Sapindus, Soap nut, Arishtaka Arishtaka (Ayurveda)Maghz e Bunduq, Post e Ritha (Unani)Puvamkottai (Siddh)Lung tong ལུང་ཏོང་ (Tibet) SapindusR. Wight, Illustrations of Indian botany, vol. 1 (1840) Soap Nut (Calcutta Unani College, Adam, 2019) Botanical name: Sapindus laurifolius (syn. S. trifoliatus), S. mukorossi, S. emarginatus, S. detregens, S. rubiginosus Parts used: Pericarp of the Fruit; sometimes the kernel Temperature & Taste: Warm, dry. Bitter (Considered Cool–Neutral in Tibetan Medicine) Uses: 1. Clears Heat and Toxin: (Ayurveda, Unani, TCM, Tibet)-Fever; ‘especially Quartan Fever’. (Avicenna)-swollen sore throat (TCM, Tibet)-Carbuncles, pyogenic Infection (TCM)-Food poisoning-Snake Bite; bites of Rabid animals, Scorpion and Spider bites2. Astringes to Stop Leakage: (Ayurveda, Unani, TCM)-Spermatorrhea, increases retentive power of Sperm (prolongs ejaculation) (Ayurveda, Unani)-Leukorrhea (TCM)-Malnutrition (TCM)-Hemorrhoids-Diabetes (Unani)3. Moves the Blood, Promotes Menstruation: (Ayurveda, Tibet)-Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea-expels Placenta and a Dead Fetus-Female Infertility (taken every morning for 2 months) (Ayurveda, Tibet)-to prevent Conception (Nighantas)-Tincture was preferred to promote Menstruation-also in pessaries to promote Menstruation, stimulate Labor, and expel a Dead Fetus4. Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough: (Ayurveda, TCM)-Cold-phlegm type Cough, Asthma5. Purgative:-used as a purgative in full doses-‘Soap-nut evacuates black bile, phlegm, yellow bile and other fluids from the body without any ill effects’. (Avicenna)-full doses can also be Emetic6. Settles Wind, Stops…

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