Karveer (Indian Oleander): An Ayurvedic and Toxicological Perspective
Karveer (Indian Oleander): An Ayurvedic and Toxicological Perspective
INTRODUCTION
Karveer, commonly known as Indian Oleander, is a fascinating yet potent plant deeply rooted in both ornamental gardening and ancient Ayurvedic toxicology (Agadtantra). While its vibrant flowers are a common sight across India, every part of this evergreen shrub carries significant biological activity and potential toxicity
Botanical Name:
- Nerium Odurum (श्वेत/रक्त पुष्प)
White and Red flowered variety
- Thevetia nerllifolia (पित्त पुष्प)
Yellow flowered variety
- Family - Apocynaceae
- Kingdom-Plantae
- Hindi name- Kaner
- English Name- Indian Oleander
- Sanskrit name-Haymarak,Haripriy, Ashwamaar,hayari
External features-
1.Habitat- Found all over India as an evergreen
shrub,commonly planted as an ornamental plants
2.Stem- Hard and woody
3.Leaves linear, lanceolate 10-20cm long.
4.Flowers are bell shaped.
•Flowers found in different colours -
- White
- Red
- Yellow
•Attractive appearance, hence used as ornamental plant.
5.Taste(rasa)- Katu, Tikta
6.Smell- odourless
7.Colour- dark green leaves
MODERN PHARMACOLOGY
- Cardioactive
- Diuretic
- Antimicrobial
- Antiinflammatory
- Insecticidal
- Antioxidant
- Analgesics
- Antiulcer
- Antidiabetic
-Though it shows many activities
internal use of it is dangerous without
purification (shodhana)
Classification
आयुर्वेद- उपविष, मूलविष, स्थावरविष
आधुनिक – cardiac poison
•acts directly on heart muscles
•affects heart rate and rhythm
•Toxic effect- can lead to cardiac arrest in severe
cases
Rasa Panchaka
Rasa: Katu, Tikta
Guna: Laghu, tikshna
Virya: Ushna
Vipaka: Katu
Types of karveer
According to Ayurveda:
Karveer is of two types based on flower colour.
* Shweta Karveer- White flowered variety
* Rakta Karveer -Red flowered variety
Both are classified under Upavisha(plant origin
poison)
Sign and symptoms
- * Frothing from the mouth
- * Slow Pulse
- * Twitching of Muscles
- * Headache
- * Burning in throat and GIT
- * Irregular Heart Rate
- * Vamana
- * Atisaar
- * Irregular Heartbeat
Shodhan:
Boiled in dolayantra filled with godugdha for 1
prahar
Fatal Dose:
-Root powder: 15 gm
-Leaves: 5-15 (in number)
-Yellow oleander seeds: 8-12 (in number)
Fatal Period:
Approximately 24 hours
Formulations -
karveeradi tail
Modern Treatment:
-Stomach washes with tannic acid solution.
-Use Inj morphine.
-Maintain fluid balance.
-Perform symptomatic treatment
Ayurvedic Treatment:
-Give Mahisha curd with sugar.
-Use Mahishi milk with extract skin powder
Medicolegal Aspects:
-Accidental poisoning
-Abortifacient
-Suicide or murder
-Animal killing
Postmortem Appearance:
-No specific symptoms
-Contraction of the digestivesystem.
-Blood spots on the heart (petechiae).
-Sometimes seeds are found in the stomach
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This Blog Post and the information provided for the strictly for educational and academic purposes only. It serves as a study aid for students of Agadtantra (Ayurvedic Toxicology) and Forensic Medicine in Bams 2nd year.

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