Indian snakeroot is the common name for Rauvolfia serpentina, a medicinal plant native to South and Southeast Asia.
🌿 What it is
- A small evergreen shrub
- Native to countries like India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand
- The root is the part used medicinally
💊 Why it’s important
Indian snakeroot contains an alkaloid called reserpine, which was one of the first widely used drugs for:
- High blood pressure
- Anxiety and agitation
- Certain psychiatric disorders
Reserpine works by reducing certain neurotransmitters (like norepinephrine), which lowers blood pressure and has calming effects.
🐍 Why the name “snakeroot”?
Traditionally, it was used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat snake bites — hence the name.
⚠️ Important note
While historically significant, reserpine is rarely used today because it can cause side effects such as:
- Depression
- Drowsiness
- Nasal congestion
- Slow heart rate
Modern blood pressure medications are generally preferred.
If you’d like, I can also explain how it compares to today’s antihypertensive drugs or how it’s used in traditional medicine.
