Conch flower
Today let us learn about Conch flower . Conch flower commonly known as Asian pigeon wings, bluebellvine, blue pea, butterfly pea, Kordofan pea and Darwin pea, is a plant of the Fabaceae family. It is revered as a sacred flower used in daily puja rituals in India. It is called “Sankh Poolu / Sanku Huwa” because it resembles a “conch shell”. In West Bengal, it is known as Aparajita (Aparajita). The flowers of this vine were thought to be the shape of the human female genitalia, hence the Latin name of the genus “clitoris” from “clitoris”.
Conch flower Classification
The plant is native to equatorial Asia, with locations in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, but has also been introduced to Africa, Australia, and the Americas.
Type
It is a perennial herb with elliptic, obtuse leaves. It grows as a vine or creeper, doing well in moist, well-drained soil. The most characteristic feature of this plant is the color of its flowers, a deep deep blue; Alone, with light yellow markings. They are about 4 cm (1.6 in) long by 3 cm (1.2 in) wide. Some cultivars produce white flowers.
Fruits are long, flat pods 5–7 cm (2.0–2.8 in) with six to ten seeds in each pod. They are edible when tender.
It is grown as an ornamental plant and as a fast species (eg in coal mines in Australia), requiring little care in planting. As a legume, its roots form a symbiosis of soil bacteria known as rhizobia, which convert atmospheric N2 into a plant-usable form (a process called nitrogen fixing), therefore, it is also used to improve soil quality through this plant biodegradation. Nitrogen rich plant material.
Conch flower Usage
In Southeast Asia, the flowers are used as a natural food to color food rice. In Kelantan, eastern Malaysia, when cooking white rice, a few buds of this flower are added to the pot to add a blue tinge to the rice, which is served as a side dish, and such a meal is called nasi kerbu. In Burmese and Thai cuisine, the flowers are also dipped in batter and fried. Butterfly pea fly tea is made from Ternetia flowers and dried lemongrass and changes color depending on what is added to the liquid, making the lemon juice purple. In Thailand and Vietnam, butterfly pea is mixed with blue pea tea to add acidity and give the drink a pinkish-purple color to create a drink commonly served after dinner or as a refreshment in hotels and spas. In other parts of the world the drink is a local drink similar to chamomile tea. Tea is available in both hot and cold forms.
The flowers have recently been used in color-changing gins. Blue in the bottle, it turns pink when mixed with a carbonated mixer like tonic water due to a pH change. As the organic color is not permanent, it is recommended to store this type of gin in a dark place to preserve the effect.
Traditional medicine
In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, it has many properties including memory enhancing, nootropic, antidepressant, anxiolytic, antidepressant, anticonvulsant, tranquilizing and sedative properties. In traditional Chinese medicine, the plant has properties that affect female libido due to its resemblance to the female reproductive organ.
What is Conch flower used for?
Conch flower is used for the following conditions and functions. like-
To increase memory
Shankhpushpi is the most popular and widely used to increase brain power and memory. It sharpens and activates the mind. The bioactive compounds and neuroprotective properties present in this plant help to maintain strong mental health and prevent dementia and illness. It is a traditional medicine to enhance memory in India.
For heart health
Consumption of conch flower is also considered beneficial for heart health. Some studies have shown that the ethanolic extract of this herb reduces the level of non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) in the body, one of the main causes of cardiac arrest. A bioactive compound present in the conch flower, a flavonoid called Kaempferol helps in this task.
For healthy skin
Shankhpushpi is also used to make the skin healthy. Research has shown that this herb penetrates the skin easily and provides complete nourishment to all the layers of the skin which makes the skin glow and also helps in getting rid of acne.
Effective in diabetes
Shankhpushpi plant has anti-diabetic properties, which help in controlling blood glucose levels in your body. This can prevent the disease of diabetes and gradually control it.
Effective in hyperthyroidism
According to a recent study, Sankhapushpi has anti-thyroid properties and especially the root extract of this herb has been found to be effective in hyperthyroidism. Its extract helps in reducing the level of thyroid hormone in the body and increases the enzymes produced by the conch flower liver, which helps in reducing thyroid symptoms.
Strengthens digestion
Consuming it can strengthen the digestion of the body and it has been traditionally used in India for solving indigestion related problems. Its plant extract helps prevent fluid retention in the body and helps in strong digestion.
Uses of Conch flower in other situations-
Mental fatigue
Dementia
Mental hypersensitivity
emotional stress
Stress Disorder
headache
loss of appetite
Ulti mein Khoon ana
To prevent abortion
To prevent aggressive transactions
To prevent irritation
Dizziness
ulcer
infection
Hypertension
Sleep problems
Vertigo
Get rid of addiction
Read more : Arginine: What is Arginine?
How safe is the use of Conch flower ?
Consuming conch is generally safe, but if you are suffering from any chronic disease or are facing any type of allergy to food or medicine, you should consult your doctor before consuming it. Also, if you are a pregnant or lactating woman, consume it only on the advice of your doctor. However, its balanced consumption does not cause any serious damage to health and it can be given to children above 3 years of age.
Source – Wikipidiya
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Faq –
1 What is the Latin name of Conch Flower?
2 How many seeds are there in the pod of the conch flower?
3 What are the medicinal uses of conch flower?
