Sanskrit name for "Bicchu Buti" - Duḥsparśā, Durālabhā or Vṛścikālī?

[Nityanand Misra]

Namaste

Members of the list familiar with Āyurveda may probably help with this. I am looking for the Sanskrit name for the Himalayan grass which is called बिच्छू बूटी (Bicchu Buti, or “scorpion herb”) or बीछी घास (Bichi Ghas, or “scorpion grass”) in Hindi. It is referred to in the Rāmacaritamānasa verse 2.46.6 also (छुअत चढ़ी जनु सब तन बीछी).

 

I think this page has the photograph for the grass (not sure as I have not seen it firsthand) –

http://www.redbubble.com/people/mukesh/works/3736471-bichhu-scorpio-grass

 

From what I learned from different sources, the grass is called so in Hindi since the herb has hairs containing formic acid, and when one touches the plant, the hairs break and acid is injected into skin, causing rash and burning sensation in the whole body, similar to the sting of a scorpion.

 

I am not sure of the scientific name. As per this link, the name of the herb in English is Indian stinging nettle, and the scientific name is Urthica diaica L. However, the Pandanus database of Indian plans gives the scientific name of the Indian stinging nettle as Tragia involucrata L, whose Sanskrit names are given as duḥsparśā and  durālabhā.

http://iu.ff.cuni.cz/pandanus/database/details.php?id=4015

I also found another entry on the Pandanus database  for Heliotropium indicum L. –

http://iu.ff.cuni.cz/pandanus/database/details.php?id=3301

which has an interesting Sanskrit name – vṛścikālī which sounds strikingly similar to the Hindi name. Interestingly, Monier Williams listed the meaning of vṛścikālī as Tragia involucrata L, which if true makes vṛścikālī the Indian stinging nettle. Either Monier Williams or Pandanus database has the incorrect scientific name.

 

Can anybody help with the correct Sanskrit name? Is it duḥsparśā, durālabhā or vṛścikālī (or something else)? Any references to the herb’s qualities in Āyurvedic works will also help.

 

Thanks, Nityanand

--
Nityānanda Miśra
Vice President, Equity Markets, Citigroup, Hong Kong SAR
Member, Advisory Council, JRHU, Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh, India
http://nmisra.googlepages.com

[Hnbhat B.R.]

I don't know of the Scientfic name. There is one herbal name by वृश्चिक, as Medini also notes it. 

वृश्चिकस्तुु द्रुणे राशौ शुककीटौषधी-भिदोः।"

Probably some comprehensive Ayurvedic dictionary may help. Anyhow we may look some member having experience with Ayurveda, who can help what herb is meant by वृश्चिक and is it the same what you call in Hindi बिछू बूटी which is probable.

There may or may not be synonyms. Only any Ayurvedakosha may help. Here is an information of compilation of such a Kosha:

regarding the Central University of Tibetan Studies (CUTS) Sarnath, Varanasi,

"During the year 2011-12, under the scheme of Compilation of Encyclopedic & Technical Dictionaries, the University compiled, Ayurveda-Kosha-5700 words entry,"

which may be available if published.

​

[Ashok Aklujkar]

The similar sounding Skt words listed in the attachment may help you in exploring the Skt and regional language sources further. 

a.a.

[Dr.Raghavendra.Bhat]

Namaamsi,

I hope this,

"Bicchu Buti" is called Stinging Nettle  in English

( http://herbpathy.com/Uses-and-Benefits-of-Stinging-Nettle-Cid863 )

and its Sanskrit Name वृश्चिकच्छदा...( http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?script=HK&beginning=0+&tinput=Stinging+Nettle&trans=Translate&direction=ES )

--
निराशीर्निर्ममो भूत्वा युध्यस्व विगतज्वरः।। (भ.गी.)
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Dr Raghavendra Bhat
+91 8956610988
drbhat...@gmail.com

[Jsr Prasad]

On a brief survey, it is found that Caraka has very less number of
references to दुरालभा but confirms this to be दुःस्पर्शा (च.सं.
चि.स्था. 15). Sushruta agrees to this at चिकित्सास्थान, 11
अध्यायः-प्रमेहचिकित्सितम् । Sushruta attributes this herb with several
synonyms such as 'कर्कटका', 'अनन्ता', 'दीर्घमूला' , 'यावसः', 'यासः'
and so on. It is also called 'कर्कटशृङ्गी' । Dalhana, commentator on
Sushruta, describes this as कर्काटकाख्यः तृणजातिः... (Uttara tantra,
Ch. 51). It seems to be a multipurpose herb used in 'कास, ज्वर,
रक्तपित्त, कु्ष्ठ, राजयक्ष्मा, पाण्डु and ग्रहणी and many other
disease conditions.

वृश्चिकाली for दुरालभा ? Cakrapani on Caraka Samhita identifies
वृश्चिकाली for वृश्चिकपत्री (वृश्चिकपत्री इति ख्याता; चिकित्सास्थान, 9
अध्यायः). It acquires synonyms such as 'पलङ्कषा', 'पूतनापूर्वा,
'गोलोमी' । Dalhana gives another synonym as 'वृश्चियाकः' (सू.स्था.
अध्याय 39)। Based on a hint from him, not sure, whether it ca be
presumed for दुरालभा as per the following: सविषसत्त्वचूर्णं
वृश्चिकालीनामकं 'क्षुप'भेदं केचित् कथयन्ति (चि.स्था. 23 अध्यायः -
शोफविचिकित्सितम्)।

An Asava made of दुरालभा is referred to byCaraka.

Scientific names are mostly controversial. However, Envis DB of FRLHT
gives us some information on the above discussion. Envis identifies
दुरालभा with 'Tragia
involucrata L.' whereas Heliotropium indicum L. for वृश्चिकाली ।
However, I've not seen Bhavaprakasa in this context. Related
information is available with the attachment.

Regards

On 3/1/14, Nityanand Misra <nmi...@gmail.com> wrote:

> From what I learned from different sources, the grass is called so in Hindi
> since the herb has hairs containing formic acid, and when one touches the
> plant, the hairs break and acid is injected into skin, causing rash and
> burning sensation in the whole body, similar to the sting of a scorpion.
>
>
>
> I am not sure of the scientific name. As per this

> link<http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/nimrethanda.pdf>,

> the name of the herb in English is Indian stinging nettle, and the

> scientific name is *Urthica diaica L*. However, the Pandanus database of

> Indian plans gives the scientific name of the Indian stinging nettle as

> *Tragia
> involucrata L*, whose Sanskrit names are given as duḥsparśā and durālabhā.
>
> http://iu.ff.cuni.cz/pandanus/database/details.php?id=4015
>
> I also found another entry on the Pandanus database for *Heliotropium
> indicum L.* –

>
> http://iu.ff.cuni.cz/pandanus/database/details.php?id=3301
>
> which has an interesting Sanskrit name – vṛścikālī which sounds strikingly
> similar to the Hindi name. Interestingly, Monier Williams listed the

> meaning of vṛścikālī as *Tragia involucrata L,* which if true makes

> vṛścikālī the Indian stinging nettle. Either Monier Williams or Pandanus
> database has the incorrect scientific name.
>
> Can anybody help with the correct Sanskrit name? Is it duḥsparśā, durālabhā
> or vṛścikālī (or something else)? Any references to the herb’s qualities in
> Āyurvedic works will also help.
>

--
Dr. Jsra Prasad,
Asst. Professor, Dept. of Sanskrit Studies
University of Hyderabad, Prof. C.R. Rao Road,
Hyderabad - 500 046 Tel: 040-2313 3803

[Nityanand Misra]

On Sunday, March 2, 2014 3:31:39 AM UTC+8, Ashok Aklujkar wrote:

The similar sounding Skt words listed in the attachment may help you in exploring the Skt and regional language sources further. 

a.a.

Thanks Professor Aklujkar. The Kosha was very helpful as it gives the Marathi name बिछुवा घास for the entry वृश्चिका. I can safely assume that बिछुवा घास in Marathi is same as बिच्छू घास/बिच्छू बूटी/बीछी घास in Hindi.  

Whether वृश्चिका is same as वृश्चिकाली or if it is a different herb, I am not sure. The Kosha gives रापरि. ५.४० as reference for वृश्चिका and रापरि. ९.७ as the reference for वृश्चिकाली. I do not know what work रापरि. stands for and will perhaps need to dig deeper.

I also found these entries in the online edition of the lexicon हिन्दी शब्दसागर by नागरी प्रचारिणी सभा for वृश्चिका and वृश्चिकाली, but I would rather rely on an आयुर्वेदकोश than a भाषाकोश –

दंष्ट्रा, दक्षिणावर्तवती, देवलाङ्गुलिका, नागदन्तिका, नेत्ररोगहा, पिच्छिला, पीतपर्णी, भूरिदुग्धा, युग्मपर्णा, युग्मफला, विषघ्नी, विषाणी, वृश्चिक, वृश्चिकपर्णी, वृश्चिका, वृश्चिकाली, वृश्चिपत्री, वृश्चिपर्णी, शतघ्नी, श्वित्रघ्नी, सर्पदंष्ट्री, स्वर्णद, स्वर्णदा, स्वर्णदी

http://dsalsrv02.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/search3advanced?dbname=dasahindi&query=वृश्चिका

http://dsalsrv02.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/search3advanced?dbname=dasahindi&query=वृश्चिकाली

Prof. Prasad, thanks for your references from various works. You attached a Word document on दुरालभा, may I know its source? It gives all the three names (दुःस्पर्शा, दुरालभा and वृश्चिकाली) for the same herb.

Thanks again to all others who responded.

[Ashok Aklujkar]

राजनिघण्टु-परिशिष्टम्. The attachment contains a copy of the pages explaining the abbreviations. 

[Jsr Prasad]

Sri Nityanand,

I consulted stand alone e-versions of Caraka and Sushruta Samhitas with respective commentaries. I compiled the information from the referred sources on the herb. You may be interested to visit this link of National  Institute of Indian Medical Heritage - http://niimh.ap.nic.in/

It has wonderful online searchable e-texts in Ayurveda.

Regards,
Prasad

[Siddharth Wakankar]

Sir,

You may profitably refer to the excellent book,"Indian Materia Medica",by Dr.Nadkarni(either K.M.or M.K.Nadkarni) from Bombay-Mumbai (published some 100 years ago).It was possibly the first attempt in this direction in modern times.It could be available in old libraries of the Universities or Oriental Research Institutes.

It gives equivalents from almost all the Indian languages for the Sanskrit names,with their scientific(Latin/English) nomenclature.Very few scholars refer to this wonderful work which gives a fund of information.

Just verify whether its reprint is out or is available on internet.

Prof Siddharth Wakankar

[Nityanand Misra]

Thanks again to Prof Aklujkar Ji, Prof. Prasad Ji and Prod. Wakankar Ji for the additional information.

I have used the word वृश्चिका for the herb going by the Ayurveda Kosha.

[Dr. Yadu Moharir]

Namaskar Scholars,

Some additional information that may be useful.:

 दुरालभा (Hedysarum alhagi, L or Alhagi Maurorum). Properties -  Laxative, Diuretic, expectorant, demulcent.  Often used as a mild laxative for children

दुःस्पर्शा (Fagonia arabica L) is astringent bitter tonic, diuretic, it is also used for mouth sores - Gargle.  I could not find any information pertaining to Scorpion bites.

Bicchu Buti (Sitinging Nettle - Urthica diaica L) -  I could not find any use associated with Scorpion bites.

Only herb that appears to be associated with venomous bites is "Bicchu Buti" (Martina diandra) AKA - Tiger's claw.

A paste prepared from the nuts is a local sedative and is used in the treatment of venomous insect bites.

Can someone help me understand why so many names are associated with different species ?

Any feed back or comments will be appreciated.

Best Rgds

Dr. Yadu

 

---

From: Jsrasad <jsrap...@gmail.com>
To: bvpar...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Saturday, March 1, 2014 11:56 AM
Subject: Re: {भारतीयविद्वत्परिषत्} Sanskrit name for "Bicchu Buti" - Duḥsparśā, Durālabhā or Vṛścikālī?

--
निराशीर्निर्ममो भूत्वा युध्यस्व विगतज्वरः।। (भ.गी.)
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[Dr. Yadu Moharir]

Namaskar Scholars,

The real reason for my comment was the following:

I am surprised that no one commented or cared to comment on my post.

Background :-

Couple of years ago my client asked me to obtain a specific herb (Name of the specific not important here) from India.

I received the herb powder from six different companies. When I prepared the extract and examined various fractions using HPLC-MS and GC/MS only two herbs matched with each other. Essentially, the chemical profile was different. Realizing this anomaly, we requited the "Whole Herbs". Upon examination of herbs under microscope we came to conclusion that cell structure for most of them was totally different and they are not same species.

What does this all mean ?

To me, this means that we do not know the identifications of Raw Materials.  This has been a major issue for the FDA.  Id the correct herb is not used then how can one expect to get the desired effect from the formulation !?

I sincerely hope that scholars from various disciplines interact and advance the forefront of knowledge in Ayurveda.  Just trying to keep the bragging rights of our inheritance of knowledge by our ancestors has limited or little value for Science.

Best regards

Dr Yadu

---

From: Dr. Yadu Moharir <ymoh...@yahoo.com>
To: "bvpar...@googlegroups.com" <bvpar...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 5, 2014 3:39 PMt

Subject: Re: {भारतीयविद्वत्परिषत्} Sanskrit name for "Bicchu Buti" - Duḥsparśā, Durālabhā or Vṛścikālī?

Namaskar Scholars,

Some additional information that may be useful.:

 दुरालभा (Hedysarum alhagi, L or Alhagi Maurorum). Properties -  Laxative, Diuretic, expectorant, demulcent.  Often used as a mild laxative for children

दुःस्पर्शा (Fagonia arabica L) is astringent bitter tonic, diuretic, it is also used for mouth sores - Gargle.  I could not find any information pertaining to Scorpion bites.

Bicchu Buti (Sitinging Nettle - Urthica diaica L) -  I could not find any use associated with Scorpion bites.

Only herb that appears to be associated with venomous bites is "Bicchu Buti" (Martina diandra) AKA - Tiger's claw.

 re

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