Dronapuspi (Leucas cephalotes)
Dronapuspi-Leucas cephalotes
Dronapuspi is commonly known as Head Leucas. It grows in cultivated fields as a weed. Dronapuspi is a Sanskrit name.The flowers of the plant looks like a vessel hence got the name. In Sanskrit it is also called as Kumbhayoni as the flowers of the plant looks like a pot with a wide opening. It possesses many medicinal values according to Ayurveda.
Dr. Gupta’s has been constantly working on Dronapuspi plant to find out it IAFA’s medicinal properties . Experts in IAFA found out that the plant can act as an anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-diarrhoeal, antipyretic, antioxidant and antiallergic agent. Our Experts have conducted many studies on this plant and found out that Leucas cephalotes contains carbohydrates, proteins and aminoacids, glycosides,flavanoids, tanninsphenols and steroids.Methanolic extract of the plant shows that anti bacterial properties. It is a good expectorant hence it can be used in Asthmatic conditions. Laballenic acid content in Leucas cephalotes is high. It also contains Luaricacid, Glutanicacid, Adipicacid and Tridecanoic acid.
Action of Dronapuspi – Leucas cephalotes in Allergies
IAFA has been constantly working on various studies on Dronapuspi to find out its pharmacological actions.The plant has anti inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-diarrhoeal, antipyretic and insectidal activity. It has cytotoxic activity also. The phyto constituents found in the plant Dronapuspi helps to acts as an antiallergic drug. The decoction of the whole plant can be used in allergic disorders.
Vernacular Names and Botanical Classification
| Botanical Name | Leucas cephalotes |
| Family | Lamiaceae |
| Native Names | |
| Sanskrit Name | Dronapuspi, Drona,Phalepuspa,Kumbhayoni |
| Hindi Name | Goma |
| English Name | Head Leucas |
| Malayalam Name | Tumba |
| Kannada Name | Tumbegida |
| Tamil Name | Tumbai |
Ayurveda reference of Dronapuspi- Leucas cephalotes
Ayurveda reference of Dronapuspi- Leucas cephalotes
- Annual herb
- It is an erect plant
- Leaves- yellowish green in colour, lanceolate and subacute
- Stem- light yellowish green, hairy and quadrangular
- Roots- cylindrical, zigzag, long with numerous wiry rootlets.
- Inflorescence- Sessile
- Fruits-schizocarpic, carcerule
- Seed -oblong, trigonous and dark brown in colour
Geographical distribution of Dronapuspi – Leucas cephalotes
It is distributed inIndia, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Bangladeshetc. It is a weed and grows in cultivated fields, after a rainfall.
Phytoconstituents of Dronapuspi – Leucas cephalotes
The phytoconstituents in the plant Dronapuspi include lignans, flavanoids, coumarins, steroids, terpenes, fatty acid and aliphatic long chain compounds. It contains triterpenes, sterols, flavones, laballenicacid, luaric acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid and tridecanoic acid and sitosterols.
Parts used of Dronapuspi –Leucas cephalotes
- Whole plant
Dosage of – Dronapuspi –Leucas cephalotes
- Swarasa(Extract) – 5-10 ml
- Powder -1-3 gms
Medicinal Properties of – Dronapuspi –Leucas cephalotes
- Bhedini- laxative
- Kaphaghna-alleviates Kaphadosha
- Amapacaka- digest indgested food
- Kamalahara- cures Jaundice
- Sothaghna–removes inflammation
- Tamakaswasaghna- cures Asthma
- Krimighna – antimicrobial action
- Swedajanana- increases sweating
- Vataprasamana – pacifies Vatadosha
- Kandughna- removes itching
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– Dr. Sahil Gupta (B.A.M.S., M.H.A.)
Ayurvedic Allergy Specialist
CEO & Founder of IAFA®
Home remedies of Gambhari – Leucas cephalotes
In Ayurveda ,the holistic medical science,treatment is baesd on nontoxic naturally available drug . According to Ayurveda every single plant on the earth hasmedicinal property. Even though Dronapuspi is a weed ,it also possesses many medicinal values and its therapeutic values are studied by IAFA. Someof the home remedies of Dronapuspiare described below
- In diarrhoea- Take 20 gms of dried whole plant,added with 100 ml of water, boiled and reduced to 30 ml . This decoction is to be taken orally for 3 days.
- In Fever –The decoction of the whole plant is made and taken internally at the dosage of 30 ml twice daily before food for 7 days.
- In Headache- Paste of flowers and leaves of the plant Dronapuspi is made with water and apply over forehead for 20 minutes.
- In Jaundice- 60 ml of flower decoction is to be taken internally for 7 days.
- In Rhinitis- 5 ml of juice of the leaves of Dronapuspi is used internally.
- For blood purification- In 1 litre of water add 15 gms of dried leaves of the plant Dronapuspi and it is taken as drinking water.
- In Abdominal distension – Juice of the plant is to be taken internally at the dosage of 5 ml.
- In Itching skin disorders– Juice of the plant is is applied all over the body.
Article Written By: Dr. Sahil Gupta, Ayurveda Allergy Specialist
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