Uses : — Sushruta describes the fruit as anthelmintic, alterative and tonic, and recommends their use along with liquorice root, for the purpose of strengthening the body and preventing the effects of age. Later writers regard it as carminative, stomachic, anthelmintic, and useful against intestinal worms, dyspepsia, and skin diseases. The berries enter into the composition of several applications for ringworm and other skin diseases (Dutt).
The Hakims consider it to be attenuant and a purgative of phlegmatic humors ; also a valuable anthelmintic, especially against tape-worms (Dymock).
" Vaivarang is common in the neighbourhood of Bombay, and is in high repute as an anthelmintic among the country people, especially in cases of tape-worm. The dose is a teaspoonful of the powder, twice a day for a child, and a dessert-spoonful for an adult ; it can hardly be called a purgative ; the taste is rather pleasant, slightly astringent, and faintly aromatic. The worm is expelled dead. A purgative should be given to prepare the patient for the drug. It is a common practice to put a few berries of the plant in the milk that is given to young children ; they are supposed to prevent flatulence (Dymock).
Dr. Warden has separated an acid, named embelic acid, from the seeds.
This drug would seem to richly deserve being experimented with in Europe. It is an undoubted anthelmintic, quite devoid of the nauseating property possessed by male fern (Watt).
180 grains (a tola) of the powdered seeds administered at bed time in curdled milk, followed by a dose of castor oil on the following morning, has been found an efficacious remedy in tapeworm (Sakharam Arjun).
718. E. robusta, Roxb., h.f.b.i., iii. 515 ; Roxb. 197.
Vern. : — Bayabirang (Hind.) ; Kalay bogoti (Nepal); Bebrang (Oudh) ; Bayabirang ; gaia (Dehra Dun), Kopadalli (Gond.) ; Bharangeli (Kurku) ; Amti, ambat, barbatti (Bom.).
Habitat : — From the Himalaya, throughout India
