Medicinal herbs of Chhattisgarh, India having less known traditional uses. XXIX. Chota Aonla or Harpharevadi (Cicca acida, family Euporbiaceae).

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

Harpharevadi is not a native to Chhattisgarh. It is introduced as garden plant for delicious and nutritious fruits. For the natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, it is new herb.
In Chhattisgarh- Maharashtra border region, the natives plant this tree in home gardens. The natives and traditional healers of present generations are aware of its medicinal properties and
uses. All parts of Harpharevadi are used as medicine. This is not in the list of medicinal herbs having demand in national and international markets. Through my ethnobotanical surveys in
different parts of Chhattisgarh, I have noted some promising traditional uses of this herb.

Common Indian names of Harpharevadi.
S.No.	Regions/Languages/Countries	Names
1	English	Country Gooseberry
2	Hindi	Chalmeri, Harparauri, Harphanevadi
3	Kanarese	Rayara nelli
4	Marathi	Roi-avala, Harparrevdi
5	Sanskrit	Lavali, Laveni, Pandu, Skandhaphara

I am describing these traditional medicinal uses in this article. According to reference literatures related to botany, Harpharevadi (Cicca acida syn. Phyllanthus acidus syn. Averrhoa acida) is small tree. Leaves pinnated 1-2 feet long, often flower bearing; leaflets numerous, alternative, stalked, nearly orbicular, 1-3 inches long, petioles round, smooth, tapering, sometimes ending in a short raceme of male flowers. Racemes numerous, terminal, axillary and from the old buds on the naked branches. Flowers numerous, small, reddish, in globular beads. Drupe 3-4 lobed, 4-6-8 grooved, the size of a gooseberry (its English name is Star gooseberry). Nut 3-4 parted, each part one celled and one seeded. In reference literatures related to different systems of medicine in India, not much has been written on medicinal properties and uses of Harpharevadi. According to Ayurveda, fruit is slightly bitter, fragrant, acrid, sour, improves digestion, useful in bronchitis, biliousness, urinary concretions, piles etc. According to Unani system of medicine, fruit is very sour, tonic to liver, useful in thirst, biliousness, vomiting, constipation, purifies and enriches blood. This herb is a native to Malay Islands and Madagascar.

The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh aware of its medicinal uses, use the fruit juice to flush out the renal calculi (Pathri). According to them, it is one of the promising treatments. The fruit juice is also considered best for the Bavasir (Piles). The healers mix the leaf juice of Tinpania (Oxalis corniculata) and fruit juice of Harpharevadi in equal proportion and give it internally to the patients having the problem of piles. For the patients having the problem of constipation , the healers extract the juice from fresh bark and mix Kali Mirch (Black Pipper), Laung( Clove) and Bel pulp (Aegle marmelos). This combination is given internally. It is good purgative. To stop the motions due to over dose of this combination, the healers suggest the patients to take cooked rice (Bhat) with ghee immediately. In case of Chhapaki (Urticaria), the healers extract the fruit or leaf juice and mix it with Kali Mirch. This solution is applied externally on body. Many healers
suggest to lukewarm the solution in order to make the solution more powerful. In case of septic wounds or carbuncles, the healers of Southern Chhattisgarh prepare a special solution by mixing
the juice of fruit, juice of Imli (Tamarind) bark and cow ghee in 1:3:5 ratio and give it internally to the patients once in a day upto seven days. The above mentioned uses are not enough to establish Harpharevadi as potential medicinal crop in Chhattisgarh. I am aware that I have to work hard to collect more information on this herb in Chhattisgarh.

Thank you very much for reading the article.