Pushkarmool – Inula racemosa – Benefits, Usage, Dose, Side Effects

Pushkarmool is a very useful Ayurveda herb, used in the treatment of heart diseases, respiratory diseases like asthma, bronchitis, cough etc. Its botanical name is Inula racemosa. It is one of the powerful herbs of Ayurveda. 
Botanical Name- Inula Racemosa Hook. F. Synonym – Inula royleana (C.B.Clarke)
Family– Asteraceae, Bhringaraja Kula.

Vernacular names

Hindi Name-Pokharmul
Telugu Name– Pushkara Mulamu
English Name– Elicampane, Indian elecampane ,
Gujarati Name– Pohkarmul
Kannada Name– Puskaramul
Kashmiri Name– Poshkar
Malayalam Name– Pushkarmul
Tamil Name-Puskaramulam

Sanskrit Synonyms

Padmapatra – leaves resemble those of lotus.
Kashmira – grows abundantly in Kashmir,
Kustha Bheda – resembles the herb Kushta (Saussurea lappa in action),
Poushkara,  Chiram, Jiham, Tirtha, Dhira, Padma, Puskarahva, Brahmatirtha, Mulam,  Vatahva, Phala, Patraka, Viram, Svasari, Sugandhikam.

Classical Categorization

Charaka-
Shvasahara – group of herbs useful in asthma, COPD.
Hikkanigrahana – A group of herbs useful in hiccups.

Susruta- Phala Varga – group of fruits.
Vagbhata- Hidhma Nigrahana(A.H);
Bh Pr. Ni – Haritakyadi varga

Distribution

Western Himalayas between 5,000- 14,000 feet altitude. It is also cultivated.

Morphology

Stem-30 to 150 cm high, rough and grooved.
Leaf- Leathery, rough above, densely hairy beneath, crenate.
Inflorescence- Heads many, very large, outer bracts are broad, tips are triangular, inner bracts are linear and sharp pointed.
Fruits – An achene, slender, hairless
Useful part – Root

Major chemical constituents

Alantolactone, Isoalantolactone, Inunolide- Germacranolide, Dihydroisoalantotolactone, B- Sitosterol,, D- Mannitol, Dihydroinunolide, neo-Alantolactone, inunolise, Sesquiterpene lactone- inunol, Alantodiene etc.
(Reference: Illustrated Dravyaguna Vijnana, Vol. II, by Dr JLN Shastry)

Properties

Rasa (taste) – Tikta (bitter) , Katu (pungent)
Guna (qualities) – Laghu (lightness), Teekshna – piercing, strong
Virya- Ushna – Hot potency
Vipaka- Katu – Undergoes pungent taste conversion after digestion.

Pharmacological Activities

Antipyretic, Sedative, Anti viral, Hepatoprotective, Anti asthmatic, Anti fungal

Effect on Tridosha

Because of its pungent, bitter taste, it balances Kapha and because of its hot potency, it balances Vata Dosha.

Sanskrit verse

Therapeutic qualities

Of all the herbs useful in hiccups, cough, flank pain and asthma, Pushkaramoola is the best.
Jwarahara – useful in fever
Arochakahara – useful in anorexia
Kasaghna – useful in cough and cold
Shophahara – anti inflammatory. It is applied externally for relieving wounds and inflammation.
Adhmanahara – relieves bloating
Shwasahara – useful in COPD, asthma
Hikkahara – relieves hiccups
Panduhara – useful in anemia, initial stage of liver disorders.
It has antihistamine and broncho-dilatory effects.
It acts as aphrodisiac and uterine stimulant.
It relieves fat and cholesterol. Hence it is an important ingredient in many weight loss pills.
It has antiviral and antibacterial effects.
It is found to be useful in Ischemic heart disease.
It acts like a beta blocker herb. Hence useful in high BP.

Part used, dosage

Part used- Root
Dosage– Powder 1 to 3 grams in divided doses.

Substitute

Iris germanica

Adulterant

Inula royleana

Research

Mast cell stabilizing activity of Inula racemosa
Antibacterial activity

Side effects

Inula racemosa side effects –
People with high BP should take this herb only under medical supervision. Over-dosage may cause low BP.

Export from India – It is one of the plants near to extinction in India. Hence export of this herb and medicines containing this herb is restricted.

Interaction with medicines, supplements

Can this be used while taking Homeopathic medicine?
Yes. This product does not react with homeopathic medicine.

Can this medicine be continued while taking supplements like multivitamin tablets, Omega 3 fatty acids etc?
Yes. Generally, this product goes well with most dietary supplements. However, if you are taking more than one product per day, please consult your doctor for an opinion.

With western medicines
Seek your doctor’s advice if you are taking this product along with other western (allopathic / modern) medicines. Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern medicine.
If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is best to take Allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then take the Ayurvedic medicine.

Ayurveda medicines

Ayurveda medicine with Pushkarmula – 
Shwasahara Kashaya – useful in asthma, cold, cough
Maha Panchagavya Ghrita – useful in neuro-psychiatric conditions
Panchatikta Kashaya – useful in fever
Arimedadi Thailam – useful for oil pulling, to strengthen teeth.

Remedy for bradycardia

Pushkaramoola remedy for bradycardia: 
In case of low pulse rate, Vaidyaraj Subhash Sharma has mentioned about the below remedy:
Akarakara churna is mixed along with Pushkaramoola churna, Shrunga Bhasma and Vamsha lochana. It is administered one hour before food along with pomegranate juice, twice a day. Consult a doctor before following this or any other remedies.

Sthanika karma (Systemic Acton)

Externally – Anti microbial, Anti inflammatory, prevent bad odor, reduce pain and oedema. powder can be sprinkled on wounds. Its powder can be applied on the flanks in case of asthma or respiratory disorders.

Internally
Nervous System – Calm down the nervous system. Beneficial in vataja rogas
Digestive system – Carminative, digestive, Facilitate movement of doshas in normal direction. Indicated in loss of appetite, abdominal distention etc.

Respiratory System – Pacify kapha dosha. Indicated in kasa (Cough), hiccough and in breathing difficulties, Pulmonary edema, pain in the flanks, Tuberculosis related cough etc. It has Antihistamine Action, Act as a bronchodilator

Excretory system – it increases urine production by stimulating the kidney action. indicated in Dysuria
Reproductive system – Stimulate uterine muscles, Aphrodisiac Indicated in Dysmenorrhea

Skin – Beneficial in skin disorders, stimulates sweat glands.
Satmikarana – Medohara (indicated in obesity), Anemia,Beneficial in Rheumatic heart diseases.
Tapakrama – Indicated in vatakapha jvara (Fever of vata and kapha dosha origin.