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Levant Cotton (Kapas / Karpasa)
Gossypium herbaceum
କପା (Kapa)कपास (Kapas)Karpasa
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Origin
- Semi-arid Sub-Saharan Africa & India
- Plant Type
- Shrub
- Habitat
- Outdoor
About the Plant
Erect branched subshrub to 1.5m; alternate 3-5 lobed hairy cordate leaves, yellow blossoms with purple center, and 3-4 valved leathery capsules bursting with cotton fibers.
Traditional Uses
Amenorrhea, uterine bleeding, postpartum debility, and otalgia
Parts Used
Seeds, root bark, leaves, flowers
Ayurvedic Properties
- Rasa: Madhura, Kashaya
- Guna: Laghu, Snigdha
- Virya: Ushna
- Vipaka: Madhura
Health Benefits
- Stimulates menstrual discharge, promotes lactation, and acts as a localized hemostatic agent
Precautions
Avoid roots and seeds during pregnancy due to potent uterotonic properties
Interesting Facts
Historical source of the world's most ubiquitous natural textile fiber spun in the Indus Valley Civilization