Parasika yavani, also known as Hyoscyamus niger, is an annual or biennial herb native to the Himalayan regions. It was known to ancient Greek, Persian, and Arabian cultures. The plant contains alkaloids like hyoscyamine and hyoscine, and has narcotic, sedative, and antispasmodic properties. It is used to relieve pain, asthma, whooping cough, and as an antidote to purgatives. The seeds, leaves, and roots are used medicinally, but the plant is also toxic in large doses, causing effects like delirium.

1. Parasika yavani- Hyoscyamus niger linn
• Though it is a native of Himalayas, it was probably unknown to ancient
Hindu physicians. But, it has found mention in later Sanskrit writing . The
plant was well known to Greeks, Persians and Arabians. There were three
kinds, white, black and red mentioned in Hyoscyamus of which white was
the preferred variety. It was used as a household drug. Dioscorides has
mentioned about drug in his literature. It is written about even in 'The
Arabian Nights' and in Anglo-Saxon work on medicine. Eastern writers
referred to it as intoxicating & narcotic. It was applied to relieve pain
related to inflammatory swellings. There was no mental excitement or
sensory illusion associated with it except an overpowering tendency to
sleep which come on and lasted for 11 hours when taken internally. The
records show discrepancies arising from use of Hyoscyamine, the principal
alkaloid of the plant, these were attributed to the use of impure or inert
samples of the alkaloid.

2. Vernacular Names:-
San:- yavani, madakarini
Hin:- khurasani ajawain
pan:- khurasani ajawain
Mar:- khurasani ova
Guj:- khurasani ajama
tam:- kurasani momam
tel:- kurasani yamaani
eng:- Henbane

3. Synonyms:-
Parasika yavani
Madakarini
yaavani

4. Habitat:-
west Himalayan regions from Kashmir to
Khumau, cultivated in Punjab, UP, Ajmer,
Mumbai.

5. Morphology:- It is an erect, annual or
biennial, hairy and viscid herb with bad odour.
Stem grows up to few meters in high.
Radical leaves are smaller, sessile, ovate,.
Flowers appear from August- September.
Seeds are compressed, many.

6. Images

9. Chemical Composition:-
Seeds- 25-30% Constant oil
Flower- alkalines- Hyoscyamine , Hyoscine

10. Properties:-
Guna:- Ruksha
Rasa:- Tikta, katu
Veerya- usna
Vipaka- Katu
Prabhava:- Madaka, Vedanastaphana

11. Dosha Karma:-
Pittavardak, Kaphavatashmaka

12. Systemic,,,Action
Hyoscyamus has narcotic property.
It is principally employed as a sedative in nervous affections and irritable conditions,
such as asthma and whooping cough,
It is also used to counteract the griping action of purgatives and to relieve
spasms…in…the…urinary tract. Hyoscyamus leaves have been employed externally
to relieve pain, but their utility for this purpose is not well established. It has
pungent, astringent, diuretic, alterative, antiperiodic and purgative properties. Plant
is used in piles, skin eruptions, dysentery eye and liver complaints, rheumatism,
scabies, bronchial affections and in leprosy. Leaves useful in gonorrhea. Roots in
cancer, stomach troubles and bladder stones. Seeds are useful in bronchial affections
and in leprosy. Branches and roots useful as tooth brushes. Powdered seeds and
smoke from burning seeds are applied to relieve toothache. A suppository prepared
from seeds is used in painful affections of the uterus. The seeds are also employed in
poultices for eye troubles.

13. Useful Part:-
patra
puspa
beeja

14. Dosage:-
powder - .25 to 1 gm

15. Toxicity
The plant, especially the seeds, in large
doses, produces poisonous effects similar to
those of Datura poisoning, such as dryness
of the tongue and mouth, giddiness and
delirium. The plant if eaten by livestock
affects the yields of milk and butter.

16. Treatment
Stomach wash by ryles tube, later give
cow’s or goat’s milk

17. Special preparations:-
Parashiyadi churna

18. Quotations:-
यवानि यावनि रुक्षा ग्राहिणि मोहिनि टु : (रा.नि)
पारसिटयवानि त यवानििद्रशा ग िै:
ववशषेात ्पाचनि रुच्या ग्राहिणि माहिनि गरु :(भा.नि)
पारिीटयवनिटा पीता पय्र वषतवाररिा प्रात:
ग डपूवाा क्रसमजालं टोष्ुगतं पातयत्याश ( च.ि )