Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/176

96 and other hæmorrhages, as well as in dropsy," (U. S. Dispensatory,)

Sans. : — Chandrasura.

Vern. ; — Halim (Kumaon; chausaur (H.); Assalia, Ahliva, Bomb.); Ali verai (Tam) ; Adit-yalu (Tel.); Halim, aleverie (B.); tezak (Pb.); Ahero (Sind.); Asalio halim (Guz.); Allibija. (Kan.)

Habitat : — Cultivated throughout India,

An annual, erect, glabrous herb. Stems erect, 6-18 in., branched. Radical leaves twice-pinnatisect, long-petioled. Cauline sessile and usually entire, say Hooker. ƒ. and T, Anderson; pinnatifid or lanceolate, says Sir Henry Collett, Flowers small, white, in long racemes. Sepals erect, equal at the base, Pods ovate, 1/5 in,, notched at the tip; margins winged, wings narrow. Pods orbicular-ovate (H. ƒ. and T). Pedicels adpressed. Seeds one in each cell. Radicle in- cumbent, cotyledons divided.

In Simla fields; flowers in April and May.

It is the garden cress of Europe and Asia,

Parts used : — The seed and leaves.

Use: — According to the Sanskrit writers, the seeds are described as tonic and alterative, efficacious in hiccup, diarrhœa and skin diseases (U. C. Dutt).

The Mahomedan writers consider the seeds to have aphrodisiac and diuretic properties; they recommend them for the dispersion of certain chronic enlargements of the spleen, &c, and as an alterative in various diseased conditions supposed to be produced by cold humors (Dymock).

According to Honigberger. the plant in the Punjab was administered in cases of asthma, cough with expectoration and bleeding piles. The root is used in secondary syphilis and tenesmus.

According to Bellew, the seeds are also considered to be galactagogue in the Punjab, and are administered after being boiled with milk, to cause abortion. O'Shaughnessy found the drug answer as a gentle and warm aperient.