It is an important medicinal plant that is used in the treatment of
various ailments. The botanical name for kaunch beej is Mucuna Pruriens which
belongs to the Fabaceae family. It is a multi-faceted herb useful in the
treatment of sexual and neurological disorders
Hindi – Kaunch, Kevanch
English – Cow-hage, Cow-itch, velvet beans
Kannada – Nasukunni
Malayalam – Naikurana
Tamil – Poonai kaali Vithu
Gujarati – Kauchaa
Marathi – Khajkuhili
Sanskrit – Kapikachu
Kaunch
beej is widely distributed in the tropical region of Asia and Pan tropics and
it is found in India up to 1000 meters which includes Andaman ad Nicobar
island.
It is a
climbing shrub that grows at 15 meters in length and it is young and covered
with fuzzy hairs, shed with age. The leaves are ovate and tri-pinnate in shape.
The flowers are arranged in axillary arrayed panicles and they contain white,
lavender, and purple color flowers. The seeds are brown, round, shiny black,
uniform with 1-9 cm long, 0.8-1.3 cm wide, and 4-6.5cm thick. Usually, this
plant grows in all types of soil, and the pH range between 6.50 to 7.50
Parts used: Seeds, Roots, Seed pods, and
Leaves
Taste: Sweet and Bitter
Potency: Hot
On chemical compound analysis of the kaunch beej, it includes
Fixed oil,
lipids (6-7%), alkaloid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine and proteins (20-29%),
carbohydrates (50-60%), fiber (8-10%), saponins, sterols, and minerals.
Alkaloids,
alkylamines, arachidic acid, behenic acid, betabarboline, beta-sitosterol,
bufotenine, cystine, dopamine, fatty acids, flavones, galactose d, gallic acid,
genistein, glutamic acid, glutathione, glycine, histidine, hydroxygenistein,
5-hydroxytryptamine, isoleucine, L-dopa, linoleic acid, linolenic acid lysine,
mannose d, methionine, 6-methoxyharman, mucunadine, mucunain, mucunine,
myristic acids niacin, nicorine, oleic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid,
phenylalanine, prurienidine, prurienine, riboflavin, saponins, serine,
serotonin, stearic acid, stizolamine, threonine, trypsin, tryptamine, tyrosine,
valine, and vernolic acid
ACTIONS:
The dose of the drug used
according to physicians
Powder:
6-19gm
Seed extract:
250-500mg
Decoction:
5-15ml
Increasing sexual desire:
Traditional view: The use of kaunch beej improve the production
of semen by its Guru (heavy) and Vrushya (aphrodisiac) activities
Take the
required amount of kaunch beej powder and mix it with honey or with 1 cup of
lukewarm milk and consume it after your meals
Modern view: Kaunch beej produces its action by
improving the motility and count of sperm and it also helps to reduce the
physiological stress and increase the quality of semen by its antioxidant
properties
Parkinson’s diseases:
Traditional view: According to Ayurveda, the disease
condition Vepathu is correlated with Parkinson’s disease that occurs due to an imbalance
of Vata. The use of kaunch beej powder helps to regulate the symptoms of Parkinson's
disease by balancing Vata.
Take the
required amount of kaunch beej powder and mix it with honey or with 1 cup of
lukewarm milk and consume it after your meals
Modern view: Parkinson’s disease occurs due to
the decrease in the number of dopamine-producing neurons and this drop in
dopamine level in the brain leads to tremor, movement stiffness, and imbalance.
The kaunch beej has antioxidant and
neuroprotective effects and the seeds of this herb contain L-dopa which is
converted into dopamine and restores in the brain which results in improving
the symptoms of Parkinson’s diseases
Arthritis:
Traditional view: According to Ayurveda, arthritis
occurs due to the imbalance of Vata. The use of kaunch beej powder helps to
balance the imbalance of Vata by reducing the pain in joints and bones
Take the
required amount of kaunch beej powder and mix it with honey or with 1 cup of
lukewarm milk and consume it after your meals
Modern view: Due to its anti-inflammatory and
analgesic activities it helps to reduce the pain and inflammation in the joints
and bones
High level of prolactin:
Prolactin
is a hormone that is required for breastfeeding mothers during lactation.
Overproduction of this hormone may lead to breast cancer. The kaunch beej
contain L-dopa inhibit the production of prolactin hormone by preventing the
growth of cells that cause cancer and it also leads to cell death so the use of
this herb helps to reduce the level of prolactin hormone
Diabetes:
Traditional view: According to Ayurveda, one of the
most important causes of diabetes is weakness. The use of kaunch beej reduce
the risk of diabetes by improving the Balya (strengthening) activity
Modern view: Kaunch contain d-chiro-inositol
which mimics the action of insulin. The use of this herb helps to reduce the
risk of diabetes by increasing glucose metabolism by its antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory properties.
Snake venom poisoning:
During
snake poisoning, kaunch beej stimulate the antibodies production that binds and
inhibit the protein in the snake venom by its anti-snake venom
Increase testosterone level:
Kaunch
beej contains L-dopa which helps to stimulate the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing
hormone which activate the pituitary gland to secrete the follicle-stimulating
hormone and luteinizing hormone this increase in the follicle-stimulating
hormone and luteinizing hormone level increase the production of testosterone
by Leydig cells of the testis
Insect bite:
Due to its
Ropan (healing) effect, it helps to reduce the poisonous effect of insect bite
Take the
required amount of kaunch beej powder and mix this with milk and make a paste
and apply this paste on the affected area and leave it for a while and wash
with fresh water
Wound
healing:
Kaunch beej helps to heal the wound quickly by decreasing the swelling
and bring the skin texture into normal. Due to its Ropan (healing) activity,
boiled water of kaunch helps to heal the wound and decrease the inflammation
Take the
required amount of kaunch beej powder and mix this with milk and make a paste
and apply this paste on the affected area and leave it for a while and wash
with fresh water
The
kaunch beej comes in various formulations includes
Internal
use:
Kaunch powder
With honey:
Take the
required amount of kaunch beej powder as per the dose and duration advised by
the doctor and add honey into it and consume it after your meals
With milk:
Take the
required amount of kaunch beej powder as per the dose and duration advised by
the doctor and 1 cup of milk and boil it for 3-4 minutes and consume it after
your meals
Kaunch beej capsules and tablets:
Take the
required amount of kaunch beej capsule or tablet as per the dose and duration
advised by the doctor and take it with water after your meals
Internal use:
Kaunch beej powder:
Take the
required amount of kaunch beej powder and mix this with milk and make a paste
and apply this paste on the affected area and leave it for a while and wash
with fresh water to cure wound healing
Is kaunch beej powder
available in the market?
Yes, it is available in
the market and it can be brought from online websites or ayurvedic medical
stores.
How to store kauch
beej powder?
It should be stored
in an airtight container and keep the medicines away from the heat and light
and Do
not keep the medicines reaching out to children