Mishreya (Saunf)

Mishreya (Hindi Saunf, Badi saunf; botanical name Foeniculum vulgare) is fennel. The Bhavaprakasha Nighantu describes it in the Haritakyadi varga together with shatapushpa (soya, Indian dill), in one section of four verses. The text says mishreya has the same properties as shatapushpa, then lists what it does in particular (p. 288, verses 89–92).

Names

छत्रा शालेयशालीनी मिश्रेया मधुरा मिसिः ।

This line gives six Sanskrit names: Chhatra ("the umbrella"), Shaleya, Shalina, Mishreya, Madhura and Misi. The last two are also names of shatapushpa in the verse before (p. 288, verses 89–90).

Properties

मिश्रेया तद्गुणा प्रोक्ता विशेषाद्योनिशूलनुत् ॥ ९१ ॥ अग्निमान्द्यहरी हृद्या बद्धविट्कृमिशुक्रहृत् । रूक्षोष्णा पाचनी कासवमिश्लेष्मानिलान् हरेत् ॥ ९२ ॥

Mishreya is "said to have the same properties" (tadguna) as shatapushpa, which the text calls pungent, light, sharp, hot, a kindler of digestion and an increaser of pitta (shatapushpa). In particular it is:

• Guna (quality): dry (ruksha)
• Virya (potency): hot (ushna)
• Actions: digestive (pachani), good for the heart (hridya)
• Doshas: removes kapha (shleshma) and vata (anila)

(p. 288, verses 91–92)

Conditions it is used in

According to the text, mishreya is used above all in pain of the female genital tract (yonishula), and also in weak digestion (agnimandya), constipation (baddhavit), worms (krimi), cough (kasa) and vomiting (vami). The same verse also counts shukra (semen) among the things it takes away (p. 288, verses 91–92).

The plant

The Hindi commentary of this edition adds notes on the plant (pp. 289–290):

• Botanical name: Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (also called Anethum foeniculum), family Umbelliferae. English: fennel fruit.
• Where it grows: sown in fields in almost every region.
• The plant: a tall herb whose leaves are cut into many parts like dill leaves, with yellowish umbrella-shaped flower heads.
• How to recognise the fruit: 6–7 mm long and about 4 mm wide, oblong, usually unsplit and with its stalk. Fresh seeds are green and turn yellowish with age.
• Watch for spent fruit: fruits whose oil has already been drawn off hold less oil, smell weaker and are darker in colour.
• Constituents: a volatile oil (1–2.9%), about 60% of it anethol, with fenchone and other substances, and a fixed oil (8.8–15.8%). Indian fennel holds less volatile oil than foreign fennel.
• Actions noted: aromatic, kindles digestion, digests, moves wind downward (vatanulomaka), soothes burning (dahaprashamana) and clears the colour of the urine (mutravirajaniya).
• In the kitchen: used above all as a spice, and to flavour drinks.
• Preparations and uses:
  • Its arka (distilled water) is given to children for digestive troubles such as bloating and colic, and is used as a vehicle (anupana) for other medicines.
  • Used in diarrhoea with undigested matter (amatisara), indigestion, bloating, fever, cough, breathlessness, kidney disease, an enlarged spleen, absent menstruation and weak eyesight.
  • Ground and drunk, it relieves burning urination and clears the urine.
  • Kept in the mouth, it helps in dry cough and disorders of the mouth.
  • The ground fruit applied as a paste relieves the giddiness and headache of the hot season.
  • A decoction given as an enema (basti) helps in bloating.
  • The leaves are aromatic, increase urine and bring on sweating; the root is purgative.
• Dose given: 4 ratti to 2 masha.
• Not to be confused with: another kind of "saunf", badiyan or aniseed (Pimpinella anisum), which the commentary describes in the appendix.
• Regional names: Hindi Saunf, Badi saunf; Bengali Mouri, Pan mouri; Punjabi Saunf; Gujarati Variyali; Marwari Sonf; Telugu Sopu; Tamil Sombu; Persian Raziyana, Badiyan.

Sources

• Bhavamishra, Bhavaprakasha Nighantu, Haritakyadi varga, verses 89–92: p. 288 (scan and text on SarvaKosh)
• Vidyotini Hindi commentary, notes on the plant: pp. 289–290

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