Shatapushpa (Soya)

Shatapushpa (Hindi Soya, Sowa, Soa; botanical name Anethum sowa) is Indian dill. The Bhavaprakasha Nighantu describes it in the Haritakyadi varga together with mishreya (saunf, fennel), in one section of four verses: they give the names of both plants and the properties of shatapushpa, then say that mishreya shares those properties and has some of its own (p. 288, verses 89–92).

Names

शतपुष्पा शताह्वा च मधुरा कारवी मिसिः । अतिलम्बी सितच्छत्रा संहितच्छत्रिकाऽपि च ॥ ८९ ॥

The verse gives eight Sanskrit names: Shatapushpa ("the hundred-flowered"), Shatahva, Madhura, Karavi, Misi, Atilambi, Sitachchhatra and Samhitachchhatrika. The next line names mishreya, and two names, Madhura and Misi, appear in both lists (p. 288, verses 89–90).

Properties

छत्रा शालेयशालीनी मिश्रेया मधुरा मिसिः । शतपुष्पा लघुस्तीक्ष्णा पित्तकृद्दीपनी कटुः ॥ ९० ॥ उष्णा ज्वरानिलश्लेष्मव्रणशूलाक्षिरोगहृत् ।

• Rasa (taste): pungent (katu)
• Guna (quality): light (laghu), sharp (tikshna)
• Virya (potency): hot (ushna)
• Actions: kindles the digestive fire (dipani)
• Doshas: removes vata (anila) and kapha (shleshma); increases pitta (pittakrit)

(p. 288, verses 90–91)

Conditions it is used in

According to the text, shatapushpa is used in fever (jvara), wounds (vrana), colic (shula) and diseases of the eyes (akshiroga) (p. 288, verse 91).

Soya and saunf

The second half of verse 91 says that mishreya has the same properties as shatapushpa, and verse 92 adds what it does in particular: it relieves pain of the female genital tract, weak digestion, constipation, worms, cough and vomiting, and is dry, hot, digestive and good for the heart. See Mishreya (Saunf) (p. 288, verses 91–92).

The plant

The Hindi commentary of this edition adds notes on the plant (pp. 288–289):

• Botanical name: Anethum sowa Kurz; the European dill is Peucedanum graveolens Linn. Family Umbelliferae. English: Indian dill fruit. The commentary explains that the Indian kind differs a little from the European one, which is why it has its own name.
• Where it grows: cultivated in winter in every part of the country, above all in warm and moderately warm regions.
• The plant: an herb 1–3 feet tall with very soft leaves cut into many fine parts and yellowish umbrella-shaped flower heads.
• How to recognise the fruit: oval, flat, convex on one side, with a winged edge; the two halves usually stay joined, with a thin stalk at the base. Compared with foreign dill seed, the Indian fruit is narrower and more convex, and the ridges on its back are lighter in colour.
• Constituents: the fruit holds 3–3.5% of a volatile oil containing dill-apiol, a liquid hydrocarbon (anethene) and a carvone-like substance. Indian and foreign oils differ slightly.
• Actions noted: kindles digestion, digests, moves wind downward (vatanulomaka), aromatic, stimulating, removes vata, stimulates the uterus and increases breast milk.
• Preparations and uses:
  • Its arka (distilled water) with lime water is widely given for children's digestive troubles, above all bloating and colic.
  • After childbirth, a decoction (kvatha) is given for vomiting, indigestion, hiccup, bloating, colic and to increase milk. It is also used when menstruation is absent.
  • In diarrhoea, methi and soya are roasted in ghee and given.
  • Leaves smeared with oil and warmed are tied over boils so that they ripen quickly; leaves and root ground together are tied over swollen joints.
  • Its oil or arka given with purgative medicines prevents griping.
  • Charaka mentions it in a paste for pain in the side, in the treatment of rajayakshma.
  • The commentary cites two authors who found it useful against hookworm.
• Dose given: fruit powder 1–4 masha; oil 1–3 drops; arka 1/2–1 ounce; concentrated dill water (aqua concentrata) 5–15 drops.
• Regional names: Hindi Soa, Soya, Sowa, Vansaunf; Bengali Shulpha; Punjabi Soya; Marathi Balant shop, Shepu; Kannada Sabbasige; Gujarati Shuva; Marwari Sowa, Suva; Tamil Satakuppi.

Sources

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

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