Scindapsus, Gajakrishna

Gajakrishna, Gajapippali (Ayurveda)
Anaitippili (Siddha)

Scindapsus officinalis
R. Wight, , Icones Plantarum Indiae Orientalis, (1846)

Uses:

1. Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough and Wheezing:

-Chronic Cough, Bronchitis, Asthma with excess Phlegm (Ayurveda, Unani)
-acute throat diseases

2. Clears Wind-Cold, Promotes Sweat:

-Fever, acute diseases
-promotes sweat

3. Warms the Stomach, Clears Damp:

-digestive disturbance caused by excess Phlegm
-Poor appetite, indigestion, Colic
-Diarrhea, Dysentery (fruit)

4. Clears Wind-Damp:

-Gravel, Stones
-Wind-Cold-Damp muscle and joint pain; Arthritis, Rheumatism (whole plant, fruit)
-Jaundice
-obstinate skin diseases associated with Wind
-Damp; Leukorrhea, Black Moles, Leprosy
-also used for Tumors and Cancer

5. Warms and Strengthens the Kidneys, Benefits Yang:

-Edema-Hypoglycemia
-Aphrodisiac (Ayurveda, Unani)
-regarded as useful for Fractures
-regarded as Cardiotonic (Unani)
-powdered fruit is taken in water for bleeding following childbirth
-used as a strengthening tonic by hill tribes in Thailand

6. Promotes Milk:

-increase Breast Milk
-enhances Breast development

7. Kills Worms:

-Ascaris

8. Externally:

-Leaf or Fruit pulp is applied to Rheumatism
-topically to Goiter
-used topically to promote hair growth

Main Combinations:

1. To clear Phlegm and Damp:
i. Scindapsus with Honey and Calamus
ii. Scindapsus with Triphala, Ginger and Long Pepper
2. Chronic Diarrhea and Dysentery, Scindapsus with Aegle, Andropogon muricatus, Symplocos
3. To promote Breast development, Scindapsus with Withania, Calamus, Costus

Major Formulas:

Majun Jograj Gugal
Candraprabha Vati
Agasthya Rasayana