Common Name:
Bindweed/ aloe weed (Eng.)

Sanskrit Name:
Shankhapushpi : Means ?the plant with flowers shaped like a conch?. The conch or Shankha is one of Lord Shiva?s sacred instruments often used in ritual worship.
Ksheerpushpi- Means its flowers are white as milk
Mangalyakusuma- Means viewing its flower is believed to be divine and blessing

Lt. Name:
Convolvulus pluricaulis- Convolvulaceae

Bio energetics:
Rasa (Taste)- Tikta (Bitter)
Guna (Characteristics)- Snigdha (Unctuous); Pichchhila (Slimy)
Veerya (Potency)- Sheeta (Cool and calm)
Vipaka (Post digestion effect)- Madhura (Sweet)
Prabhava (Specific action that can not be explained on logical parameters)- Medhya (Nervine rejuvenator)

Effect on Tridoshas (Three bio humors):
Shankhapushpi pacifies all the three Doshas but specially the Vata and Pitta i.e. it is useful in management of diseases having their either of the Dosha in general and Vata and Pitta in specific.

Actions according to Ayurveda:
Medhya- Shankhapushpi promotes intellectual capacity
Swarakarini- Shankhapushpi improves voice
Grahabhootadi doshaghni- Shankhapushpi is useful in diseases which are considered to be of supernatural origin
Rasayani- Shankhapushpi rejuvenates the body
Kantida- Shankhapushpi enhances the aura of body and gives it a healthy look
Majjadhatu rasayana- Shankhapushpi rejuvenates to the nervous tissue
Unmadaghna- Shankhapushpi alleviates insanity and emotional instability Vrishya- Aphrodisiac
Pachanbala- Shankhapushpi increases the strength of the digestive system Chedana- Laxative
Nidrajnana- Shankhapushpi promotes sleep

Besides this, Shankhapushpi improves digestion, prevents water retention, borborygmus and constipation. It is specifically beneficial where digestion is upset because of nervousness and anxiety.

Medicinal value:

* The study was conducted to evaluate the potential anti-ulcerogenic effect of juice of fresh whole plants of C.pluricaulis (CPJ) against various experimental gastric ulcer models induced by ethanol, aspirin, 2 hr cold restraint stress and 4 hr pyloric ligation in rats. The drug was given orally twice daily for five days in the doses of 375 and 750 mg/kg body weight. CPJ showed anti-ulcerogenic effect at both doses in all the experimental gastric ulcer models and was comparable to the reference drug sucralfate (250 mg/kg). Gastric juice secretion and mucosal studies were undertaken to find out the possible mechanism of action of antiulcer effect by studying its effects both on offensive and defensive mucosal factors. The antiulcerogenic effect of CPJ was found to be due to augmentation of mucosal defensive factors like mucin secretion, lifespan of mucosal cells and glycoprotiens rather than on the offensive factors like acid-pepsin.

* According to pharmaceutical study Shankhapushpi acts strongly on some of the liver enzymes and helps in improving symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

* A chemical composition containing Ethanol formula, which is extracted from Shankhapushpi, helps in reducing total serum cholesterol, phospholipids and some types of fatty acids from our body which are considered harmful.

Useful part:
Whole plant

Doses:
Powder- 2-4 gm; Paste- 10-20 gm

Some important combinations with Shankhapushpi:
Medhya kashaya, Shankhapushpi panaka

Special note about Shankhapushpi:

* Charaka considered Shankhapushpi as the best rejuvenator for brain and general health.

* Juice of Shankhapushpi taken with Kushtha (Saussurea lappa) and honey is very effective in management of insanity and emotional disturbance. (Chakradutta)

* Its astringency is useful for stopping bleeding in the intestines, urinary and reproductive system. Its affinity for the deeper tissues and shukra dhatu, is used to promote fertility in men and women.(Bhava Prakasha Nighantu)