ROSARY PEA

Rosary pea or crab`s eye popularly known as Gunja in Hindi . It is a slender, climbing herb with peculiar bright red seeds. It can be found growing over shrubs , plant and hedges . It is the most toxic herbal plant because of presence of abrin toxin present in plant seeds . 

Gunja occur in two forms normally , the one with the red seeds and the other one is white seed . 

Purified Gunja preparations work well for treating painful arthritis and hair fall . It is also considered a potent aphrodiasiac. 

NAMES :-

ENGLISH NAMES :-Indian Licorice root , Crab`s Eye , John Crow Bead , Abrus seed 

HINDI NAMES :- Gunchi , Gamanchi , Gunja , Rati 

SANSKRIT NAMES :- Kakadantika , Rati , Sheetpaki , Kakashaveya , Shikhandika 

TAMIL NAMES :- Gundumani 

TELUGU NAMES :- Guruvinda ,Guruginia 

MARATHI NAMES :- Gunj , Gunja 

PERSIAN NAMES :-  Gunchi , Chashmi , Khurosa 

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES :-

RASA :- Tikta ( Bitter ) , Kashya ( Astrigent ) 

GUNA :- Ruksha (Dry ) , Laghu ( Light )

VIRYA :- Ushana ( Hot )

VIPAKA :- Katu ( Pungent ) 

EFFECT ON DOSHAS :- Balances Vatta and Kapha Doshas 

PARTS TO BE USED :- Roots , leaf and Seeds 

CLASSIFIACTION :-

Botanical Name :- Abrus Precatorius 

Kingdom :- Plantae 

Division :- Magnoliophyta 

Class :- Magniliopsida 

Order :- Fabales

Family :- Fabaceae

Subfamily :- Faboideae

Tribe :- Abreae

Genus :- Abrus 

Species :- A precatorius 

USES ARE :-

1 Promote growth of hair :- The oil from the seed of herb is useful to promote the growth of human hair . 

2 Treatment of Gonorrhea :- The rosary pea roots are used in treatment of Gonorrhea , Haemoglobinuric bile and Jaundice .

3 To Treat Fever ,Cough and Cold :- The leaves of Rosary Pea are used in making of tea which is helpful in treating cough , fever and colds . 

 4 This herb is also used as Laxative , Abortifacient , Aphrodisiac and Sedative 

5 The seeds of this herb has antimicrobial , anodyne , diuretic , expectorant , hemostat , emetic , febrifuge , purgative and refrigerant property .  

6 The seeds after being converted to vermifuge paste can be applied topically in case of sciatica , stiffness of shoulder joint and paralysis . 

7 The white seeds of the herb are used in siddha medicine , to make oil that is regarded as an equivalent of the present day vigra .

 8 In some traditional medicines , the herb is used to treat scratches , sores and wounds caused by dogs ,cats and mice .

9 The paste of its roots is often used in treatment of abdominal pain and tumors . 

10 The juice derived from the paste of the leaves and seeds of rosary pea can be used to treat grey hair .

SIDE EFFECTS :-

The seeds of Rosary pea are highly poisonous . In the powdered form they have been known to disturb the uterine function and also prevent conception in  women .

1 If consumed raw the seeds can result in nausea , severe abdominal pain , vomiting and diarrhea , burning in throat . Later on ulcerative lesion of mouth and esophagus might result. 

2 Eye damage conjunctivitis and even blindness might result from coming in contact with an infusion of the seed extracts .