Indian Alocasia, Giant Taro, Elephant’s Ear

HERBAL GARDEN

Mankanda

Classification

Synoyms

Mankanda
Kanda
Mankachu
Aluka
Keshuka

Habit

A large, perennial, herbaceous plant with tuberous rhizomes; grows in moist and shady places.

Habitat

Commonly found throughout India in tropical and subtropical regions — especially near ponds, riversides, marshy lands, and shaded areas.

Morphology

Root: Large, fleshy, underground tuber (corm).
Stem: Short, erect, and partly underground.
Leaves: Very large, sagittate (arrow-shaped), glossy green, with prominent veins.
Flowers: Produced in spadix enclosed by a greenish spathe; typical of Araceae family.
Fruits: Small, round, orange-red berries.
Latex: Acrid and irritant when fresh

Chemical Composition

Contains calcium oxalate crystals, starch, amino acids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, and glycosides. Also contains proteins, carbohydrates, and minerals like calcium and potassium.

Guna-Karma

Rasa- Katu , Kashaya
Guna- Laghu, Ruksha, Tikshna
Virya- Ushna
Vipaka- Katu
Karma- Deepana, Pachana, Shothahara, Vatakaphahara, Krimighna, Arshoghna, Vranaropaka
Doshakarma- Pacifies Vata and Kapha doshas.

Medicinal uses

Root paste applied externally to relieve rheumatic pain, swelling, and boils.
Cooked tubers used internally as digestive and carminative (after proper detoxification).
Useful in piles, helminthiasis, and indigestion.
Leaf juice used in skin diseases and wound healing.
Tuber decoction given in joint pain and edema.

Useful Part

Tuber (Kanda), Leaves

Doses

Powder (Churna): 3–5 g (after proper purification)
Decoction (Kwatha): 20–40 ml
Paste (Lepa): External use on affected parts

Important Formulation

Mankanda Lepa
Arshoghna Yoga (local formulations)
Mankanda Kalka (for joint swelling and piles)

Shloka

मन्कन्दो वातकफघ्नः शोथार्शःकुष्ठनाशनः।
तीक्ष्णोष्णो दीपनो रूक्षो लघुश्च कण्डुरप्रणुत्॥

Hindi Name

Mankanda, Mankand, Arabi, Mankachu

English Name