Bharangi is said to have been discovered by a sage by the name of Bhrigu, hence the name. Also called bag flower in day-to-day conversations, Bharangi is a woody shrub that grows especially well in a loamy soil. It bears flowers that have a stark resemblance to lotuses and leaves that are between three inches and eight inches long. These flowers, which bloom in the summer months, are bluish-pink in colour. They have a mild fragrance and are edible, as is the rest of the plant. The fruits appear in the rainy season.
Bharangi is a traditional remedy for respiratory problems. It is also said to possess other therapeutic properties, thanks to the presence of certain saponins, flavonoids and phenolics in its roots and leaves especially. Continue reading to find out all there is to know about Bharangi, its uses, side effects and doses.
Basic facts about Bharangi:
- Botanical name: Clerodendrum serratum and Rotheca serrata
- Common name: Glory bower, bag flower, bleeding heart, Cheruthekku
- Family: Verbenaceae
- Sanskrit name: Bharangi
- Native region and geographical distribution: South-East Asia (including India and Sri Lanka), South Africa, Tropical America, Northern Australia
- Parts used: Roots, leaves, bark
- Energetics: Known to pacify Kapha and Vata “doshas”