Agnimantha / Clerodendrum Phlomidis

Agnimantha is an essential medicinal herb that has been described in manuscripts since the Vedic period. It is listed as one of the eleven Dashamoola herbs. In ancient times, its wood was rubbed together to make fire. Agni means fire and mantha means to shake. According to Acharya Charak, this herb is beneficial for Vatahara and Shothahara. Agnimantha is a Lamiaceae / Vivernaeceae flowering plant. It looks like a huge shrub or small tree and can grow up to 9 meters tall. It has yellow bark and a brown-colored woody aromatic root. It is a tiny herb that is often found in India and Sri Lanka. It grows in a group with other plants. It has leaves that are simple, oval, opposite, membranous, and irregularly serrated. This herb's flowers are small and white, with a disagreeable odor. The fruits are saucer-shaped calyx that surround the base and turn black when ripe.

The most well-known type is Agnimantha, and the less well-known variety is Tarkari. Agnimantha is a combination of 2-3 plants.

• Premna mucronata/Premna corymbosa
• Clerodendrum phlomidis

Clerodendrum phlomidis' chemical composition includes pectolinarigenin, hispidium, cleodendrin, raffinosa, and others.

B-sitosterol, lutoelin, premnine, botulin, ganikarine, premenol, and ganiarine are all found in Premna mucronata.

Special Note About Agnimantha

Because of its numerous properties, this herb is also known as Agnimantha, Jaya, Vataghni, and Sriparna.

• When Agnimantha sticks are rubbed together, they produce fire, which is why it is called Agnimantha.
• It is known as Jaya and aids in the treatment of different ailments.
• Helps to balance vata dosha, hence the name vataghan.
• It is known as Sriparna because of the stunning look of the leaves.

Habitat 

Agnimantha is a plant that is found all across India. It is typically found in dried sections. It is widely available in the upper Gangetic plains, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Orissa, among other places, as well as in coastal portions of southern India and dry regions of the western coast. It can also be found on the banks of the Ganges and the Bengal rivers. This plant's flowering season lasts from April through June.

Classification

• Family - Verbenaceae (Nirgundi kula)
• Kingdom - Plantae
• Order - Lamiales

Other Names

• Latin name - Clerodendrum phlomidis
• Sanskrit name - Agnimantha
• Hindi name - Tekar, Arni, Agathu, Ganiyari, urni
• Malayalam name  - Munja
• Bengali name  - Ganiyari, Ganira
• Kannnad name - Arani, Aranel, Airanamula
• Oriya name - Ganiary
• Telugu name - Nelli, Gabbunulli, Taluki
• French name - Arbe a la migraine
• Tamil name - Tazhutazhai, Munnay

Ayurvedic Properties

Effects on Dosha

It balances Vata and Kapha.

Effects on Dosha

It balances Vata an Kapha.

According to Rajnighantu, there are two types of Agnimantha:-

1. Laghu Agnimantha
2. Brhat Agnimantha

Practical Uses 

• Agnimantha is more beneficial in cases of anemia.
• It calms the kapha (kaphaghna).
• Swelling and inflammation are reduced (Shothahara). Warm Agnimantha leaves are used to treat severe pain.
• Agnimantha is beneficial for low digestive fire (Agnimandya) as well as improving digestive fire (deepana).
• Used to eliminate excess waste from the body (anulomana).
• Beneficial in the treatment of diabetes (premhaghna). Root decoction offers anti-diabetic effects.
• It is employed in the treatment of hemorrhoids (arsha), cough (kasa), and asthma (swasa).
• Beneficial for urinary tract infections.
• Immune system booster and blood purifier (rakta shodhaka).
• It is well-known for its analgesic and anti-pyretic effects (jawarghna).
• It has analgesic properties (Vednasthapan).
• A decoction of the root is used to treat uncomfortable micturition.
• Urticaria and other skin problems are treated with root pulp taken orally.

Dosage

• Mool churna - 1-3 gm
• Patra swaras - 10 - 20 ml
• Kwatha - 50 - 100 ml

Part used

Root bark, bark, panchang and leaves.