Celosia argentea Linn. (SITIVARA)

Both caraka (Ci.26/55, 59 & Si.9/13) and vagbhata (A.H.Ci.11/11) have described sitivara in their works. Thakur Balvant Singhji was of the opinion that kurantika of susruta (Su.38/10; 46/274 & Ci.7/10) is sitivara.  Koranta of A.H.Ut.24/35 is considered to be sitivara. Sunisannaka which is identified as marsilia minuta Linn. Is different from sitivara.  Dalhana opined that pattura is same as sitivara (S.Ut.11/5).  He also identified that pattuvara is a synonym of pattura (S.S.Ut.9/19) and both sitivara (S.S.Ut.9/19)  and sirivala (S.S.Su.46/274) are two varieties of pattura.  Sitivara is therefore identified as Celosia argentea Linn.  Probably Celosia argentea Linn is of Asian origin for it has been identified in the Materia Medica of the ancient Chinese.  They are probably slightly diuretic. They are used in poultices in China on infected sores, wounds and skin eruptions and in India mixed with honey on inflamed areas and painful afflictions such as buboes, abcesses, etc. The whole plant is used as an antidote for snake-bite and the root as a specific for colic, gonorrhoea and eczema. In Ethiopian folk-medicine the seeds are used for diarrhoea and the flowers for muscular troubles, and in SE Asia the flowers are considered medicinal for conditions whose symptoms include discharge of blood, e.g., haemophythysis and menstruation. The seeds contain an oil. They are used for diarrhoea in Zaïre and in Asia they are considered antiscorbutic and anthelminthic. In Central Sumatra it enters into most occult ceremonies to propitiate the protective spirits.

Botanical Description – An annual herb of great variability and of many forms, sometimes attaining 2 m height, with flower-spike usually silvery-white, sometimes pink or even red, elongated and pointed.