Botanical Index No. 792

Picrorhiza

picrorhiza kurrooa

Medicinal Actions

Analgesic, Antiaging, Antiaggregant, Antiallergic, Antiasthmatic, Antibacterial, Antihistaminic, Antiinflammatory, Antileishmanic, Antioxidant, Antiperiodic, Antipyretic, Antiradicular, Antiseptic, Antistress, Antithromboxane, Antitumor, Antiviral, Bronchospasmolytic, Cardiotonic, Cerebrotonic, Cholagogue, Choleretic, Emetic, Emmenagogue, Expectorant, Gastrostimulant, Hepatoprotective, Hepatotoxic, Hypocholesterolemic, Immunostimulant, Insecticide, Laxative, Lipolytic, Orexigenic, Phagocytotic, Stomachic, Tonic, Elephantiasis

Primary Conditions Treated

Bitter Immunomodulator Mast Cell Stabilizer Pectoral Vermifuge Ague Allergy Anemia Anorexia Arthrosis Asthma Autoimmune Disease Bacteria Biliousness Bite Bronchosis Cancer Carbuncle Cholecystosis Constipation Cough Diarrhea Dropsy Dysentery Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Dysuria Enterosis Epilepsy Fever Flu Gastrosis Gingivosis Hemorrhoid Hepatosis Hiccup High Cholesterol Hyperemia Immunodepression Infection Inflammation Jaundice Leishmaniasis Leukoderma Malaria Mushroom Poisoning Odontosis Osteoarthrosis Pain Psoriasis Pulmonosis Rheumatism Scabies Senility Snakebite Splenosis Spondylosis Sting Strain Stress Tumor Virus Vitiligo Worm

General Dosage

3–3.5 g root as antiperiodic; 0.5–2 g dry root/day or 1–4 ml root extract/day; 1–1.5 g powdered rhizome; 2–4 ml rhizome tincture; 0.6–1.2 g to 4 g drug/day for malaria.

Safety & Contraindications

Not covered. “Health hazards not known with proper therapeutic dosages”. Bitterness is intolerable to some. May cause skin rash. Cucurbitacins may induce diarrhea, gas, and griping. LD 10,000 mg/kg. LD50 cucurbitacin-B 10.9 mg/kg orl mouse.

!