Purple Amaranth, Wild Amaranth, Blitum Amaranth

HERBAL GARDEN

मारिष श्वेत (Maris Shwet)

Classification

Synoyms

Tanduliyaka, Shweta Chaulai, Marisha Shweta, Katu-Tanduliyaka

Habit

An annual herb, erect or spreading, soft, and succulent, up to 50–100 cm tall.

Habitat

Widely distributed throughout India in tropical and subtropical regions. Common in waste lands, gardens, roadsides, and cultivated fields. Often grows as a weed near water bodies and moist soils.

Morphology

Stem: Erect, smooth or slightly hairy, often reddish or green, branched.
Leaves: Simple, alternate, ovate to rhomboid, entire margins, green or reddish tinge; petiole long.
Flowers: Small, greenish or purplish, arranged in axillary or terminal spikes.
Fruits: Small, globose utricles containing one seed each.
Seeds: Small, shiny black or brown, lenticular.
Root: Taproot, pale, fibrous.

Chemical Composition

Flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol)
Alkaloids
Saponins
Tannins
Iron, Calcium, Phosphorus
Vitamin A, C, and essential amino acids
β-carotene
Polyphenolic compounds
These compounds make it nutritious and medicinally valuable as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cooling herb.

Guna-Karma

Rasa- Kashaya , Tikta, Madhura
Guna- Laghu, Snigdha
Virya- Sheeta
Vipaka- Madhura
Karma- Pittahara, Dahashamana, Raktaprasadaka, Shothahara, Jvaraghna, Vranaropaka, Mutrala
Doshakarma- Pacifies Pitta and Vata dosha, mildly increases Kapha.

Medicinal uses

Used in burning sensation, fever, and inflammation
Beneficial in raktapitta (bleeding disorders)
Promotes wound healing and skin health
Leaf juice used as cooling and laxative
Decoction useful in urinary disorders
Fresh leaves are used as nutritive vegetable for anemia and weakness
Useful in mouth ulcers, dysentery, and gastric irritation

Useful Part

Whole Plant, Leaves, Seeds

Doses

Swarasa (Juice): 10–20 ml
Churna (Powder): 3–5 g
Kwatha (Decoction): 30–50 ml
Fresh leaves: as vegetable or externally applied paste

Important Formulation

Tanduliyaka Swarasa
Tanduliyaka Churna
Used in formulations for Pitta shaman, Raktapitta, and Jvara (fever)

Shloka

तण्डुलीयकं शीतलं पित्तदाहविनाशनम्।
रक्तपित्तं ज्वरं चैव शामयेत् पाचनं परम्

Hindi Name

Maris Shwet, Chaulai, Tanduliyaka Shwet, Kateli

English Name