Botanical name : Acacia catechu (Linn.f) Wild.
Family : Mimosaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Khadira, Kushtari, Rakthasaram
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Tikta, Kashaya
Guna : Lakhu, Rooksha
Virya : Seeta
Vipaka : Katu
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Dark catechu, Cutch tree
Hindi : Khair
Malayalam : Karingali
PLANT DESCRIPTION
Medium sized thorny deciduous tree grows up to 13 meters in height. Leaves bipinnately compound, leaflets 30-50 paired, main rachis pubescent, with large conspicuous gland near the middle of the rachis. Flowers pale yellow, sessile, found in axillary spikes. Fruits flat brown pods, with triangular beak at the apex, shiny, narrowed at base. Seeds 3-10 per pod. The gummy extract of the wood is called kath or cutch.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated pitta, kapha, skin diseases, cough, pruritus, and obesity. Useful in tooth ache, increases the strength of teeth.
Useful part : Bark, Heartwood, Kath.
Photo : Dr. Eby Abraham MD
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