Chandrashura (Halon)

Chandrashura (Hindi Halon, Halim, Chansur; botanical name Lepidium sativum) is common cress, whose small red seeds are the part mostly used. The Bhavaprakasha Nighantu gives it two verses in the Haritakyadi varga, one of names and one of uses (p. 292, verses 96–97), and the next verses make it one of the four seeds of chaturbija (p. 293, verses 98–99). The commentary records that its seeds are used to cause abortion; see the caution below.

Names

चन्द्रिका चर्महन्त्री च पशुमेहनकारिका । नन्दिनी कारवी भद्रा वासपुष्पा सुवासरा ॥ ९६ ॥

The verse gives eight Sanskrit names: Chandrika, Charmahantri, Pashumehanakarika, Nandini, Karavi, Bhadra, Vasapushpa and Suvasara. Chandrika is also a name of methi, and Karavi a name of shatapushpa, in the verses just before (p. 292, verse 96).

Properties and uses

चन्द्रशूरं हितं हिक्कावातश्लेष्मातिसारिणाम् । असृग्वातगदद्वेषि बलपुष्टिविवर्द्धनम् ॥ ९७ ॥

According to the text, chandrashura is:

• Good for people with hiccup (hikka), vata and kapha disorders, and diarrhoea (atisara)
• Opposed to asrigvata, the blood-and-vata disease (vatarakta)
• Increases strength (bala) and nourishment (pushti)

The text gives no taste, potency or post-digestive effect for it (p. 292, verse 97).

Chaturbija

मेथिका चन्द्रशूरश्च कालाऽजाजी यवानिका । एतच्चतुष्टयं युक्तं चतुर्बीजमिति स्मृतम् ॥ ९८ ॥ तच्चूर्णं भक्षितं नित्यं निहन्ति पवनामयम् । अजीर्णं शूलमाध्मानं पार्श्वशूलं कटिव्यथाम् ॥ ९९ ॥

Methi, chandrashura, kalajaji (which the Hindi translation calls mangraila) and yavanika (ajwain) together are called chaturbija, "the four seeds". According to the text, their powder taken daily destroys vata disorders, indigestion, colic, bloating, pain in the side and backache (p. 293, verses 98–99).

The plant

The Hindi commentary of this edition adds notes on the plant (pp. 292–293):

• Botanical name: Lepidium sativum Linn., family Cruciferae. English: common cress.
• Where it grows: sown in every region.
• The plant: 1–3 feet tall, smooth or slightly hairy, with divided leaves and small white flowers. The fruit is about 0.2 inch, flat and oval, pressed inward at the tip.
• How to recognise the seeds: small and red, and they turn slimy (mucilaginous) when put in water. The seeds are the part mostly used.
• Constituents: an aromatic volatile oil and a fixed oil; iodine, iron, phosphates, potash, some salts, a bitter principle and a large amount of sulphur; its glucoside is called glucotropaeolin.
• Actions noted: rejuvenating (rasayana), strengthening (balya), aphrodisiac (vajikara), stimulating, moves the bowels and wind downward (anulomika), increases breast milk and relieves pain.
• Where it is used: after childbirth, in blood disorders, skin disease, eye disease, long-standing enlargement of the liver and spleen, glandular swellings, bleeding piles, breathlessness, cough and diarrhoea.
• Preparations and uses:
  • An infusion (phanta) is given for hiccup caused by irritation of the stomach, in small sips again and again; it also helps in diarrhoea and grahani from the same cause.
  • After childbirth it is given as a barfi made with dried coconut, or as a lapsi (thin porridge) cooked in milk; the commentary calls this rejuvenating, nourishing and good for milk, and says it also helps backache and white discharge.
  • For men too it is called rejuvenating and an aphrodisiac, and it is used to increase height.
  • The powder with mishri (sugar candy) is given in poor digestion, diarrhoea and grahani.
  • Ground in lemon juice, it is applied as a paste in backache, internal swelling, amavata and joint pain.
  • The leaves increase urine and stimulate; they are eaten as a salad in scurvy. The root is used in syphilis (phiranga) and tenesmus.
• Dose given: 1/4–1 tola.
• Regional names: Hindi Halon, Halim, Chansur, Chandrashur; Bengali Halim, Halima, Halo, Chandsur; Marathi Aliv, Halim, Ahaliv; Gujarati Asheliyo, Ashal bij; Kumaoni Halim; Punjabi Tejak; Sindhi Ahero; Tamil Alivirai; Kannada Allibija; Persian Tukhm-e-tara-tezak.

Caution: pregnancy

The commentary records that the seeds, boiled in milk, are used to cause abortion (p. 292). Anyone who is or may be pregnant should therefore not take chandrashura; its uses after childbirth are for new mothers only, on a vaidya's advice.

Sources

• Bhavamishra, Bhavaprakasha Nighantu, Haritakyadi varga, verses 96–97: p. 292; chaturbija, verses 98–99: p. 293 (scan and text on SarvaKosh)
• Vidyotini Hindi commentary, notes on the plant: pp. 292–293

This page describes what the granth says. It is not medical advice; consult a qualified vaidya before using any remedy.