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Volutarella divaricata

White Acanthus, Arabian Thorn
Badaward, Shukai (Unani)
Shokat-al-Baida (Arabic)
Sakayi (Hindi)
Fen Zhi Po Ju (TCM)
Kirtikar, K.R., Basu, B.D., Indian medicinal plants, Plates, vol. 3 (?)
Botanical name:
Volutarella divaricata
Synonyms:
  1. Oligochaeta ramosa
  2. Centaurea divaricata
  3. Amberboa ramosa
  4. Microlonchus divaricatus
  5. Tricholepis procumbens
  6. Onopordum acanthium has also been equated with Badaward

Parts used:
Above-ground herb; Root

Temperature & Taste:
Herb, Root: Cool, dry. Bitter.
Seeds are Warm.

Classifications:
dissolvent, deobstruent, mildly astringent, styptic, febrifuge

Uses:
1. Clears Deficient Heat, Benefits Yin, Stops Bleeding:
-Chronic Fevers, Chronic Phlegmatic Fever (herb)
-Chronic Cough (herb)
-Hemoptysis (herb, especially root) (Avicenna)
-in Unani it is regarded as a Digestive of Melancholy
-taken with milk for Seminal Debility

2. Resists Poison:
-Bites of Scorpions, Insects etc (Seed)
-claimed to keep away vermin and reptiles when kept in the home (India)

3. Clears Damp-Heat, Resolves Swelling:
-obstruction and pain of the Liver
-Stomach weakness with obstruction, Indigestion,
-for Phlegmatic swellings (Avicenna)
-Tumors; anti-cancer
-Diarrhea, Chronic Diarrhea

4. Benefits Qi:
-mild Qi tonic effect
-general debility, digestive weakness

5. Clears Heat, Settles Spasms:
-Convulsions (Avicenna)
-muscular disorders in children (Seed) (Avicenna)
-used for Nervous debility and Depression

6. Externally:
-decoction gargled for pain of the gums and toothache
-seed applied to Scorpion bite
-poultice is applied to Eclampsia
-in plasters for Phlegmatic Swellings
-topically for Leucoderma


DOSE:
Of the Powder: 1–3 grams
In Decoction: 3–6 grams
Decoction (1 in 20): half–2 fluid ounce doses.

CORRECTIVE:
1. Wormwood (Unani)

SUBSTITUTE:
1. Fumitory (F. indica, F. parviflora) (Avicenna)
2. Swertia
3. Carduus benedictus
4. Centaurea bruguierana has also been listed as a source.
5. Some of the herb on the market sold as Badaward is said to be Fagonia arabica

Main Combinations:
1. Liver disorders and Phlegm Fever, Volutarella with Yarrow, Balm, Fennel, Black Nighshade, Raisin (as in Distilled Water of Yarrow Compound of Unani)
2. Inflammation of the Liver or Stomach, Volutarella with Fennel, Licorice, Balm, Caper root-bark, Tinospora, Borage, Raisin (Unani)

Major Formulas:

Cautions:
1. Avoid overdose or long-term use.
2. Harmful for the Lungs used for long periods or large doses. (Unani)

Main Preparations used: