Nirgundi, also known as the five-leaved chaste tree, is a powerful ayurvedic plant with notable medicinal powers that relieves a variety of maladies such as asthma, muscle spasms, and anxiety.
Vitex negundo is the scientific name, and it is also known as "Nishinda" in Bengali, "Nallavalli" in Telugu, "Nagod" in Gujarati, and "Nallanochi" in Tamil.
Nirgundi's natural habitats are primarily in southern Asia and Africa, and it is commonly farmed in tropical regions such as China, India, Indonesia, Tanzania, and Madagascar.
It is a deciduous shrub that grows to a height of 2 to 8 metres and has brown bark and green leaves with five leaflets.
The flowers are white or blue in colour, and when they mature, they produce succulent, oval-shaped, purple fruits or drupes with a juicy pulp and seed inside.
The healing properties of "Nirgundi," which literally translates to "that which shields the body from ailments," are praised in ancient Ayurvedic writings.
True to its name, Mother Nature's lovely gift provides some excellent benefits for overall human health.
The Nirgundi plant's roots, leaves, blossoms, fruits, and bark are used in herbal mixtures in the form of oils, pastes, juices, and powders to treat illnesses ranging from common fevers to the extremely unusual leprosy.
Today, this wonderful herb is being naturalised and propagated around the world, including America and Australia, so that the global population can benefit from the excellent benefits that Nirgundi provides for total well-being.
Nirgundi leaf and stem extracts contain high levels of vitamin C and vitamin E, demonstrating natural antioxidant properties.
This protects cells and tissues against oxidative damage caused by free radicals, while also improving skin texture and promoting the growth of thick, long, silky hair.
The presence of valuable bioactive ingredients such as camphene, pinene, dulcitol, and nirgundi significantly reduces inflammation in the body, alleviating symptoms of asthma, arthritis, anxiety, and improving digestion and metabolism.
Nirgundi Health Advantages:
1. Asthma Symptoms Treatment:
Applying nirgundi oil, a potent antihistamine, to the nose, neck, and chest relieves congestion in asthmatics. It, like sitopaladi churna, is beneficial in treating respiratory disorders such as bronchitis, allergies, and breathing difficulties.
2. Relieves Menstrual Cramps:
The fruits of Vitex negundo are high in terpenoids, which help to correct hormonal imbalances in the female system. This, in turn, aids in the relief of discomforting problems such as monthly cramps and uterine fibroids, as well as the treatment of infertility.
3. Decreases Anxiety:
Nirgundi contains important flavonoids and fatty acids that boost intelligence and memory ability in the brain. Furthermore, they improve mood and regulate sleep, alleviating anxiety, sadness, and insomnia.
4. Relieves Joint Pain:
Nirgundi root and bark preparations contain high levels of the alkaloid nishindine, which has anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain-relieving) properties. This aids in the relief of arthritis-related joint pain and muscle spasms.
5. Treats High Fever:
Nirgundi's strong vitamin C concentration and natural antibacterial properties aid to lower body temperatures, fight infections, and promote immunity. For immediate fever relief, boil nirgundi leaves in water, strain, and swallow.
6. Epilepsy Symptoms Remedy
Nirgundi is high in phytonutrients such as polyphenols, alkaloids, and organic steroids, all of which have neuroprotective qualities.These aid in the smooth transmission of sensory impressions such as touch, smell, sight, sound, and taste by regulating nerve signals originating in the brain. Furthermore, antispasmodic components in nirgundi efficiently reduce spasmodic muscle movements and convulsions. As a very potent herb, it is endowed with "Medhya," which means memory-promoting, and "Shulahara," which means antispasmodic characteristics that alleviate the incapacitating symptoms of epilepsy.
7. Prevents premature hair greying
Nirgundi, which is rich in rejuvenating antioxidants such as flavonoids and terpenoids, as well as vitamins C and E, has excellent benefits for healthy hair development. Nirgundi oil extracts are typically blended with sesame oil and applied externally on the scalp as well as the tresses, from root to tip, aggressively massaging to allow it to permeate the deeper layers. Nirgundi, endowed with revitalising "Keshya" properties that build hair texture and strength, nourishes the hair roots, i.e. follicles, and prevents the premature advent of grey hairs, bestowing a long, dense, and lustrous mane.
