CHAPTER 24
Vidanga: A Herb For Intestinal Worms

“The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease”

Voltaire

Vidanga is an Ayurvedic herb(Embella ribes burm F), popularly known as Vavding’ in Ayurveda, is a red-listed species belonging to the family Myrsinaceae. In sanskrit, this herb is known as jantanasa. Charak, Sushruta, Vagbhatta all renouned ancient rishis recommended vidanga as a therapeutic in treatment of several diseases. Sushruta has identified it as anthelmintic, alternative tonic herb and recommended to cure for various health disorders. It is a germicidal and bactericidal herb. It is considered one of the best Ayurvedic herbs for eliminating intestinal worms and other parasites. A warming herb used for managing all skin diseases, alleviating thirst, and it has a fruit that looks a lot like black pepper and so is sometimes called false lady pepper. It is anti-estrogenic and, used as oral contraceptive. E. ribes is a highly valuable medicinal plant with carminative, antibacterial, antibiotic, hypoglycemic, and antifertility properties. It is considered to be vulnerable due to excessive harvesting, because of its many uses.

Vidanga Herb Information

1. Nomenclature

Family: Myrsinaceae

Scientific Name: Embelia ribes Burm F

Sanskrit Name: Janatansa

Common Names: Vellah, Baberang, Viranga, Vayuvilanga, Vilal, Kattukodi, Embelia

Other Uncommon Names: Black Pepper, White-flowered Embelia, Janntughna, Kapala, Chitratandula, Krmighna, Vella, Krmihara, Krmiripu, Vayavidanga, Bhabhiranga, Baberang, Vayuvilanga, Vizhalari, Vayuvidangam, Vayuvidangalu, Viranga, Chitratandoola, Vayuvilangam, Vizhal, Vrishanasana, Bayabidanga, Vayabidang.

2. Energetics

Rasa: Kashaya, katu

Virya: ushna, ruksha, laghu

vipica: Laghu

Doshas: V+, PK -

Karma: dipanapachana, bhedana, krimighna, jvaraghna, mutravirechana, raktaprasadana, kushtaghna, vedanasthapana, sandhaniya, Kaphavatahara.

3. Biomedical Action

Vedanta fruits are astringent, bitter, anthelmintic, depurative, brain tonic, digestive, carminative, stomachic, diuretic, contraceptive, rejuvenating, alternative stimulant, alexiteric, laxative, anodyne, febrifuge & tonic.

Habitat

It grows everywhere from the Himalayas to Sri Lanka and Singapore and ranges from India to South China and South to Indonesia, East Africa. This species is reported to be vulnerable in the western ghats of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka states of India and at a lower risk in Kerala state of peninsular India. It is well adapted to many different climates and elevation. E. ribes grows in semi-evergreen and deciduous forests at an altitude of 1,500 m (5,000 ft), throughout India. It grows in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradsh, Assam, and Maharashtra.

Vedanga Seeds

Botanical Characters

Vidanga is a large climbing shrub. The branches are long, slender with long internodes. Leaves are leathery simple, alternate, ellptic-lanceolate, obtusely acuminate, shiny green and glabrous above, silvery below, with scattered, minute sunken glands 6-14 cm long and 2-4 cm broad. Midrib promonant. Stem whitish grey, with a mature girth of 45-72 cms. Flowers are small, white to greensh white, borne in terminal and axillary panicle racemes, the calyx five-lobed, the corolla hairy, with five stamens. The fruit is a smooth globose berry; thin reddish coloured pericarp containing a single seed, found in bunches.

Chemical Constituents

The most studied chemical in Vidanga is embelin (embolic acid), or rather, potassium embelate (2,5-dihydroxy, 3-undecyl-1, 4-benzoquinone). A related quinone found in Vidanga is vilangin, a structure of two embelin mocules attached with a CH2 bridge. Other constituents include the alkaloid christembine, a volatile oil, quercitol, tannins and fatty acids.

Plant Part Used

Fruit, leaves, root, bark

Health Benefits

Vidanga herb is used both internally and externally. Vidanga has various medicinal benefits which are listed below.

• • Vidanga is used to expel intestinal worms. Powder of vidanga should be taken every morning on an empty stomach. A laxative should be taken in the evening same day. This method is used for destruction of tapeworms, thread worms and round worms.
• • It is bactericidal, hence it is useful in dental carries and toothache. Decoction of this herb is used as a gargle to help prevent dental infections and aches.
• • The herb is considered to be a boon for healthy digestive system. It is used to treat variety of digestive disorders such as flatulence, dyspepsia, loss of appetite, dull abdominal pain and piles. For treatment of chronic constipation, vidanga powder should be mixed with anise seeds powder and should be taken with warm water or buttermilk.
• • The herb is used to treat cold, sinusitis and migraine. To cure cold problem, the fruits should be taken with honey.
• • It is nervine tonic. It is boiled in milk along with garlic is used in disease of the brain and nervous system.
• • This herb is a widely known blood purifier.
• • This herb is diuretic in action. Thus, it is used for treatment of dysuria.
• • A paste prepared from this herb is used for treatment of several skin diseases. It also helps cure skin depigmentation. It is also useful against fever, cough, asthma, cardiac debility, tumour, scabies, psychosis, debility and weakness. The root and bark of Vidanga are used similarly to the seed, applied topically as a counter-irritant in joint disease, rheumatism and lung congestion.
• • The Indian Council of Medical Research in New Delhi reports that E. ribes has been found to be safe and effective as a female contraceptive.
• • Vedanga is one of the best Ayurvedic herbs for supporting the body’s natural defenses in the Gastro Intestinal tract. It’s hot, pungent and bitter qualities create an environment conducive to digestive health.
• • Vidanga strengthens the digestive fire and eliminates natural toxins from the GI tract, blood and lymph. Vidanga helps reduce excess vata in the colon promoting intestinal comfort. It also regulates the appetite and helps support proper weight.
• • A paste prepared from this herb is used for treatment of several skin diseases. It also helps cure skin depigmentation.