BEHIDANA

English            :           Quince seeds

Urdu                :           Behidana/Bihidana

Telugu             :           Simadanimma

Description     : It is a small tree with spreading branches, thin and purplish-brown bark,shortly stalked.entire ovate, blunt or acute leaves,3.5-6 cm long ,solitary flowers at the ends of the branches. It has usually pyriform and sometimes apple-shapped fruits bright golden yellow , very fragnant having yellowish flesh and cartilaginous endocrap,surroundng the cells. There are 12-14 seeds in each cell ,flattened by mutual pressure pointed at hilum brown and cartilaginous testa. They have no odour and only a simple mucilaginous taste.

Action and Uses:  Seeds are denulcent and used as a popular remedy in gonorrhoea and dysentery. They also used in sore-throat,acute nasal catarrh and fevers. They have soothing effect on mucous membrane. Their mucilage protects it form irritants. They are useful in gastro-intestinal irritation and ulceration.

They are used with cordia fruit and zizyphus in acute rhino-sinisitis,bronchitis and bronchial asthma.

Ibn sina’s view:Fruit ,flower and oil are astrignent and tonic. Oil is good for herpes and malignant ulcers. Extract is useful in sore throat and tracheal inflammations.Useful i vomiting and hang over. They are thrist-quenching,stomachic and strong diuretic. They are useful in dysentery and burning micturition. They check menstual bleeding.