Pharmacological uses and magical believes about Achyranthes aspera L.

Achyranthes aspera causes a dose-related transient cardiovascular toxicity. Achyranthes aspera shows antiinflammatory and anti-arthritic activity. Plant pungent, purgative, diuretic, used in dropsy, piles, colic, snakebite, boils and skin eruptions

• Whole plant decoction in rheumatism, muscular pains and arthritis;
• Plant decoction to cure coughs;
• ash of the plant taken for asthma, applied on the body for the treatment of jaundice. Decoction of leaves applied externally for cuts, insect bites and wounds;
•  Leaves crushed with leaves and roots of Machilus bombycina and the juice is applied on pimples;
• a paste prepared with lime and leaf of nonflowering plants is applied to cure eczema; leaf infusion for the treatment of snakebite; leaves pounded, soaked in water, boiled and the liquid drunk to treat venereal  diseases and also to treat colds in children;
• Leaves juice given in diarrhea, as eye drops in hysteria. Root extract aphrodisiac and sex tonic, sedative, given for stomatitis, spermatorrhea, sterility, impotence, dystocia;
• Root powder taken orally to check discharge of sperm with urine and to increase sexual potentiality, also given for fever and epilepsy;
• Roots made into a paste with rhizomes of Chrysopogon aciculatus and applied on foul ulcers;
• Powdered roots, mixed with crushed snails, applied to cure leprosy;
• roots ground with those of Ziziphus xylopyrus and the paste given after delivery as an antiseptic, tonic, postpartum remedy; an infusion astringent, for diarrhea, dysentery;
• A decoction in the oral treatment of leprosy, also given to women after menstrual period for the control of fertility, used as an abortifacient;
• Roots paste given for easy delivery and as antidote, anti-venom, also applied in painful scorpion stings;
• Pounded roots for malaria; crushed roots applied on wounds.
• Powdered roasted seeds mixed with honey given for cough;
• Seed powder given in piles, also smoked for respiratory disease.
• Used in religion and magic religious beliefs as magical cure for jaundice, intermittent fever and for safe delivery of pregnant mother;
• Root tied on head and hair of pregnant woman to induce easy and normal delivery;
• Smelling fresh roots is believed to hasten delivery;
• Dried inflorescence used by orthodox Hindus in sacred pyres; roots worn on the right arm for males and left arm for females to cure periodic fevers, string should be folded seven times and twined. Veterinary medicine, whole plant given to cows after delivery for taking out the remaining portion of placenta;
• Whole plant juice given as diuretic; plant juice applied for maggot wounds; spikes made into a paste and applied on boils, ulcers and wounds;
• Leaves ground with saffron used as eye drops for opacity of cornea;
• Crushed leaves juice applied on the wounds, burns, on maggot wounds;
• Roots extract given in insect bite.