain important phytochemical constituents , such as Benzoic acids , Fructose , Glucose , Carotene , Amorphous resin , Ascorbic acid , Methyl salicylate , Tannic acid , Oleanolic acid , Nicotiflorin , Astragalin ,Polysaccharides ,  Linoleic acid , Nyctanthic acid , D-mannitol , Beta-sitosterol , Tannin ,  Beta-sitosterol and Flavanol glycosides are richly found in Parijat leaves , which may be responsible for its high medicinal value . Multi- active constituents present in different parts of the plant may be the cause of its broad spectrum therapeutic uses.

2-      Its flower contain Glycosides and seed contain Palmitic acid , Oleic and Myristic acids. The bark contain Alkaloids and Glycosides .Flower oil consist of different important phytoconstituents like Anisaldehyde , phenyl acetaldehyde , terpenoids , and other ketones .

3-     Methyl salicylate – Methyl salicylate is an organic compound non steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine , which is methyl ester of salicylic acid . It is used to treat minor aches and pains of the muscles / joint such as arthritis , backache and sciatica etc.by causing irritation and reddening of the skin due to dilated capillaries and increase blood flow .

4-     Oleanolic acid-  Oleanolic acid is a natural Triterpenoid with many health benefit like  anti-inflammatory , anti-diabetic, anti-cardiovascular , Hepatoprotective , antiviral and antibiotic activities . Nyctanthic acid is a compound found in Parijat plant ,is a type of fatty acid with a complex molecular formula , which have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties .

5-     D-mannitol – D-mannitol is natural organic compound diuretic , which used clinically to minimize acutely raised intracranial pressure and used as an osmotic diuretic agent , used to increase urine production and a weak renal vasodilator .D-mannitol is a sugar alcohol are also used to reduces intracranial and intraocular pressure to measure glomerular filtration rate .

6-      Tannin – Tannin are astringent , bitter plant polyphenol that either bind and precipitate or shrink proteins and many organic compound including Amino acids and Alkaloids .

7-     Linoleic acid is an unsaturated omega 6 fatty acid , which are beneficial in cystic fibrosis , cancer prevention , and diabetes . Benzoic acid may helps to prevent bacteria from developing infections . Nicotiflorin have anticoagulant , anti-inflammatory and possible protective properties against acute lung damage .

8-      Astragaline is also known as Kaempferol , is a flavonoid , which have anti-inflammatory , antioxidant properties .  Nicotiflorin  is a flavonoid glycosides with a variety od many health benefits including antioxidant and neuroprotective activities .Flavanol glycosides are widespread in plant and known to hold antioxidative properties and it also used to prevent and treat chronic disease.

Side effects –

1-     Parijat leaves have a bitter and sharp taste that can cause vomiting for first time and some times also create gastric problems , like nausea , stomach irritation and diarrhea . due to presence of methyl salicylate and Tannic acid  .

2-     Parijat is very beneficial in prescribed amount but an excess of it can be very deter mental for health .

Disclaimer –

    This content about Parijat  is purely informative and educational in nature and should not be constructed as medical advice . please use  Parijat  as medicine , then definitely consult doctor before use it  .