Ashthisanghar Powder (Cissus Quadrangularis)

*Popularly known as Cissus, the Ashthisanghar is a beautiful climbing vine belonging to the grape family. It has stems that are quadrangular in shape and branching into internodes, replicating the human bone and joint structure. Taking a cue from nature, we can conclude that the Ashthisanghar herb has immense benefits for bone health. It promotes the growth of the bone tissues and their flexibility. Additionally, Ashthisanghar helps burn fat and improve muscle tone.

*Benefits include maintaining normal blood flow to the bones, maintaining healthy lipid levels, supporting joint health, and improving joint flexibility and stability. It has been shown to restore bone fractures and help with bone regeneration. Ashthisanghar is also a mild aphrodisiac.

Suggested Use: 1/4 - 3/4 teaspoon in powdered form, once or twice daily, or use as directed by your health practitioner.

Botanical name – Cissus quadrangularis
Family – Vitaceae
English name - veld grape, devil's backbone, adamant creeper,
Sanskrit name - Asthi Samharaka, Asthisanghar, Ashti Shrunkhala

Morphology -
Asthisanghar grows to a height of 1.5 meters. Stems are leafless when they grow old, stems are fleshy, long, quadrangular. Tendrils are long, slender, simple. Leaves - 2 - 5 cm in length, ovate or reniform, sometimes are made of 3 - 7 lobes, glabrous, rounded. Petioles - 5-12 mm in length. Flowers appear in short peduncled cymes with cup-shaped calyx. Berry is ovoid, 6 mm long, turns into red color when ripe, single-seeded. It is commonly found in warmer regions of India, Srilanka, Bangladesh, East Africa, and Southeast Asia.

Physical and chemical properties of Asthisanghar –
Taste - Bitter, sweet, sour
Quality - Light and gelatinous
Potency - Hot
Post Digestive Effect - Pungent

Bhavaprakasha – Guduchyadi Varga
ग्रन्थिमानस्थिसंहारी वज्राङ्गी वास्थिशृङ्खला |
अस्थिसंहारकः प्रोक्तो वातश्लेष्महरोऽस्थियुक् |
उष्णः सरः कृमिघ्नश्च दुर्नामघ्नोऽक्षिरोगजित् |
रूक्षः स्वादुर्लघुर्वृष्यः पाचनः पित्तलः स्मृतः ||१९४||