Latin Name: Hemidesmus indicus

Botanical Name: Hemidesmus indicus

Family: Apocynaceae

Common Name: Anantmool, Sariva

English Name: Indian Sarsaparilla

Part Used: Root

About Anantmool

Roots:

Woody, slender, aromatic

Stem:

Cylindrical, thickened at nodes

Flower:

Small, yellow to greenish-purple in branched clusters

Fruits:

Long, divergent follicles

Ayurvedic Profile of

Anantmool

Rasa (Taste):
Sweet, Bitter

Guna (Qualities): Heavy, Oily

Virya (Potency): Cold

Vipaka (Post-digestion Effect): Sweet

Doshakarma (Effect on Doshas): Tridoshashamak (Balances Vata, Pitta, and Kapha).

Health Benefits

Skin Health:

Treats eczema, psoriasis, urticaria, and erysipelas & reduces itching, inflammation, and heat-related conditions.

Urinary Health:

Diuretic without harming kidneys.
Treats burning micturition, cystitis, and prostatitis.

Nervous System:

Calms anger and irritation from aggravated pitta, reduces vata indirectly by soothing pitta.

Traditional & Medicinal Uses

Traditional Uses

Hot infusion during pregnancy enhances the newborn’s complexion.
Daily infusion purifies blood and improves skin glow.

Medicinal Uses

Treats bacterial conditions like syphilis and gonorrhea, helps with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Effective in skin conditions, urinary infections, and inflammatory disorders

Home Remedies

For Skin Diseases

Remedy: Root powder cleans the blood and stops itching.

For Urinary Health

Remedy: 50 ml daily hot infusion reduces burning micturition.

For Female Health

Remedy: Effective in Shweta Pradar (leucorrhea).

Scientific Insights

Hepatoprotective Mechanism

It boosts your appetite, helps to prevent liver damage, and may even assist with those pesky stomach issues.

Anti-venom Effects

Neutralizes viper venom-induced changes in lab studies.

Anti-inflammatory Action

Reduces granuloma and inflammation in animal models.