Solanum xanthocarpum, Kantakari

Solanum xanthocarpum (syn. S. virginianum)
N.J. von Jacquin, Icones plantarum rariorum, vol. 2 (1786-1793)

Solanum surattense
(Photo by Gabriele Kothe-Heinrich) (Wikimedia)

Uses:

1. Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough and Wheezing: (Ayurveda, Siddha, Tibetan, Unani)

-Phlegm-type Cough, Bronchitis, Whooping Cough
-Asthma, Bronchial Asthma (Ayurveda, Siddha, Tibetan, Unani)
-also Respiratory Viruses and Pneumonia
-in Unani to purge Phlegm humor
-dry fruit or whole plant has been used for this function

2. Clears Heat and Damp, Opens Obstructions: (Ayurveda, Tibetan, Unani)

-Dysuria, Difficult Urination, Urinary retention (decoction alone can be used; Ayurveda, Tibetan Medicine)
-pain and swelling of the Testes (TCM)
-Gonorrhea (Unani)
-Swelling of the Liver or Spleen; Cirrhosis (Ayurveda, TCM)
-abdominal disorders (Ayurveda); Abdominal distention (Tibetan Medicine)
-whole plant or root in decoction is used for this purpose

3. Clears Wind-Heat, Relieves Toxin:

-Fever, Common Cold, Infectious Fever (Tibetan Medicine)
-Abscess and Boils (TCM)
-Chronic Skin Diseases, Eczema, Psoriasis (Ayurveda); Leprosy (Unani)
-Hepatitis A, B, C; Cirrhosis (TCM)
-Postpartum Fever (Ayurveda)
-also used for Eye diseases in Ayurveda, and to prevent Cataracts etc
-whole plant or fruit are used

4. Clears Wind-Damp, Eases Pain:

-Wind-Damp pain; Arthritis, Myalgia, Rheumatism (TCM, Ayurveda)
-Toothache (TCM)

5. Benefits the Uterus:

-Fruit is regarded as being beneficial for promoting Fertility and Conception (Ayurveda, Unani)
-Difficult Childbirth (Tibetan Medicine)
-Hysteria (Unani)
-it is a source of diosgenin

6. Kills Worms:

-used for Worms (Ayurveda, Unani)

7. Externally:

-dried fruit or seed are used for Toothache (Unani, TCM)
-fumigation for Toothache (Ayurveda)
-concentrated decoction or juice is given as nasal drops for Epilepsy and Hysteric attacks (Unani)
-boiled in Mustard oil and applied to Lichen (Sushruta)

Main Combinations:

Dashmula

One of the 10 plants that make up Dashmula in Ayurveda, used for inflammation, fever, joint disease, and as a sedative.

1. Cough, Bronchitis:
i. Solanum xanthocarpum root is decocted and taken with Long Pepper and Honey
ii. Solanum xanthocarpum with Inula racemosa, Licorice
iii. Spasmodic Cough, Solanum xanthocarpum root with Rock Salt and Asafetida. (Ayurveda)
iv. Decoction of Solanum xanthocarpum with Chebula, taken with a paste of Ginger, Long and Black Pepper with Honey (Chakradatta)
v. Solanum xanthocarpum Ghee extract (Ghirta) with Ginger, or Chebula, or Adhatoda, or Long Pepper (Ayurveda)
vi. Phlegm Cough, Solanum xanthocarpum with Tinospora, Ginger, Long Pepper (from Shaarangadhara Samhita)
vii. Chronic Cough in Children Solanum xanthocarpum fruit powder with Honey as a paste (Unani)
viii. Cough with difficulty breathing, Solanum xanthocarpum root, Adhatoda root, Dolichos biflorus, Ginger (equal parts)
2. Asthma:
i. Solanum xanthocarpum with Adhatoda, Licorice, Long Pepper, Raisins, Datura (as in Kanakasava of Ayurveda)
3. Pleuritis, Solanum xanthocarpum with Elephantopus Ding Shu Xiu, Vitis amurensis Shan Pu Tao
4. Fever:
i. Phlegm Fever, the decoction of the whole plant alone can be used.
ii. Phlegm Fever, Solanum xanthocarpum with Tinospora
iii. Phlegm-Heat, Solanum xanthocarpum with Ginger and Swertia (Unani)
iv. Influenza, acute Fevers, Solanum xanthocarpum with Triphala, Ginger, Cyperus, Swertia, Fumitory, Picrorhiza, Licorice (as in Mahasudarsana Churna )
5. Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Solanum xanthocarpum with Tinospora, Costus root, Aconitum palmatum, Bdellium (Guggulu) (as in Panchatikta Guggulu Ghirta)
6. Rheumatism:
i. Solanum xanthocarpum with Black Pepper (Unani)
ii. Solanum xanthocarpum with Guggulu, Long Pepper, Ginger, Cyperus
7. Postpartum Fever, Solanum xanthocarpum with Cyperus rotundus, Fumitory, Picrorhiza, Swertia; decoct and take with Honey and Long Pepper (Ayurveda)
8. Colic, Solanum xanthocarpum with Sida cordifolia, Boerhaavia, Asafetida, Rock Salt 
9. Hepatitis, Solanum xanthocarpum with Euphorbia thymifolia Zhi Zi Cao, Polygonum cuspidatium Hu Zhang
10. Liver Cirrhosis:
i. Solanum xanthocarpum with Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang (a formula)
ii. Solanum xanthocarpum with Gardenia Zhi Zi, Polygonum cuspidatium Hu Zhang,
11. Itchy skin, Eczema, Solanum xanthocarpum with Saposhnikovia Fang Feng, Sophora Ku Shen, Schizonepeta Jing Jie
12. Chronic Skin diseases, Psoriasis, Solanum xanthocarpum with Wrightia tinctoria, Madder
13. Hemorrhoids, Solanum xanthocarpum with Tinospora, Plumbago, Caesalpinia crista bark, Holarrhena antidysenterica seed, Gmelia arborea, Embelia, prepared as a medicinal Ghee (called Simhyamrta Ghrita)
14. Diabetic Retinopathy, Solanum xanthocarpum, Plumbago zeylanica (see research below)
15. Eye diseases:
i. to improve sight and prevent Cataracts, Solanum xanthocarpum with Triphala, Eclipta, Fumitory, Tinospora, Withania (as in Mahatriphaladi Ghrita)
ii. red, sore, swollen eyes, Solanum xanthocarpum with Self Heal (Xia Kua Cao), Cassia Semen (Jue Ming Zi)

Major Formulas:

Dashmula Ghirta
Chyavanprash
Kanakasava
Punarnavasava
Indukanta Ghirta
Panchatikta Guggulu Ghirta
Mahatriphaladi Ghrita
Mahasudarsana Churna
Simhyamrta Ghrita
Matbukh Haft Roza (Unani)