NepalAyurveds.com: Keri

Keri,केरी, Ligustrum nepalensis

यो असार-साउनमा फुल्ने, मध्यपहाड तथा तराईमा पाइन्छ । यसको पात पिसाब खोल्ने मूत्रल मानिन्छ । यसको फूलमा मध्यम पराग र पुष्परस भेटिन्छ । यसकारण मौरीपालकले केही मन पराउँछन्। यसको मह पानी १/१ चम्चा पानीसँग ३-५ पटक पिउँदा मूत्रल धर्म पाइन्छ । यसको स्वरस, लेदो/चूर्ण, काँढापानी, अर्कले छिटो लाभ पुऱ्याउँछ ।

परिचय

केरी (Ligustrum nepalensis) नेपालमा पाइने एक औषधीय तथा फलदार बोट हो। यो ओलिएसी (Oleaceae) परिवारमा पर्छ। यसको वैज्ञानिक नाम Ligustrum nepalense हो। यो बोट नेपालका विभिन्न भौगोलिक क्षेत्रहरूमा प्राकृतिक रूपमा उम्रने गर्छ। यसको पात, फूल, फल, र बोक्रा आयुर्वेदिक चिकित्सामा प्रयोग गरिन्छ। विशेष गरी यसको पात मूत्रल (मूत्रवर्धक) गुण भएको हुन्छ। यसले शरीरको विषालु पदार्थ बाहिर निकाल्न मद्दत गर्छ। यसको फूलमा पराग र मकरन्द (पुष्परस) हुने भएकाले यो मौरीहरूको मनपर्ने बोट हो।

नेपाल र अन्य देशहरूमा उपलब्धता

केरी नेपालको तराई, मध्य पहाड, र हिमाली क्षेत्रहरूमा पाइन्छ। यो विशेष गरी असार-साउनमा फुल्ने गर्छ। नेपाल बाहेक यो भारत, बंगलादेश, भूटान, चीन, र म्यानमार जस्ता देशहरूमा पनि पाइन्छ। यो बोट १२०० देखि २४०० मिटरको उचाइसम्म फैलिएको छ।

भौतिक गुणहरू

बोट: केरीको बोट सानो देखि मध्यम आकारको हुन्छ। यसको बोक्रा खैरो र सेतो मिसिएको हुन्छ।
पात: पातहरू साना, चम्किला, अण्डाकार, र सधैं हरिया हुन्छन्।
फूल: फूलहरू सेता र साना हुन्छन्, जुन डाङ्लामा फुल्छन्।
फल: फल पाकेपछि कालो वा निलो हुन्छ। यो गुलियो स्वादको हुन्छ।

औषधीय गुणहरू

केरीमा निम्न औषधीय गुणहरू पाइन्छन्:

मूत्रल (Diuretic): यसले पिसाब बढाउँछ र मूत्रमार्गका रोगहरूमा लाभदायक हुन्छ।
ज्वरनाशक (Antipyretic): यसले ज्वर घटाउन मद्दत गर्छ।
रक्तशोधक (Blood Purifier): यसले रक्तलाई शुद्ध गर्छ।
पाचक (Digestive): यसले पाचन प्रणालीलाई सुधार गर्छ।
प्रतिरोधक क्षमता बढाउने (Immunomodulatory): यसले शरीरको प्रतिरोधात्मक शक्ति बढाउँछ।

फाइदाहरू

मूत्र सम्बन्धी समस्याहरू (यूरिनरी ट्र्याक्ट इन्फेक्सन) मा राम्रो लाभ दिन्छ।
शरीरबाट विषाद पदार्थ निकाल्न मद्दत गर्छ।
ज्वर, पेट दुखाइ, र अपचमा प्रयोग गरिन्छ।
मधुमेह (डायबिटिज) नियन्त्रण गर्न सहयोगी हुन सक्छ।

प्रयोग विधि

काँढा पानी: केरीको पातको काँढा पानी बनाएर दिनको २-३ पटक सेवन गर्नाले मूत्रल प्रभाव बढ्छ।
रस: पातको रस १-२ चम्चा पानीसँग मिसाएर पिउने।
चूर्ण: सुकेका पातलाई पिँधेर चूर्ण बनाइन्छ। यसलाई गर्म पानीसँग सेवन गर्न सकिन्छ।
अर्क: पात र फूलबाट अर्क तयार गरी औषधिको रूपमा प्रयोग गरिन्छ।

उत्पादन, संकलन र संरक्षण

संकलन: यसको पात, फूल, र फल असार-साउनमा संकलन गर्न उपयुक्त हुन्छ।
सुकाउने: पातहरूलाई छायामा सुकाएर भण्डारण गर्न सकिन्छ।
संरक्षण: सुकेका पातहरू एयरटाइट कन्टेनरमा राख्नुपर्छ ताकि यसको गुण कायम रहोस्।

निष्कर्ष

केरी (Ligustrum nepalensis) नेपालको एक महत्त्वपूर्ण जडीबुटी हो। यसको मूत्रल, ज्वरनाशक, र रक्तशोधक गुणले यसलाई पारम्परिक चिकित्सामा उपयोगी बनाउँछ। यसको फूल मौरीहरूका लागि आकर्षक हुन्छ भने यसको फल पनि उपयोगी छ। यसलाई सही तरिकाले संकलन, प्रयोग, र संरक्षण गर्ने हो भने यसले दीर्घकालीन स्वास्थ्य लाभ दिन सक्छ। त्यसैले, केरीको महत्त्वलाई बुझेर यसको संरक्षण र सतत प्रयोग गर्नुपर्छ।

Introduction

Keri, also known as Ligustrum nepalensis, is less famed but a valuable medicinal plant found in plenty in Nepal. Although far less popular than some of the most well-known Ayurvedic plants, it is extremely important ethnobotanically. It grows predominantly in the Terai and hilly regions, with extreme adaptability to the mid-hill and Terai environment. The crop is particularly beneficial due to its diuretic (mūtral) effect and slightly nectarioid flowers, making it beneficial to both human well-being and biodiversity—mainly in beekeeping activities. The native herb has been used by Nepalese people for generations as a health treatment and honeybee colony plant constructor.

Availability in Nepal and Other Countries

Keri or Ligustrum nepalensis predominates in the mid-hill and Terai regions of Nepal, particularly flourishing vigorously during the Asar and Sawan monsoon months of June to August. The humid and moderately warm climatic conditions in these regions are conducive to the plant's cultivation. Its adaptability allows it to flourish in both semi-shaded forest cover and open scrub jungle.

With the exception of Nepal, Ligustrum species—and more specifically closely related ones—also occur throughout different areas of India, Bhutan, and Southeast Asia. While the specific variety "Ligustrum nepalensis" is most characteristically found in Nepal, closely related members of the Ligustrum group are commonly distributed throughout China, Japan, and Korea as well, where they are used in traditional medicine. The plants are typically used for their detoxifying, diuretic, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Physical Features

Keri is a small to medium-sized deciduous shrub or a small tree. It grows typically up to 1.5 to 3 meters in height. The plant has the following features:

Leaves: Leaves are simple, lance-shaped, and medium-green in color. They are oppositely arranged on the stem and have a leathery texture. Leaves emit a slightly bitter herbal smell when crushed.

Flowers: The plant releases flowers during the monsoon period. They are whitish in color, small, and scented. While they are not nectar-laden, they have normal pollen and nectar loads that are favorable for attracting bees.

Fruits: After flowers, the plant produces dark-colored, small berries, but they are not commonly used for medicinal purposes.

Stems and Bark: The stem is grey-brown in color and woody and the bark is very thin and even in young plants.

These physical characteristics enable Keri to be a hardy plant capable of surviving in different natural habitats.

Medicinal Properties

Keri has been used traditionally to offer different medicinal advantages. Some of the most significant medicinal properties are:

Diuretic (Mūtral): The leaves and flowers possess the property of inducing urination, thus helping to remove excess fluid and toxins from the body. This is useful in water retention and urinary tract infections.

Detoxifying: It helps in natural detoxification of the body, especially if its extract or juice (swaras) is consumed daily.

Cooling Nature: It is reported to have a soothing cooling action on the body, relieving internal heat during summer and fever.

Anti-inflammatory: Local application or oral administration may relieve inflammation.

Mild Antimicrobial Effects: Traditional use and some studies report that it possesses antimicrobial activity beneficial in mild infections.

Digestive Support: Keri is occasionally used in local traditional medicine to support digestion and relief from bloating or burning of the urine.

The decoction, powder, and extract of the plant are widely used because of their speedy and tangible health impacts.

Benefits

Keri herb offers many advantages to health, nature, and living ecologically:

Affordable and Readily Available: Spontaneously found growing in the wild, especially in rural Nepal, readily available without cost.

Polyfunctional Use: Its extracts, leaves, and flowers are used in different forms like juice, powder, and decoction.

Bee-Friendly: Keri flowers produce average nectar and pollen, which sustains bee populations and enhances local honey production.

Supports Renal Health: Long-term consumption detoxifies and activates kidney function naturally.

Environmentally Friendly Medicine: No artificial inputs are necessary, and it supports traditional knowledge systems.

Gentle and Safe: It shows minimal to no side effects when taken in suggested dosages, making it ideal for long-term intake.

Good for Season Detox: Good during monsoon and pre-summer when digestive and urinary ailments are common.

Helps in Fever and Inflammation: Acts as a natural aid during periods of low-grade fever and urinary inflammation.

Renewable Resource: Keri regenerates very quickly and can be grown organically with little care.

Uses

Keri is used in various forms depending on the illness or application. The main uses are:

Juice (Swaras): Fresh juice of leaves is squeezed and consumed for its diuretic value.

Honey Mix: Honey obtained from Keri flowers is consumed (1 teaspoon in water, 3–5 times a day) for urinary health.

Paste or Powder (Churna): Powdered leaves are prepared from dried leaves and used for internal purification.

Decoction (Kadha): Boiling leaves and stems in water to make an herbal drink used in urinary disorders and fevers.

Arka (Distilled Extract): Herbal liquid medication concentrated by using traditional distillation method and taken in minute amounts.

Local Application: Leaf paste may be applied on small swelling or inflammation.

Method of Use

Below are the methods to use Keri:

For Relief of Urinary

Mix 1 teaspoon honey of flowers of Keri with 1 warm cup water and take 3–5 times a day.

Alternatively, take 2–3 teaspoons of freshly pressed leaves juice mixed with a pinch of rock salt once or twice a day.

For Detox and Kidney Support:

Boil 5–7 Keri leaves in 2 cups water until it reduces to 1 cup. Strain and drink warm, once in the morning on empty stomach.

For Fever and Heat:

Prepare decoction with leaves and young shoots and drink half a cup two times a day.

For Long-Term Use:

Take 1 teaspoon of Keri powder, dissolved in warm water, at night for digestive and urinary well-being.

Always consult an experienced practitioner for individual dosage, especially if taken for the long term or for therapeutic purposes.

Harvesting and Preservation

Keri is generally harvested in the monsoon month (Asar-Sawan), when the plant is full of vitality. This is how it is harvested and stored:

Harvesting:

Leaves are hand-plucked, ideally in the early morning hours when there is minimal moisture content in the plant.

Flowers are picked without damaging the plant so that natural regeneration can occur.

Only ripe leaves and flowers are selected for maximum medicinal potential.

Preservation:

Leaves are shade-dried for a number of days until they are crisp and powderable.

Honey obtained from nectar collected from flowers is kept in tightly sealed glass bottles away from heat.

The powder should be kept in air-tight, dry containers and can be used for 6 months.

Swaras and arka should be used fresh whenever possible, but may be refrigerated for a week.

Storage keeps it medicinally potent and saves the herb from rotting and molding.

Conclusion

Keri (Ligustrum nepalensis) is a lesser-known but highly versatile herb native to Nepal. It occurs in mid-hill and Terai regions and finds application in many things—right food items like detoxification and diuresis to environmental system maintenance such as beekeeping. Its mild action and weak side effects make it suitable for daily consumption in appropriate amounts. With increasing global demand for herbal drugs and traditional medicine, Keri can be marketed more widely as an environment-friendly and beneficial natural drug. It can benefit local communities, herbalists, and ecologists in general through its continued protection, proper harvesting, and integration into daily regimes of health.

Reference

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