Botanical Name:- Tephrosia purpurea Linn.
Family:- Fabaceae
Hindi:- सरफोंका, शरपुंख, प्लीहशत्रु और नीलीवृक्षाकृ
Sarfonka-shrub vegetation grows by itself in almost all provinces. It is found in the Himalayas up to an altitude of 2000 m.
Its root and panchaang are used in medicine.
There is also mention of another variety of this called white Sharapunkha which is useful in Rasayan. A variety named T. villosa Pers. (T. Villosa) is found whose shrub is small, spread on the ground and is covered with white hair. Probably this is the classical white Sharapunkha.
(1) In liver and spleen enlargement, giving its root with Haritaki is beneficial. In Gulma, 4 grams of Panchang kshar is given with Haritaki. In hemorrhoids, the root is given with buttermilk. In bleeding, it is given with Tandulaambu.
(2) In cough, the root is smoked.
(3) In abdominal pain, the fresh bark of the root is ground with pepper and given in the form of a tablet.
(4) In itching, the paste of seeds or seed oil is useful. In goiter, the paste of the root is applied.