AMARANTHUS SPINOSUS

Linn.

Family ► Amaranthaceae.

Habitat ► Cultivated fields, waste places and along roadsides.

English ► Spiny Amaranth, Thorny Amaranth, Spiny Pigweed.

Ayurvedic ► Tanduliya, Tandulaka, Meghnaad, Megharava, Vishaghn, Alpamaarish.

Siddha/Tamil ► Mullukkeerai.

Folk ► Katili-chaulai.

Action ► Galactogenic, laxative, emollient, spasmolytic, diuretic. Pollen extract—used for allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis. Root— used in menorrhoea.

Plant contains sterols. Leaves and stems contain alpha-spinasterol and hentriacontane. Leaves also contain amino acids with high content of lysine.

Dosage ► Whole plant—10-20 ml juice; 400-800 mg powder. (CCRAS.)