SHIGRU|dravyasambhasha

SHIGRU

Sanskrit name: शिग्रु

निरुक्ति : शिग्रु : शिनोति तैक्ष्ण्यात् शिग्रुः ।

Shigru (Bp. Ni.) . It has strong odor.

Latin name : Moringa olifera Lam. (M. pterygosperma Gaertn.)

Family: Moringaceae

Gana/ Varga:

Charaka	Swedopaga, Krumighna, Shirovirechanopaga, Katukaskandha
Sushruta	Varunadi, Shirovirechana
Bhavaprakasha Nighantu	Guduchyadi varga shloka 91- 96
API Part I	Vol II (Leaf); IV
Dravyaguna Vijnana II	P. V.- Swedopaga page 111-114

Synonyms:

Based on Swaroopa
शोभाञ्जनः	शोभामनक्ति ।
Shobhanjana (Bp. Ni.)	It is pleasant in appearance because of beautiful flowers.
तीक्ष्णगन्धः	तीक्ष्णो गन्धोऽस्य ।
Tikshnagandhaka (Bp. Ni.)	It has strong odor.
कृष्णगन्धः	कृष्णं मरिचं, तद्वत्तीक्ष्णो गन्धोऽस्य ; तीक्ष्णगन्धः इत्यस्यापि स एवार्थः । (कै.नि.)
Krishnagandha	It has strong odor, as black pepper.
घनच्छदः	घनाः संहतास्छदा अस्य । बहलपल्लवः इत्यपि पठ्यतेऽस्मिन्नेवार्थो । (कै.नि.)
Ghanacchada	Bark is dense, leaves are many in no, so dense leaflets.
तीक्ष्णमूलः	तीक्ष्णमूलमस्य । (रा.नि.)
Tikshna mula	Root has strong odor.
बहुमूलः	बहूनि मूलान्यस्य । (रा.नि.)
Bahu mula	Roots are many in number.
मुरड्गी	लौकिकी संज्ञा । (कै.नि.)
Murangi	In practice it is called as Murangi.
मूलकपर्णी	मूलकस्येव तीक्ष्णानि पर्णान्यस्य । (ध.नि.)
Mulaka parni	Leaves emit strong odor just like raddish.
Based on Karma
अक्षीव	क्षीबन्त्यनेनावृष्यत्वादक्षीव। अक्षीवते अक्षीवयति वा ।
Akshiva (Bp. Ni.)	It does not increase either Kapha or Mada.
मोचकः	मोचयति रोगेभ्य इति ; मुञ्चति निर्यासं वा । (भा. नि. ) मुञ्चति रोगान् मोचकः ।
Mochaka (Bp. Ni.)	It makes free from many diseases.
सौभाञ्जनः	सुष्टु भनक्ति मुखं सौभाञ्जनः ।
Sobhanjana	It makes mouth Vikruta, because of Katu rasa.
विद्रधिघ्नः :	विद्रधिं हन्तीति । (कै.नि.)
Vidradhighna	It cures absesses.
Based on Others
मधुशिग्रुः	रक्तोऽसौ मधुशिग्रुकः ।
Madhushigru	Rakta Shobhanjana is known as Madhushigru.
हरितशाकः	हरितशाके प्रयोज्यः । (ध.नि.)
Harita shakha	Its fruits and leaves are used as vegetable.

Seeds of Shigru:- Shweta maricha (Bp. Ni.)

Vernacular names:

Hindi	Sahijana
Assam	Sohjana
Kannada	Nugge
Bengal	Sajina
Marathi	Shevaga
Gujarat	Sargavo
Telagu	Munaga
Punjab	Sohajana
Malayalam	Murinna
Tamil	Murunkai
English	Horse raddish tree

Morphology:

Habit : Unarmed middle sized graceful tree with corky grey bark and easily breakable branches; Leaves : usually tripinnate, rachis slender, thickened and articulated at the base, leaflets elliptic or obovate, rounded at the apex, nerves obscure; Flowers white in large pendulous axillary panicles; Fruits pods, upto 45cm long, pendulous, greenish, triangular, 9-ribbed; Seeds trigonous, the angles winged.

Distribution: Throughout India, also cultivated.

Types: According to Bhavamishra- Shyama, Shweta, Rakta.

Shweta is Katu so called as Katushigru and Rakta is Madhura so called Madhushigru. Among these Katushigru is common but the Madhu shigru Moringa concanensis Nimmo. is available in Bengal in Maldah district and in Rajputana, Sindh. Its flowers are rose yellowish in colour. Raja nighntukar has mentioned about Nila shigru also.

Samhita	Types
Sushruta samhita Ashtanga hrudaya (2)	Shigru	Madhushigru
Dhanvantari, Madanapala, Shaligrama and Kaiyadeva Nighantu, (2)	Shweta	Rakta
Rajanighantu (3)	Shweta	Rakta	Neela
Bhavaprakasha nighantu(3)	Shweta	Rakta	Shyama

Guna-Karma:

Guna	Laghu, Tikshna, Ruksha, Kshara
Rasa	Katu, Madhura, Tikta
Vipaka	Katu
Virya	Ushna
Prabhava	-
Karma
Doshaghnata	Kapha-Vatahara; Pittakara Kaphahara: Pertaining to Katu rasa and Viaka, Ushna virya Vatahara: Owing to Ushna virya Pittakara: Pertaining to Katu rasa and Viaka, Ushna virya
Anyakarma	Dipana, Rochana, Vidahakara, Sangrahi, Shukrala, Hrudya, Raktaprkopaka, Chakshushya
Prayoga	Vidradhi, Shwayathu, Krumi, Medoroga, Apachi, Visha, Pliha, Gulma, Ganda, Vrana

Guna-karma of Shweta shigru: Similar to above but especially Dahakara; Pitta-Raktahara, useful in Pliha, Vidradhi, Vrana;

Guna-Karma of Madhusigru: Similar to above especially Dipana and Sara.

Guna-Karma of Shigru Valkala and Patra swarasa- both cure severe pain (Asahya arti).

	Bija	Pushpa
Guna	Tikshna	Tikshna
Rasa	-	Katu,
Vipaka	-
Virya	Ushna	Ushna
Karma
Doshaghnata	Kapha-Vatahara;	Kapha-Vatahara;
Anyakarma	Chakshushya, Avrishya, Vishanashana.	Chardihara, Vidradhi, Pliha, Gulma hara

Guna-Karma of Shigru bija: Its Nasya cures Shira shula. (Seeds because they resemble Maricha and white in colour are called as Shweta Maricha)

Madhushigru Pushpa: Akshihita and Raktapitta prasadana.

Chemical composition: Carbohydrate, Protein, Carotene and Ascorbic acid.

Root Bark: Alkaloids and Essential Oil

Root: Pterygospermin

Seed: Fixed Oil which is called in the market as Ben/Behan taila)

Stem Bark: Sterols and Terpenes.

The leaves are rich in minerals like calcium, potassium, zinc, magnesium, iron and copper (Barminas et al., 1998). Vitamins like betacarotene of vitamin A, vitamin B such as folic acid, pyridoxine and nicotinic acid, vitamin C, D and E also present in M. Oleifera .and 10 essential amino acids. Moringa leaves is said to provide 7 times more vitamin C than oranges, 10 times more vitamin A than carrots, 17 times more calcium than milk, 9 times more protein than yoghurt, 15 times more potassium than bananas and 25 times more iron than spinach (Rockwood et al., 2013 )

Prayojya Anga: Patra, Mula, Phala, Bija

Root Bark: Drug occuts in pieces of variable sizes, external surface, light greyish-brown, rough, reticulated, marked with transverse row of lenticels; outer bark, thin, peeling off in small bits, internal surface, white.

Seed: Seeds hard, trigonous, having short wings; size 0.5 to 1.0 cm long and 0.3 to 0.5 cm wide; colour greyish-cream; odour- not characteristic; taste- slightly bitter.

Stem Bark: Mature bark, rough, deeply cracked, grey or dark green; young bark, greenish to greenish-brown, 1 to 3 cm thick or more, depending upon the age of plant; taste, bitter

and pungent.

Sangraha Kala: Not specific

Amayika prayoga:

Bahya:

1. Shushkarsha : Avagahana (sitz bath) with Shigru kwatha is advised.

2. Kushtha kshata : Apply Shigru taila. (Su.Chi.9)

3. Apakva vidradhi : Lepana of Madhushigru. (A.Hru. 13)

4. Netravyatha : Eye drops of Equal quantity of Shigrupatra Swarasa with Madhu. (A.Hru. Chi.16)

5. Shira shula: Nasya of Shigru Mula swarasa mixed with Guda. (Harita.)

6. Karna shula: Ear drops of Shigru Mula swarasa mixed with Taila, is advised.(Chakradatta)

7. Dadru : Paste of Shigru Mula Twak should be applied.(Vangasena)

8. Sadhyovrana: Shigru patra with Tila kalka should be tied. (Vaidyamanorama)

9. Masurika: Shigru patra swarasa mixed with Sarjarasa should be applied all over the body. (Vaidyamanorama)

10. Granthi visarpa: Hot Paste of Shigru twak should be applied. (Cha.Chi.11)

11. Pratishyaya, Kasa and Hikka: Dhumapana with Shigru Mula Twak mixed with Ghrita and Taila is advised.(Sho.Ni.)

Abhyantara :

1. Apakwa vidradhi: Madhushigru should be used for Ahara and Pana. (A.Hru. 13)

2. Plihodara: Shigru kwatha should be given with Pippali, Saindhava and Chitraka twak. (Su.Chi.14)

3. Ashmari and Sharkara: Shigru Mula twak Kwatha is given. (Cha.Chi.26)

4. Krimi: Shigru Kwatha is given with Madhu. (Vangasena)

Vishishta Yoga: Shigru pushpa rasayana, Shigruvadi lepa, Shyamadi churna

Matra:

Patra Swarasa.	10-20 ml;
Shigru mula Churna	25-50 gm.;
Bija churna	5-10 gm.
Kandatvak swarasa	10-20 ml.
Kanda tvak Churna	2-5 gm.

Research :

A Clinical study On Effect Of Madhu Shigru Aschyotana In The Management Of Kaphaja Abhishyanda W.S.R. To Allergic Conjunctivitis- Madhu Shigru Aschyotana showed better results in the clinical symptoms of Kaphaja Abhishyanda. (https://ishanayurved.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/A-Review-Article-on-Shigru-A-Boon-Of-Nature.pdf)

The anti-diabetic activity of Moringa Oleifera was evaluated in research- The study showed an improvement in the parameters of diabetes in the experimental mice. The progression of diabetes was also significantly reduced after the treatment with the Moringa Oleifera extract.( https://ishanayurved.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/A-Review-Article-on-Shigru-A-Boon-Of-Nature.pdf)

Hypolipidemic / Antihyperlipidemic: Shigru has been considered to be Medohar (antilipidemic) in Ayurveda treatises. Animal studies have proved its hypolipidemic potential.( https://ishanayurved.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/A-Review-Article-on-Shigru-A-Boon-Of-Nature.pdf)

Bronchodilator/Antiasthmatic: Soup of the leaves of Shigru with some other drugs has been indicated to alleviate hiccough and asthma. (CS.Ci.17.99) Soup of Shigru fruits with Maricha, salt and Vavakşara checks hiccough and asthma, (CS.Ci. 17.98). Smoke of Shigru root mixed with ghee and oil should be taken. It alleviates coryza, cough and hiccough. Classical claims have been authenticated in animal studies. (https://ishanayurved.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/A-Review-Article-on-Shigru-A-Boon-Of-Nature.pdf)

Others: Shigru is Raktapittakara and Vidahi so its use in Pittaprakruti should be careful. In case of Pitta vruddhi Dugdha etc pittashamaka dravyas should be given.

Important references:

भावप्रकाश-पूर्वखण्ड-मिश्रप्रकरण - ४.

र्गगुडूच्यादिवर्ग

राजनिघण्टु - ७. मूलकादिवर्ग

शिग्रु

शिग्रुर्हरितशाकश्च शाकपत्रः सुपत्रकः |
उपदंशक्षमो दंशो ज्ञेयः कोमलपत्रकः |
बहुमूलो दंशमूलस्तीक्ष्णमूलो दशाह्वयः ||२६||
शिग्रुश्च कटुतिक्तोष्णस्तीक्ष्णो वातकफापहः |
मुखजाड्यहरो रुच्यो दीपनो व्रणदोषनुत् ||२७||

राजनिघण्टु - ७. मूलकादिवर्ग

श्वेतशिग्रु

श्वेतशिग्रुः सुतीक्ष्णः स्यान्मुखभङ्गः सिताह्वयः |
सुमूलः श्वेतमरिचो रोचनो मधुशिग्रुकः ||३०||
श्वेतशिग्रुः कटुस्तीक्ष्णः शोफानलनिकृन्तनः |
अङ्गव्यथाहरो रुच्यो दीपनो मुखजाड्यनुत् ||३१||

राजनिघण्टु - ७. मूलकादिवर्ग

रक्तशिग्रु

रक्तको रक्तशिग्रुः स्यान्मधुरो बहुलच्छदः |
सुगन्धकेसरः सिंहो मृगारिश्च प्रकीर्तितः ||३२||
रक्तशिग्रुर्महावीर्यो मधुरश्च रसायनः |
शोफाध्मानसमीरार्तिपित्तश्लेष्मापसारकः ||३३||

मदनपालनिघण्टु - ७. शाकवर्ग

शोभाञ्जन

शिग्रुः शौभाञ्जनः कृष्णगन्धः स्याद्बहुलच्छदः |
रक्तोऽन्यो मधुशिग्रुस्तु श्वेतोऽन्यो हरितच्छदः ||७१||
सौभाञ्जनभवं बीजं तीक्ष्णोष्णं चक्षुषे हितम् |
शिग्रुस्तीक्ष्णो लघुर्ग्राही वह्निदः कफवातजित् |
तीक्ष्णोष्णो विद्रधिल्पीहव्रणघ्नो रक्तपित्तकृत् ||७२||
मधुशिग्रुर्गुणैस्तद्वद्विशेषाद्दीपनः सरः |
तत्पुष्पं लघु सङ्ग्राहि वातलं कफशोथजित् |
फलं ग्राहि कषायोष्णं मधुरं श्लेष्मपित्तहृत् ||७३||

कैयदेवनिघण्टु - १. ओषधिवर्ग

शिग्रु

शोभाञ्जनः कृष्णगन्धो मुरङ्गी शालनक्षमः |
घनछदस्तीक्ष्णगन्धो मोचको बतुलछदः ||७४०||
अवदंशो मूलपर्णी मुखभङ्गो हलच्छदः |
सुभञ्जनो विद्रधिघ्नः काक्षीवो मूलकछदः ||७४१||
रक्तोऽन्यो मधुशिग्रुः स्यान् मधुरो मधुशृङ्गकः |
स्वादुगन्धिः गृञ्जनकः शीघ्रगः सिंहकेसरी ||७४२||
शिग्रुर्हरितशाकोऽन्यः श्वेतः श्वेतमरीचकः |
तद्बीजं श्वेतमरिचं शिग्रुतैलं च बैजिकम् ||७४३||
शिग्रुः कटुः कटुःपाके तीक्ष्णोष्णो मधुरो लघुः |
दीपनो रोचनो रूक्षः क्षारस्तिक्तो विदाहकृत् ||७४४||
सङ्ग्राह्यशुक्रलो हृद्यः रक्तपित्तास्रकोपनः |
चक्षुष्यः कफवातघ्नो हन्ति श्वयथुविद्रधीन् ||७४५||
मेदोऽपचीविषप्लीहगुल्मगण्डव्रणकृमीन् |
मधुशिग्रुः कटुस्तिक्तः शोफघ्नो दीपनः सरः ||७४६||
तत्पत्रं वातपित्तघ्नं चक्षुष्यं स्वादुशीतलम् |
बृंहणं शुक्रहृत् स्निग्धं मेदःकृमिहरं गुरु ||७४७||
शिग्रुजं कुसुमं जन्तुकफपित्तहरं परम् |
सकषायं गुरु ग्राहि चक्षुष्यं कृमिनाशनम् ||७४८||
तथा मुरङ्गयाः पुष्पं तु श्लेष्मलं कृमिनाशनम् |
पित्तहृद् दृष्टिपथ्यं स्याद्रक्तपित्तप्रसादनम् ||७४९||
शोभाञ्जनफलं स्वादु कषायं कफपित्तजित् |
शूलकुष्ठक्षयश्वासगुल्मघ्नं दीपनं परम् ||७५०||
चक्षुष्यं शिग्रुजं बीजं तीक्ष्णोष्णं विषनाशनम् |
अवृष्यं कफवातघ्नं तन्नस्येन शिरोऽर्तिनुत् ||७५१||

धन्वन्तरिनिघण्टु - ४. करवीरादिवर्ग

शिग्रु

शिग्रुर्हरितशाकश्च शिग्रुको लघुपत्रकः |
अवदंशक्षमो दंशः प्रोक्तो मूलकपर्ण्यपि ||३८||
शौभाञ्जनस्तीक्ष्णगन्धो मुखभङ्गोऽथ शिग्रुकः |
श्वेतकः श्वेतमरिचो रक्तको मधुशिग्रुकः ||३९||
शिग्रुस्तिक्तः कटुश्चोष्णः कफशोफसमीरजित् |
कृम्यामविषमेदोघ्नो विद्रधिप्लीहगुल्मनुत् ||४०||