My Vedic Life

What is Sankhapuspi:

• Sankhapuspi is a perennial herb that improves memory and intelligence. It helps to rejuvenate the mind. It is good for memory, skin glow, and epilepsy, psychological disorders like hysteria, leprosy, worms, and toxins.
• It is also known as morning-glory, native to India. The herb is extremely beneficial and is used from root to tips for its wide range of therapeutic benefits.
• In Sanskrit, It is known as "Mangalyakushuma", which means bringer of good fortune and health.
• It contains carbohydrates, proteins, and amino acids, alkaloids, fatty acids/ volatile acids/ fixed oil, phenolic/ glycosides/ triterpenoids/ steroids. (More Details)

What are its benefits:

• Reduces Mental Fatigue: It is a powerful memory booster that helps in enhancing the brain's working capacity and reduce the loss of concentration and improve focus, calmness, alertness also.
• For depression: Shankhapushpi has anti-stress, anti-depressive, and anti-anxiety properties. Hence it helps in treating different types of psychotic problems like depression, dementia, restlessness, etc. It balances the brain chemicals i.e. neurotransmitters and ups the secretion of dopamine which in turn keeps the serotonin level under control and helps to reduce various symptoms of anxiety which includes restlessness, uneasiness, cold hands, and feet, and helps in relaxing the mind and body.
• Enhances Cardiac Functioning: It strengthens the heart muscles. The ethanolic extract reduce the levels of NEFA (non-esterified Fatty Acids) and hence reduces the risk of heart attacks, heart blocks, blood clots etc. It also lowers the levels of cholesterol in the blood.
• Stimulates Digestion: It stimulates the secretion of digestive juices thereby increasing the absorption of essential nutrients and enhancing digestion. It also prevents fluid retention and treats symptoms of abdominal pain, abdominal distension, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome.
• Improves Skin Health: It plays important role in various skin infections. the antioxidants is effective in removing harmful free radicals from the body and its antipruritic nature alleviates itching sensation caused due to allergic conditions like psoriasis, eczema, acne, sunburn etc. It treats various signs of aging like wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, etc.

Availability:

• It's available in "Churna" or Powder, capsule form.
• Its whole plant, root, seeds, ash is used.

Ayurvedic Properties:

• It pacifies "Pitta" (fire and air), "Vata" (air), and "Kapha" (earth and water) doshas.
• It is astringent in taste, hot potency, good for intellect, eye diseases, and mental disorders. 
• It characterizes "Tikta Rasa" which is bitter taste, "Snigdha" (oily, sticky), "Pichhli" (slimy) gunas, "Sheeto Virya" (Cold Potency), "Madhura Vipaka" (Pungent Metabolic Properties).
• "Medhya": It is a memory-booster.
• "Vamana": Vomiting
• "Deepana": It enhances stomach fire.
• "Pachana": It helps for digestion.
• "Rochana": It stimulates appetite.
• "Kusthahara": It treats skin disease.
• "Shothahara": It reduces inflammation.
• "Hridaya": It treats heart problems.
• "Jantujit": It relieves from worm infestation.

Regional Name:

• Hindi: Sankhahul, Shankhahuli, Aparajit; Sanskrit: Shankhava, Shankhpushpi, Ksheerapushpi, Mangala Kusuma; Telugu: Sankhapuspi; Marathi: Sankhvela, Gujarati: Sankhavali; English: English speed wheel; Urdu: Sankali; Bengal: Sankhapuspi; Gujarathi: Shankhavali; Kannada: Bilikanthisoppu; Punjabi: Shankhapuspi; Tamil: Sanghupushpam, kakkurattai