Wrightia antidysenterica, Snowflake, Arctic Snow, Milky Way, Pudpitchaya, White Angel

Wrightia antidysenterica is a small, compact and semi-deciduous shrub measuring 1.2 to 2 meters high and spreads 1.5 meters. It is compact and bushy having a moderate growth rate. The short and divaricate branches turn to chocolaty brown as it ages and are covered with ovate and acuminate, dark green leaves about 2.5 to 6 cm long and are oppositely arranged. Flowers are five-petaled, white, tubular, star-shaped having yellow centers form in corymb-like cymes at the end of branches. Flowers have frilly corona at the throat and a yellow center of stamens. The flower blooms throughout the year in the hardiness zone.

Name Wrightia Antidysenterica
Scientific Name Wrightia antidysenterica
Native Sri Lanka
Common/English Name Snowflake, Arctic Snow, Winter Cherry Tree, Milky Way, Pudpitchaya, Sweet Indrajao, Hyamaraca, White Angel, Arctic Snow Bush
Name in Other Languages Bengali: kurchi tita-indarjau, dhudi;
English: easter tree, ivory tree, pala indigo;
Hindi: dhudi, kura, hat, kureya, kurchi, karva-indarjau;
Tamil: vepali;
Vietnamse: thu’ng mu’c nhuôm, thu’ng mu’c;
Sanskrit: kuṭaja, ambikā;
Sinhala: wal idda (වල් ඉද්ද);
Philippine: white angel;
Thailand: pudpitchaya (พุดพิชญา);
Marathi: Kuda;
Gujarati: Kudo;
Tamil: Veppalai;
Kannada: Korachi;
Malayalam: Kodagapala;
Urdu: Kherva;
Punjabi: Kenara
Plant Growth Habit Perennial ornamental small tree or shrub
Soil Well-drained loamy
Plant Size 1.2-2 meters high
Bark Smooth, somewhat corky and pale grey
Leaf Dark green, ovate and acuminate, glossy green,  2.5-6 cm long
Flower Showy, star shaped, 2.5-3.5 cm
Propagation By stem cuttings

 

Wrightia antidysenterica Scientific Classification

Scientific Name: Wrightia antidysenterica

Rank Scientific Name & (Common Name)
Kingdom Plantae (Plants)
Phylum Tracheophyta
Class Magnoliopsida
Order Gentianales
Family Apocynaceae
Genus Wrightia R.Br.
Species Wrightia antidysenterica R.Br.
Synonyms
  • Nerium divaricatum Lour.
  • Nerium zeylanicum L.
  • Wrightia zeylanica (L.) R.Br.

Medicinal uses

  • Leaves juice are used to treat jaundice.
  • For toothache, fill the cavity of decayed tooth with crushed fresh leaves.
  • It is used for treating psoriasis and other skin problems, in Siddha system of medicine.
  • Oil extracted from fresh leaves has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-pyretic properties and used for treating psoriasis.
  • Bark possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.
  • Bark juice provides relief from mouth sores and leaves are used to treat non-specific dermatitis.
  • In Nepal, milky juice is used to halt bleeding.
  • Roots and leaves are pounded in water and used as a treatment for fever.
  • In Indian traditional medicine, leaves and bark is used to treat psoriasis, toothache, stomach pains and dysentery.
  • Rub the dried and powdered bark over the body for treating dropsy.
  • Seeds are used for treating diarrhea, fevers, intestinal worms and dysentery.

Health Benefits of Wrightia antidysenterica

  1. Dysentery

Wrightia antidysenterica is used to treat digestive problems such as dysentery which is also known as Pravahika in Ayurveda and is caused by Kapha and Vata doshas. In dysentery (severe), intestine inflammation causes appearance of mucus as well as blood in the stool. This herb helps to control mucus by promoting digestive fire which is due to appetizer and digestive properties. It helps to control blood by lowering inflammation of the intestine due to astringent and cold properties.

Tips:

a. Take 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of Wrightia antidysenterica Powder.
b. Mix it with water.
c. Take it after consuming light food to control dysentery.

  1. Diarrhea

Diarrhea is caused due to improper food, toxins, impure water and mental stress or weak digestive fire. These factors are responsible for the aggravation of vata which brings fluid in the intestine from various tissues from the body and combines with stool. Then it results to loose and watery motions or diarrhea. This herb controls diarrhea by promoting digestive fire which is due to digestive and appetizing properties. It also thickens the stool and controls the loss of water due to astringent and absorbent properties.

Tips:

a. Take ¼ to ½ teaspoon Wrightia antidysenterica powder.
b. Mix it with water.
c. Have it after consuming light food for controlling diarrhea.

  1. Bleeding piles

Piles are caused due to sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet which results to deterioration of three doshas primarily vata. Excessive vata causes low digestive fire resulting constipation. It cause swelling in veins in rectum area causing piles mass. Bleeding also occurs in this condition. This herb upgrades digestive fire due to its digestive and appetizing properties. It also controls bleeding with its astringent nature.

Tips:

a. Take ¼ to ½ teaspoon Wrightia antidysenterica powder.
b. Mix with water.
c. Have it after consuming light food for managing bleeding piles.

Precautions

  • Avoid using Wrightia antidysenterica during breastfeeding.
  • Pregnant women should use it under the supervision of medical supervision.

Recommended dosage

Wrightia antidysenterica powder- ¼ to ½ teaspoon (twice) a day

Wrightia antidysenterica capsule – 1 to 2 capsules (twice) a day.

Uses of Wrightia antidysenterica

  • Wrightia antidysenterica powder
    Take ¼ to ½ teaspoon of Wrightia antidysenterica powder.
    Swallow it with water (preferably) after meals.
  • Wrightia antidysenterica capsules
    Take 1-2 capsules of Wrightia antidysenterica.
    Swallow it with water.
    Take it 1-2 times a day after meals.

 


References


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