Wholesomeness of Drum Stick Plant (Shigru)
Drum stick is a plant that is grown for its nutritious leafy greens, flower and mineral rich green fruit pods. This tree is drought-tolerant, medium sized, evergreen tree that prefers warm, frost free climates to flourish. Every part of this tree has got immense nutritional value.
- It is a rich source of highly digestive proteins, calcium, iron, Vitamin C and carotenoids .
- Juice extracts of drumstick leaves is great source of calcium.
- It is also great blood purifier.
Vernacular Names of Drum Stick:
- Horse raddish tree ,Raddish tree ,drumstick tree
- French- Benzolive
- German-Behenbaum
- Spanish-Moringa
Indian Languages:
- Hindi – Shajmah, Shajna
- Malayalam – Sigru, Muringa
- Tamil – Murungai
- Sanskrit Synonyms
- Shobhanjana – very auspicious
- Shigru – strong potency
- Teekshnagandha – Strong and pungent odour
- Aksheeva – relieves intoxication
Therapeutic Uses of Drum Stick :
- Head ache (Shira shoola) – Nasya with juice of leaves of shigru mixed with jaggery is very effective in headache.
- Worm infestation (Krimi roga) – Juice of leaves of drum stick plant and False Black Pepper (Vidanga,Embelia ribes, വിഴാലരി) is mixed with honey and taken.
- Osteo arthritis – Aggravated Vata residing in joints damages them leading to pain and swelling. This disorder is called Osteoarthritis (Sandhi Vata). Seed oil (bija taila) of drum stick plant is found effective by external application in region of pain.
- Netra roga( diseases relating to eyes for eg. eye infections ) – Washing of eyes with juice of leaves of shigru.
- Pregnant women
- Intake of drumsticks helps to ease any kind of pre and post-delivery complication.
- Leaf juice of drumstick plant is very benificial as it can help them to overcome sluggishness of the uterus,easy delivery and reduce post-delivery complications.
- Sore throat and cough – Drumstick soup.
Quantity
Juice(swarasa)- 10 to 20 ml (kashaya- 50- 100 ml)
Powder (churna)- 1 to 3 gram
Important Formulations :
- Sigrupushpa kashaya
- Sigruvadi lepa
References :
Caraka Samhita – krimighna , Svedopaga
Susruta Samhita – Varunadi , Shiro virechana
Vaghbata -Varunadi
