Nirgundi – Vitex negundo is a very good muscle relaxant, pain relieving, anti mosquito, anti anxiety, anti asthma and so on, herb of Ayurveda. There are very less herbs as multi-talented and as versatile as Nirgundi is. Used both for external application in the form of paste / oil, and also for oral administration in the form of powder, leaf juice extract or water decoction.
Botanical Name- Vitex Negundo Linn.
Family- VERBINACEAE (Nirgundi Kula)
Vernacular names
Hindi Name- Sambhalu, mewri, Nisinda, Sawbhalu
Telugu Name- indhuvara; Vavili; Nalla-vavili; Tella-vavili, Lekkali
Tamil Name-Chinduvaram; Nirnochchi; Nochchi; Notchi; Vellai-nochchi
Bengali Name- Nirgundi; Nishinda; Samalu
English – Five Leaved Chaste
Filipino – Lagundi
Assamese – Pochotia
Chinese name – Huang jing
Kannada name – Bile-nekki, Lakki soppu, Lakki gida, Lekki gida
Punjabi name – Banna; Marwan; Maura; Mawa; Swanjan Torbanna
Sanskrit Synonyms
Nirgundi – Nirgudati Shareeram rakshati rogebhyaha – which protects body from diseases
Sindhuvara – Sindu shotham vaarayati it sinduvaraha – which helps to relieve inflammation
Shephalika, Suvaha, Sinduka, Sinduvara, Surasa, Shvetapushpa (white coloured flower), Nilamanjari, Vanaja, Hutakeshi
Classical categorization
Charaka –
Vishaghna — anti poisonous group of herbs
Krimighna – anti worm group of herbs
Susruta and Vagbhata – Surasadi
Varieties
Different Varieties of Nirgundi (Sambhalu) –
About six species of Vitex genus were studied for phytochemical profile. Nearly same constituents were present in all species. (Krishna Rao & Jean, 1996)
Chemical constituents
Vitex Negundo chemical Constituents
Phenol, Dulcitol, Alkaloid-Vitricine, B-sitosterol, Camphene, a- And B- Pinenes, Angoside, Acunbin, Casticin, Artemetin, Orientin etc.
(Reference: Illustrated Dravyaguna Vijnana, Vol. II, by Dr JLN Shastry)
Medicinal qualities
Nirgundi – Vitex negundo – medicinal qualities:
Rasa (taste) – Katu (pungent), Tikta (bitter)
Guna (qualities) – Laghu (lightness), Rooksha (dryness)
Vipaka – Katu – undergoes pungent taste conversion after digestion
Veerya -Ushna – hot potency
Effect on Tridosha – Balances Vata and Kapha.
Part used, dose
Nirgundi – Part used- Leaf, root, seeds
Five leaved chaste Dose
Leaf juice 10-20 ml,
Root bark powder 3-6 g,
Seed powder 3-6 g, in divided doses per day, is the adult dose.
Sanskrit verse
Uses
Vitex negundo uses:
Krumi – useful in intestinal worm infestation
Kushta – useful in skin diseases, eczema, ring worm
Rujapaha – relieves muscle and arthritis related pain
Pleeha – useful in spleen disorder
Gulma – useful in abdominal tumor
Aruchi – useful in anorexia
Medhya – improves intelligence, relieves anxiety
Netrahita, Chakshushya – good for eyes,
Deepani – carminative
Keshya – improves hair quality
Vishapaha — anti toxic, anti poisonous
Shulahara – useful in abdominal colic, anti spasmoidic
Amahara – useful in Ama (a product of altered digestion and metabolism)
Medohara – useful against cholesterol
Vranahara – heals wounds faster
Vranakurmi here – cleanses wounds
Pratishyaya – useful in running nose
Shwasahara – useful in asthma, bronchitis
Kasahara – useful in cold, cough
Smrutida – improves memory
Its fumes are useful in getting rid of mosquitoes.
External application
The leaves are made into paste, heated a little and applied externally to relieve headache, orchitis (swelling in testicles), rheumatoid and osteo arthritis.
Water decoction of Nirgundi is used for vaginal douche to relieve local inflammation
Water decoction is used for mouth gargling to relieve throat pain and oral ulcers.
The dry leaves are burnt and fumes are inhaled to relieve headache and running nose.
Its oil is prepared with sesame oil and used in wound healing and grey hairs.
Research
Vitex negundo – research:
Larvicidal activity against mosquito larvae
Hepato-protective activity of ethanolic activity
Anitpyretic activity of alcoholic extract
Anti fungal activity
Anxiolytic activity
Ayurvedic medicines
Ayurvedic medicines with Vitex negundo –
Saraswatarishta, Manasamitra vatakam – Nirgundi being anxiolytic and medhya (improving intelligence), helps these medicines to fight anxiety and depression. Also, it also relieves pain. Hence, useful in fibro-myalgia, associated with depression.
Dashamool Taila – useful in vascular headache, migraine
Mahavat Vidhwans Ras – useful in neuralgia, aches and pains
Anthrakutaram gulika – useful in abdominal colic, constipation, bloating
In Vata Gajankush ras, an Ayurvedic medicine, the leaf juice extract of Vitex negundo is used for trituration (Bhavana) or grinding of the powders of medicine. It acts as a binding agent and also imparts medicinal qualities to this product.
Great information.
Thank you Sir
Thanks
Thank you very much.
Hello, when you talk about the rasa, guna and vipaka – are you referring to the berry? leaves? or the root? And for the uses – which part of the plant has these healing qualities. In the West vitex berry tinctures are very popular for women’s heath – specially for menstrual disorders. We use vitex berry tincture or capsule the most. – thank you.
Hi, the properties explained are for Leaf, root and seeds.
Thanks for value addition.
Best regards
Excellent article. Is it useful for animal diseases
hello a
pi
lease give information about the variety of nirgundi from which oil is to prepare use in liniment
Vitex negundo is the one.
Sir whn i use fr phimosis any side effect?????
Sir, No side effects.
Apply Nirgundi tailam — it can be used in phimosis to loosen the foreskin. Daily morning, 10 minutes before bath, apply this and try to stretch foreskin.
thanks sir its really work…..i m pg student in u.p….i want more detail in vitex negundo linn. about how its work 0n pesticides
Can nirgundi oil be used for anal fissure?
In the web page, i can see two different types of Nirgundi plants, 1. with five leaf 2. with three leaf with purple colour flowers. which is the correct nirgundi.
do both has the same medicinal uses.
Sasikala
One with five leaves.
can vitex negundo and vites agnus be used interchangably or do they each have different indications? thank you
They are different. Vitex agnus castus is commonly used in treating pre-menstrual syndrome, female infertility, menopausal symptoms etc.
Sir, What Vitex agnus castus called in hindi?? Do you know any online website to purchase the same??
मेरा युरिक एसिड 6.5 निकला है. मैं सिनदुआर(निरगुनडी)का काढ़ा पिता हु तब दर्द ठीक हो जाता है. लेकिन फिर हो जाता है. तो फिर किया निरगुडी युरिक एसिड नही घटाता है. सिर्फ गरम होने के कारण दर्द घटता है. कमर दर्द जकडन. एडी मे दर्द. धुटना में दर्द. उपचार बताए
Sirf Sinduvar se shayad uric acid kam nahi ho pata hai.
Krupaya ek Ayurvedic doctor ko direct consult keejiye.
Can nirgundi paste be applied for hair for grey hair
Better to use it for only 2 – 3 months time.
My prolactin level is very high it is 57.83..how to take vitex. .to cure it
Side effect of nirgundi oil in face.
Usually it is well tolerated without producing any irritation.
Muze ingrown toenail problem hai….kya main nirgudi pala use kar sakti hu….n kaise
Nirgundi tail locally apply karne se kuch fayda ho sakta hai.
Will it help in my hormonal pimples problem which happen just before my period starts. I have bought nirgundi kwath and shatavar
HOw can we use Vitex negundo in asthma.
Is there any side effects of nirgundi to heart patient?
No.
It is useful. Apply it over both external wound andd anal opening.
Do not mix with any other oil.
Oregano oil can also be used similarly.
It is useful to reduce pain. Its paste made with castor oil is applied locally to reduce pain.
Nice information and application also
Thank you 🙂
Hi, will taking this internally help prevent Fístulas? Thank you
Dear Sir,
for treatment of uric acid you can use homeopathic medicine “URTICA URENS Q”. This medicine is very useful. you can take 5-7 drops in luke worm water 3 times a day. please avoid protein rich items, like whole pulses, kabli chana, kidney beans, cheese, peas, peanut. do not use soya refined oil. or soya paneer or soyabeans. have patience it will take time to cure. once you will start taking the same within month you can see some result but you need to take until you get rid of the problem. tested medicine.
Hi Doc,
How to use the leaves for arthritis related swelling n pain
Dip the leaves in sesame oil or castor oil. Heat it over a Tava / pan for 2 – 3 minutes. apply the leaves over the painful swollen area – do this 2 – 3 times a day.
Can we chew leaves for better health and improve digestion?
I have not come across such a practice.
Can Nirgundi tablets can be taken along with Kaishore Guggul tablets?
How to extract oil from Nirgundi?
Nirgundi dry powder is added with sesame oil and water and boiled together till water evaporates.
Here is the detailed explanation with Amla as example.
https://easyayurveda.com/2012/04/18/how-to-make-hair-oil-at-home-with-amla/