Nagdona – Artemisia Nilagirica
English Name Botanical Name Family Sanskrit Name Hindi Name
Indian worm wood, Fleabane Artemisia nilagirica Asteraceae Damana, Damanaka Nagdona, Davana, Dauna
Nagdona is a tall aromatic perennial shrub. Lower leaves are ovate in shape with small stipule-like lobes at the base. Flowers are in sub-globose heads, in spicate or sub-erect horizontal panicled racemes, outer flowers female, very slender inner desk, flowers fertile bisexual. Fruits are oblong,ellipsoid minute achenes.
Parts used: Leaves, flowering tops
Nagdona is useful in vitiated conditions of Vata and Kapha, cough, asthma, bronchitis, nervous and spasmodic affections, inflammations, leprosy, skin diseases, pruritus, amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea,anorexia, dyspepsia, flatulence, colic, intestinal worms, fever, hysteria, measles and anaemia.
Qualities (Ayurveda)
Taste Bitter and astringent
Quality Acrid, thermogenic, aromatic, anti-inflammatory, digestive, depurative
Potency Hot
After digestion taste Pungent
Special action Reduces the vitiated Vata and Kapha
Useful conditions Cough, asthma, bronchitis, nervous and spasmodic affections,inflammations, leprosy, skin diseases, pruritus, anorexia, colic, fever,dyspepsia,
amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, flatulence, intestinal worms,hysteria, measles and anaemia
Artemisia NilagiricaTherapeutic uses (Ayurveda)
Ayurveda recommends the leaf juice or powder with milk in amenorrhoea and dysmenorrhoea.
The flowering tops are useful in cooking (as aromatic, digestive and carminative)