Cow itch

The scientific name of Cow itch-Velvet Bean: Mucuna pruriens (Linn.)

Name of Velvet Bean in different languages:-

Sanskrit: Kapikacchu, Ajada, Markati, Kraunchbeej Kulakshaya, Atmagupta

English: Common cow itch, Cowhage

Hindi: Gonacha, Kaunch

Malayalam: Naikuruna, Naikkorana-നായ്ക്കുരണ, Chorivalli

Tamil: Naikuruna

Plant description of Cow itch:

Cow itch or Velvet Bean is an annual, climber vine belonging to the pea family, very resembles with soya bean, and can grow 15 m in length. The leaves are tripinnate, ovate, rhombus-shaped, often heavily grooved and the apex are tapered, young leaves have hairs. The stems of the leaflets are 2 to 3 mm long, adjacent leaves are about 5 mm long. The flowers are white, lavender, or purple, take the form of axial panicles and they are 15 to 32 cm long and many flowers. The fruits are very hairy, and carry up to seven seeds. The seeds are flattened uniform ellipsoids, 1 to 1.9 cm long.

Useful plant parts: Seed, velvets

Medicinal uses: Venomous snakebites depressive neurosis, Parkinson’s disease, enhanced sexual power.

Chemical contents: Protein, mucunain, and serotonin.

Medicinal uses:

The root of the plant is used in the prevention of premature ejaculation in males ( a piece of the plant root is kept in the mouth during the time of coitus to longing time that makes the sex enjoyable).

Velvet Bean is used as an ingredient to prepare the Ayurvedic medicines like:

• Shilapravang Tablet
• Kumaryasavam
• IkshuradiLehaym
• Madana Kameswari Lehyam