Kantakari herb is botanically called Solanum xanthocarpum, which belongs to the family Solanaceae. Its popular names are Choti Katheri, Yellow-Berried Nightshade, Kateli, Nidigadhika and Kantkari. The herb is highly beneficial in Ayurvedic medicines, where roots play an important role. The whole plant and fruits are used for treatment of various diseases which are discussed in this article.
Kantakari Herb Benefits
The herb has the following health benefits:
- Kantakari herb is used for treatment of various diseases like worm infestation, hoarseness of voice, cold, fever, muscular pain, enlargement of the liver, dysuria, urinary bladder stone and spleen.
- Juice of Kantakari is used as a remedy for cold and sore throat.
- Asthma, migraine and headache can be treated with nasal administration of the herb.
- Piles can be treated with the fumigation of this herb.
- Paste made by Kantakari herb is applied on swelling in arthritis to lessen pain in the joints.
- Seeds and roots are used to treat cough, chest pain and asthma.
- Roots’ decoction is used with honey to cure cold.
- Grounded roots are made into paste and mixed with lemon juice to cure scorpion and snake bites.
- Kantakari herb’s flowers, fruits and stem are carminative and bitter and are used for relief from burning sensation in the feet.
- Its fruits also facilitate seminal ejaculation, soothe itching and reduce fever. These fruits also work as an aphrodisiac.
- Seeds are used to treat dysmenorrhea and irregular menstruation in women.
- The herb is a heart stimulator and a blood purifier, thus it is beneficial for the treatment of cardiac diseases.
- The herb is also used for treatment of dropsy.
- The herb leaves are used for cooking purposes.
The above are some of the benefits of Kantakari herb. The herb Kantakari should not be taken by pregnant women.