Ayurveda Medicinal properties of Puna ava or Boerhavia diffusa

Boerhavia diffusa or Puna
ava belongs to the family Nyctaginaceae . This is also known as spiderlings as this plant grows low and spreads like spider web. Boerhavia diffusa is identified by name Puna
ava in India. Ayurvedic texts immensely praise the medicinal properties of this plant.

It is called as Puna
ava (Punar + nava). Punar means – once again, nava means - becoming new. This plant rejuvenates liver and detoxifies it. It clears the lungs and reduces cough, asthma etc. It rejuvenates male reproductive system and acts as an aphrodisiac. This increases libido, erection and quality and quantity of semen. It is used in Vajikarana preparations. It detoxifies skin and clears it of infections. This plant cleanses the kidneys and helps to get rid of renal calculi (kidney stones). Thus the plant puna
ava acts on all important organ systems and rejuvenate them, giving a new life . Hence the name puna
ava.

The juice of this plant has varied taste. It tastes sweet, bitter and astringent. Ayurveda acharyas indicate the properties of this plant as light (laghu) , dry (Ruksha) and hot potency (ushna veerya). All parts of this plant are used in ayurvedic herbal preparations.

Medicinal properties of Puna
ava or Boerhavia diffusa

According to texts of ayurveda this plant alleviates all three doshas.

In Arthritis: It helps to reduce inflammation and pain in joints .
In Indigestion: Puna
ava acts as a carminative, increases appetite, digests ama and reduces abdominal pain. It also relieves constipation.
In cough: It helps to reduce productive cough and asthma
Impotence: Seeds of this plant are used in Vajikarana Preparations. It increases hard erections and quality and quantity of semen. It rejuvenates male reproductive system.
In Skin Diseases: It is very useful in skin diseases like scabies. It is considered as an excellent natural remedy for guinea wormsr
In Anaemia: This plant combined with other herbal ingredients help in treating anemiar
In Renal diseases: It acts as a diuretic and is used in ayurvedic preparations for renal calculi (kidney stone), Cystis and nephritis.
In liver disorders: Puna
ava is widely used to rejuvenate liver and detoxify it. It helps in jaundice o r hepatitis. It is employed in Brazilian herbal medicine to stimulate the emptying of the gallbladder and for all types of liver disordersr
In menorrhagia: Boerhavia diffusa is used as an active ingredient in ayurvedic preparations for menorrhagia
Body Rejuvenation : It rejuvenates whole body and gives a new life and health (Hence the name Puna
ava (New again)). It strengthens the body and normalizes doshas. This helps to boost the immunity to diseases.

According to ayurveda texts the plant puna
ava (Boerhavia diffusa) has hot potency. It tastes bitter and has the property of dryness. These qualities of puna
ava help to reduce kapha and clear the blockage in tissue channels.Thus inflamattions like arthritis, joint pain etc, anaemia, ailments of lungs (like cough, asthama etc), and body pain gets reduced by Puna
ava.

Note: Cardiac patients should use this herb under the supervision of a qualified doctor.