Flat Beans Benefits, Research, Remedies, Side Effects

By Dr Renita D’Souza
Flat beans (Nishpaava) are used for its medicinal purposes and also served as delicious dish. They are best used in Kapha related health conditions. Its roots are known to be toxic.

Introduction, nutrition

Flat beans are rich source of vitamin A, K, C, proteins and folate. They are heart tonic, boost energy and also known to improve brain health. The dietary fibers in flat beans makes it good source to reduce bad cholesterol in the body. Flat beans flowers are used to treat alcohol addiction, poisoning and improves digestive power.
Read – Green Gram (Mung bean) Qualities, Uses, Remedies, Research

Botanical Name – Dolichos lablab
Family – Leguminosae

Vernacular names, Qualities

Names in Different Languages
Sanskrit Name – Nishpaava
English Name – Flat bean, Helda beans, Romano beans
Hindi Name – Nishpava, Bhattavaasu, Ballara, Sema
Bengali Name – Makhanasima
Marathi Name – Paavate, Vaala
Gujarati Name – Aoliya, Aoliyavaala
Kannada Name – Avare, Avare kaalu
Telugu Name – Anumula
Tamil Name – Mochai

Medicinal Qualities of Nishpav
Taste – sweet, astringent
Virya – ushna (hot)
Ruksha – dry in nature
Vipaka (taste conversion after digestion) – sour
Guru – heavy in nature
Sara – increases mobility of intestine
Vidaahi – causes burning sensation
Sthanya pittaasra mutravaata vibandhakrth – increases breast-milk, pitta, blood and causes obstruction to expulsion of urine and vata.
Read – Ayurveda Mahodadhi: Legumes Green Gram, Chickpea, Peas

Effect of Nishpava on Tridoshas
Vatapittalah – increases vata and pitta dosha

As per Bhojana Kutuhalam, The two nishpava i.e green and white variety are astringent and sweet in taste. It cleanse the throat, improves intellect, stimulates the digestive fire and imparts taste. Out of these the second variety is grahi, is of neutral potency and slightly superior to the first.

Uses, Home Remedies

Therapeutic Uses Flat beans (Nishpav)
Visha nashanah – relieves poisoning and toxic condition
Shleshma nashanah – relieves Kapha dosha
Shotha nashanah – relieves swelling and inflammation
Shukra nashanah – decreases sperm count
It is not good for eyes
Read – Quality Of Foods – Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthana 6 – Annaswaroopa

Benefits of Flat Beans

• Reduce Blood sugar level – including flat beans in your can help to reduce blood sugar level.
• Maintains the Bone health – The silicon nutrient present in flat beans helps to maintain bone health when consumed.
• Pre-natal care – The folic acid present in flat beans makes it beneficial in pregnant women for the development of fetus.
• Improves Immunity – Flat beans are good source of antioxidants and vitamin C which helps to rejuvenate cells and improves immunity.
• Maintains Gastrointestinal Health – Flat beans are fiber rich diet which helps to maintain gastrointestinal diseases like constipation, peptic ulcers, mal-absorption syndrome, acid reflux, piles etc
  (read more – here)

Traditional Health Remedies of Flat beans
Juice of Nishpav pods is used to treat throat and ear inflammation.
The stem is used to treat cholera, vomiting and diarrhea

Sanskrit verse

Indigestion, Side effects

Indigestion caused by Flat beans
Indigestion caused by Nishpava (flat beans) is treated by Mantha (churned curd/supernatant of buttermilk).
Read – 120 Remedies For Indigestion Caused By Specific Foods

Flat beans – side effects
Few disease conditions where Nishpav must be avoided –

• Vata raktha (gout)
• Brachial neuralgia
• Pandu (anemia)
• Blood related diseases
• Sciatica
• Student’s elbow
• Hiccups
• Asthma
• Psoriatic arthritis  etc

Wrong food combination with Flat beans
Flat beans are contraindicated to be taken with milk

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.

Pharmacology, Morphology, Chemistry

Pharmacological Activity of Flat beans
Seeds of Flat beans possess anthelmintic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, astringent, digestive, antipyretic and stomachic properties.
Whole plant is used traditionally as anticholesterolemic, antidote, carminative and possess hypoglycemic property.

Morphology of Dolichos lablab
Dolichos lablab is an erect annual herbaceous crop. Leaves are trifoliate. Flowers are white in color. Fruits are flat pod.

Chemical Constituents of Dolichos lablab
Dolichos lablab seed contain carbohydrates, sterols, alkaloid like trigonelline (which exhibits hypoglycemic activity), flavonoids like genestein, saponins, glycosides and proteins.

Research, Categories, Synonyms

Research
Antifungal Activity – The study conducted to evaluate antimicrobial activity of different extract of Dolichos lablab beans have proved significant anti-fungal activities against C. albicans.
Anti diabetic – The research study was conducted to investigate anti diabetic activity of methanolic extract of Dolichos lablabb seeds in diabetic rats. The result of present study concluded that MEDL possess significant anti diabetic activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Thus justified the traditional use of flat beans as remedy in diabetes.

Sanskrit Synonyms
Nishpaava, Rajashimbi, Vallaka, Shvethashimbika

Classical Categorization
Bhavaprakasha Nighantu – Dhanya varga
Kaiyadeva Nighantu – Dhanya varga
Raja Nighantu – Shalyaadi varga
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