It is an
important medicinal plant that is used in the treatment of various ailments.
The botanical name for Munakka is Vitis vinifera Linn which belongs to the
Vitaceae family. Traditionally in India, it is called Kishmish and it is eaten
after soaking the munakka the whole night. It is also called as Tree of life.
English – Raisins, Grape
Hindi – Angur, Munakka
Bengali – Maneka
Gujarati – Drakh
Kannada – Draksha
Malayalam – Munthringya
Punjabi – Munaca
Tamil – Drakshai
Telangana – Draksha
Arabian – Mewis
Assam – Dakh
Oriya – Drakya
Sindhi – Drakh
Urdu – Munaqqa
Munnaka is
mostly found in western parts of India, Germany, Portugal, Morocco,
Southwestern Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean region, but now it is
cultivated all over the world. In India, it is mainly cultivated in Jammu and
Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi,
Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
It is a
woody, perennial climber plant that grows at a height of 35m long and it has
thin leaves circular to ovate and it has a width of 5-23 cm which is deep
green. Flowers are found in clusters and it has 5 lobed sepals and the length
of the petals are about 5mm which is pale green. Fruits contain 2-3 small
seeds. The color of the fruit is green, yellow, red, purple, and black and it
has a shiny and glabrous surface.
Part used: Seeds and Fruits
Taste: Sweet, Astringent
Potency: Cold
On
chemical compound analysis of the munakka, it includes
Fruits
contain Catechin, epicatechin, beta-sitosterol, ergosterol, jasmonic acid,
glucose, fructose, galactose, mannose, arabinose, rhamnose, tannin acid, malic
acids, malic, tartaric, oxalic acid, carbohydrates, and tannins
Seeds
contain Proanthocyanidins, Procyanidin B5-3-gallate procyanidins, procyanidin
C1, procyanidins dimmers, epicatechin-3-O-gallate, epicatechin, catechins,
polyphenols, myricetin, kaempferol-3-O-glucosides, quercetin,
quercetin-3-O-glucosides, flavonoids, vitamin B6, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin
C and Potassium.
ACTIONS:
The
dose of the drug used according to physicians
Dried fruit: 5-10g
Fresh juice: 20-50ml
Do
not use this herb if you are allergic to the constituents of the Munnaka
Bad breath:
Traditional view: According to Ayurveda, it is considered that
constipation leads to bad breath. The use of munakka helps to treat bad breath
by treating constipation by its Virechana (purgative) property
Modern view: Munaka helps to treat bad breath by inhibiting the growth of bacteria
which is responsible for bad breath
Constipation:
Traditional view: According to Ayurveda, taking munakka with
warm milk at bedtime before going to bed improve our bowel movement and treat
constipation by its purgative property
Modern view: Due to its laxative property
the use of munaka helps to loosen the stool and improves bowel movement and
treat constipation
Acidity:
Traditional view: Due to Pitta balancing property it helps to
control the production of acid which reduces the symptoms of acidity
Modern view: Munakka treat acidity by producing a cooling effect on the stomach
which helps to get relief from acidity
Diabetes:
The use of
munakka helps to prevent the damage of pancreatic cells and increase the
secretion of insulin which leads to a decrease in blood sugar level by its
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity
Hypertension:
It helps
to reduce blood pressure by increasing the availability of nitric oxide in the
blood which helps to improve the flow of blood by its anti-oxidant property.
Weight gain:
Adding
munakka in your life helps to reduce your weight because of its Balya
(strength) activity
Teeth and gums:
Traditional view: Due to its Sita(cold) and Ropan (healing)
property it helps to reduce inflammation and speed up the healing process in
mouth ulcers.
Modern view: Munakka contain organic acid which has antiseptic activity produces
its action by preventing the growth of bacteria which develops between the
teeth and gums and treat mouth ulcers
Skin diseases:
Traditional view: Applying the munakka on the wound improves
the healing process and also reduces the wrinkles and fine lines on the face
due to its Singdha (oily) activity.
Modern view: Munakka contain antioxidant which helps to fight against the free
radicals and prevent the skin from cell damage by its anti-inflammatory and
anti-microbial property.
Cough:
Traditional view: Due to its Snigdha (oily) property it helps
to regulate the dry cough which reduces the throat dryness
Modern view: It has cough suppressant and soothing property which helps to reduce
the irritation in the throat
The Munakka comes in various formulations includes
Munakka capsule:
Take the
required amount of munakka and consume it with water after your meals
Munakka kwath:
Take the
required amount of munakka decoction as per the dose and duration prescribed by
the doctor along with it add the same quantity of water and consume it after your
meals
Munakka paste face mask:
Take the
required amount of munakka paste and add honey into it and apply this paste on
your face and neck and leave it for 5-10 minutes wash it with tap water and use
this remedy to get rid of uneven skin tone
Is Raw Munakka
available in the market?
Yes,
it is available in the market and it can be brought from online websites or
ayurvedic medical and departmental stores.
How to store raw
munakka?
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
Can we eat Munakka seeds?
Yes, it is safe to eat munakka seeds
but in some cases, the use of munakka may cause choking and in that case, it
should be avoided