Sarpagandha

The Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentina) is a small woody perennial from Indian and the East Indies. Roots of Sarpagandha yield the alkaloid reserpine. The Sarpagandha was the first major tranquilizer, especially for the treatment of paranoia and schizophrenia, as well as a substance that lowers blood pressure and controls hypertension. Interestingly, Sarpagandha was long used in India for treating mental illness and snake bites, known to medicine men and peasants as the "insanity herb," snakeroot, and chandra (moon disease or lunacy). The alkaloid of our Sarpagandha is effective for snake bites and scorpion stings.