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Piro Kubhindo, पीरो कुभिण्डो, कटुकुष्माण्ड, गिदाडु, Stephania glabra,

यो लता पहाड-पर्वतमा पैदा हुन्छ । कुभिण्डोको समान लहरो स्वादमा पिरो, तितो, परपराउने केही टर्रो हुन्छ । चीनतिर फोक्सो समस्या, दममा प्रयोग गर्छन् भने झारतमा पशु-चिकित्सामा औषधि बनाउँछन् । रस- रसायनका साधकहरूले पारालाई मुर्च्छन- मारणहेतु- अनुसन्धानमा लैजान्छन् । सस्तो धातुलाई महङ्गोमा परिणत गर्ने प्रयत्न जारी राख्छन् । यसको कन्द सलगम आकारको खरानी रङमा पुरानो २० किलोसम्मको हुन्छ ।

१. परिचय

पीरो कुभिण्डो (वैज्ञानिक नाम: Stephania glabra) नेपालमा पाइने एक प्रमुख जडीबुटी हो। यसलाई कटुकुष्माण्ड, गिदाडु आदि नामले पनि चिनिन्छ। यो एक प्रकारको लहरा हो जुन पहाडी तथा हिमाली क्षेत्रमा स्वतः उम्रन्छ। यसको स्वाद पिरो, तितो र परपराउने हुन्छ। यसको कन्द सलगम (टर्निप) जस्तो आकारको हुन्छ र खरानी रङ्गको हुने गर्छ। पुरानो कुभिण्डोको कन्द २० किलोसम्मको हुन सक्छ। यो निकै महत्त्वपूर्ण आयुर्वेदिक जडीबुटी मानिन्छ र विभिन्न रोगहरूको उपचारमा प्रयोग गरिन्छ।

२. नेपाल र अन्य देशहरूमा उपलब्धता

पीरो कुभिण्डो नेपालको मध्य पहाडी देखि हिमाली क्षेत्रसम्म (१५०० मिटरदेखि ३००० मिटर उचाइसम्म) पाइन्छ। विशेष गरी रसुवा, दोलखा, सिन्धुपाल्चोक, काभ्रेपलाञ्चोक, गोरखा, मनाङ, मुस्ताङ जस्ता जिल्लाहरूमा यो प्रशस्त मात्रामा पाइन्छ। नेपाल बाहेक यो जडीबुटी भारत, चीन, भूटान, म्यानमार, थाइल्याण्ड, लाओस जस्ता दक्षिण एसियाली र दक्षिण-पूर्व एसियाली देशहरूमा पनि पाइन्छ। चीनमा यसलाई फोक्सो (श्वासप्रश्वास सम्बन्धी) रोगको उपचारमा प्रयोग गरिन्छ भने भारतमा आयुर्वेदिक औषधि निर्माणमा उपयोग गरिन्छ।

३. शारीरिक गुणहरू

लहरा: यो बुट्यान वा लहरा हो जसको डाँठ पातले ढाकिएको हुन्छ।
पात: यसका पात हरिया, गोलाकार वा अण्डाकार हुन्छन्।
कन्द: यसको कन्द जमिनमुनि हुने गर्छ र सलगम (टर्निप) जस्तो आकारको हुन्छ।
रङ्ग: कन्दको बाहिरी भाग खरानी वा खैरो रङ्गको हुन्छ भने भित्री भाग सेतो वा हल्का पहेंलो हुन्छ।
स्वाद: पिरो, तितो र परपराउने।

४. औषधीय गुणहरू

पीरो कुभिण्डोमा निम्न औषधीय गुणहरू पाइन्छन्:

ज्वरनाशक (Antipyretic): ज्वर घटाउन मद्दत गर्छ।
दुख्नाशक (Analgesic): दुखाइ कम गर्छ।
प्रदाहनाशक (Anti-inflammatory): सुन्निएको वा प्रदाह भएको ठाउँमा आराम दिन्छ।
कफनाशक (Expectorant): कफ निकाल्न सजिलो बनाउँछ।
रोगप्रतिरोधक (Immunomodulatory): शरीरको रोग प्रतिरोधक क्षमता बढाउँछ।
पाचक (Digestive): पाचन प्रणालीलाई सुधार्छ।

५. फाइदा

श्वासप्रश्वास सम्बन्धी समस्याहरू (दम, फोक्सो, अस्थमा) मा प्रभावकारी।
ज्वर, सर्दी-खोकी, कफ लागेमा उपयोगी।
पेट दुखाइ, अपच, पेटको कीरा लागेमा फाइदाजनक।
जोर्नी दुखाइ, गाइँटा दुखाइमा आराम दिन्छ।
रक्तचाप नियन्त्रण गर्न मद्दत गर्छ।
चर्मरोग (खटिरा, दाद) लागेमा लेप गर्न उपयोगी।

६. प्रयोग विधि

काढा: यसको कन्द वा जरा सुकेर पिँधेर काढा बनाइन्छ। यो काढा दम, खोकी, ज्वर, पेट दुखाइमा दिइन्छ।
चूर्ण: सुकेको कन्दलाई पिँधेर चूर्ण बनाइएको हुन्छ। यो चूर्ण दूध वा पानीसंग मिसाएर खुवाइन्छ।
लेप: ताजा कन्दलाई पिसेर चर्मरोगमा लगाइन्छ।
आयुर्वेदिक औषधि: विभिन्न आयुर्वेदिक दवाहरूमा यसको प्रयोग गरिन्छ।

७. उत्पादन, संकलन र संरक्षण

संकलन: यसको कन्द वर्षायाम पछि (अक्टोबर-डिसेम्बर) मा खनिन्छ।
सुकाउने: कन्दलाई धूपमा राम्ररी सुकाइन्छ।
संरक्षण: सुकेको कन्दलाई हावा नलाग्ने भाँडोमा राखिन्छ वा प्लास्टिकको झोलामा बन्द गरिन्छ।

८. निष्कर्ष

पीरो कुभिण्डो नेपालको एक महत्त्वपूर्ण जडीबुटी हो जसले धेरै रोगहरूको उपचार गर्न सक्छ। यसको प्रयोग आयुर्वेद, पशु चिकित्सा र स्थानिय उपचार पद्धतिमा गरिन्छ। यसको संरक्षण र सतत उपयोगले नेपालको जैविक विविधता र पारम्परिक चिकित्सा पद्धतिलाई बचाउन मद्दत गर्छ। त्यसैले यसको सुरक्षित उपयोग, सही संकलन र संरक्षणलाई प्रवर्धन गर्नुपर्छ।

Introduction

Piro Kubhindo (Stephania glabra), also called पीरो कुभिण्डो, कटुकुष्माण्ड, or गिदाडु, is a climbing vine. It's part of the Menispermaceae family. This plant grows mainly in hilly and mountainous regions. The name “Piro" hints at its बिटो–tasting root (पिरो = spicy/bitter).

This herb is well-known in Nepal and many Asian countries, famous in traditional Chinese and Himalayan folk medicine. It has been used for lung problems, asthma, fever, diabetes, arthritis, skin conditions, and even animal health. Modern science has studied it and found many beneficial compounds.

Availability in Nepal and Other Countries

Nepal

In Nepal, Piro Kubhindo grows naturally in the mid-hills, especially at elevations from about 500 to 2,000 meters above sea level. It's often found near forests, rocky areas, and along streams. In some places, it's called तामरके/Tamarke or गिदाडु/Gidadu, and its roots and tubers are collected by locals

People in regions like Darjeeling, Sikkim, and eastern Nepal use its dried root powder for traditional healing: treating fever, asthma, tuberculosis, and skin problems

Other Countries

China, Thailand, Vietnam – It grows in tropical/subtropical forests and mountainous areas
Bhutan – Found between 500 and 1,800 meters in forested zones
India (Himalayan region), Bangladesh, Myanmar – Native or naturalized here

So although the plant isn’t common at low altitudes, it’s found widely across South & Southeast Asia.

Physical Properties

Growth: It’s a vine that climbs up to 10 meters. Stems are thin, hollow, and hairless.
Root/Tuber: Thick, round or turnip-like, gray to brown, weighing up to 20 kg in old plants
Leaves: Large, heart-shaped or round, about 9–25 cm across.
Flowers: Small, in clusters. Male flowers are yellowish, about 2–3 mm across. Female flowers develop into small red drupes.
Taste: The tuber is spicy, bitter, with a little “tickling” rough feel.
Habitat preference: Grows well in well-drained soil, often near streams or rocky slopes at mid elevations

Medicinal Properties

Stephania glabra is full of alkaloid compounds—over 30 identified! These include morphine-like alkaloids (e.g., gindarudine), bisbenzylisoquinolines (like cycleanine), berberines, aporphine alkaloids, and more

Studies of these compounds show a range of medicinal benefits:

Analgesic (pain relief) – Gindarudine reduces pain in lab animals
Antipyretic (fever reduction) – That same compound lowered temperature in rats with induced fever
Anti-inflammatory – Traditional uses include arthritis and respiratory inflammation, supported by studies.
Anti-diabetic – Extracts reduced blood sugar levels in diabetic mice
Antimicrobial – Glabradine and related alkaloids help fight bacteria and fungi (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus).
Anti-hypertensive, anti-psychotic, anti-tuberculosis – Found in reviews of pharmacological activity

Alkaloids may also help with cancer, asthma, tuberculosis, digestive issues, sleep problems, leprosy, skin conditions, and more

Advantages

Natural and traditional: Has been used for hundreds of years in folk medicine.
Multiple benefits: Pain relief, fever reduction, lowering blood sugar, fighting microbes—all from the same root.
Scientific backing: Lab evidence supports traditional uses, which means real health potential
Rich chemistry: More than 30 bioactive compounds, useful for future medicine or drug development
Economic potential: Can be farmed or renamed via tissue culture, offering income to farmers and supporting conservation.

Uses

For people:

Pain and fever: Especially from gindarudine.
Respiratory issues: Relief for asthma, bronchitis, coughs.
Digestive health: Used for tuberculosis, dysentery, jaundice.
Diabetes: Tubers help reduce high blood sugar.
Infections: Can fight bacterial and fungal infections.
Skin conditions: External oil used for leprosy, leucoderma, wounds

For animals:

Used in veterinary medicines in places like China or neighboring countries for animal ailments (coughs, fevers).

In science and industry:

Studied by chemists, plasma researchers, and pharmacologists for drug development, including painkillers, antibiotics, anti-fever medicines, anti-asthmatic remedies.
Tissue culture methods help produce its alkaloids in labs and conserve wild populations

How to Use

⚠️ Note: Always consult a health professional before using any herbal remedy.

Common Preparation Methods

Powdered tuber: Roots are cleaned, dried, and ground into powder.
Dried pieces: Cooked or made into herbal teas/decoctions.
Extracts: Alcoholic extracts are made to concentrate medicine.
Oils or pastes: For applying on skin issues.
Lab-based extracts: Concentrated compounds for scientific tests.

Typical Uses

Oral dose: ~100–500 mg of root powder or extract, mixed with water—used for pain, fever, diabetes.
Topical application: Root oil or paste for skin disorders.
Herbal tea/decoction: Boil dried root pieces and drink for respiratory or digestive health.

Harvesting and Preservation

When to harvest:

Tubers are best collected in autumn, after the plant’s above-ground parts die back.

How to harvest:

Carefully dig around the vine not to destroy adjacent plants (sustainable harvesting).
Shake off soil and clean the tuber.

Preservation:

Drying: Cut tubers into slices and sun-dry until fully dry.
Storage: Keep dried pieces or powder in airtight containers, away from moisture.
Lab preservation: Can be tissue-cultured for biotech research.

Conservation:

Because of wild harvesting demand, scientists use methods such as micropropagation to grow plants in the lab, protecting wild populations.

Conclusion

Piro Kubhindo (Stephania glabra) is a truly remarkable herb. It’s a native climber of Nepal’s mid-hills, full of healing powers. The gray, turnip-like tuber tastes bitter and spicy. Inside are powerful alkaloids—over 30 types—that help in many ways: pain relief, fever reduction, lowering blood sugar, fighting infections, and supporting respiratory and skin health.

Traditional healers in Nepal, Bhutan, India, and China have used it for ages to treat many conditions. Modern science confirms many of these benefits, showing that the plant has real medical value.

It's easy to harvest, but needs careful drying and storing. And because it's in demand and sometimes rare, sustainable farming and tissue culture methods are used to avoid harming wild populations.

In short: Piro Kubhindo is not just a local folk remedy—it’s a medicinal gem from the Himalayan slopes. With more research and careful conservation, it has great promise for giving us natural health solutions now and in the future.

Reference

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