''Cynanchum acidum'' is a species of flowering plant in the family

Apocynaceae Apocynaceae (from ''Apocynum'', Greek for "dog-away") is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, stem succulents, and vines, commonly known as the dogbane family, because some taxa were used as dog poison Members of the ...

, typically found in the arid parts of peninsular India where it is used in religious sacrifices. The plant is religiously linked to

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...

and is believed to be a major ingredient of the

Soma Soma may refer to: Businesses and brands * SOMA (architects), a New York–based firm of architects * Soma (company), a company that designs eco-friendly water filtration systems * SOMA Fabrications, a builder of bicycle frames and other bicycle ...

in Ancient India.

Description

''Cynanchum acidum'' is a perennial leafless, jointed shrub with green, cylindrical, fleshy glabrous with twining branches having milky white latex and with its leaves reduced to scales. Its flowers are white or pale greenish white, are fragrant and grow in umbels on branch extremities. The fruits follicles taper at both ends; seeds are flat, ovate, comose. This leafless plant grows in rocky, sterile places all over India.

Uses

As a beverage

The plant yields an abundance of a mildly acidulous milky juice, and travellers like nomadic cowherds suck its tender shoots to allay thirst. Traditional accounts hold that ''Cynanchum acidum'' is the Soma plant of the

Vedas upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the '' Atharvaveda''. The Vedas (, , ) are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the ...

. The Rig Veda, ix. says, the purifying Soma, like the sea rolling its waves, has poured forth songs, hymns and thoughts.

Medicinal

The plant is bitter, acrid, cooling, alterant, narcotic, emetic, antiviral, and rejuvenating.

India

In classical Indian medicine it is considered useful in vitiated conditions of

pitta Pittas are a family, Pittidae, of passerine birds found in Asia, Australasia and Africa. There are thought to be 40 to 42 species of pittas, all similar in general appearance and habits. The pittas are Old World suboscines, and their closest re ...

, dipsia, viral infection, hydrophobia, psychopathy and general debility.

References

External links

Sarcostemma acidum (Roxb.) Voigt. - e.Charak
acidum Medicinal plants of Asia Soma (drink) {{Apocynaceae-stub