Sarpagandha — Indian Snakeroot

Ayurvedic herb Sarpagandha (Rauvolfia serpentina) — Indian Snakeroot. Pharmacological properties: Rasa Tikta, Virya Ushna, Vipaka Katu. Balances Vata, Kapha.

Ayurvedic Herbs A–Z 1 min read

Indian snakeroot is a powerful herb for managing high blood pressure and calming anxiety, but should be used with caution.

ⓘ Information

Property	Value	Description
Rasa	Tikta	Tikta (Bitter) — detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic
Guna	Ruksha	Ruksha (Dry) — absorbs moisture, drying
Virya	Ushna	Ushna (Hot) — heating, increases metabolism and Pitta
Vipaka	Katu	Katu (Pungent) — post-digestive pungent, lightening
Prabhava	Nidrajanana, Raktachapashamaka	Nidrajanana; Raktachapashamaka

Sanskrit Synonyms

In the classical Ayurvedic texts, Sarpagandha is known by the following Sanskrit names:

Chandrika, Nandini, Dhavalavitapa, Raktapatrika

Parts Used

The medicinal parts of Sarpagandha are: moola.

Main Indications

Sarpagandha is indicated in Ayurveda for the following conditions:

Unmada, Anidra, Apasmara, Bhrama, Raktachapa.

Dosha Effects

Sarpagandha pacifies Vata, Kapha.

It may aggravate Pitta when used in excess or in sensitive individuals.

Usage

Sarpagandha is used in classical Ayurvedic formulations. Consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner for appropriate dosage and preparation based on your constitution (Prakriti) and current imbalance (Vikriti).

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API)

Source: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India — Government of India, Ministry of AYUSH

Rasa (Taste)Tikta, Kauu

Guna (Quality)Rūkṣa, Laghu

Virya (Potency)Uṣḍa

Vipaka (Post-digestive effect)Kauu

Karma (Action)V¡tahara, Kaphahara, Mūtrala, Dipana, Rucya, P¡cana, Nidr¡prada, Viṣaghna, K¡m¡vas¡daka, Hrday¡vas¡daka

Dose1-2 g

Therapeutic Uses: Madaroga, Yoni¿ūla, Jvara, śūla, Krmiroga, Anidr¡, Unm¡da,

Important Formulations: Sarpagandh¡di Cūrḍa, Sarpagandh¡yoga, Sarpagandh¡ Vau

Botanical Name: Rauwolfia serpentina (Apocynaceae)

Part Used: Rt

Therapeutic Uses (IMPPAT Database)

Source: Indian Medicinal Plants, Phytochemistry And Therapeutics (IMPPAT) v1.0 — CC BY 4.0

Part Used	Therapeutic Use	Identifiers	References
leaf	Anti-obesity agents	MESH:D019440,UMLS:C0376607, ICD-11:5B81	Medicinal Plants Of Nagpur And Wardha Forest Divisions (Maharashtra)
leaf	Corneal diseases	MESH:D003316,UMLS:C0010034, DOID:10124, ICD-11:9A7Z	ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788183602525
leaf	Corneal opacity	MESH:D003318,UMLS:C0010038	ISBN:9788172361150, ISBN:9788173717055
root	Abdominal pain	MESH:D015746,UMLS:C0000737, SYMP:0000457, ICD-11:MD81.4	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788172361266
root	Abortifacient agents	MESH:D000019,UMLS:C0000782, ICD-11:JA00.1	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788172361150
root	Anthelmintics	MESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788173717055
root	Anti-arrhythmia agents	MESH:D000889,UMLS:C0003195, ICD-11:BC9Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
root	Anxiety	MESH:D001007,UMLS:C0003467, ICD-11:MB24.3	Medicinal Plants Of Nagpur And Wardha Forest Divisions (Maharashtra)
root	Blood pressure regulation	MESH:D001794,UMLS:C0428883	ISBN:9788172361266
root	Cholera	MESH:D002771,UMLS:C0008354, DOID:1498, ICD-11:1A00	ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788172363093
root	Colic	MESH:D003085,UMLS:C0232488, ICD-11:MD81.4	ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717055, ISBN:9788183602525, Medicinal Plants Of Nagpur And Wardha Forest Divisions (Maharashtra)
root	Digestive system diseases	MESH:D004066,UMLS:C0012242, ICD-11:DE2Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
root	Diuretics	MESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06	ISBN:9788173717055
root	Dizziness	MESH:D004244,UMLS:C0012833, ICD-11:MB48	ISBN:9788173717055
root	Dysentery	MESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.Z	ISBN:9788171360536
root	Dyspepsia	MESH:D004415,UMLS:C0013395, ICD-11:DD90.3	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788173717055
root	Epilepsy	MESH:D004827,UMLS:C0014544, DOID:1826, ICD-11:8A6Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788173717055, ISBN:9788183602525, Medicinal Plants Of Nagpur And Wardha Forest Divisions (Maharashtra)
root	Fever	MESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26	ISBN:9788173717055, ISBN:9788183602525, Medicinal Plants Of Nagpur And Wardha Forest Divisions (Maharashtra)
root	Gastric emptying	MESH:D005746,UMLS:C0017127, ICD-11:DA41.0	ISBN:9788172363093
root	Hypertension	MESH:D006973,UMLS:C0020538, DOID:10763, ICD-11:BA00.Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788173717055, ISBN:9788183602525
root	Hypnotics and sedatives	MESH:D006993,UMLS:C0020592, ICD-11:XM3GR8	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788173717055, ISBN:9788183602525
root	Intestinal diseases, parasitic	MESH:D007411,UMLS:C0021832, DOID:100, ICD-11:1A40.Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
root	Laxatives	MESH:D054368,UMLS:C0282090, ICD-11:XM62T3	ISBN:9788173717055
root	Mental disorders	MESH:D001523,UMLS:C0004936, ICD-11:6E8Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788183602525
root	Nervous system diseases	MESH:D009422,UMLS:C0027765, DOID:863, ICD-11:8E7Z	ISBN:9780387706375, Medicinal Plants Of Nagpur And Wardha Forest Divisions (Maharashtra)
root	Neutrophils	MESH:D009504	ISBN:9788172363093
root	Psychophysiologic disorders	MESH:D011602,UMLS:C0033931	ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788171360536
root	Schizophrenia	MESH:D012559,UMLS:C0036341, DOID:5419, ICD-11:6A20	ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788183602525
root	Sleep initiation and maintenance disorders	MESH:D007319,UMLS:C0021603	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788173717055, ISBN:9788183602525, Medicinal Plants Of Nagpur And Wardha Forest Divisions (Maharashtra)
root	Snake bites	MESH:D012909,UMLS:C0037379	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
root	Tranquilizing agents	MESH:D014149,UMLS:C0040614	ISBN:9788183602525
root	Urinary tract infections	MESH:D014552,UMLS:C0042029, DOID:0080784, ICD-11:GC08	ISBN:9788183602525
root	Urination disorders	MESH:D014555,UMLS:C0042035, ICD-11:GB0Y	ISBN:9788173717055
root	Uterine contraction	MESH:D014590,UMLS:C0042130, ICD-11:GA16.Y	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788172361150, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788173717055
root	Wounds and injuries	MESH:D014947,UMLS:C0043251	ISBN:9788173717055, ISBN:9788183602525
whole plant	Antihypertensive agents	MESH:D000959,UMLS:C0003364, ICD-11:XM2PT6	ISBN:9789327275590
whole plant	Hypertension	MESH:D006973,UMLS:C0020538, DOID:10763, ICD-11:BA00.Z	ISBN:9789327275590
whole plant	Hypnotics and sedatives	MESH:D006993,UMLS:C0020592, ICD-11:XM3GR8	ISBN:9789327275590
	Anthelmintics	MESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0	ISBN:9788172361150
	Antihypertensive agents	MESH:D000959,UMLS:C0003364, ICD-11:XM2PT6	ISBN:9788172361150
	Antipyretics	MESH:D058633,UMLS:C0003419, ICD-11:XM1RS7	ISBN:9788172361150
	Appetite stimulants	MESH:D019167,UMLS:C0376447	ISBN:9788172361150
	Arrhythmias, cardiac	MESH:D001145,UMLS:C0003811, ICD-11:BC9Z	ISBN:9788172361150
	Hypertension	MESH:D006973,UMLS:C0020538, DOID:10763, ICD-11:BA00.Z	Glimpses Of Medico-Botany Of Bastar District (M.P.), ISBN:81-204-0828-4
	Hypnotics and sedatives	MESH:D006993,UMLS:C0020592, ICD-11:XM3GR8	ISBN:9788172361150
	Hypochondriasis	MESH:D006998,UMLS:C0020604, DOID:12883, ICD-11:6B23.Z	ISBN:9788172361150
	Intestinal diseases	MESH:D007410,UMLS:C0021831, DOID:5295, ICD-11:DE2Z	ISBN:9788172361150
	Mental disorders	MESH:D001523,UMLS:C0004936, ICD-11:6E8Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
	Nervous system diseases	MESH:D009422,UMLS:C0027765, DOID:863, ICD-11:8E7Z	ISBN:9788172361150
	Psychophysiologic disorders	MESH:D011602,UMLS:C0033931	ISBN:9788172361150
	Schizophrenia	MESH:D012559,UMLS:C0036341, DOID:5419, ICD-11:6A20	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788172361150
	Tranquilizing agents	MESH:D014149,UMLS:C0040614	ISBN:9788172361150