Widanga (Embelia ribes)
Widanga ( Embelia ribes ) Introduction Widanga ( Embelia ribes Burm f) is one of the oldest herbs used as medicine world-wide. Sushruta the father of surgery identified many varieties of Widanga (species of Embelia ) and described their stomachic, carminative, anthelmintic and alterative properties. Later Dr. Harris found in ancient Arabian writing, Widanga, (birang-I-kabauli in Arabic) being used as a remedy for tapeworm (The Lancet July 23, 1887). Tribal societies knew that Widanga ( Embelia ribes ) inhibits the process of implantation of embryo in the uterus. It was originally described in detail by Nicolas Laurens Burman in his publication: Flora Indica in 1768. Widanga ( Embelia ribes ) is described as a powerful anthelmintic (Krimighna) in classical Ayurvedic texts "Charaka Samhitaa" and “Sushruta Samhitaa'. Modern world has validated the medicinal properties of Widanga described in Aayurvedic scriptures. However, the dried fruit of Widanga (