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Onosma, Bri mog, Ratanjot

Onosma hookeri, O. multiramosum, O. echioides: Bri mog (Tibetan Medicine)
Onosma echioides, O. hispidum: Ratanjot (Unani)
Onosma echioides; Anchusa ex albido flora (Clusius), Pseudoanchusa
O. hookeri: Xi Hua Dian Zi Cao (TCM)
O. hispidum: Cu Ying Mao Dian Zi Cao (TCM)
O. paniculatum: Dian Zi Cao (TCM
Onosma echioides
R. Dodonaeus [Dodoens], Stirpium historiae pemptades sex, 1583
Onosma echioides
Sibthrop, J., Smith, J.E., Flora Graeca, 1813

Botanical name:
Onosma spp.
Onosma hookeri, O. multiramosum, O. echioides (syn. Anchusa echioides, Cerinthe echioides), O. hispidum (Ratanjot, Unani), O. paniculatum

Parts used:
Root, root-bark

Temperature & Taste:
Cool in Tibetan and TCM (Warm in Unani), dry; sweet, bitter

Uses:
1. Clears Heat, Stops Cough: (Tibetan, TCM)
-Cough, Bronchitis, Dyspnoea, Asthma (Tibetan)
–Hemoptysis
-Pneumonia (TCM, Tibetan)

2. Clears Blood Heat, Stops Bleeding: (Unani, Tibetan, TCM)
–Hemoptysis, vomiting of Blood from Blood heat
-Measles, Papular rashes
-bilious eruptions, eczema, red rashes and swellings from Blood heat
-uterine pain
-painful hard swellings
-prevents proliferation of impure blood (Tibet)

3. Clears Damp, Opens Obstructions: (Unani)
–Jaundice
-pain and swelling of the Liver or Spleen or Kidney
-kidney and bladder obstructions, stones
-more recently for hypertension

4. Externally:
–chronic ulcer, ulcerating sores (Unani, TCM)
-burns, scalds (TCM, Unani)
–with vinegar to vitiligo, leucoderma, psoriasis, warts, herpes, carbuncles
–root fried in oil is applied to alopecia
-as a suppository to cleanse afterbirth


The Flowers are regarded as cardiac and stimulant, used in rheumatism and palpitations


DOSE:
3–5 grams

CORRECTIVE:
Oil of Violet (Unani)

SUBSTITUTE:
1. Sapphireberry (Symplocos Zhu mkhan) is often used as a substitute in Tibetan Medicine.
2. Indusyunic states that O. bracteatum and O. hookeri are used as substitutes for O. echiodes and O. hispidum
3. Camomile (Unani)
4. This is called Tibetan Gromwell. The Chinese Gromwell (Lithospermum spp.) can also be used. The latter is known as Zi Cao in TCM, while the Tibetan Gromwell is called Xi Hua Dian Zi Cao (ie. a variety of ‘Zi Cao’). Lithospermum Zi Cao can be used.

Main Combinations:
1. Onosma Bri Mog with Madder and Lacca for Heat in the Blood, Lung Heat, Kidney Heat. These three medicines are often combined and are called Tshos gsum in Tibetan Medicine.
2. Heat in the Blood Onosma with Emblic Myrobalan, Elecampane, Tabasheer, Calcite, Licorice (as in Subduer of All Blood Disorders)

Major Formulas:
Subduer of All Blood Disorders (Khrag khrugs kun sel) (Tibetan Medicine)
Emblic 25 (Skyu ru nyer lnga) (Tibetan Medicine)
Amomum 19 (Ko la 19) (Tibetan Medicine)
Sandalwood 18 (Tibetan Medicine)

Cautions:
Species of Onosma contain potentially toxic alkaloids. Overdose and long-term use should be avoided

Main Preparations used: