Ativisha 

Posted by:MILAN BAROT

Aconitum heterophyllum or Indian Atees is a specific Ayurveda herb which even being a part of poisonous group of herbs; it is very safe to use.

Ativisa is an Ayurvedic herb, especially used in diseases of children. Its botanical name is Aconitum heterophyllum Wall.

It is the drug of choice for all pediatric health problems. Ativisha works on the digestive system and corrects the metabolism. 

Ativisha is said to be the best Ayurveda herb for improving appetite, digestion, assimilation and harmonizing all the three Doshas.

DESCRIPTION		Perennial, erect herb upto 1.2 m high, with biennial, paired tuberous roots, tubers cylindric or conic, 3-6 cm long with few root fibres and thin bark.
PHARMACOGNOSY		Roots are ovoid-conical, tapering downwards to a point, 2.0 - 7.5 cm long, 0.4 - 1.6 cm or more thick at its upper extremity, graduallly decreasing in thickness towards tapering end, externally light ash-grey, white or grey-brown, while internally strach white, external surface wrinkled marked with scars of fallen rootlet and with a rosette of scaly rudimentary leaves on top. Fracture short, starchy, showing uniform white surface marked towards center by 4 - 7 concentrically arranged yellowish - brown dots, corresponding to end of fibrovascular bundles traversing root longitudinally.
DISTRIBUTION		This species is distributed in the Himalayan region across Pakistan, India and Nepal. Within India, it has been recorded in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh in an altitude range of 2400-4500 metres
CULTIVATION		It is a biennial herb and can be cultivated in cool climate in hill upto a hight of 2200 m. It htrives well in sandy soil with rich organic matter.

Effect on Doshas: - 

Ativisha pacifies all the three Doshas; this is the reason it is considered to be one of the safest Ayurveda herb.

Ayurvedic Pharmacology of Ativisha

Rasa	Guna	Virya	Vipaka
Tikta Ruksha	Laghu	Ushna.	Katu.

• Ativisha has appetizing, digestive, astringent, anti haemorrhoidal and anthelmintic properties due to its bitter, pungent and Ushna properties.
• Ativisha is useful in diarrhea and dysentery.
• Ativisha is a blood purifier, haemostatic and anti-inflammatory drug because it alleviates Pitta.
• Ativisha reduces phlegm and clears airways.
• Ativisha purifies milk secretion because of its Katu property.
• Ativisha is aphrodisiac due to Ushna property.
• Ativisha is beneficial in impotency 

Best Recommended Uses

Ativisha is best recommended to correct the metabolism. It benefits in diabetes as well as in rheumatic conditions.

Doses and Useful Parts

Parts Used & Dosage:- Rhizome is the useful part of Ativisha; the dosage is 1-3 gm of powder.

Synonyms in Sanskrit: 

Ativisha, Shuklakanda, Vishva, Bhangura, Shyamakanda, Prativisha, Shrungi, Pitavallabha, Ghunapriya, Ghunavallabha, Upavisha.

English name – Indian Atees

Classification:

Charaka Samhita – 

Charaka has included this herb in the following group of herbs.

1.         Lekhaneeya – scraping, fat reducing.

2.        Arshoghna – herbs used in piles treatment

3.        Tikta Skanda – Group of bitter tasting herbs

4.        Shirovirechana – group of herbs used in Nasya treatment.

Sushruta has grouped this herb in Pippalyadi, Mustadi and Vachadi group of herbs.

Identification: 

There are many herbs used in the name of Ativisa, out of which, Aconitum heterophyllum is most commonly used. Aconitum palmatumis also used in the name of Ativisha.

Chemical composition: 

Aconitum heterophyllum contains atidine, atisine, hetisine, heteratisine, Diterpene alkaloids like – heterophylline, heterophyllidine, heterophyllisine, hetidine.

Ativisha is pungent and bitter in taste, hot in nature.

It undergoes digestion quickly, improves digestion, improves absorption capacity of digestive track,

It balances Tridoshas, especially kapha and Pitta.

It is useful in Ayurvedic treatment of – diarrhoea with indigestion, initial stages of diarrhoea, cough, cold, toxic conditions, vomiting, inflammatory conditions, intestinal worms, excessive thirst, bleeding disorders, paediatric complaints, liver diseases, piles, rhinitis, ascites.

Rasa – Taste – Pungent, bitter
Guna – qualities – Laghu (light to digest), Rooksha (Dry)
Veerya – Potency – Ushna – hot
Vipaka – Katu – Undergoes pungent taste transformation after digestion.
Vishahara –special health effect – relieves toxicity.

Substitute: 

Musta (Cyperus rotundus) or Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) is the substitute for Ativisha, in case of unavailability.

Part used: Tuberous root.

Dosage:  - for adults – 1 – 3 grams per day. For children – 1 gram per day.

Research articles: Ativisha – Pharmacology

Over-dosage: May cause dryness of mouth, tremors and such other Vata symptoms. Vata treatment will relieve the side effects.

Some authors opine that it should be purified before usage, similar toVatsanabha purification.
It can be used in pregnant, lactating mothers and children under medical supervision.

PHARMACOLOGICAL  ACTION Spasmogenic,   Hypoptensive,  Antifertility,  Antidepressant,  Antidiarrhoeal,  Antidiabetic,  Antipyretic, Antibnacetrial,  Analgesic
THERAPEUTIC USES  Tridoosh-har  Sexual disorders  Abdominal disorders Chronic cold Important Ayurvedic medicines with Aconitum heterophyllum as ingredient:      Kutaj Ghan Vati Chandraprabha Vati Khadiradi Gutika for cough Rasnairandadi kashayam