3 Top Benefits Of Satyanashi (Brahmadandi)

Satyanashi also called Mexican Poppy | Mexican prickly poppy is a plant that is commonly found in Mexico but is now spread all over the world.  You can find this plant commonly all over India since it thrives well even in poor soil and in extreme drought conditions.

The plant produces yellow latex which is widely used for treating many skin diseases. The whole plant is covered with thorns and produces yellow flowers and seeds that closely resemble mustard seeds. We use the plant mainly for external applications and I would strongly advise you to do the same and take it internally only under expert guidance.

Satyanashi is taken internally for treating jaundice, malaria, cough, burning sensation in the urinary tract, and asthma. Externally it is used for treating a lot of skin diseases like ringworm, scabies, redness of the eyes, itching, eczema, and burning sensation.

Satyanashi Botanical & Common Names:

Satyanashi Traditional Uses:

This wonderful plant has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, analgesic, hallucinating, and sedative properties. I had completely forgotten about this plant, last week when my cousin got a skin allergy my mother-in-law used the latex of this plant for treating the skin disease that is when I realized I had not written about it in the blog.

Almost all the parts of the plant (the seeds, leaves, roots) are used as a medicine but the dosage is very very important as all the parts of the plant have toxic alkaloids and are toxic beyond a certain amount when taken internally.

Satyanashi Seeds & Oil

Satyanashi Side Effects:

Internal consumption of satyanashi in large doses will lead to severe headaches, burning sensations in the eyes, eruptions in the face, nausea, fever, etc. You can read the toxicology report done on healthy people using different doses of satyanashi here.

Satyanashi oil should not be consumed, if consumed in a certain dosage it will lead to epidemic dropsy, vomiting, and diarrhea, and in large doses will lead to acute toxicity. When using plants that are toxic at certain dosages it is best to be taken only under medical supervision as most of the time we get the dosage wrong. Animals generally don’t eat this plant and if they do it causes diarrhea and sleepiness.

3 Top Medicinal Uses, Health Benefits & Side Effects Of Satyanashi Plant:

1. For Skin Infections:

Yellow latex has anti-bacterial properties, you can read the study that proves it here. If you break any part of the plant, yellow latex will flow out. Take a cotton bud and dip it in the latex and apply it on the affected area. The whole plant is covered with thorns so please be careful while extracting the milk. You can use the latex for skin infections like skin ulcers, itching, eczema, and boils.

2. For Healing Wounds:

Satyanashi leaf extract is great for treating wounds that take a long time to heal. This remedy is backed by research, you can read the study here. To use, take the leaves (carefully cut the leaves from the plant without getting hurt) and pound in a mortar and pestle and extract the juice and apply on the affected area. The leaves can be pounded into a paste and applied as a poultice too. The leaf poultice can be used for insect bites also.

3. As a Mosquito Repellent:

Since the mosquito repellents that we get in the markets come with many side effects if used regularly, it is a good idea to get to know plants that have strong larvicidal properties. Satyanashi seed extract has strong larvicidal properties and can be used as a mosquito repellent.

You can use the leaf extract as a mosquito repellent, you can read about the study that proves the larvicidal properties here.  Another interesting use of satyanashi is its nematicidal activity. Especially, out of the 6 plants tested satyanashi tested the most effective in eradicating Meloidogyne javanica nematode (a major agricultural pest).