Pennywort: Ancient medicinal use of Mandukaparni and its health benefits

Pennywort or Mandukaparni commonly found near water surroundings has encompassing health benefits. In the ancient times pennywort was used to enhance intellect and wisdom while in present day it is commonly used for health benefits owing to its several medicinal properties.

Indian Pennywort or Mandukaparni plant has been found to be beneficial for the nervous system and prevent nervous breakdown. It also helps to improve blood circulation and ayurvedic companies such as Patanjali or Himalaya have even produced medicinal capsules of it. Pennywort leaves, stems and roots can also be used in salads and eaten raw.

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The following are the health benefits of the Indian Pennywort:

1. Mandukaparni is high on bio-chemical substances such as heteroside, saponoside, asiaticoside, resin, pectic acid, vitamin-C, vellarin, brahmocide, brahminocide, brahmic acid, isobrahmic acid, betulic acid, etc. As such it can be used as an alternative medicine as a nervine tonic, stomachic, insomnia, ardiac tonic, carminative, sedative, laxative, alterative, alexiteric, tranquilizer among many others.
2. With its content of vitamin C, this leave is also known to give healthy hair. Massaging the juice of this plant with coconut oil can be helpful to stimulate the hair follicles and prevent hair fall and even greying of the hair.
3. Pennywort can also be used as a tonic for your nerve. Since it contains sedative and laxative it acts as a natural mood elevator from conditions like stress, anxiety, tension, depression etc.
4. According to some studies, this leave was also found to be useful for cancer treatment and can be used as a chemoprotective drug.
5. Pennywort has also been recommended for patients with low RBC count. Besides, haemoglobin formation, it is for sugar, cholesterol, calcium, etc.

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CAUTION: Pennywort can also have side effects and is advised to be taken under the consultation of the doctor. Overuse of this herb or capsule can lead to complication of your health. People with high cholesterol or diabetic individuals or going through pregnancy are best advised to consume this herb only after consulting the doctor.

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GARDEN TIPS: How to grow pennywort in your kitchen garden

Growing Indian pennywort is easy. It is often found growing wild by itself. But it can also be grown in a kitchen garden or in pots.

Take a strand of it and dig them shallow in the garden soil, keeping the leaves above the ground. Water them regularly and keep the soil slightly moist and watch them spread and grow healthy. If you have space constraint. You can grow them in small pots. They are easy to grow as they need little tending. Place the pots in a sunny place.