Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Ranunculus sceleratus L. [Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu. "Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian Medicinal Plants. (1918)].
Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Ranunculus
sceleratus 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
6. Ranunculus scleratus, Linn, h.f.br.i., I. 19.
Syn. ' — R. Indicus, Eoxb. 458.
Vern.: — Kaf-es-saba(Arab.) ; Kabikaj (Pers.). Polica
(Tirhut) ;
Shim (Kumaon).
Habitat : — River banks in Bengal and Northern India ;
marshes of Peshawar ; warm valleys of the Himalaya ; unknown
south of the Nerbudda.
An annual glabrous, erect yellow-green herb.
6 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS.
Stem usually 6-12 in., sometimes 1-3 ft., succulent, hollow.
Radical leaves J-lf in. across, long- stalked, deeply
3-lobed,
segments lobed, obtusely toothed, near the top. Stem leaves
shortly stalked, 3-parted, segments narrow, lobed and
toothed.
Flowers J-J in. diam., numerous, petals pale-yellow. Sepals
re-
flexed. Receptacle oblong, hairy. Achenes glabrous, in oblong
heads, ultimately becoming cylindrical and longer.
Parts used : — The whole plant.
Uses : — It was formerly used in Europe by professional
beggars to produce or maintain blisters or open sores
intended
to excite sympathy. Roxburgh remarks that it has no native
name, and that its properties are apparently unknown. It cer-
tainly possesses a very powerful principle, and one would
expect
to find it taking a place in the practice of herbalism. Water
distilled from a decoction retains its acrid character, and,
if this
be allowed to slowly evaporate, it leaves behind a quantity
of
highly insoluble crystals of a very inflammable character.
The fresh plant is poisonous, and produces violent effect
if taken internally. The bruised leaves form an application
to
raise blisters, and may also be used to keep open sores
caused
by vesication, or by other means (Murray).
[Pankaj
Oudhia’s Comment: In over 15000 Herbal Formulations used to treat toxicity
of different herbal formulations Ranunculus
roots are added as quinary ingredient. The Traditional Healers practice
Traditional Allelopathic Knowledge to purify this herb before use as life
saving medicine. In over 6000 Telia Kand based Herbal Formulations Ranunculus
is added as tertiary ingredient. These Formulations are used to manage
different types of cancer specially at advanced stage. In over 20000 Wild Mucuna
based Formulations Ranunculus roots are added as septenary ingredient. These
Formulations are used for treatment of urinogenital diseases. The Traditional
Healers are well aware of its excess, overdose
and toxicity. They use hundreds of Herbal Formulations to manage it.
Please see Tables Ranunculus-1 to Ranunculus-300 for details.]
E-documents on Ranunculus
Citation
Oudhia, Pankaj (2014).
Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Ranunculus sceleratus L. [Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu.
"Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian
Medicinal Plants. (1918)]. www.pankajoudhia.com
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