Jalapippali Herb (Lippia nodiflora) – Uses, Dose, Remedies, Research

By Dr Renita D’Souza
Jalapippali (Lippia nodiflora) is an Ayurvedic herb used to treat blood disorders, wounds, burning sensation, boils, diarrhoea, joint pain, indigestion, asthma, bronchitis, piles. lithiasis etc. It is commonly known as Jalpippal. Plant is considered as diuretic in nature.

Home remedies, qualities, uses

Traditional Remedies

• Infusion of tender stalks and leaves is used to treat children suffering from indigestion, diarrhoea, cold and to women in fever after delivery.
• Fresh plant poultice applied externally used as a good suppurant for boils, swollen cervical glands, erysipelas and chronic ulcers. It also reduces burning sensation.
• Fresh juice is applied in bleeding gums.

Botanical Name – Lippia nodiflora,
Synonyms – Phyla nodiflora, Lippia canescens
Family – Verbenaceae

Medicinal Qualities of Jal Pipli
Taste – pungent (katu), astringent (kashaya)
Vipaka (taste after digestion) – Pungent
Virya (potency) – Cold (shita)

Qualities of Jal Peepal:
Laghu – light to digest
Rukha – dry
Tikshna – sharp and penetrating in nature

Special Qualities of Phyla nodiflora:
Hrdya – cardiac tonic
Chakshushya – good for eyes
Shukrala – increases quality and quantity of sperms
Sangrahini – have absorptive nature in intestines
Ruchya – improves taste perception
Vahanivardini – increases digestive strength
Mukhashodani – cleanses the oral cavity

Therapeutic Uses of Jalpippal
Blood disorders
Daha – burning sensations
Vrana – wounds
Shwasa – asthma, breathing difficulty
Visha – poisoning, toxic condition
Arthi – pain
Bhrama – giddiness
Murcha – loss of consciousness
Treshna – excess thirst

Effect on dosha
Vatala – increases vata dosha
Kaphapiitajit – Balances Kapha and Pitta dosha
Read – GajaPippali – Scindapsus officinalis Uses, Research, Medicines, Side Effects

Morphology, dose, pharmacology

Morphology of Lippia nodiflora
Lippia nodiflora (jalpapli) is a creeping herb. Leaves are simple, opposite. Each leaf have toothed marginal lobes. Stem root at the nodes. Flowers are small white-to-pink in colour, encircling on terminal small compact heads borne on long stalk. Fruits small nuts, appear like fruits of long pepper.
Read – Pippali – Long Pepper Fruit Uses, Dose, Side Effects

Dose
Juice – 5 – 10 ml
Powder – 2 – 3 grams

Pharmacological Activities of Lippia nodiflora
Lippia nodiflora (Jalapippali) possess analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antinociceptive, antimicrobial, antipyretic, antitumor, lipid peroxide scavenging and free radical scavenging activities.

Sanskrit verse, distribution, chemistry

Habitat – Lippia nodiflora is grown in marshy places like streams, ponds, paddy fields etc 
Distribution –
Lippia nodiflora is native to Africa, temperate and tropical Asia, Australia, Europe and tropical America.
In India it is found in Assam, Bihar, Mahrastra, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh.

Chemical constituents
Lippia nodiflora contains triterpenoids, flavonoids and steroids.\

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 of the 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.

Research, synonyms, medicines

Research
1. Antiurolithiatic Activity – A study conducted on ethanolic extract of Phyla nodiflora (Linn.) Greene to evaluate its antiurolithiatic activity against most common type of renal stones i.e. calcium oxalate have demonstrated significant antiurolithiatic activity of P. nodiflora.

2. Antibacterial Activity – A reserach study has proved antibacterial activity of Phyla nodiflora. The plant crude extract and all sub fractions (n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous) were subjected to antibacterial activities. Ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions showed excellent activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus.

3. Review articles describes the chemical constituents and biological applications of Lippia nodiflora. (read more – 1, 2)

Sanskrit synonyms
Jalapippali, Sharadi, Shakuladani,
Matsyadani, Matsyagandha, Langali
Thoyapippali, Thoyavalli, Gandupadi
Kanchadam, Chitrapatri

Vernacular Names
English Name – Purple lippia, Turkey tangle, Carpet Weed, Frof fruit, Matchweed
Hindi Name – Jalpippal, Jal buti, Jalpapli, Bukkan, Jalpeepal
Kannada Name – Nelapippali
Bengali Name – Bukkan, Kanchada
Tamil Name – Podutalai
Marathi Name – Jal pippali, Rathvel, Jalapimpali,
Telugu Name – Bokkena
Gujarati Name – Rathvelliyo
Konkani Name – Adali
Malayalam Name – Neerthippali, Kattuthippal

Ayurvedic medicines with Jalpippal as ingredient
1. Akik Pishti – Ayurvedic medicine in tablet or powder form, used in the treatment of heart diseases, cough, heart burn, headache, vision and infection related eye disorders.

2. Pilex Tablet – Mainly used in the treatment of internal and external hemorrhoids.

Classical catergorisation
Bhavaprakasha Nighantu – Guduchyadi Varga
Kaiyadeva Nighantu – Aushadi Varga
Dhanvantari Nighantu – Karaviradi Varga
Raja Nighantu – Shathavahdi Varga
Shodala Nighantu – Karaviradi Varga
Charaka Samhitha – Haritha Varga

Scientific Classification
Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Magnoliopsida
Order : Lamialas
Family : Verbenaceae
Genus : Lippia
Species : Nodiflora
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