Fever Nut (Kantaki Karanja)

Fever nut is a scrambling, thorny shrub or vine of the bean family with a pantropical distribution, common near coasts, including Kerala, where it is called Kazhanchi. It has feathery leaves, yellow flowers and prickly pods holding hard, grey, marble-like seeds.

Known as Kantaki Karanja, its seeds and leaves are used in Ayurvedic and folk practice in traditional preparations for general wellbeing and joint comfort. The seed and leaf are the parts used.