Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Cimicifuga foetida L. [Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu. "Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian Medicinal Plants. (1918)].

Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Cimicifuga foetida L. [Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu. "Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian Medicinal Plants. (1918)].

Pankaj Oudhia

Introduction

Based on Ethnobotanical surveys since year 1990 in different parts of India Pankaj Oudhia has documented vital information about Medicinal Plants mentioned in the famous publication by Kirtikar and Basu (1918). Through this research document Pankaj Oudhia has tried to present original document with additional notes. For complete paper with pictures, Interactive Tables, Video and Audio clips please visit pankajoudhia.com

For original publication by Kirtikar and Basu (1918) please visit https://archive.org/details/indianmedicinalp01kirt

27. Cimicifuga foetida, Linn, h.f.bk.i., i. 30. 

From Latin cimex, a bug ; fugare to drive away. 

Vera: — Jiunti (Pb.). 

Habitat: — Temperate Himalaya, from Bhotan to Gores and 

Kashmir ; altitude 7-12, 00U ft. Patarnala forest, Simla. 

A perennial, more or less pubescent herb. Stems 3-6 ft., erect, 

leafy, branched. Leaves 6-18 in., pinnately compound ; leaflets 

1-3 in., rarely more, ovate or lanceolate, deeply and sharply 

toothed, terminal leaflet 3-lobed. Flowers nearly regular, 

hardly J in. diam., white, crowded in short or long racemes, 

solitary in the axils of the upper leaves, and combined in a 

terminal, sometimes large and spreading panicle. Sepals and 

petals 5-7 (no clear distinction between them), imbricate, ovate, 

concave; one or two of the inner ones deeply 2-lobed, the tips 

white, broad, notched. Stamens numerous, ultimately longer 

36 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 

than the sepals. Ovaries 2-5, rarely more, many-ovuled, style 

short, stigma pointed. Follicles \ in. long, flat, tipped with 

the persistent style. Seeds 6-8 (Collett). 

Part used ' — The root. [Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: All parts are used as medicine.]

Uses: — The root is said to be poisonous. In Siberia, it is 

used to drive away bugs and fleas. " Under the name of a 

nearly allied plant (Actaea spicata\ I have already referred to 

this plant, and I have done so chiefly with the view of attracting 

attention to these useful, but apparently neglected plants." 

(Watt). 

Garrod in his Materia Medica, calls Cimicifuga racemosa, 

Linn., the Black Snake Root, and remarks that it is a remedy 

much used in America. He gives the dose of the tincture as 

30 to 40 minims. He remarks : — " Its use is said to have been 

attended with much success in rheumatic fever, in chorea, and 

in lumbago, and in some forms of puerperal hypochondriasis. 

There seems every reason to expect that the Indian species, 

which differs from C. racemosa only very slightly, will be 

found to possess all its medicinal virtues. C. racemosa is 

chiefly prescribed in the form of tincture and employed in 

rheumatic affections, dropsy, the early stage of phthisis, and 

chronic bronchial diseases. Externally, a strong tincture has 

recentlv been u^ed to reduce inflammations. See (Year-Book 

of Pharmacy, 1872). The root contains a resinous active prin- 

ciple which has been termed Cimicifugin or Macrotin. In its 

action this drug resembles hellibore on the one hand, and 

colchicum on the other. It is most useful in acute rheumatism, 

and a powder of the root is perhaps the best mode in which to 

give the drug, in doses of 20 to 30 grains. (Royles Mat. Med. 

by Rarley.) 

A poultice prepared from the fresh leaves is used here, and 

said to be very useful in rheumatic affection of joints (Surgn. 

Meadows, Bar i sal). [Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: Based on my research work on this important species I have prepared a research document in which I have discussed over 36,000 ancient and modern Formulations. In these Formulations Cimicifuga parts are added as important ingredient. Please see Tables Cimici-1 to Cimici-56 for details.]  

E-documents on Cimicifuga

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Citation

Oudhia, Pankaj (2013). Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Cimicifuga foetida L. [Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu. "Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian Medicinal Plants. (1918)]. www.pankajoudhia.com