Name : Velvet Bean, Cowhage, Cow-itch, Buffalo bean
Botanical : Mucuna pruriens
Ayurvedic : KAUNCH, Atmagupta, Kapikacchu
Family : Fabaceae
Parts Used : Seeds/ Fruits
Habitat : M. pruriens is an herbaceous twining annual. Theleavesare trifoliate; the leaflets, broadly ovate, ellipticor thomboid ovate andunequal at the base; the flowers, purple and in axillary, pendulous racemes,the pods, curved, longitudinally ribbed, turgid and densely clothed withpersistent pale brown or gray, irritant bristles; the seeds, black,4-6 inapod and avoid. This Ayurvedic herb is an annual climbing shrub commoninthetropics of India; legumes are eaten as a vegetable.
Description : Remedies for Anthelmintic, aphrodisiac, astringent, nervine, tonic, rejuvenative.(root is nervine/tonic). Analgesic,Anthelmintic, Aphrodisiac, Ascaricide, Carminative, Diuretic,Hypocholesterolemic,Hypotensive, Hypoglycemic, Nervine, Vermifuge.
Uses : Adverse effects were mild and were mainly gastro-intestinal innature.No adverse effects were seen in clinical laboratory reports (lbid,1995).
Safety : Do not use when congested.