Visnaga, known for its bitter and aromatic scent and flavor, is more commonly used for its medicinal properties rather than culinary uses. It has been utilized for centuries as the best muscle relaxant and as a treatment for kidney stones. Scientific studies have verified the effectiveness of its traditional use. The plant contains khellin, which has been used to create safe pharmaceutical drugs for asthma treatment. Research conducted by a pharmacologist in Egypt in 1946 found that visnaga, specifically its constituents visnagin and khellin has a strong antispasmodic effect on small bronchial muscles, coronary arteries that provide blood to the heart, as well as on urinary tubules. The ability of Visnaga to relax small bronchi usually tends to last up to six hours and has no or minimal side effects. Khellin Intal, which is an asthma drug and is commonly utilized in conventional medicine, is chemically derived from kehllin.
Habitat & Cultivation
Visnaga, a plant native to North Africa, can be found growing wild in various regions such as the Middle East and Mediterranean. It has also been naturalized in places like Australia as well as South America. This plant is commonly cultivated from seeds, and the small fruits that hold the seeds are harvested in late summer when they are not fully ripe yet.
Uses
Kidney Stones Visnaga has been used as a traditional remedy for kidney stones in Egypt for centuries. This plant was first discussed in the Ebers papyrus (c. 1500 BCE) and is utilized today as well to alleviate the pain caused by kidney stones. By relaxing the ureter's muscles, visnaga can certainly reduce or limit the pain that happens by trapped stones and make it easier to move the stones down into the bladder
Asthma Remedy Because it is safe to use even by youngsters, visnaga is currently prescribed for asthma as a result of studies into its antispasmodic qualities. Even though it doesn't always help with acute asthma attacks, it does lead to their reduction in frequency.
Circulatory Herb Visnaga lowers angina by assisting in enhancing blood flow to the heart muscle and calming the coronary arteries. But visnaga doesn't really lower blood pressure.
Dental hygiene The largest and highest-quality visnaga seeds were used to clean teeth in Andalusia, Spain. The proverb "Oro, Plata, visnaga o nada! (Visnaga, gold, silver, or nothing)" reflects the high importance placed on the plant in general.
Other respiratory conditions Visnaga is no doubt a very successful remedy for a number of respiratory issues, such as whooping cough, emphysema, and bronchitis.
Parts used
Fruit In late summer, fresh plant fruit is harvested
Seeds are dried to be used in powders and infusions.
Key Actions
Relaxant
Anti-asthmatic
Antispasmodic
Constituents
Furochromones also include 1% khellin as well as visnagin.
Phytosterols
Volatile Oil
Flavonoids
Coumarins
References
- Chevallier, Andrew, FNIMH; Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine - 550 Herbs and Remedies for Common Ailments; 3. Edition 2016; ISBN: 978-0-2412-2944-6; Page 62.
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