Herbs : Shankhini

Latin Name

Sanskrit Name

Shankapushpi

Hindi Name

Shankhini

English Name

Parts Used

Entire plant, juice. Each part has a different therapeutic value and must be prepared in its own way for maximum benefits.

Traditional Ayurvedic Uses

• Shankapushpi is quoted in Charaka to be the single greatest herb for enhancing all three aspects of mind power -- learning (Dhi), memory (Driti), and recall (Smriti). Thus it is called the greatest Medhya Rasayana (that which enhances the mind). It helps the quality of sleep by improving mind-body coordination.
  
• It is also praised as the best herb for beauty, stating that it achieves the goal of beauty, which is auspiciousness in all parts of the body (Subhanga Karanam). It also helps to nourish all layers of the skin (Twachya effect). It enhances all three pillars of Ayurvedic beauty, known as outer beauty, inner beauty, and lasting beauty.
  
• Shankapushpi is very beneficial for the nervous system, enhancing the quality of bone marrow and nerve tissue (Majja Dhatu).
  
  

Combinations are Best

The ayurvedic physicians of Maharishi Ayurveda do not recommend the use of single herbs for self-care due to several important reasons (see the index page of the ayurvedic herb section for details).

One of the specialties of ayurveda is the science of herb combining that has been perfected over thousands of years of clinical practice. From this ayurvedic perspective, the study of herbs from scientific research which is based on single ingredient formulas is not very practical. This is because an herb can give a number of different effects depending on the other herbs it is combined with as well as a number of other factors such as dosage, how the herb was processed, etc. If one focuses just on the results of a study based on one ingredient, while it may be interesting, it does not give the full insight into the complete range of effects available from that particular herb.