Digitalis Lanata | Health Encyclopedia: Digitalis Lanata

Digitalis Lanata: From 1 Different Sources

Ehrh.

Habitat: Native to Europe. Now cultivated mainly in Kashmir (Yarikhah), also occurs wild.

English: Grecian Foxglove.

Ayurvedic: Hritpatri, Tilapushpi (non-classical). (Yellow var.)

Action: See D. purpurea.

Earlier, the herb was used to treat ulcers, boils, abscesses, headaches and paralysis. William Withering, an 18th century English country doctor, explored the plant's hidden properties. His work led to the production of digoxin, a life-saving medicine.

Safety of the herb cannot be established due to variable amounts of cardiac glycosides. The powder is toxic at 520 mg.

Health Source: Indian Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary

Aerva Lanata

(L.) Juss. ex Schult.

Family: Amaranthaceae.

Habitat: The warmer parts of India, ascending to 1,000 m.

Ayurvedic: Paashaanabheda. Gorakshaganjaa, Aadaanpaaki, Shatkabhedi.

Siddha/Tamil: Sirupeelai.

Folk: Paashaanabheda (southern India), Gorakhagaanjaa.

Action: Anticalculus (used in lithiasis), diuretic, demulcent, anthelmintic, antidiarrhoeal, anticholerin, bechic; leaf used in hepatitis, root in strangury. A decoction of the plant is used in catarrh of bladder. The flowers and roots are used for headache.

Key application: As diuretic and lithontriptic. (The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.)

The plant contains palmitic acid, beta-sitosterol and alpha-amyrin.

Aerva scandens Wall., synonym A. sanguinolenta Blume, is also known as Paashaanabheda in the south.

Species used as Paashaanabheda: Bergenia ligulata (north), Aerva lanata (south), Coleus amboinicus (east) and Bryophyllum pinnatum (west).

Dosage: 50-100 ml decoction. (CCRAS.)... aerva lanata

Digitalis Purpurea

Linn.

Family: Scrophulariaceae.

Habitat: Native to West Europe. Cultivated in Tangmarg and Kishtawar in Kashmir, Darjeeling and the Nilgiris.

English: Digitalis, Foxglove.

Ayurvedic: Hritpatri, Tilapushpi (non-classical). (Purple var.)

Action: Main source of digoxin for the pharmaceutical industry. Digitalis glycosides increase the force of contraction of heart without increasing the oxygen consumption and slow the heart rate when auricular fibrillation is present. To be used only under strict medical supervision.

Not used as a herbal drug.... digitalis purpurea