Satuwa (Paris polyphylla) Ayurveda

Informational only. Do not stop prescribed treatment; seek emergency care when needed.

Evidence level: very low

Laboratory studies only; it must never replace antivenom or hospital care for snakebite.

Safety: Toxic in larger amounts; a threatened species.

Quality concerns: Some Ayurvedic rasa shastra and bhasma products deliberately contain metals; US FDA and CDC have reported lead poisoning cases, and studies found lead, mercury or arsenic in a share of products sold online.

What it is

Rhizome of a threatened Himalayan plant.

Traditional use (claimed)

Wounds, snakebite, fever, throat problems.

Evidence

Laboratory studies only; it must never replace antivenom or hospital care for snakebite.

Safety

Toxic in larger amounts; a threatened species.

Quality concerns

Some Ayurvedic rasa shastra and bhasma products deliberately contain metals; US FDA and CDC have reported lead poisoning cases, and studies found lead, mercury or arsenic in a share of products sold online.

Interactions

Not studied.

Avoid if

pregnancy, children, snakebite (go to hospital)

Regulation in Nepal

Herbal products in Nepal are registered with the Department of Drug Administration (DDA). Nepal: the Department of Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine (DoAA, Ministry of Health and Population) runs government Ayurveda hospitals and clinics; practitioners register with the Nepal Ayurveda Medical Council. Ask to see the council registration.

Regulation in India

India: the Ministry of AYUSH regulates Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homoeopathy; practitioners register with the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) or the National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH).

Regulation in UAE

UAE: complementary and alternative medicine practitioners and products need licensing by the emirate health authority (DHA in Dubai, DoH in Abu Dhabi, MOHAP elsewhere). Check the licence on the authority's public register.

Sources: SI summary (own words); NCCIH Herbs at a Glance; FDA and CDC advisories; NLM MedlinePlus (NLM-authored only) · Reference · Reference · Reference · Reference

AlifZetta text CC BY 4.0 (own words). NCCIH, FDA and CDC are US government works (public domain), used as references.