Health Benefits

Health benefits of Salam Panja

Himalayan Marsh Orchid scientifically known as Dactylorhiza hatagirea is a medicinal herb belonging to Orchidaceae which is now considered critically endangered. The plant is native to India, China, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Tibet, Bhutan, Europe, North Africa, Temperate Asia, Mongolia and Nepal. In India,  the  plant  is  found  in  Jammu  and  Kashmir,  including Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal  Pradesh, and Sikkim. Some of the popular common names of the plant are Nar mada, Salap, Panch aunle, Himalayan Marsh Orchid, Marsh Orchids, Salam panja, Hatta had and Spotted Heart Orchid. Roots of D. hatagirea are resembled with 5 fingered hands, so named as hath panja (India) or panchaula (Nepal).

Genus name Dactylorhiza is derived from Greek origin daktylos which means finger and rhiza for root that referring toward palmately shape two- to five lobed tubers.  The plant is well known for its medicinal value. The root has sweet taste. It is strictly prohibited for collection and sale, but can be found easily around Nepal. It costs around NRs. 10,000-15,000 per kilo as of late 2015. Due to its specific identification trait and rich medicinal value of root, plant is accidentally facing the conservation threats.

Plant Description

Salam panja is a terrestrial glabrous, perennial, medicinal herb with long flowering stems. The plant normally attains height of 20-25 cm. The plant is found growing in damp pastures, open areas, shrub land, open meadows, open slopes and marshes. The plant grows best in moist meadow soils. Soil must be dark grey, granular, sandy loam, micaceous sandy soils at greater depth. It is a perennial herb with erect, leafy, stout and hollow stem. Roots are mainly tuberous type, palm shape divided into 3 or 5 lobes or fingers. Roots are rich in dactyloses, dactylorhins, starch, mucilage and other glycosides. They are mainly collected or uproot during seed formation so, due early harvesting it faces the threats of extinction. Leaves are 4-6, cauline, leaf blade oblong to linear lanceolate, 8 -15 cm long and 1.5-3 cm wide, base sheathing, apex obtuse or acuminate.

Flowers

Pink purple flowers are borne in upright dense spike inflorescences and are zygomorphic, having fused male and female reproductive organs. Flowers are purple and the bracts green, narrowly lance-shaped, lower longer than the flowers, upper slightly shorter. Flowers are about 1.8 cm long, including the curved spur. Sepals and petals are nearly equal. Three of them form a hood, and the two side sepals spread outwards. The lip is rounded and shallowly 3-lobed, spotted dark purple. Flowering normally takes place in between June and July.

Fruit

Fertile flowers re followed by loculicidal capsules and minute seeds are generally liberated as immature embryos at the globular stage.

Salam Panja Facts

Salam panja Quick Facts
Name: Salam panja
Scientific Name: Dactylorhiza hatagirea
Origin India, China, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Tibet, Bhutan, Europe, North Africa, Temperate Asia, Mongolia, and Nepal
Shapes Loculicidal capsules
Taste Sweet
Health benefits Male infertility, Gastrointestinal problems, Immunity, Stress, Skin conditions, Erectile dysfunctions and premature ejaculation
Name Salam Panja
Scientific Name Dactylorhiza hatagirea
Native India,  China,  Pakistan,  Iran,  Afghanistan,  Tibet,  Bhutan,  Europe,  North  Africa,  Temperate  Asia, Mongolia,  and  Nepal.  In  India,  the  plant  is  found  in  Jammu  and  Kashmir,  including Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal  Pradesh, and Sikkim
Common Names Nar mada, Salap, Panch aunle, Himalayan Marsh Orchid, Marsh Orchids, Salam panja, Hatta had, Spotted Heart Orchid
Name in Other Languages Afrikaans: Moeras orgidee
Albanian: Orkide kënetore
Amharic: Regiregi orikīdi (ረግረግ ኦርኪድ)
Arabic: Mustanqae al uwrkid (مستنقع الأوركيد), khaziyat-ul-salab, salab panja
Armenian: Chahchayin kholordz (: ճահճային խոլորձ)
Azerbaijani: Bataqlıq orkide
Bengali: -Mārśa arkiḍa (মার্শ অর্কিড)
Bulgarian: Blatna orkhideya (блатна орхидея)
Burmese: Saithkw (သစ်ခွ)
Chinese: Zhǎozé lánhuā (沼泽兰花), zhǎng liè lán (掌裂兰)
Croatian: Močvarna orhideja
Czech: Bažina orchidej
Danish: Marsk orkidé
Dutch: Moeras orchidee
English: Marsh orchid, Himalayan Marsh Orchid, Salampanja, Marsh Orchis, Spotted Heart Orchid
Esperanto: Marĉa orkideo
Estonian: Sood orhidee
Filipino: Marsh orchid
Finnish: Marsh orkidea
French: Orchidée des marais
Georgian: Ch’aobiani orkidea (ჭაობიანი ორქიდეა)
German: Sumpforchidee
Greek: Orchidéa élous (ορχιδέα έλους)
Gujarati: Mārśa ōrkiḍa (માર્શ ઓર્કિડ)
Hausa: Marsh orchid
Hebrew: סחלב ביצה
Hindi: Maarsh aarkid (मार्श आर्किड), Salampanja, salam, salam misri, salam panja, salampanja, salap, salib mistri
Hungarian: Mocsári orchidea
Icelandic: Mýrubrönugrös
Indonesian: Anggrek rawa
Irish: Magairlín riasc
Italian: Orchidea palustre
Japanese: Māshuran (マーシュラン)
Javanese: Anggrek rawa
Kannada: Javugu ārkiḍ (ಜವುಗು ಆರ್ಕಿಡ್), salamisri
Kashmiri: Salem Panja
Kazakh: Batpaqtı orxïdeya (батпақты орхидея)
Korean: Seubji nancho (습지 난초)
Kumaon: Hatajari
Kurdish: March orchid
Ladakhi: Mbolkp  (ཨམབོལཀཔཨ) Ambolakpa
Lao: Dok kuany mai (ດອກກ້ວຍໄມ້)
Latin: Orchid
Latvian: Purva orhideja
Lithuanian: Pelkinė orchidėja
Macedonian: Močurišna orhideja (мочуришна орхидеја)
Malagasy: Mars orkide
Malay: Rumput orkid
Malayalam: Mārṣ ōrkkiḍ (മാർഷ് ഓർക്കിഡ്), salamisri
Maltese: Orkidej tal-bassasa
Marathi: Maarsh orkid (मार्श ऑर्किड)
Mongolian: Namag tsakhirmaa (намаг цахирмаа)
Nepali: Mārśa arkiḍa (मार्श अर्किड), Panch aonle (पाँच आँवले)
Norwegian: Myrorkidé
Oriya: ମାର୍ଶ ଅର୍କିଡ୍ |
Pashto: مارش آرکډ
Persian: رکیده باتلاق
Polish: Storczyk bagienny
Portuguese: Orquídea do pântano
Punjabi: Māraśa āraciḍa (ਮਾਰਸ਼ ਆਰਚਿਡ)              
Romanian: Orhidee de mlaștină
Russian: Bolotnaya orkhideya (болотная орхидея)
Sanskrit: Mujjataka, munyatakah, salampamisri
Serbian: Močvarna orhideja (мочварна орхидеја)
Sindhi: دلت آرڪيڊ
Sinhala: Vaguru ōkiḍ (වගුරු ඕකිඩ්)
Slovenian: Močvirska orhideja
Spanish: Orquídea de pantano
Sudanese: Anggrek rawa
Swedish: Marsh orkidé
Tajik: Marşuri mars (маршури марш)
Tamil: Catuppu mallikai (சதுப்பு மல்லிகை), salamisri
Telugu: Mārṣ ārciḍ (మార్ష్ ఆర్చిడ్), Salamisri
Thai: Kl̂wymị̂ bụng (กล้วยไม้บึง)
Turkish: Bataklık orkide
Ukrainian: Bolotna orkhideya (болотна орхідея)
Unani: Buzidan, Salab Misri
Urdu: Salap , bolotna orkhideya (دلدل آرکڈ), ood saleeb, salab misri, salabmisri
Uzbek: Marsh orkide     
Vietnamese: Hoa lan đầm lầy    
Welsh: Tegeirian y gors
Zulu: I-marsh orchid
Plant Growth Habit Terrestrial glabrous herb
Growing Climates Grows in damp pastures, open areas, shrub land, open meadows, open slopes and marshes
Soil Grow best in moist meadow soils. Soil must be dark grey, granular, sandy loam, micaceous sandy soils at greater depth
Plant Size About 20-25 cm
Root Roots are tuberous, divided into 2 or 3 lobes
Tuber Tubers slightly flattened, palmately divided into 3-5, finger like lobes
Leaf Leaves are 4-6, cauline, leaf blade oblong to linear lanceolate, 8 -15 cm long and 1.5-3 cm wide, base sheathing, apex obtuse or acuminate.
Flowering season June–July
Flower Pink purple flowers are borne in upright dense spike inflorescences and are zygomorphic, having fused male and female reproductive organs. Flowers are purple and the bracts green, narrowly lance-shaped, lower longer than the flowers, upper slightly shorter. Flowers are about 1.8 cm long, including the curved spur.
Fruit Shape & Size Loculicidal capsules
Propagation By seeds and tuber cuttings
Taste Sweet
Plant Parts Used Tubers, roots
Available Forms Juice, oil and paste
Health Benefits
  • Male infertility
  • Gastrointestinal problems
  • Immunity
  • Stress
  • Skin conditions
  • Erectile dysfunctions and premature ejaculation

Ethno Medicinal uses of different part

S. No Ailment/Use Plant Part Place/Country Mode of Application
1.         Respiratory (asthma, bronchitis, lungs, and other pulmonary problems) Leaves and tubers India (Ladakh, Gharwal Himalaya) Nepal (Dolpa, Rasuwa, Humla, Jumla, and Mustang districts) ·         Decoction obtained from the tubers is mixed with boiled water and taken 

·         Inhalation of stream of plant parts boiled in water 

·         Dried tubers are mixed with other medicinal plants and boiled in water for daily consumption

2.         Neurological (brain tonic, nerve tonic) Leaves and tubers India (Gharwal Himalaya), Nepal ·         Extract obtained from tubers and leaves is taken in the morning and after dinner

·         Decoction of the plant is consumed as juice

3.         Digestive (stomachache, chronic diarrhea, intestinal disorders) Tubers India (Gharwal Himalaya, Arunachal Pradesh), Nepal (Dolpa, Rasuwa, Humla, Jumla, and Mustang districts) ·         Plant parts are boiled in water and the extract (crude drug) is used  

·         Tubers of the plant are ground to fine powder, mixed with other medicinal herbs, and taken with milk or water.

4.         Urinary (kidney disorders, burning sensation, and urine discharge) Tubers India (Gharwal Himalaya) Unspecified
5.         Sexual (sexual activity, seminal debility, erectile dysfunction) Tubers India (Gharwal Himalaya), Pakistan (Gilgit), Nepal (Dolpa, Rasuwa, Humla, Jumla, and Mustang districts)   Extract of the root is taken on empty stomach and after dinner to increase sexual activity
6.         External uses (headache, wound healing, skin problems) Tubers India (Gharwal Himalaya, Kuman Himalayas, Arunachal Pradesh), Nepal (Dolpa, Rasuwa, Humla, Jumla, and Mustang districts) ·         Plant parts are crushed, mixed with turmeric, and applied externally 

·         Powdered roots are spread over wounds to control bleeding  

·         Tubers are ground into fine powder, mixed with mustard oil, and applied on wounds

7.         Others (backache, bone fracture, fever, weakness, general debility, milk flow in lactating mothers) Tubers and leaves India (Gharwal Himalaya, Western Himalaya, Manali), Pakistan (Gilgit and Bugrot valley), Nepal (Rasuwa district) ·         Tubers are powdered and mixed with mustard oil for use externally  

·         Plant parts are boiled in water and their extract is dissolved in water and taken after meals.

 

Health benefits of Salam Panja

Normally the root of Salam panja is used extensively in Ayurveda for its health benefiting properties. According to Ayurveda, this plant has the ability to calm Vata and Pitta dosha. It is sweet in taste and has cold potency. It is considered as one of the powerful Ayurvedic herbs for treating male infertility. It also has anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Here are a few health benefits of the Salam panja.

1. Male infertility

Salam Panja is a wonderful herbal medication used for treating male impotency rising out of low sperm count or lack of sperm motility. Salam Panja helps to increase the sperm count by boosting the testosterone levels in the blood and improves the quality and motility of the sperms. Hence, it is considered an effective treatment for oligospermia and oligozoospermia.

2. Gastrointestinal problems

Salam panja is an excellent herb for dealing with gastrointestinal problems. It combats numerous digestion related problems like indigestion and acidity. It improves the overall health of the digestive system. It also provides relief from stomach aches.

3. Immunity

Salam panja is loaded with essential nutrients and has immunity-boosting properties that help build a stronger immune system. Consuming the root powder of this plant helps to flushes out the toxins from the body. It fortifies the body and provides energy.

4. Stress

Salam panja has the ability to calm the mind and body. It is used as a nervine tonic in Ayurveda. The chemical constituents present in Salam panja helps to reduce the high level of cortisol hormones and bring a calming effect on the person. It also promotes good sleep.

5. Skin conditions

Salam Panja is used to treat certain skin conditions like wounds and ulcers. It helps in the faster healing of wounds by encouraging the regeneration of skin cells and helping the repair processes of the body. Juice of this herb can be consumed to heal cuts, and wounds. This property of Salam Panja is also helpful in the management of gastritis, in which it repairs the damaged mucosa of the stomach and provides relief from hyperacidity.

6. Erectile dysfunctions and premature ejaculation

Salam Panja can be used to treat male health problems like erectile dysfunctions. It increases the strength of the muscles in the penile tissue and also increases the blood supply into the organ thus allowing a man to get an erection. This herb is known to possess a strong penile erection index, which is a measure of how long a man can maintain an erection. Hence, it is considered useful for treating premature ejaculation also.

Traditional uses and benefits of Salam Panja

Ayurvedic Health benefits

Libido Loss Male: Take 5 tablespoons Withania Somnifera, 5 tablespoons Asparagus Racemosus, 1.5 tablespoons Dodder, 2 pinches Saffron, 1 tablespoon Anacyclus Pyrethrum, 1 tablespoon Nutmeg and 1/2 tablespoon Marsh Orchid.  Grind all ingredients together. Have half teaspoon with milk daily.

Other Facts

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dactylorhiza_hatagirea

http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-55324

http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Himalayan%20Marsh%20Orchid.html

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