Table of Contents
Nimbuka
Citrus acida Roxb – Ayurvedic Herb
SYNONYMS AND INTERPRETATION
- Nimbu : Kind of Jambira
- Nimbuka : Kind of Jambira
- Danthasata : Sensitive to tooth
- Jambira : Sour taste people likes
- Jamba : Due to Amla guna it makes Sidhilatha of organs
- Amlasara : Sour in taste
- Rajanimbu
- Sthrinimbuka
- Kliba
- Janthumari
VERNACULAR NAMES
- Hindi : Nimbu,Nilbu,Kagaji,Nibu
- English : Lime or Sour lime
- Telugu : Nimma pandu
- Kannada : Nimbe hannu
- Malayalam : Erumichairakam
- Tamil : Elumichai
- Bengali : Kagazi lebu,Padinabu
- Marratti : Limbu kagaji limbu
- Arabic : Limu
- Parsi : Limu,Lumu E kagaji
- Sanskrit : Nimbuka,Nimbu
VARIETIES OR TYPES
- lemon (L) Burm.F Vanajambira :- (Wild lime) Atalantia malabarica(Rafin)
- Jambira :- (lime) Citrus aurantifolia(Christm) Swingle or Citrus medica Linn. Var. Acida Watt
- Mistanimbuka :- (Sweet lime) Citrus limetta Risso
- Naragam :- (orange) Citrus reticulata Blanco or aurantium Linn.Var.Aurantium
- Madhukarkadi :- (Pummelo or Paradise apple) Citrus maxima (Burm) Merr
- Nimbuka :- (Lemon) Citrus
- Bijapura :- (Citron) Citrus medica Linn.Or Citrus medica Var.Medica Watt
COTRAVERSIAL STUDIES
Jambira and Nimbuka are thought to be same.
But Bhavamisra described Swalpajambira numbuka and Mistanimbuka which are the other species of citrus. Under Panchamla we come across jambira and nimbuka separately.
GANAS AND VARGAS
- Kula : Jambira kula
- Charaka : Phalavaraga, Amlavarga
- Susrutha : Phalavarga
- Vagbatta : Phalavarga
- Bhavaprakasa nigandu :Amradivarga
- Raja nigandu :Amradivarga
- Kayyadeva nigandu :Aushadavarga
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
Fruit juice – Contain citric acid 7-10% Phosphoric acid,Malic acid ,Sugar and other constituents.
Pericarp(Fruit rind) yield and volatile oil, a bitter
Glucoside, Herperidin(Perticularly in white portin of rind )
Lime fruit(Juice) contain vitamin C in high quantity
PROPERTIES AND DOSHAGHNATA
Rasa :- Amla
Guna :- Teekshna,Lagu
Veerya :- Ushna-anushna
Vipaka :- Amla
Doshaghnata :- Kapha-Vatha shaamaka
KARMA
- Rochana
- Deepana
- Pachana
- Anulomana-pitta saaraka
- Thrishna nigrahana
- Mukha sodana
- Sughandhi
- Chardhi nigrahana-utkleshahara
- Arsogna
- Raktasodaka
- Moothrala
- Sweda janana
- Jwargna
- Cakshukshya
- Hridya
- Vishagna
- Krimigna
- Sosahara
- Varnya
- Santharpana
PRAYOGA
Aruchi,Agnimandya,bakthadvesha
Ajeerna,Anaha,Admana,Visoochika
Chardhi,utklesha,hrillasa
Udharavikara,Vistamba,vibanda,
Arsa,badha,gudodara
Rakthapitta
Pitta vikara
Daha-Thrishna
Vatagna
Moothravikara-moothrakricha
Pandu-kaamala-yakrt vikara
Jwara
Rakta dosha-Raktha vikara
Visha-gara visha
Krimi roga
Sosa
THERAPEUTIC USES
The drug nimbuka is anthelmintic,appetizer,astringent,refrigerant and tonic.It is used in anorexia,cough,rheumatism,vomiting and weak eye sight. The juice is traditionally given as effective anti-dehydration agent in actions helpful in the ailing conditions and abnormalities in human body in accordance to pharmacological consideration in Indian medicine.
Internal uses
Digestive system
Being an antidipsetic,palatable,appetizer,digestant,laxative and collagogue is useful in dipsia,emesis,distate,anorexia,indigestion constipation, abdominal distension and liver disorders. Pickle of the peel is a good digestant and appetizer.
Circulatory system
As it is cardiac tonic,anti haemorrhagic and blood purifier. It is used in blood disorders like heart diseases. Peel oil is used in diseases like chicken pox,measels and small pox to smoothen the skin.
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
It is an expectorant, hence though it is sour,it is used in cough induced by Vatha and Kapha,lime juice is nose in epistaxis
URINARY SYSTEM
Diuretic and reduces uric acid. Mixture of lime juice and yavakshara reduces dysuria and uric acid
TEMPARATURE
Febrifuge-lime in many ways is useful in fever and burning sensation
SKIN
Being diaphroretic,it is used in various skin disease
CLASSICAL USES
- Amla pitta-Nimbu swarasa paana,nimbu paanaka(chakradatta)
- Karnasoola-Jambeera rasa and sidha taila-karnapoorana(vaidyamanorama)
- Krimi-Beejachoorna-internally
- Jwara-Nimbu moola twak kashaya
- Anticeptic-To clean the wound
- Arsas-Ksharakarma
- Anupaana in many condition
- Nimbu phala twak choorna in face pack,pimples
FOLKLORE USES
TOOTHACHE RELIEF
One drop of clove oil on a cotton ball + One drop of lemon oil diluted with one teaspoon of career oil.
BEST SKIN FOOD
Very best preparation as an all round cosmetic which lemon and milk wash
- HERBEL TEA
- HOT TODDY
- LEMON OIL FOOT BATH
For varicose veins
USEFUL PART
- Fruit
- Seed
- Rind
Fruit :- Typical round ,green to yellow in color , Three to six centimeter in diameter and containing sour and acidic pulp. Fruit are good source of vitamin c. Limes are often used to aceend flavours of food and beverages. Fruit are grown all years round and are usually smaller and less sour than lemon.
DOSAGE
- Juice : 3-6 ml
- Seed and Rind : 0.5-1 gm
- Fruit edible
- Swarasa : 1-2 thola
- Panaka : 100ml
- Twak Kashaya : 50-100 ml
FORMULATIONS
- Tridosa Davanala rasa
- Nimbu panaka
OTHER THAN MEDICINAL USES
- Clean tea kettle or coffee pot :-
Fill kettle with water and add slice of lemon peel and bring to boil
- Clean microwave
- Polishchrome
- Polishcopper
- Clean stainless steel sink
- Keep insects out
- Make scented humidifier
- Make candied lemon peel
- Lighten age spots
- Soften dry elbows
- Make sugar scrub
RESEARCH STUDIES
- Hydroxy cinnamic acid as off-flavor precursors in citrus fruit and their products.
- Combination of physical and low toxicity chemical post harvest treatments for integrated disease management of citrus fruit
- Sources of natural phenolic anti oxidant (kroon &william2005)
- Tyrosinase inhibitory effect and inhibition mechanism of nobiletin and hespridin from citrus peel crude extracts
- Research advances on flavanone phytoalexins (sinensis paul MN 55108-6030USA)
- Paper chromatographic identification and estimation of free aminoacids in 32 fruits(24,298-303(1959)20.Rockland)
CULTIVATION AND HARVESTING
Lime or acid lime is more popular in India than lemon. It is cultivated largely in Andra Pradesh, Maharashtra,Tamilnadu,Gujarat,Rajastan,Bihar and Goa. Limited extent in other state.
Lemons are grown Goa limited extent in homestead gardens. Limes are available throughout the year in some part or the other in our country .there used fresh fruit for preparing pickles and beverages .There rich in vitamin c, minerals and salt.
Climate:-Lime and lemon may be planted in medium black, loumy or alluvial soils having perfect drainage and devoid of calcium carbonate layer. Areas with dry climate and low rainfall are best suited for growing limes.
Harvesting and yield:-Maturity of citrus fruits depends up on the climate condition, heat units and moisture availability. The period of maturity is shorter when they just start changing. They are harvested in installment as they ripen ,major harvesting period in july-september and november-january