Hadjod or Cissus Quadrangularis

Hadjod or Cissus Quadrangularis

Hadjod or Cissus quadrangular is a perennial climber of the grape family (Vitaceae). This plant is distributed throughout India particularly in tropical regions. It is commonly known as Veldt Grape or Devil's Back bone. In Ayurveda, its use is mentioned for weight management and quick healing in case of bone fracture. The other medicinal uses of Hadjoda are treating digestive disorders, asthma, indigestion, skin diseases and irregular menstruation. It is also useful in obesity management and complications of metabolic disorders. Hadjod or Cissus quadrangular has potent fracture healing property. It has antimicrobial, antiulcer, antioxidant, anti-osteoporotic, gastro-protective, cholinergic activity. 
Hadjod or Cissus Quadrangularis plant is non-toxic and does not produce toxicity to internal organs.

  
Propagation: Through stem cuttings in months of June and July 
Description
Climbing herb, tendrils simple, opposite to the leaves, leafless when old. Leaves simple or lobed, cordate, broadly ovate or reniform, serrate, dentate, sometimes 3-foliate and glabrous. Flowers small, greenish white, bisexual, tetramerous, in umbellate cymes, opposite to the leaves. Calyx is cup shaped. Fruit globose or obovoid fleshy berries, succulent, very acrid, dark purple to black, one seeded; seeds ellipsoid or pyriform. Stem is buff colored with greenish ting dichotomously branched, sub- angular, glabrous, fibrous and smooth.

Traditional Medicinal uses of Hadjod or Cissus quadrangularis
The stem of Hadjod or Cissus quadrangularis is used for the treatment of gastritis, bone fractures, skin infections, constipations, eye diseases, piles, anaemia, asthma, irregular menstruation, burns and wounds. 
The stem juice is useful in scurvy and in irregular menstruation. The stem paste boiled in lime water is given in asthma. 
The powder of dried shoot is useful in digestive problems.

Stem paste is useful for muscular pains, burns, wounds, bites of poisonous insects and sores. 
In case of bone fracture, the stem is fried in oil and apply on the site of fracture before application of splint/cast. 
Hadjod or Bone Setter has proven ability to join broken bones. Studies haves shown, the presence of vitamins and anabolic steroid, which may act on estrogenic receptors of the bone.  The plant helps in early ossification and remodelling of bones. The oral intake of plant, helps in quick healing of fracture by stimulation of metabolism and increased uptake of the minerals calcium, sulphur and strontium by the osteoblasts in fractured bone.

Dosage of Hadjod or Cissus quadrangularis
Decoction of dried stem: 10-30 ml twice a day. 
Stem Juice: 10-20 ml twice a day. 
Stem Powder/churna: 3-6 g twice a day.