Rasa (Taste)
Kashaya, Madhura
The primary taste perceived on the tongue.
Japa (Chinese Hibiscus)
Japa is a native plant of China, but grown as an ornamental plant throughout India.It is a perennial shrub, grows up to 8ft, tap root and banched.
Medicinal Plant
Japa (Chinese Hibiscus)
Hibiscus rosa-sinesis linn · Malvaceae
Japa is a native plant of China, but grown as an ornamental plant throughout India.It is a perennial shrub, grows up to 8ft, tap root and banched.
Scientific Name
Hibiscus rosa-sinesis linn
Family
Malvaceae
Hindi Name
Gudahal
Used Part
Pushpa( flower) and Patra (leaves)
Botanical Description
About the Japa Plant
Morphology and field-identification notes as documented in our Dravyaguna library.
Japa is a native plant of China, but grown as an ornamental plant throughout India.It is a perennial shrub, grows up to 8ft, tap root and banched. Leaves are simple, alternate, large, broad, palmately veined, petiolate, stipulate, oval shaped, serrate margin and acute tip. Inflorescence is solitary terminal or axillary cyme. Flowers are showy, sattered red coloured.
Ayurvedic Properties
Rasa Panchaka — Classical Properties
The five-fold framework Ayurveda uses to describe a drug — Rasa, Guna, Vipaka, Veerya and its effect on the doshas.
Guna (Qualities)
Laghu, Rooksha
Physical and energetic attributes of the dravya.
Vipaka (Post-digestive Effect)
Katu
Taste that emerges after complete digestion.
Dosha Karma (Action on Doshas)
Pittakapha Shamaka
Effect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas.
Veerya (Potency)
Sheeta
Heating (ushna) or cooling (sheeta) energy.
Ayurvedic Actions (Karma)
Keshya, Sangrahaka, Hridya, Shonitasthapana, Garbhanirodhak, Mutrasangrahaniya
Modern Phytochemistry
Chemistry & Pharmacology
How modern science maps onto the classical understanding of this dravya.
Pharmacological Action
What the Science Says
Antifertility, Antiinflammatory, Analgesic, Spasmolytic, Hypotensive, Antipyretic, Antispasmodic
Phytoconstituents
Active Compounds
Taraxeryl acetate, Beta- sistosterol, Campestrol, Flavonoids, Flavonoid glycosides, Hibiscetin, Alkanes, Cyanin and Cynidine glycosides are present in leaves, stems and flower.
Therapeutic Usage
Clinical Applications of Japa
Classical Ayurvedic indications drawn directly from the Dravyaguna tradition — paired with the preparations recommended in shastra.
01
Paste of, fruit of Amalaki and flowers of Japa has to be applied over scalp everyday to treat Palitya (premature greying of hairs) .
02
In case of amenorrhea one should consume the paste prepared from flowers of Japa, leaves of Jyotishmatia and Kanji.
Always consult a qualified Ayurvedic physician before using any herb therapeutically. Dose, anupana and Prakriti-specific suitability matter.
Yoga / Kalpana
Classical Formulations
Common Ayurvedic preparations where Japa is a key ingredient.
- Madhukadyavaleha Patrangasava
Shastra Pramana
Classical Reference
जया संग्राहिणी केश्या हिसन्ध्या कफवातहजत् । (भा.प्र. पुष्प वर्गः 58) हिसन्ध्या शीतला हतक्त