Bergenia Ciliata (Hairy Bergenia) Plant Medicinal Uses, Benefits

Bergenia Ciliata Plant is also known as the Hairy Bergenia, Hairy leaf Bergenia, Fringed Bergenia, and in Urdu Pakhan baid. Find out its medicinal uses, benefits, how to identify and grow it, and its traditional and international uses.

Bergenia Ciliata Overview

Botanical Name	Bergenia Ciliata
English Name	Hairy Bergenia, Hairy leaf Bergenia
Urdu Name	Pakhan Baid
Common Name	Fringed Bergenia, Hairy leaf Bergenia
Family	Saxifragaceae
Habit	Perennial herb
Part Used	Whole plant
Medicinal Plants	Explore

Bergenia Ciliata (Hairy Bergenia) Plant

It is a rhizomatic, perennial herb with thick root stock and short, thick and fleshy stem. It grows upto 10-30 cm high, with suborbicular or broadly obovate leaves, Leaves stalked and sheathing at the base, ovate or orbicular, cordate, margin fringed with short and stiff hairs. Flowers white, pink or purplish in terminal corymbs. Fruits are cone-like capsules.

Distribution of Bergenia Ciliata

Bergenia Ciliata (Hairy Bergenia) plant is native to Asia, Western Asia, Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan.

Medicinal Uses of Bergenia Ciliata

Folk Use

It is very effective in dissolving kidney stones. It is also used in the treatment of vertigo and headache, cough and fever. Externally, the paste of Bergenia roots is beneficial in edema-related wounds. Its anti-inflammatory property is found in the treatment of abscesses and coetaneous infections. Externally, it is bruised and applied as a poultice to boils and ophthalmia.

Tib (Traditional Islamic Medicine) Uses

It is a safe and effective treatment for chronic bronchitis. The Bergenia ciliata plant is also utilized in the treatment of giddiness and general physical weakness. Its extracts possess antiseptic properties and also promote diuresis, making it beneficial for urinary conditions. It serves as an effective remedy for conditions such as hemorrhoids, diarrhea, dysentery, heart diseases, raktapitta, and splenic disorders (Bhava prakasa). It relieves the obstructed phlegm in respiratory catarrh, like cough and colds.

International Use

It has a high reputation for dissolving stones in the kidneys. A juice or powder of the whole Bergenia ciliata plant is used to treat urinary troubles in Nepal. The juice of the Bergenia leaves is used as drops to relieve earaches. The root of Bergenia is used as a tonic in the treatment of fevers, diarrhea, and pulmonary affections.

The root juice is used to treat coughs and colds, hemorrhoids, asthma and urinary problems Externally, the root is bruised and applied as a poultice to boils and ophthalmia, it is also considered helpful in relieving backache. The root of the Hairy Bergenia plant has a high reputation in indigenous systems of medicine for dissolving stones in the kidneys.

Culinary Use

The flowers are boiled and then pickled.

Note:

• Bergenia ciliata and Bergenia ligulata belong to the same plant family.
• They’re traditionally used in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine.
• Consult a doctor before using these plants for medicinal purposes.

Constituents of Bergenia Ciliata

It contains isocoumarin, bergenine, gallic acid, flavonoid, tannins, glucose and-sistosterose.

Climate and Growth Conditions

• Climate: Temperate and tropical regions
• Temperature: Max: 24°C, Min:-5°C
• Rainfall: 1161mm/year
• Soil: The plant prefers light sandy, medium loamy and heavy clay soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soils.
• pH Range: 5.5-7
• Reproduction: By seeds

FAQs

Disclaimer:
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