Poonaikkali Vithai (பூனைக்காலி விதை) is velvet bean seed: the seed of the poonaikkali plant (பூனைக்காலி), the botanical Mucuna pruriens (family Fabaceae). AVM Herbals’ Poonaikkali Vithai Powder is titled “Velvet Bean Seed” and names its ingredient as “Velvet Bean”.
Names at a glance
- Tamil: பூனைக்காலி (Poonaikkali) for the plant; விதை (vithai) means seed; AVM Herbals’ Tamil product name is பூனைக்காலி விதை பொடி
- English: velvet bean, monkey tamarind, cowage, cowitch
- Botanical: Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. (family Fabaceae)
- Part used in AVM’s powder: seed
A climbing plant, and which part is used
English Wikipedia describes Mucuna pruriens as a tropical legume, native to Africa and tropical Asia, growing as a climbing plant with long vines. It also notes that contact with the young foliage and the seed pods is notoriously itchy, so the plant and its pods are not the same thing as the seed. The part used here is the seed, as the product title says.
In the AVM Herbals range
Poonaikkali Vithai Powder is made from velvet bean seed. Its product page gives the directions for use and the pack size; please follow the directions on the pack. AVM Herbals lists it in the Vitality and Sleep & Calm collections, and the Wellness Guide explains how the range is grouped by the three humours.
Herbal products are not suitable for everyone. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition, please speak to a qualified practitioner before starting any herbal product.
தமிழில் சுருக்கம்
பூனைக்காலி (Mucuna pruriens) ஒரு கொடி வகைத் தாவரம்; இதன் இளம் இலைகளையும் காய்களையும் தொட்டால் அரிப்பு ஏற்படும் எனக் குறிப்பிடப்படுகிறது. ஏவிஎம் ஹெர்பல்ஸின் பூனைக்காலி விதைப் பொடி விதையிலிருந்து தயாரிக்கப்படுகிறது; பயன்படுத்தும் முறைக்குத் தயாரிப்புப் பக்கத்தைப் பார்க்கவும்.
References
- Kew Plants of the World Online (POWO) — Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC., accepted species, family Fabaceae (botanical identity and accepted name only): powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:509275-1
- International Plant Names Index (IPNI), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. (name record): ipni.org/n/509275-1
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC., accepted species, family Fabaceae: gbif.org/species/2951499
- English Wikipedia — Mucuna pruriens (common names; climbing habit; itch from young foliage and pods): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mucuna_pruriens
- Tamil Wikipedia — பூனைக்காலி (Tamil name; velvet bean): ta.wikipedia.org/wiki/பூனைக்காலி
- AVM Herbals product listing (title, Tamil product name பூனைக்காலி விதை பொடி and ingredient line, velvet bean seed): Poonaikkali Vithai Powder
These references establish the plant’s identity, the seed and the Tamil names; they are not evidence of health effects. This is general traditional-use information, not medical advice.
About this guide
Published by AVM Herbals. Prepared with AI assistance from the cited botanical sources and AVM product listings. Tamil wording is awaiting native review. Suggest a correction.